Dazu Grotto / Chongqing Attractions

Located in Dazu County, 163 kilometers west of the city proper of Chongqing, the Dazu Rock Carvings are a series of Chinese religious sculptures and carvings. There have been over 50 thousand status and over 100 thousand words in 75 different grottos having been protected. It was built continuously from the first year of the reign of Emperor Yonghui of the Tang Dynasty (7th century A.D) to the Qing Dynasty (17th century); Dazu Grottoes are a beautiful gem in the treasure trove of grotto arts in China. The carvings in a combination of Chinese religions, it contains figures of Buddhism, Confucianism and Daoism. It represents the pinnacle of Chinese rock art for their high aesthetic quality. In 1999, the stone grottoes in Dazu entered the world cultural heritage list.

General Stilwell Museum is housed in the former VIP guesthouse of the Guomingdang and residence of General Stillwell. General Stillwell was an American General sent to China to help fight the Japanese in World War II. During World War II, American pilot volunteers organized a squadron renowned as the invincible 'Flying Tigers' to airlift arms, weaponry and other war-time goods to help China in its struggles against Japanese aggressors. The US volunteers opened up a historical air corridor from India to the cities of Kunming and Chongqing in southwestern China via Myanmar (formerly known as Burma).

The Flying Tigers flew out of Chongqing and the Japanese looked for months for an airstrip but could never find one. In the Yangtze River, there is a permanent sandbar, this is the 'airstrip' the Flying Tigers used. The Japanese never figured anyone would use this sandbar for an airstrip. Since 1991, the Chongqing Municipal Government has turned it into a museum, housing exhibits on General Stillwell and Americans in Chongqing during World War II.