From a Local: Why We Say "Chongqing" With Pride—And Why Its Name is NOT Offensive
1 Dec 2025
🗣️ From a Local: Why We Say "Chongqing" With Pride—And Why Its Name is NOT Offensive
If you’re planning a trip to the massive mountain city of Chongqing, China, you might have come across its unique name and perhaps felt a slight hesitation when pronouncing it. Due to unfortunate phonetic coincidences, some people worry that the name Chongqing (重庆) sounds similar to a derogatory term in other languages.
We locals want to set the record straight: The history of the Chongqing name is one of spectacular joy, prosperity, and good fortune. It is absolutely not a racial slur or an offensive term. Any perceived similarity is a purely accidental phonetic overlap.
🚨 Clearing the Air: Reclaiming the True Meaning
Before you book your flight or look up a Chongqing travel guide, stop worrying about mispronunciation or offense. When we talk about our city—famous for its dramatic terrain and engineering marvels like the iconic Liziba metro station—we are talking about a "Double Celebration."
The Chongqing name origin is a foundational piece of our identity. Say the name with confidence!
The True Story: The Emperor Who Got Lucky, Twice
To truly understand the comprehensive history of the Chongqing name, we have to go back over 800 years to 1189 AD during China’s Song Dynasty.
Like many ancient Chinese cities, this area was known by other titles over its long history, including Jiangzhou and Yuzhou (the source of the city's official abbreviation, Yu 渝). At this specific time, it was called Gongzhou (恭州).
The key figure in the rebranding was a man named Zhao Dun. He was the prince in charge of Gongzhou. In a single year, he received two monumental promotions:
First Celebration (一重庆): He was promoted to a high-ranking Prince.
Second Celebration (二重庆): Shortly after, he ascended the throne and became Emperor Guangzong of the Song Dynasty.
Overwhelmed by this incredible luck—two auspicious events back-to-back—he declared it a "Shuāng Chóng Xǐ Qìng" (双重喜庆), which translates to "Double Happiness" or "Redoubled Celebration."
He honored his former princedom by officially renaming it Chongqing Fu (重庆府), meaning the "Double Celebration Prefecture."
What Does Chongqing Mean? The Breakdown
The modern name Chongqing is an elegant abbreviation of that imperial decree:
重 (Chóng): Means "double" or "repeated."
庆 (Qìng): Means "celebration," "felicitous," or "auspicious."
This name isn't just a geographical label; it’s a living monument to a historical moment of imperial blessing. When people ask what does Chongqing mean, you can proudly tell them: "Double Celebration."
Discover the Real Chongqing
From the thrilling experience of riding the trains through buildings to exploring the ancient Ba-Yu culture, this unique Chinese city is defined by its resilience and unique charm. If you are researching Chongqing travel, you are discovering a place that has been blessed by history.
Next time you speak of the mountain city China is proud of, remember its name's true Song Dynasty history. You are celebrating over 800 years of prosperity and good fortune.
Say it with confidence: Chongqing! It means Double Celebration. What a fantastic name!
If you are interested in a local guided tour in Chongqing, please check out our service section. Looking forward to hear from you!
