Chongqing, China: Where Fu Xi Waits



Geography
* Southwest China
* Geographic coordinates: 105°17'-110°11' East, 28°10'－32°13' North
* Annual average temperature: 18 °C (64 °F)
* Temperature range: 0 to 47 °C
* Total annual hours of sunshine: 1000-1200
* Annual precipitation: 1000-1400 mm
* Neighbours: Hubei (east), Hunan (east), Guizhou (south), Sichuan (west), Shaanxi (north)

Located on the edge of the Yungui Plateau, Chongqing is intersected by the Jialing River and the upper reaches of the Yangtze. It contains Daba Shan in the north, Wu Shan in the east, Wuling Shan in the southeast, and Dalou Mountain to the south.

The city is very hilly and is the only major metropolitan area in China without significant numbers of bicycles. Its total area is 82,400 sq km.

Natural Scenes Chongqing proper is surrounded by the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, so landscape is very beautiful. It is known as a "Mountain city" and also a "River city" because its buildings are constructed on hills by the rivers. Night scene of the mountain city is a wonderful sight. The South Hot Spring Park, North Hot Spring park, Jingyunshan summer resort and Nanshan park are situated in the near suburbs and Jiangjin Simianshan forest, Wansheng Yunan Stone Forest, Wulong Furongdong Cave, Xiannushan Grasslands, Nanchuan Jingfushan Forest Park are situated in distant suburbs. Along the Yantse River there are a large number of scenic spots of mountains, rivers, forests, springs, cataracts, gorges and caves such as the mighty Three Gorges, Daninghe and Xiaoninghe River valleys, Yunyang Longgang, Fenjie Heaven Pit and Earth Crevice, Wuxi Hongcheba Grasslands and Wushan Zhiyanhe River Three-Colored Cataract. Construction of the Three Gorges dam will form a 600 kilometers long and more than 1,000 square kilometers big lake on high gorges, an excellent tourist resort will thus be set up.

The people of Chongqing have all got strong to be able to walk a long way. It is simply because they have tempered themselves in climbing up and down the mountain steps everyday. So, young and old, woman and man, they have thus built a good physique. As for the young girls, they all have a slim figure due to that exercise. Beside, with the help of the fog day in the winter and the humid air in the summer, their skin has become so tender and white. However, on account of the function of the Sichuan food, they are endowed with hot temper and straightforward character. In this way, the local young girls used to speak in a loud voice. Furthermore, in spite of being the apple of their parents, they can do everything themselves once they have set up a family of their own after marriage.

Specific Items of Interest (to me): There is not a lot of information about Hechuan Social Welfare Institute itself. It is a relatively new orphanage and has only permitted international adoptions since 2002 or 2003. I have joined a Yahoo group with others who have adopted from that particular institution. Most parents have been very pleased and many are hoping to adopt a second child from the same orphanage. There is a group of parents who have remained very active in conducting fund raisers to make sure the babies (including Fu Xi) have the things they need. I think that is so special! It is a 1-2 hour bus ride to Hechuan from the "city" (Chongquing). I hope we will be able to visit the orphanage. Most who have adopted from there have been able to do that. Then we can provide our Fu Xi with some photos from the place where she spent her first year. We have also found an address for the orphanage so that we can send a care package to her and her caregivers while she awaits our arrival. Hee hee - happiness.