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Chengdu

Chengdu

State

Central Sichuan

Country

China

Continent

Asia

Size

14,738 KM2

Population

16,300,000

Spending Budget

$558 - $2,048

Famous For

  • Considered a world city with a "Beta +" classification, according to the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.
  • The city is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Chengdu the earliest settlement in Southwest China is a Famous cultural city with a recorded history of more than 2,300 years
  • Its name has never changed and since its foundation, the city has always been the capital of Sichuan province. The geographical location of the fertile Chengdu Plain has proved beneficial to the local populace.
  • Chengdu's culture largely reflects that of its province, Sichuan, in 2011 it was recognized by UNESCO as a city of gastronomy.
  • Chengdu Plain, the site of Dujiangyan, one of China’s most ancient and successful irrigation systems, watered by the Min River.

Best Time to Visit

  • January
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • September
  • October
  • November

History

The city is said to have been founded by the Qin before they achieved control of all China during the 3rd century BCE. Under their imperial regime, the county of Chengdu was established; the name dates from that period. First, under the Qin and then under the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), it was the seat of the commandery of Shu, and in 221 it became capital of the independent dynasty of Shu. Under the Tang dynasty (618–907) it was known as Yizhou, one of the empire’s greatest commercial cities. In the late 8th century it became a secondary capital. After 907 it again became capital of two short-lived independent regimes the Qian (Former) and Hou Shu (respectively, 907–925 and 934–965). During that time, it was immensely prosperous, and its merchants introduced the use of paper money, which rapidly spread throughout China under the Song dynasty (960–1279).

Present Day

Chengdu is now one of the most important economic, financial, commercial, cultural, transportation, and communication centers in Western China. The city has been home to literary giants, such as Sima Xiangru and Yang Xiong, two masters of Fu, a mixture of descriptive prose and verse during the Tang dynasty; Li Bai and Du Fu, the most eminent poets of the Tang and Song dynasties respectively; Yang Shen'an, a famous scholar of the Ming dynasty; and Guo Moruo and Ba Jin, two well-known modern writers. The distinct characteristic of Sichuan cuisine is the use of spicy chillies and peppercorns. Local dishes include Mapo doufu, Chengdu Hot pot, and Dan Dan Mien. Mapo Doufu and Dan Dan Mien contain Sichuan peppers. Chengdu's tea culture dates back over a thousand years, including its time as the starting point of the Southern Silk Road. Chengdu is an officially recognised UNESCO City of Gastronomy. Chengdu's annual Grand Temple Fair is held every year during the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year in Wuhou Shrine, Jinli, the Culture Park, and several other city parks. The 15-day-long festival showcases both traditional Sichuan folk art and modern fashions of the city. Food stalls on-site offer over 100 varieties of freshly made local snacks. Annual Lantern Festival is held every year during the Spring Festival in Tazishan Park in the eastern part of Chengdu.

Future

Chengdu has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate and is largely warm with high relative humidity all year. It has four distinct seasons, with moderate rainfall concentrated mainly in the warmer months, and relieved from both sweltering summers and freezing winters. The Qin Mountains (Qinling) to the far north help shield the city from cold Siberian winds in the winter because of this the short winter is milder than in the Lower Yangtze. July 2013, the world's largest building in terms of floor area, the New Century Global Centre is located in the city. The 100-metre-tall structure is 500 by 400 metres in size with 1,700,000 square metres (18,000,000 sq ft) of floor area. The centre houses retail outlets, a 14-theatre cinema, offices, hotels, a water park with artificial beach and waves and a Mediterranean-style village comprising a large 5-star hotel, a 164 yards 150 m long LED screen, a skating rink and a 15,000-spot parking area. Some of China's most important literature comes from Chengdu. The city is also a major industrial centre. In the 1950s a large thermal power-generating station was built, and two important radio and electronics plants were installed by Soviet experts. A precision-tool and measuring-instrument plant was also established to serve the southwestern region. In addition, there are important engineering shops manufacturing railway equipment and power machinery and, more recently, aircraft. In the 1960s Chengdu became an important centre of China’s national defense industry. A chemical industry—producing fertilizers, industrial chemicals, and pharmaceutical products—was also developed. The city’s oldest industry, textiles, remains important in the production not only of traditional silks but also of cotton and woolen textiles. Since 1990 the economic reforms enacted in China have encouraged the development of Chengdu’s electronic and high-technology industries, including the establishment of a large industrial park in the region.
Must Visit Places ------------

Chengdu Research Base

Established in 1987, the facility began with just six rescued giant pandas, a number that has since grown to 83 animals and seen some 124 panda births. Tours also include a chance to visit the on-site museum featuring exhibits dealing with the reproductive problems of these fickle bears.

Wuhou Shrine

Rebuilt in 1672, this vast temple complex boasts many interesting features. The most interesting include its large central hall with a gilded clay figure of Zhuge Liang; the two small figures on either side of the prince are his son and grandson.

Wenshu Monastery (Manjushri Monastery)

Covering an area of more than 12 acres, the Wenshu (Manjushri) Monastery consists of five separate temples built from wood and stone. The complex was constructed in 1691 above the ruins of an earlier monastery dating from the time of the Southern Dynasties between AD 420 and 589.

Mount Emei and its Temples

Mount Emei (Emeishan), dedicated to the Bodhisattva Puxian, stands 160 kilometers southwest of Chengdu and is well worth a visit. The mountain's highest peak, the Peak of the Ten Thousand Buddhas (Wanfo Ding), reaches a height of 3,099 meters and is revered by Chinese Buddhists as one of the four Holy Mountains, the others being Mount Wutaishan in Shanxi province, Mount Jiuhuashan in Anhui province, and Mount Putuoshan in Zhejiang province.

Du Fu Thatched Cottage

Located on a picturesque bend of the Huanhuaxi River, the complex features lush gardens, numerous pavilions, and lovely bridges and pathways. While not original, most of the buildings date from between 1500 and 1800 and were carefully restored in 1949. Other highlights include the Gong Bu Memorial Hall, with its exhibits portraying the life and work of Du Fu, complete with a foreign language section.