“He was so brave, I want to learn from him!” During summer vacation at the Zhazidong Scenic Area in Chongqing, a young couple stood with their child before the statue of “Little Radish” Song Zhenzhong. After hearing his story, the child’s eyes were filled with admiration for the predecessors.

Civility is the lifeblood of a city, the profound essence of an era shaped by time. Such scenes vividly demonstrate how Chongqing nurtures civility through history, allowing spirit to be passed down through generations.

The municipal committee’s plenary session emphasized the need to build urban cultural soft power, improve the ideological security system, actively develop cultural undertakings and industries, and deepen spiritual civilization development in both urban and rural areas.

Chongqing, this mountainous city with over 3,000 years of history, continues to inherit the Bayu cultural heritage while innovating contemporary spirit. Resonating between history and the present, it uses culture as its soul to enrich the city’s底蕴 and outline a new vision of civility for the people’s city.

The session also proposed promoting cultural continuity, with protecting and inheriting historical culture as a key component.

As Chongqing’s old town, Yuzhong District is dotted with historical sites. The renovation of the Shibati Traditional Style District is a typical example of Chongqing’s efforts to protect and revitalize historical culture.

Shibati Traditional Style District

The renovation preserved 7 cultural relics and 42 historical structures intact. Through meticulous craftsmanship that “restores the old as old,” it continues the unique “step culture” of the mountainous city while revitalizing the ancient mountain paths.

“The renovated Shibati is wonderful,” remarked an elderly resident who lived there for many years. Although the street shops have added new vitality, the bluestone paths still evoke memories of old Chongqing, retaining that unique local flavor.

Today, Shibati is not only a passage for residents but also a cultural corridor showcasing traditional Bayu lifestyle, attracting over ten million tourists annually.

Similarly contributing to cultural heritage through urban renewal is the Chongqing Port Opening Site Park.

Chongqing Port Opening Site Park
Chongqing Port Opening Site Park

During its renovation, the project protected and restored several historical buildings while innovatively introducing new formats, creating a composite space integrating exhibition halls, community commerce, and cultural parks. By June 2025, the park had received nearly 6 million visitors, becoming an important carrier for inheriting Chongqing’s port opening history and culture.

As a key project of the Yangtze River National Cultural Park (Chongqing Section), the construction of Zhong County’s Huanghua City Archaeological Site Park has opened new paths for Bayu cultural inheritance.

The park focuses on “archaeological excavation, site protection, cultural display, and tourism leisure

Zhazidong Scenic Area

The Zhazidong Scenic Area is a historical site in Chongqing, China, best known for its role during World War II. It served as a secret military communications and production base for the Chinese Nationalist government after it relocated to Chongqing. Today, the preserved tunnels and facilities serve as a memorial to China’s wartime resistance.

Shibati Traditional Style District

The Shibati Traditional Style District is a historic neighborhood in Chongqing, China, known for its well-preserved stilt houses (diaojiaolou) built along the steep hillsides overlooking the Jialing River. It dates back over a century and was historically a bustling commercial and residential hub. Today, it stands as a rare surviving example of Chongqing’s traditional architecture, offering a glimpse into the city’s past before its rapid modernization.

Chongqing Port Opening Site Park

The Chongqing Port Opening Site Park commemorates the city’s historical opening as a treaty port in 1891, which marked the start of foreign trade and modern industry in inland China. Located along the Yangtze River, the park preserves and showcases historical buildings and artifacts from that era, serving as a cultural landmark that blends Chongqing’s past with its modern urban landscape.

Yangtze River National Cultural Park

The Yangtze River National Cultural Park is a major conservation initiative established by China to protect and showcase the immense cultural and ecological heritage of the Yangtze River basin. It encompasses numerous historical sites, cultural relics, and natural landscapes along the river’s entire length, highlighting its role as a cradle of Chinese civilization for millennia. The park was officially proposed in recent years to promote ecological preservation and cultural education along the world’s third-longest river.

Huanghua City Archaeological Site Park

The Huanghua City Archaeological Site Park preserves the ruins of a significant Liao and Jin dynasty city (10th-13th centuries), which served as an important regional capital. The park showcases excavated foundations, city walls, and artifacts that offer a glimpse into the urban planning and daily life of this historical period. It stands as a valuable cultural landmark for understanding the history of northern China.

Bayu cultural heritage

The Bayu cultural heritage refers to the historical and cultural traditions of the ancient Ba and Shu states in the Sichuan Basin of China, with a history spanning over 3,000 years. It is characterized by its distinctive bronze artifacts, such as the unique standing bronze figures and masks found at the Sanxingdui and Jinsha archaeological sites. This heritage reflects a sophisticated, independent Bronze Age civilization that was later integrated into Chinese culture.

Yuzhong District

Yuzhong District is the historical and administrative center of Chongqing, China, traditionally serving as the capital of the ancient Ba State. Today, it is a bustling urban core known for its dramatic hillside setting and as a major financial and commercial hub.

Little Radish statue

The Little Radish statue is a beloved local landmark in Seoul, South Korea, commemorating the area’s historical past as a bustling market for radishes and other produce. It was erected in the 1970s to honor the traditional merchants and the community spirit of the Chungmuro neighborhood. The cheerful statue has since become a popular meeting point and a symbol of the area’s cultural heritage.