I just spent one month in CQ in July. I have lived in 7 countries (4 asian) in the world and have felt the best living in chongqing. I stayed in a nice hotel. the zhong you hotel for about 250 yuan a night for a clean room with ac and hot water. Staff was nice. It is within 2 walking blocks from the Hilton Hotel where taxi's can be found to downtown for about 8 RMB each way, many buses pass near by to down town for about 1.5 Rmb. There are many McDonalds in town, one Pizza Hut (american prices) and a Subway at the River Walk. I felt safe walking the streets at night, no one bothered me. People were honest, I tried testing them to see if I could get cheated, No one cheated me. Taxis were the same, if they didn't know where I wanted to go, they would say so. English is not spoken much. Learn some chinese. Do not expect to drink diet drinks, I lived on water which costs 2RMB I met many nice people in my month and plan to go back soon. I would live in Chongqing in a minute. Do not carry a lot of things in suitcase there. Buy local what you need. prices were resonable except of items imported. Buy a chinese english translator before you go, it helps. They write chinese faster than one can write english. If you are single male, the women are beautiful and friendly. I met many there. Many want to get married. If you are nice to them, they are absolutely wonderful to you. If you are american and meet someone you like, take a lot of pictures with her, invite her to america on a Fiance visa, do not marry there. It will take you forever to get her to america with being married. marry and return to CQ for a happy life. Be sure to carry at least two visa cards for atm machine, they do not use american credit cards. Go to a local bank, get a debit card and use it as a credit card. Keep your eggs in two baskets in case you lose one credit card as I did. Anyone may write me for further information.