Perched on steep hills at the confluence of the Yangtze and its major tributary, the Jialing River, Chongqing is the gateway for Yangtze River cruises. This proud mountain city was the capital of China during World War II when the American Volunteer Air Group, the “Flying Tigers,” was based here. Today, Chongqing is China’s most important inland industrial city and is particularly lively at night with its neon-lit Liberation Monument.