Los Angeles—"Chongqing is stunning—it rivals Manhattan!" "The night sky illuminated by over 10,000 drones was breathtaking!" At the "Perception of Chongqing" Chongqing City Promotion Conference in Los Angeles, American attendees expressed awe and pledged to visit the city.
The event took place in Los Angeles on June 24 (local time). Li Zhiqiang, Deputy Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles, Guan Hong, President of Chongqing International Culture Association, and Su Yantao, Chairman of the Asian Culture and Arts Foundation, Chinese American Film Festival, and Chinese American TV Festival, addressed the event. Local government, institutional, business, and media representatives attended, generating enthusiastic responses.
The "Perception of Chongqing" Chongqing City Promotion Conference in Los Angeles on June 24 (local time).
At the event, Guan Hong, President of Chongqing International Culture Association, presented Chongqing to guests using the acronym STAND. He said: "Chongqing, where lush mountains embrace lucid rivers and gorges meet the Yangtze, is home to the majestic Three Gorges, the breathtaking Wuling landscapes, the World Hot Springs Capital, and China's Bridge Capital. Renowned as the 8D Magic City, it rises in cascading tiers of skyscrapers, truly a city that 'stands upright.' Today, I will use the word 'STAND' (five English letters) to introduce my hometown—Chongqing."
Guan Hong, President of Chongqing International Culture Association, introduces Chongqing.
He explained that “S” stands for specialness—the City of Charm. Like Los Angeles, Chongqing is located in southwest China. As the only municipality directly under the central government in the central and western regions, Chongqing serves as the Yangtze River’s upper-reaches economic hub, a national central city, and ranks among China’s largest urban centers and global megacities.
“T” denotes trade-friendly—the City of Open Commerce. Chongqing has established a comprehensive opening-up framework with global land-sea connectivity and east-west cooperation, positioning itself as an inland international logistics hub. It conducts trade with 224 countries and regions and hosts operations of 322 Fortune Global 500 companies. The city leverages three key transport assets—China-Europe freight trains, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), and the Yangtze River waterway—situating it at the crossroads of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.
“A” represents advanced industries, marking Chongqing as a powerhouse of high-end manufacturing. Its industrial strength is underpinned by a complete 31-category manufacturing system. In 2024, Chongqing produced 2.54 million vehicles, including 953,200 intelligent connected new energy vehicles (NEVs), solidifying its reputation as China’s NEV capital.
“N” signifies nature, reflecting Chongqing’s commitment to eco-conscious development and harmony between humanity and the environment. Each year, over 30 species of raptors—numbering in the hundreds of thousands—migrate through Chongqing, earning it global recognition as a “Raptor Migration Corridor” and the nickname “Eagle Flying City.”
“D” stands for digit and dream, symbolizing Chongqing’s ambition to become a digital dreamland. The city is accelerating its digital transformation through digital empowerment, digital twins, and smart governance, aiming to drive economic growth and pioneer the modernization of megacities. Here, tradition and innovation coexist—where hotpot diners share streets with monorail commuters, bamboo baskets meet briefcases, and work-life integration feels effortless.
Deputy Consul General Li Zhiqiang highlighted Chongqing's cultural richness and rapid industrial advancement, calling it "a city of remarkable charm." He noted Chongqing's standout presentation at last year's Los Angeles Lantern Art Expo. He said the promotion conference offered deeper insights into Chongqing. He also invited more Americans to visit China and experience Chongqing's charm firsthand.
Li Zhiqiang, Deputy Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles, speaks at the event.
Representatives from Los Angeles government agencies and Chinese-American communities expressed hopes for stronger China-U.S. ties and extended their best wishes to Chongqing. They said Chongqing's landscapes, cuisine, and culture impressed them, sparking their desire to visit. Jorge Herrera Avila, San Gabriel City Councilmember and Chongqing's son-in-law, became an impromptu city ambassador. He noted that Chongqing surpasses New York in size as a megacity, enthusiastically showcasing its unique features: CRT trains traversing buildings, its terraced mountainous skyline, and rich cultural heritage.
Jorge Herrera Avila (center), Los Angeles San Gabriel City Councilmember, serves as a "Chongqing City Ambassador" at the event.
After the presentation, young American filmmaker Michael Caprarella praised Chongqing as a unique city, noting that its stunning skyscrapers even outshine New York. He hopes to visit Chongqing to explore its urban landscape, culture, and cuisine.
Young American filmmaker Michael Caprarella expresses his admiration for Chongqing.
The "Perception of Chongqing" event featured the inauguration of the Land-Sea Finance Los Angeles Liaison Office, marking deeper economic and cultural ties between Chongqing and the U.S. The Western China International Communication Organization signed a strategic cooperation agreement with U.S.-based EDI Media Inc. and inaugurated the liaison office. The two sides will deepen strategic cooperation in international media coverage and global brand promotion.
Inauguration of Land-Sea Finance Los Angeles Liaison Office
At the promotion conference, Xu Shaoli, president of the American Flying Tigers Communication Association, thanked the Chongqing International Culture Association for funding the China-U.S. Friendship Sculpture and presented a donation plaque to its president, Guan Hong. Chen Mou, Executive Secretary-General of Chongqing International Culture Association, donated copies of Hard Work and the Chongqing book series to Liu Rongwen, tenured professor at East Los Angeles College's Global Languages and Cultures Department, supporting the establishment of a Chongqing Book Corner at the college.
A Chongqing city image photo exhibition was also showcased, offering attendees a vivid impression of the city's distinctive appeal.
(Special Correspondents Tang Jianping and Mou Xuelin)
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