A huge Chinese knot sculpture and related accessories have been unveiled in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing as a new architectural symbol of the municipality.

A huge Chinese knot sculpture and its accessories adorn the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing as a new architectural symbol of the municipality. [Photo: Chongqing Economic Times]

The Chongqing Economic Times reports that with a total investment of over four million yuan, the artwork won first prize in a competition, over more than 140 works.

The knot is 28 meters high and has a big underpan with a diameter of 70 meters. It is currently the biggest city sculpture in Chongqing.

Its main part also has a lantern feature, carving in two Chinese characters "double" and "happiness" which accords with the beautiful mountain city's name.

Originally called Yuzhou and then Gongzhou, the city was given the name Chongqing (Double Celebration in English) by Emperor Zhao Dun of the Southern Song Dynasty in 1190 in order to record his double happiness at having been the prince of the city and then emperor of China.

The fabrication work will be finished before the upcoming National Day on October 1, the report added.

(CRI September 27, 2007)