Chengdu

2008-02-22 From dreams-travel

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and an important industrial, commercial and financial city in Southwest China. Chengdu is located in one of the country’s richest agricultural plains, and it has an area of 12,300 square km. By rail, Chengdu is 2,048 km from Beijing and slightly over 2 hours by air. It can also be reached by a less than 20-hours train ride about 250 km of tunnels. Chengdu has direct domestic and international fights from elsewhere in China and some countries. The population of Chengdu is about 10 million. They are dividing among eight districts, four outlying cities and eight counties. About 3.5 million people reside in the city center.

During the past 2,300 years, Chengdu never changed its location and its name despite many upheavals. It has always remained as the capital of Sichuan. Fortunately, the Dujiangyan Irrigation system brings the vast Chengdu Plain under irrigation and has protected it against droughts and floods for over 2,300 years. Because of this Chengdu Plain, Chengdu has turned into the land of abundance with a mild climate and fertile soil.

For now even have a great modern change in Chengdu, there are still many miles of bustling backstreets to explore. Strike off on a walk away from the Beijing-style boulevards; free markets, flea markets, pedlar markets, commercial districts, underground shopping malls . Add to the indoor food markets, countless tiny restaurants specializing in Sichuan snacks, the old men walking with their song birds of buddle over a game , one of China’s most intriguing city just be found.