History of Chongqing in Timeline

Chongqing is a direct-administered municipality in Southwestern China, one of four such municipalities under the Central People's Government, and the only one located inland. Roughly the size of Austria, it includes several urban areas and is considered the largest city proper globally by population, though not the most populous urban area.

1904: Opening of Consulates

From 1896 to 1904, the American, German, French, and Japanese consulates were opened in Chongqing.

1907: Steamship Journey

In 1907, a steamship made the journey [up the Yangtze] without the help of manual haulers.

August 1933: Unofficial Record of Highest Temperature

An unofficial record of 44.0 °C (111 °F) was set on August 8 and 9, 1933.

November 1937: Provisional Capital

From November 1937 to May 1946, Chongqing was Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's provisional capital during and after the Second Sino-Japanese War.

1937: Wartime Capital

Chongqing was the wartime capital of China during the Second Sino-Japanese War (i.e., World War II), and from 1937 to 1945, the seat of administration for the Republic of China's government before its departure to Nanjing and then Taiwan.

1937: Second Sino-Japanese War

During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), the city's special weather possibly played a role in protecting the city from being overrun by the Imperial Japanese Army.

1938: Bombing Campaigns Begin

From 1938 to 1943, Chongqing suffered from continuous massive bombing campaigns of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army Air Forces.

1938: Chiang Kai-Shek retreats to Chongqing

In 1938, after the General and remaining army had lived there for a time following their retreat from the previous capital of Wuhan, it was formally declared the second capital city.

1938: Base of Resistance

In 1938, after the eventual defeat at the Battle of Wuhan, General Chiang Kai-shek and the army were forced to use Chongqing as their base of resistance.

September 1940: Formal Declaration as Second Capital City

On September 6, 1940, Chongqing was formally declared the second capital city.

December 1941: Allied Involvement

After Britain, the United States, and other Allies entered the war in Asia in December 1941, one of the Allies' deputy commanders of operations in Southeast Asia (Southeast Asia Command SEAC), Joseph Stilwell, was based in the city.

February 1943: Unofficial Record of Lowest Temperature

An unofficial record of −2.5 °C (27 °F) was set on February 8, 1943.

1943: Bombing Campaigns Continue

From 1938 to 1943, Chongqing suffered from continuous massive bombing campaigns of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army Air Forces.

1945: End of Wartime Capital Status

1945: End of Second Sino-Japanese War

During the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945), the city's special weather possibly played a role in protecting the city from being overrun by the Imperial Japanese Army.

May 1946: End of Provisional Capital Status

From November 1937 to May 1946, Chongqing was Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek's provisional capital during and after the Second Sino-Japanese War.

November 1949: Nationalist Government Withdrawal

Chongqing served as the KMT capital until late November 1949, when the Nationalist KMT government withdrew from the city by air.

1951: Temperature Range

Since 1951, the extremes of Chongqing's temperatures have ranged from −1.8 °C to 43.7 °C.

January 1955: Lowest Temperature

Since 1951, the extreme low temperature was recorded on January 11, 1955, at −1.8 °C (29 °F).

September 1996: Governance of Prefectures

Since September 1996, the sub-provincial city governed adjacent Fuling, Wanxian, and Qianjiang prefectures on behalf of the province.

March 1997: Separation from Sichuan Province

On March 14, 1997, Chongqing was separated from Sichuan province and made into a municipality in its own right.

March 1997: Establishment of Chongqing Municipality

On March 14, 1997, the Eighth National People's Congress decided to merge the sub-provincial city with adjacent Fuling, Wanxian, and Qianjiang prefectures and grant it independence from Sichuan.

June 1997: Official Ceremony

Chongqing Municipality's first official ceremony took place on June 18, 1997.

1997: Merging of Regions

In 1997, Chongqing merged with Fuling, Wanxian (now Wanzhou) and Qianjiang.

1997: Direct-Controlled Municipality Status

Since 1997, Chongqing has been a direct-controlled municipality in the Chinese administrative structure.

1997: Abolishment of Subdivisions

Three subdivisions were abolished in 1997 when Chongqing became a direct-controlled municipality.

2007: Religion Survey

According to surveys conducted in 2007 and 2009, 26.63% of the population practices Chinese ancestral religion, while 1.05% of the population identifies as Christian.

2009: Religion Survey

According to surveys conducted in 2007 and 2009, 26.63% of the population practices Chinese ancestral religion, while 1.05% of the population identifies as Christian.

February 2010: National Central City Designation

On February 8, 2010, Chongqing became one of the nine National Central Cities in China.

2010: OECD Metropolitan Area Population

As of 2010, the metropolitan area encompassing the central urban area was estimated by the OECD to have a population of 17 million.

2010: Muslim Population

In 2010, there were 9,056 Muslims in Chongqing.

October 2011: District Abolishment

In October 2011, Wansheng and Shuangqiao districts were abolished.

2016: Military Reorganization

In 2016, the Chengdu Military Region, which formerly included the 13th Group Army headquartered in Chongqing, was reorganized into the Western Theater Command.

2018: Population

At the end of year 2018, Chongqing's total population was 31.02 million.

2020: National Census

According to the 2020 national census, Chongqing has a population of 32,054,159, accounting for around 2.27% of the national total.

2020: Largest municipality by urban population

In 2020, Chongqing surpassed Shanghai as China's largest municipality by urban population.

2021: Urban and Rural Population

As of 2021, 70.4% of Chongqing's population is estimated to be urban, and 29.6% rural.

August 2022: Highest Temperature

Since 1951, the extreme high temperature was recorded on August 18 and 19, 2022, at 43.7 °C (111 °F).

2022: Largest City by Urban Population

As of 2022, Chongqing is the largest Chinese city by urban population, with a population of 22.80 million.

2022: GDP Statistics

As of 2022, Chongqing's nominal GDP was US$433 billion (CN¥ 2.91 trilion), about 2.41% of the country's GDP; its nominal GDP per capita was US$13,479 (CN¥90,663).