Chengdu Overview
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is called Tianfuzhi guo in Chinese, which literally means "the country of heaven". It is the habitat of giant pandas. It is the technological center, commercial center, financial center as well as traffic center in southwest China. Since September in 2013, Chengdu became the fourth city that allows visa-free 72-hour transits. It means foreigners from 45 countries who fly to a third country going via Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport can visit Chengdu for 72 hours, making pandas and famous UNESCO sites become easy accessible to many foreigners.
Boasting a brilliant culture, Chengdu owns several interesting nicknames. In the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-23 AD), brocade produced in Chengdu enjoyed great popularity among the royal and elite class in China. Since then, Chengdu has been called "Jin Cheng" meaning Brocade city. In the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960), Mengchang, the king of the Later Shu Kingdom, ordered the planting of hibiscus on the fortress wall surrounding the city. After this, Chengdu started being called the City of Hibiscus.
Chengdu is famed for the spicy Sichuan food that has become popular around the globe. Diverse Chengdu local snack will absolutely satisfy your stomach. These dishes are elaborated in color, aroma and taste, boasting a variety of flavors and different methods of cooking. Some famous snacks have interesting origins. When tasting them, you can also feel they are whispering old stories.
Since Chengdu was the capital of Shu during the Three Kingdoms, Chengdu has two splendid art crafts, such as Shu embroidery and Shu brocade. When shopping in Chengdu, these two delicate handicrafts are your best choice not only for aesthetic appreciation but also for practical uses in daily lives. Moreover, E'mei tea in Chengdu is well known both home and abroad. On a balmy summer's day in some tea gardens, you can kick back and enjoy a bottomless cup of tea.
Last but not least, entertainment activities in Chengdu will dazzle your eyes! In addition to the modern bars and clubs, Sichuan opera is a must-to-see known for its humor and dynamism. Face changing show, shaking sleeves and fire breathing will definitely make you marvel at the magic of Chinese opera art.
Chengdu enjoys a humid subtropical weather and is largely mild and humid. Surrounded by high mountains, Chengdu also has a typical basin climate. Spring comes early with all flowers blooming around the Spring Festival time. Summer is hot and stuffy while autumn is cool and pleasant. The best visiting time in Chengdu is from March to June and from September to November. But Chengdu can offer you the best summer resort such as Qingcheng Mountain, Xiling Snow Mountain and Longchi forest park. Enjoying the snowy scene on the Xiling Snow Mountain in winter is a good opportunity in South China.
