All these construction projects have taken effect. Now, it only takes people eight hours, instead of over a day, to travel between the city's urban and suburban areas and less than half an hour to travel between the urban districts.

"Now, I only need to spend five hours getting to Qianjiang," said Guo. "The change is the most impressive to me."

Investment pours in

There were few overseas financial institutions in Chongqing before it became a municipality. But now a busy commercial atmosphere fills the once tranquil city and overseas investors are crowding in.

Contractual investment from 4,179 overseas firms has skyrocketed to about $8.76 billion, with a robust growth of 139.4 percent compared with the amount 10 years ago.

So far, paid-in overseas investment in the municipality has hit $4.8 billion, registering a growth of 76.4 percent, compared with that in 1997.

The municipal government believes the dramatic increase of overseas investment should be attributed to an improved investment environment.

The city has invested more than 50 billion yuan in its natural conservation and ecological rebuilding projects. Its environment has apparently been improved by a series of programs, according to Huang Qifan, Deputy Mayor of Chongqing.

The city's weather has also improved under the eco-rebuilding program. In the past four years, the number of the city's foggy days each year was reduced from 110 to 51 on average.

Statistics from the municipal government show that about 90 percent of some 900 overseas investors are satisfied, and about 70 percent of them were optimistic about the city's future.

Most overseas firms didn't think Chongqing was an investor-friendly city 10 years ago due to the city's lack of a strong transportation network and a modernized appearance, said Huang.

"But in recent years, the city has become hot for investors," said Huang. "Many multinationals have launched branches in the city."

Canada-based Scotiabank Group and Philippines-based Allied Commercial Bank were two of the earliest overseas financial institutions to launch branches in the city. Scotiabank Group entered the city in 1998, a year after the city became the country's forth municipality. Allied Commercial Bank opened its branch in the city in 2003.

To date, Chongqing has already attracted 69 firms listed in the world's top 500.

Many overseas investors believe the municipality has a huge potential market because its development is key to the urbanization process in China's western region.

A hopeful metropolis

With the establishment of the municipality as the first step of the country's western development strategy, Chongqing is now getting a chance to develop economic zones similar to the Pudong District, a developed economic and financial center in Shanghai, and the Binhai New District, a booming economic zone in Tianjin.

The Central Government approved the new development plan in early June this year.

An investigation conducted by Chongqing Evening News showed that 98.6 percent of the 402 interviewees feel optimistic about the city's future, and 60 percent of the interviewees believe there will be a great improvement in their living conditions.

"I believe Chongqing will be more beautiful and perfect in the next 10 years to come," said Li Yuanyuan.