Chongqing is a city full of cultural relics, historical sites and scenic spots. There are now 49 national, provincial and municipal preservation places of treasured historical relics.  In 1999, the UNESCO listed The Dazu Stone Sculptures on World Register of Culture Heritage.  In its 12 museums and memorial halls displays and exhibitions are held every year. Chongqing, as a famous historic city in China and the cradle of Ba Ethnic culture enjoys a great cultural heritage.  It is a component part of the Chinese culture that maintains unique regional features of cultural pattern.

In the 13th century, the great general Monka, called "Whip of God" in the west, was seriously hurt at Diaoyucheng in the outskirts of Chongqing and died there soon after. Now there remains only an ancient battlefield for people to visit. During the World War II(1937-1945), the Chinese government moved from Nanjing to Chongqing and made the latter a war-time capital. As the site of second peace negotiations held between the Chiang Kai-shek Nationalist Party and the Communist Party of China and the seat of headquarters of US Forces in China-Burma- India Theater, Chongqing has been affected to many changes of political events. Some sites as the former thatched-cottage of Gen. C. Marshall, the Museum of Gen. J.W. Stilwell, the former residence of Chiang Kai-shek, the dwelling place of Madam Sun Yat-sun, the site of Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, the Red Crag Village  left over from the war  are well preserved.

The artistic performance of Chongqing flourishes in a great variety, outstanding with strong folk color among the pageant of arts in China.  There are 3,000 organizations including 29 professional troupes.  The acrobatics of Chongqing is well-known all over the world. "Kicking Bowls on a Balancing Board"performed by the Chongqing Acrobatics Troupe won a Silver Medal at the 9th Festival of Circus Tomorrow and a Golden Lion Medal on the event of National Acrobatics Competition.  The Sichuan opera has also built a system of stylized movement and its acting is both exquisite and vivid with a series of stunts including"face- changing".  Since the founding of New China, the Chongqing's artistic troops have realized performance tours and cultural exchange in more than 30 countries and regions such as United States, Japan, Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Peru, Colombia, Denmark, Australia, Mexico, Netherlands, Argentina, Canada, Burma, Singapore, Philippines, Taiwan and Macao, etc.

The mass-oriented cultural activities in Chongqing have the goal to popularize the folk art as the lead forming a network around 46 community centers of art and culture, 1,211 cultural stations and 1,944 units of film projection.  The popular culture in its modern form is growing rapidly, including performance, entertainment, videos, books and periodicals, fine art, movies, cultural relics, advertisement, and fashion shows.