The+city+of+Chengdu

A brief Introduction to Chengdu

Centrally located in the western Sichuan Plain, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, is renowned for its fertile land and agricultural wealth which have earned the city the nickname “Storehouse of Heaven”.

Chengdu, a well-known city with a long standing history and civilization, was also named the City of Brocade and the City of Hibiscus. It comprises 7 districts, 12 counties. It is a beautiful city full of vigor and vitality.

Population: 9.9 million Urban Population: 3.2 million Area: 12,300sq km Nationalities: Han, Hui, Tibetan, Man, Meng and Yi


 * History:** built in 316 BC during the late Warring State Period as the Dujingyan dam and irrigation system was put in place, Chengdu boasts a 2300 year history. In Eastern Han dynasty, the city was called Jincheng (Brocade City). By Tang dynasty (618-907AD), it was considered a cornerstone of Chinese society.


 * Climate features:** Lies in subtropical humid climate with free-frost period of about 337 days and average rainfall of 900-1,300mm per year, annual average humility is 82%, and the sunshine ration is 28%.Average Temperature: 15.5°C – 16.5°CRainfall: average rainfall of 900-1,300mm annually.Products: grain, cooking oil, pork and vegetables.

Chengdu, known as the hibiscus city or the brocade city, has been a famous cultural centre with age-old colourful traditions of both religious and civil significance for the past 2,500 years in Chinese history.
 * Local Highlights:** Giant panda, golden monkey, embroidery, bamboo ware and tea.

Built on flat ground, Chengdu can easily be explored on foot or by bicycle. It has almost a southern aspect, with colorful old streets lined by scores of small restaurants and walkways that remain crowded until late with traders, buyers, and people out for a stroll.

One could eat one's way through the region's countless specialties by visiting the snack bars or teahouses, which often have free performances of Sichuan opera or other instrumental pieces to entertain guests as they sip their jasmine tea. These teahouses are popular gaming hangouts, particularly for older men playing Chinese chess, which resembles the Western game of chess. Not surprisingly, many teahouses have recently transformed into small cinemas, with recent releases shown from DVDs.