City Introduction

Chengdu, abbreviated as Rong, is the provincial capital of Sichuan Province. It is the science and technology center, commerce and trade center, finance center as well as transportation and communication hub in Southwestern China. With a long history, Chengdu has been titled ""the land of abundance”. It is within the first batch of National Famous Historic and Cultural Cities of China. Chengdu, the former Shu, was re-established when combined with Ba in Qin Dynasty. It got the name of “City of Jinguan” from the special official position in charge of brocade industry in Han Dynasty. During the time of Shu in the Five Dynasties, it was given another name of “City of Lotus” since lotus had been widely planted within the city. In 1921, the city of Chengdu was established. Chengdu is one the most ancient cities remaining at the same place since its establishment in 311 B.C., only second to Suzhou (established in 514 B.C.). Chengdu is a city that provokes your thoughts. It is call “Fog City” since it is covered in fogs during most time of the year.

It is also an attractive city where you can find delicious Sichuan cuisine, Sichuan opera, beautiful girls, pleasant life and historical stories. Many generals and ministers have lived on this land. It has been closely connected with numerous influential celebrities in Chinese history, such as Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, Li Bai, Du Fu, Su Shi and his son, etc. In today’s Chengdu, you can also find the solemn Zhuge Liang Memorial Hall, the Du Fu Thatched Cottage with intensive cultural ambience as well as the amazing water conservancy construction.

 

 

 

 

History and Culture

Chengdu, an ancient city with a long history of over 2,300 years, is one of the first batch of 24 famous historical and cultural cities approved by the State Council of P.R.C. In 311 B.C., citizens of Qin Dynasty built the city of Chengdu following the organizational style of Xianyang, the capital of Qin. The circumference of the city measured 12 li (1 li equals 500 meters) and 7 zhang (1 zhang equals three and one third meters) in height. The city of Chengdu was officially established in that year. In 256 B.C., Li Bing, Prefecture Chief of Shu, and his son led the people living on two banks of Minjiang River to build the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, which has been irrigating the Chengdu Plain for over 2000 years. As a result, Chengdu, a rich land with moderate climate and abundant resources, is called “City of Abundance”, where no natural floods or draughts occur. In the history of China, Chengdu, with densely covered water network and numerous bridges across the rivers, was also known as a “Flower City” for the green trees and blooming flowers around the city. Chengdu, in the past 2,000 years or more, has always been an important political, economic and military place with strategic importance in Southwestern China. In 1952, when Sichuan was re-established as a province, Chengdu was set as its provincial capital and maintained the title till today. In Tang and Song Dynasties, the music, singing and dancing performance as well as drama had been prosperously developed with the title of “Shu Drama, champion of all performing arts”. The musical instrument making was also famous nationwide. The wall painting of Daci Temple in Chengdu has been called “No.1 in the world”. Tea drinking culture originated from China. And Sichuan is the place where China’s tea drinking culture was born. While in Sichuan, tea trade was firstly conducted in Chengdu Xinjin. At the earliest record in Chinese poems about tea drinking is also in Chengdu. In Tang and Song Dynasties, it used to be the major place where tea was produced and traded in China. Ever since the Qing Dynasty, the teahouse culture in Chengdu has maintained it unique character till present. The number of teahouses here ranks the first in the world.

 

 

 

 

Natural Environment

Located in the middle of Sichuan Province, Chengdu stands to the west of Sichuan Basin and adjoins Deyang in the northeast and Ziyang in the southeast. It neighbors Ya’an in southwest and borders A Ba Tibetan & Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in northwest. Chengdu, a piece of inland area, stays 1,600 km away from the East China Sea and 1,090 km from the South China Sea. The great difference in altitude between east and west Chengdu directly results in the different spatial distribution of moisture, heat and many other climate factors. Accordingly, there exists a variety kinds of biological resources covering a complete range and relatively concentrated distribution in Chengdu city area.

 

 

 

 

Climate Changes

The climate resource in Chengdu is quite unique: 1. The climate in the east and the west is totally different. There exists a big difference in terrain between the east and the west. Hot air reduces sharply with the fast increase of altitude, thus two types of different climate have formed. Within the same city, it is warm in the east and cold in the west. On the mountainous areas around the basin in the west, the temperature may vary in several degrees between the top and bottom of the mountain during the same time period. The vertical changes of heat have provided an advantageous condition for diversified agricultural operations in Chengdu. 2. In Chengdu, it is cold and wet in winter and spring always come early with a longer frost-free period, four distinctive seasons and abundant heat. 3. It rains little in spring and winter and rains a lot in summer and autumn with plentiful rainfall.

 

 

 

 

Useful Information

Best time to visit Chengdu: March to June; September to November.The two periods above-mentioned, during which the temperature in Chengdu is moderate with few rainfalls, are ideal for tourism. Besides, despite the high temperature of Chengdu in July and August, there are several ideal summer resorts near Chengdu, such as Mount Qingcheng, Xiling Snow Hill, Jiulonggou, Jiufeng Mountain, Tiantai Mountain, etc. In winter, tourists to provinces in South China are suggested to enjoy the snow-covered landscape at Xiling Snow Hill.

Information of Embassy and Consulate

Foreign tourists can contact local consulate during their trip in Sichuan. Information about major consulates are listed below:

U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu

No. 4 Lingshiguan Road, Chengdu, Sichuan

Tel: (86-28) 8558 3992

GFR (German Federal Republic) Consulate General in Chengdu

Address: F6, Wiston Federation Mansion, No. 19 Renmin South Road, Section 4, Chengdu, Sichuan

France Consulate General in Chengdu (Consulat général de France à Chengdu)

Address: F30, Shidai Square, No. 2 Zongfu Road, Chengdu, Sichuan

ROK (Republic of Korea) Consulate General in Chengdu

Address: F19, Tianfu Lvzhou Mansion, No. 2 Xia’nan Street, Chengdu, Sichuan

Consulate General of Kingdom of Thailand in Chengdu

Address: F2, Kempinski Hotel, No. 42 Renmin South Road, Section 4, Chengdu, Sichuan

Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore in Chengdu

Address: F1, Guancheng Square, No. 308 Shuncheng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan

Pakistan Consulate General in Chengdu

F8, Winston Federation Mansion, No. 19 Renmin Road, Section 4, Chengdu, Sichuan

 

 

 

 

Visa Information

Foreigners have to apply for a Chinese visa before their visit to China.

Unless the exemption of visa provided in related treaties or provisions thereof, foreigners need to obtain a Chinese visa before entering China.

Prior to their visit to China, foreigners should check whether the visa is valid. If the visa expires or there is the insufficient number of entry, they should re-apply for a new visa.

(I) Validation of Visa (EnterBefore): It means the period of validity of the visa itself, from the date of issuance of the visa to the date of its holder allowed to enter China (subject to Beijing time). If the number of entry is still not used before the expiry date (including the day), the holder may enter the country.

(II) ""Entries"": It means how many times the visa holder may be allowed to enter the Chinese borders during the valid period.

If entries run out or entries don’t run out but go beyond the valid period, then the visa still becomes invalid. Prior to their visit to China, they shall re-apply for a new visa. If the holder enters China with an invalid visa, he or she will be refused to enter the country.

(III) Duration of Each Stay: It means the maximum number of days for which the holder is allowed to stay in China during each entry, which is the longest duration calculated from the date of entry, to allow the holder to stay in China.

Foreigners staying in China if exceeds the permitted period of stay without handling the visa extension formalities, will be fined or punished in a violation of ""The Exit and Entry Administration Law for Foreigners of People's Republic of China"" and ""Implementing Rules on the Exit and Entry Administration Law for Foreigners of People's Republic of China"" and other relevant laws and regulations. Therefore, in case the holder stays in China beyond the permitted period of stay in the visa, he or she must apply for an extension by going to a local public security organ at county level or above prior to the expiry date of the visa (for the specific requirements, please refer to the local public security organ website) (but is not necessarily approved). Chinese embassies and consulates abroad are responsible to handle no visa extension."

 

 

 

 

Currency Exchange

Use the currency of Renmingbi. In case of currency exchange, please check real-time daily RMB foreign exchange rates.

 

 

 

 

Religion

None

 

 

 

 

Tourism Service Number

Tourism Law Enforcement Brigade of Chengdu

Tourism Complaint Hotline: 028-96527、96927

Tourism Law Enforcement Corps of Sichuan Province

Contact Tel.: 028-86702259、86702205、86702159

Chengdu Emergency Medical Rescue Center

Contact Tel.: 120/028-85320802, Address: No. 516 West Fucheng Avenue, Chengdu

 

 

 

 

Notes

1. There are plenty of historical sites in Chengdu and neighboring areas. Visitors shall cherish and protect the cultural relics and historic sites. Scratching or scribbling is strictly prohibited.

2. More knowledge about the history and culture of Chengdu will deepen your understanding of this city and make your trip more enjoyable.

3. Food in Chengdu are mostly pungent and spicy. Those unused to eat spicy food may catch diarrhea. Please bring some stomach medicine and anti-diarrheal medicine.

4. Most famous snacks are found in “fly restaurants” (small restaurants with poor sanitary environment). Despite the old-fashioned appearance, the taste of the food there will bring you much surprise."

 

 

 

 

Festivals(Important/Historical/Folk Ones)

Huanglongxi Fire Dragon Festival

Date: January 2nd to January 15th of the lunar calendar

In Hulongxi Town of Shuangliu County, the Fire Dragon Festival is a traditional folk activity with strong ethic flavor. During the festival, the whole town are decorated by red lanterns, red couplets and red candles to create the propitious and bright atmosphere. There are abundant activities, including fire dragon burning, colored dragon performance, south lion performance, river lantern floating, fireworks, Sichuan opera, etc.

Chengdu Lantern Festival

Date: January 15th of the lunar calendar

It is a traditional folk festival developed from the traditional Lantern Festival and it lasts for one month. Widely known in and out of China, this festival constitutes an important part for the content of Chengdu as a famous historical and cultural city. Chengdu Lantern Festival, with a long history of over 1,800 years, originated from the West Han Dynasty. It was shaped in the East Han Dynasty, further developed in Tang Dynasty and finally grew into a festival in modern times.

At the festival, various kinds of lanterns will be placed in groups into the beautiful gardens according to different themes or stories.

Chengdu Flower Festival

Date: February of the lunar calender

Chengdu used to be a famous “Flower City” in ancient time. According to traditional customs, the “flower festival” was held around “the birthday of all flowers” (February 15th of the lunar calendar) and the custom remained till today. The festival is held in Qingyang Palace outside Ximen in Chengdu, where famous and precious flowers, family-cultivated potted flowers and bonsais will be exhibited and sold.

Chengdu International Peach Blossom Festival

Date: Middle and late March

Peach blossoms at Longquan Mountain are unparalleled in Chengdu. In March, Chengdu International Peach Blossom Festival will be grandly held. Red and pink flowers blossom at Longquan Mountain. During the festival, you can enjoy the flower exhibition, investment promotion meeting water dragon festival in addition to grand art shows.