The official website of the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) recently released the evaluation results of China's "natural oxygen bars" in 2021. It would award 56 regions the title of China's "natural oxygen bars," among which Chongqing's Liangping and Wulong Districts are on the list.

China's "natural oxygen bars" were initiated by CMA and China Meteorological Service Association and are significant for assessing the climate and ecological, environmental quality of tourist destinations, exploring high-quality tourism and leisure resources, advocating the concept of a green and ecological life, and developing ecological tourism and healthy tourism.

The honor of China's "natural oxygen bar" designation affirms the winners' excellence and plays a positive role in regional environmental protection and the development of the tourism industry. To date, a total of 9 regions in Chongqing have been awarded this title. They are introduced as follows.

Tongliang District

Tongliang District features a subtropical humid monsoon climate, with an annual average temperature of 18.1 °C, average relative humidity of 82%, a perennial frost-free period of 361 days, and annual average precipitation of 1,070.1 mm.

With a forest coverage rate of 45.7%, it possesses the first batch of most beautiful forest oxygen bars in Chongqing, such as Yuqingshan National Forest Park, Bayue Mountain, and Shuangnian Forest Farm.

Shizhu County

Enjoying a favorable climate environment, Shizhu County has a forest coverage rate of 59.04%, an annual average temperature of 16.5 °C, 350 days with good air quality, and an average yearly negative oxygen ion concentration of 3,000 ions/cm³.

With moderate temperatures, distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, sufficient sunshine, and a long frost-free period, the county's altitude ranges from 119.0 to 1,934.1 m, of which 75% of the area is located between 500 and 1,500 m, the most suitable for human habitation.

Yunyang Longgang National Geological Park

Yunyang Longgang National Geological Park is located in the southeast corner of Yunyang County, covering entire areas of Qingshui Tujia Township, Yaoling Town, Yanping Town, and some areas of Piaocao Town and Nixi Town, with a total area of 296 km².

The karst landscape represented by Longgang Tiankeng, the canyon landscape represented by the Shisun River, and the Skywalk on Clouds's architectural landscape is the park's main characteristics, with strong local customs and leisure rural life.

Wushan County

Located in a subtropical monsoon humid area, Wushan County boasts abundant rainfall and sufficient sunshine. The county has an annual average temperature of 18.4 °C, average humidity of 68%, a frost-free period of 305 days, annual average precipitation of 1,181.67 mm, and an annual sunshine duration of 1,542.2 hours, the longest in Chongqing.

Special geographical location and climatic conditions allow Wushan to present rich and diverse three-dimensional natural ecological landscapes. There are forests, wetlands, grasslands, and meadows. When the seasons change, you can experience the amazing feeling of "four seasons in a day and a unique scenario on each piece of land" from the bottom of the mountain.

Shapingba District

Shapingba District is rich in mountain and water resources, with more than ten rivers and 23 lakes and reservoirs of different sizes. Gele Mountain and Jinyun Mountain, stretching through the north and south, are the famous ecological "lung lobes" and "natural oxygen bars" in the main urban area of Chongqing. Days with good air quality account for 83% of the year. The quality of drinking water at all sources reaches the standard.

Fengjie County

Fengjie County, located at 30° N, boasts a pleasant climate and cool air, with a forest coverage rate of 62.29% and more than 340 days with good air quality. It lives up to its reputation as a green treasure house, a natural oxygen bar, and a healthcare resort.

The average negative oxygen ion concentration of the two monitoring stations in the county reaches the optimal Grade V, and the annual average negative oxygen ion concentration is 3,005 ions/cm³. The county has seven months with a "comfortable" annual living environment climate with superior climate, an eligible ecological environment, and favorable air quality.

Wansheng Heishangu Scenic Area

Being a cool secret place at 23 °C in summer, Wansheng Heishangu is gifted with unique natural conditions, with 97% forest coverage in the valley and 12,000 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter. Many tourists are attracted there by its charm of health preservation based on ecology.

Heishangu is praised as the "Most Beautiful Canyon for Health Preservation." It boasts a wide range of animals and plants, including many kinds of first-class national protected animals and plants, thus is crowned as the "Biological Gene Bank in Chongqing and Guizhou."

Liangping District

Since 2017, Liangping District has been focusing on improving the environmental quality, continuously and deeply making China's skies blue again, fully implementing the "Ten Atmospheric Articles," and detailing and defining the air quality improvement schedule, task statement, and roadmap, so as to advance the continuous improvement of air quality in the district. The data suggested that the number of days with excellent air quality in the district reached 349 in 2020, and the excellent rate reached 95.6%. Blue skies with white clouds could be seen frequently, and the growing elegant ecological environment needs have been exceeded.

The title of China's "natural oxygen bars" comes not only as a full recognition of the air quality, negative oxygen ions, and ecological environment in Liangping, but also an eye-catching business card that vigorously pushes the development of Liangping's all-for-one tourism and recasts a "blue" monument for the ecological development of the whole district.

Wulong District

Wulong District features a subtropical humid monsoon climate with warm and humid air and distinct four seasons. The annual average temperature ranges from 15 to 18 °C, the annual extreme minimum temperature is 3.5 °C below zero, the maximum reaches 41.7 °C, and the frost-free period lasts 240 to 285 days. The annual precipitation ranges from 1,000 to 1,200 mm.

Wulong boasts unique karst landforms, including caves, sinkholes, geosutures, canyons, peaks, and alpine grasslands. Tourists can enjoy the various vacation, leisure, entertainment, sports programs, and the unique folk customs of the Tujia, Miao, Gelao, and other ethnic minorities.