Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, lies in the hinterland of the Chengdu Plain, in central Sichuan. Covering a total land area of ??12 , 400 square kilometers, Chengdu has a jurisdiction of over 7 districts, 4 cities and 8 counties. Covering a total area of ??12,400 square kilometers, Chengdu has jurisdiction of 70 districts, 4 cities and 8 counties. By the end of 1999, the population of Chengdu had reached 10.036 million, of which 3.30 million were urban residents. By the end of 1999, the population of Chengdu had reached 10.036 million, of which 3.3 million were urban residents. Chengdu enjoys a long history. 2,500 years ago, Kaiming IX, king of ancient Shu in the Zhou Dynasty (11th century 256BC), started to set up the capital in Chengdu. "A town was built in this area in the first year and the capital in the second year, so the ancestor named the city as Chengdmeans to become a capital. Later on, Chengdu gradually became one of the most important centers of politics, economy and culture in China. It has been the capital for the feudal dynasties five times and twice for the pe asant uprising regimes, known as Dashu and Daxi. As early as in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD)), Ch engdu began to enjoy the fame of one of the Top Five Capitals. In the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Ch engdu was reputed as the Yang (Yangzhou) first, yi (Chengdu) second; it had by then became the economic center just after Yangzhou. In the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-8AD), b rocades p

roduced in Chengdu were very popular in China. So Chengdu was also called the City of Brocade. In the Fiv e Kingdoms Period (907-960), Mengchang, king of the Houshu Kingdom, dec reed to plant hibiscuses on the protective wall of the city, so Chengdu was also called the City of Hibiscus. As one of China's famous historical and cultural cities, Che ngdu enjoys rich tourist resources. 15,500 years ago, a well-known poet in the Jin Kingdom, Zuo Si extolled Chengdu as lofty and pretty. This city has also gained the eulogium by both Li Bai, the poet immortal and Du Fu, the poet sage. With rich cultural heritage and beautiful scenic spots, Chengdu is a peaceful and prosperous city. In this field, it was capitalized in the first year and in the second year Xuanyuan named it the city of Chengdu, that is, it became the capital. Later, Chengdu gradually became the most important political center in the world, with the European knowledge economy and Chinese culture .According to the capital of the feudal dynasty 5 times and twice asant the uprising regime was called Dashu and Daxi. As early as the Han Dynasty (Wai Huixie)) the city of Chengdu began to enjoy a rich reputation as one of the top five capitals. In the Tang Dynasty ( 618), Chengdu City is known as Yang (Yangzhou) 1, Yi (Chengdu) 2; at this time, it has become an economic center second only to Yangzhou. In the Western Han Dynasty (Pai 8ad), 2 Chengdu rocades were produced Very popular. Therefore, it is also called Chengdu City Brocade. During the period of the Uncertain E Kingdom (to be criticized), He Meng, the king of Shu Kingdom, planted 12 reeds on the protective wall of the city, hibiscuses, etc. Chengdu was also called Furong City. As a famous historical and cultural city in China, Chelinshu has rich tourism resources. 15,500 years ago, the famous poets Wang Guojin and Zuo Chengdu Si praised the noble and beautiful. The city also received the cosmology of Li Bai, the poet Du Fu, and the immortal poet Saint. With rich cultural heritage and beautiful scenery, Lin Jinhui is a city of peace and prosperity.

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As the capital city of Sichuan, Chengdu is a city with many faces. On the one hand this is an incredibly modern and vibrant place. Beijing has a relatively relaxed attitude towards this city and as such, Chengdu has blossomed in terms of affluence and investment.

The traditional indus

tries of gold, silver, silk and laquerware have helped to make this city one of the most important centers of commerce in the country. Today, skyscrapers dominate the skyline and Japanese cars and western goods are hugely popular and widely available.

This modernization has no doubt been helped by the important role that Chengdu plays in terms of education and culture in China. Once one of the most important printing centers in the country, Chengdu has a long history as a destination for learned poets and artists to gather and seek inspiration. The great poet Du Fu, made his home here and today there are 14 colleges and an impressive university situated in the city.

Nestled amongst this affluence and development is another side to Chengdu . Traditional wooden Chinese architecture that once dominated this city can still be found in the outskirts although it is fast disappearing. What does still exist here however in abundance, is a great street life. Markets and street hawkers fill the streets dealing in everything you could possibly imagine, from snakes and snails to fortunes and foot scrubs.

Many travelers here are simply killing time or passing through en route to Tibet. This is however, a very pleasant city to do just this: feast on some great food and soak up some of the mellow atmosphere in one of the thousands of tea houses dotted about the city.