Chengdu - Land of Abundance
Chengdu, is the provincial capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China, as well as a major city in Western China. Chengdu is one of the most important economic, finance, commerce, culture, transportation, and communication centers in Western China. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is one of the top 40 busiest airports in the world, and Chengdu Railway Station is one of the six biggest railway stations in China. Chengdu is also popular in international company and consulates. More than 260 Fortune 500 companies and 12 consulates have established branches in Chengdu due to huge demand of Western China. In 2006, it was named China’s 4th-most livable city by China Daily. The fertile Chengdu Plain, on which Chengdu is located, is also known as the “Country of Heaven”, a phrase also often translated as “The Land of Abundance”.
Splendid History
Archaeological discoveries at the Sanxingdui and Jinsha sites have established that the Chengdu region was inhabited over four thousand years ago and was an important center of a unique ancient culture. During the period of Shang and Zhou dynasties, this region was the center of Shu culture. As a central city for at least 2000 years, Chengdu’s influence gradually expanded from the Sichuan basin to Western China. At its height, Chengdu was once named “One of the Five Metropolis” in China and was the second largest city in history.
Economic, Finance and Commerce Centers
China’s State Council has designated Chengdu as the country’s western center of logistics, commerce, finance, science and technology, as well as a hub of transportation and communication. It is also an important base for manufacturing and agriculture. According to the World Bank’s 2007 survey report on global investment environments, Chengdu was declared “a benchmark city for investment environment in inland China”. Also based on a research report published by the State Information Center in 2010, Chengdu has become an “engine” of the Western Development Program, a benchmark city for investment environment in inland China, and a major leader in new urbanization. By the end of 2010, over 200 Fortune 500 companies had set up branches in Chengdu, ranking it first in terms of the number of Fortune 500 companies in Central and Western China. Of these, 149 are foreign enterprises and 40 are domestic companies.
Culture Center
In literature, some of China’s most important literature comes from Chengdu: Chengdu has been home to literary giants, such as Sima Xiangru, Yang Xiong, Li Bai, Su Shi, Yang Shen’an, Guo Moruo and Ba Jin, etc. There are so many celebrities from Chengdu in different kinds of fields, such as fine art, education, theater. Chengdu is also famous for its local dialect, culinary art and tea culture. Chengdu is a culturally rich city, and people enjoy the gentle peace of living.
Transportation Center
Chengdu is served by the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport located in Shuangliu County 16 km southwest of downtown. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is the busiest airport in Central and Western China and the 5th busiest aviation hub nationwide, with a total of 37.75 million in terms of passenger traffic in 2014. The airport with two runways is capable of landing Airbus A-380, the largest commercial (passenger) aircraft to date. Chengdu is the fourth city in China with two commercial use runways, after Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Excellent Higher Education
Chengdu is home to the greatest number of universities and research institutes in Southwestern China. It has 49 colleges and universities, including Sichuan University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and Southwestern University of Finance and Economics. Among them, Sichuan University is one of the most outstanding universities in China.
Comfortable Climate
Chengdu has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate and is largely mild and humid. It has four distinct seasons, with moderate rainfall concentrated mainly in the warmer months, and relieved from both sweltering summers and freezing winters.
Geographical Location
The vast plain on which Chengdu is located has an elevation ranging from 450 meters to 720 meters. Northwest Chengdu is bordered by the high and steep Longmen Mountain. The western mountainous area is also home to a large primitive forest with abundant biological resources and a Giant Panda habitat. East of Chengdu stands the low Longquan Mountain and the west bordering area of the hilly land of middle reaches of Min River. Since ancient times, Chengdu has been known as “the Abundant Land” owing to its fertile soil, favorable climate, and novel Dujiangyan Irrigation System.
Population: 14 million
Temperature: average 15.7 °C (60.26°F)
