An Introduction to Chengdu

The history of Chengdu can be traced back 2,400 when the first emperor built his capital here and named the city. Through thousands of years its original name has been kept and its position as the capital and as the significant center of politics, commerce and military of the Sichuan area (once called Shu) has remained unchanged.

 

A summary of the weather of Chengdu might read "an early spring, a hot summer, a cool autumn and a warm (relative to surrounding areas) winter". As of 2014 the administrative area houses 14,427,500 inhabitants, is the fifth-most populous agglomeration in China.

 

Chengdu was the place where the bronze culture, an indispensable part of ancient Chinese culture, originated and the place where the Southern Silk Road started. In addition to its profound historical and cultural background featuring historic places of interest such as the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, Martial Marquis Memorial Temple and Wenshu Monastery, etc., natural beauty abounds in surrounding areas such as in the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area and Huanglong Valley (Yellow Dragon Valley). The natural habitat of giant pandas, Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, supports the world's only giant panda breeding and research base.