Chengdu, a modern international city of more than ten million, has a long history dating back to 4500 BC, when the social and cultural exchange centre of the ancient Shu Kingdom was established. The discovery last century of the lost Sanxingdui site at Guanghan, about forty kilometres south of Chengdu, is recognized as the most important archaeological find of Sichuan relics. The Sanxingdui Museum is regarded as one of the major historical museums in China. Positioned in the river-sided space northeast of the site and including auxiliary facilities, it covers approximately eighty thousand square metres, of which an area of seven thousand square metres serves as an exhibition centre for both scholars and tourists to study.

As a key traffic hinge in southwest China, the provincial capital city Chengdu is an easy place to enter Sichuan and neighbouring Tibet. The Sichuan-Tibet highway acts as a shortcut in and out. It had been the lifeline of material supply for Tibet prior to the construction of the Qinghai - Tibet railway. With a well-developed traffic network on land and in the air, Chengdu has long been an important inland transfer station. Shuangliu International Airport is seated in the central section of Shuanxi Plain; sixteen kilometres southwest of downtown Chengdu. Located at 30°34’47” N and 103°57’02’’E, the airport caters not only for domestic movement. The ever-increasing international flight destinations include Cambodia, Japan, Singapore, The Netherlands, and Thailand.

An often quoted Chinese saying is, “Once you come to Chengdu, you will not want to leave”. This can be attributed a lot to the enviable, relaxed lifestyle enjoyed by locals and foreigners in a recreational and unhurried tourist city, surrounded by many rivers such as the Funan and the Sha. Famous scenic spots such as Wuhou Temple and Du Fu Thatched Cottage enrich the cultural background of Chengdu. Not far away, Qingcheng Mountain and Snowy Mount Xiling act as summer resorts for the urbanites. World mixed cultural and natural sites, such as Jiuzhaigou Gullies, Leshan and Mount Emei, have been acknowledged by UNESCO as being of great heritage value and significance in relating miracles of the native people’s past and present.

Lying in the central part of Sichuan Province, Chengdu is located near the edge of the west of Sichuan basin, with sloping terrain from northwest to southeast. The deep mounds and mountains are the dominating terrain in the west, with an altitude mostly between one thousand to three thousand metres. The altitude of Shuanghe village in Dayi County is as high as five thousand three hundred and sixty four metres. Its relative altitude is about one thousand metres above sea level. Its east is the heart of Chengdu Plain, which is mainly made up of flat lands and some low hills, with an altitude generally of about seven hundred and fifty metres. The lowermost place, Yuntai Village of Jintang County has an altitude of only three hundred and eighty seven metres.

Since moist subtropical Chengdu is located in a basin, high mountains can be seen just outside of the Chengdu Plain. There are lots of high mountains such as Qingcheng and Snowy Mountain Xiling, with many undeveloped primitive jungles. An interesting phenomenon presents itself here in that high mountains are less than 100 kilometres away from large cities. It has changed the common perception that high mountains and primitive jungle would be restricted to wild and uninhabited areas. The climate is warm, with plentiful rainfall and a clear distinction between the four seasons. The hottest weather is during July and August with monthly average temperatures between 25 and 35 degrees celsius. January is coldest with an average temperature of 5.6 degrees.

Because of the massive altitude difference between the east part and west part of Chengdu, the heat falls sharply with rapid increasing altitude, which leads to the co-existence of two climate patterns of the warm east and the cool west. As a result, a fascinating weather phenomenon can appear in Chengdu - burning sun in one place and heavy rain in another place. Due to the great change of temperature, rainwater can fall behind without leaving any rainwater in the place where you stand. The rainwater chases from behind as you move. The old men call this kind of weather “rain catch-you-up”, but this kind of occurrence is not common. Generally it appears during July and August in the hilly regions of Jintang and Longquan.

In the western mountain region, in a vertical line from the bottom to the mountain top, the temperature at the same time can be different by several degrees. Various climatic zones can be experienced such as - warm temperate, cold temperate, inferior frigid, and frigid. It is exactly these kinds of vertical heat change and weather conditions that attracts to Chengdu extremely abundant types of animals and plants. Thus, allowing people to view splendid sceneries of different climatic zones in many sightseeing spots for minimal travelling cost. For those wishing to see up-close the most loved and recognizable indigenous animal in the People’s Republic of China, the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding and Wolong Panda Reserve are easy enough to get to.

As the capital city, Chengdu occupies an important position in Sichuan containing most of the people. In 2004, the population in Chengdu totalled 10,596,900, next only to ChongQing, Shanghai and Beijing. The population comprised of 5,381,700 males and 5,215,200 females. According to the result of the fifth national census, the Han Nationality made up 99.46％ of the total population and the minority groups (including Tibetan, Yi and Qiang Nationality) accounted for 0.54％. The pace of life is slower than that in other cities. Chengdu women reputedly walk slowly to go shopping, while the men are known to live leisurely. They like to drink tea, play mahjong, or spend time chatting rather than worrying about any troubles.

The people from Suzhou once boasted proudly to Chengdu folk, “In the avenues of our city, you may see one beautiful lady when you walk only three steps.” Chengdu people answered at once, “You could see three beauties when you walk every step in Chengdu”. There is a saying that half of the fair beauties of China live in Sichuan, and half of Sichuan lives in Chengdu. Although this saying is a little exaggerated, you may be attracted by these fair beauties when wandering in the “City of Brocade”; no matter if it is the elegant youth or the elderly woman whose beauty is fading. At that time, you will know clearly the real reason why so many men come to Chengdu. It is supposedly because they have the good luck of seeing such great and plentiful beauty.

According to widespread sentiment, beauties in Chengdu, unlike the ladies from cultured families or the capable and experienced career female repatriates, are the most popular folk ladies. The moist land and less sunlight in Chengdu may be the best place for females. For this reason, Chengdu women seem to have obvious advantages in their appearance, figure and complexion. In terms of personality traits, the gentle temper of Chengdu women is considered just right, unlike the excessive effeminacy of ladies in the south or the “masculinity” of ladies in the north of China. Chengdu women possess a unique mild beauty. If you are fortunate enough to hear the talks of these three kinds of ladies, you may have much more vivid images of them.

When the term “Sichuan Spicy Girl” is used, it does not refer to the hot temper of Chengdu women, but their glib tongue. As a commercial city whose development is based on the small-scale peasant economy, Chengdu is also a consuming city full of the characteristic of citizens. The most characteristic factor of Chengdu is the life interest and the ways of the society. The gag (movements and speeches that make you laugh) and the tease become the essential content and condiment. All these result in the excellent speech craft with unique style. The typical feature of Chengdu people’s speech craft is humorous and full of implied meanings. They are not frank and unreserved in speech, but like to speak in a roundabout way. Additionally, they have rapid response plus expressions.

Chengdu’s food cultures are very famous at home and abroad. There is a statement that “All good foods are found in Chengdu”. In recent years, Sichuan dishes have developed very fast. In addition to the Mapo Toufu, Long Dumpling, Han Steamed Bun, Dragon Dumpling with Meat Stuffing and other famous snacks, more popular dishes are being derived from the hot pot such as boiled kebabs, hot boiled dishes, and lengdanbei. Sichuan cuisine is one of the four famous local cuisines in China; the other 3 being Guangdong cuisine, Shandong cuisine, and Jiangshu cuisine. Tourists from any place can choose whatever they like from Sichuan dish menus. In preparing ingredients, Sichuan food cooks will try to balance strong spicy flavour with light flavour to suit accordingly.

Chinese distilled liquor (rice wine), French brandy, Russian vodka and Scottish whiskey are called the four main distillate spirits in the world. Distilled liquor (also called Rack) was invented by the Chinese, and is regarded as the fifth primary invention of the “Four Great Inventions” in China by experts and scholars. Chinese winemaking history spans four or five thousand years. Sichuan wines are of long standing significance as part of national wine production and wine culture development. Wine production in Sichuan developed in ancient times, and is still unfading nowadays. Spirits such as Luzhou Laojiao, Yibing Wuliangye, Mianzhu Jiannanchun, Chengdu Quanxing, and Swellfun enjoy high reputations around the globe.

If westerners prefer to indulge in more familiar activities, they should check out the areas close by Sichuan University and the American consulate. Well-patronized expat haunts on RenMin NanLu are - the Shamrock Bar, Carol’s Too, the Bookworm, and the Paulaner Bar at the Kempinski Hotel. Over along KeHua BeiLu, there is - Sabrina’s Country Store, Peter’s Tex-Mex Grill, and Grandma’s Kitchen; to name a few. At least ten hostels around town accommodate travellers just passing through. These places tend to change name and owners over time, so it is probably wise for anyone interested to browse the web for current details. The owner of Dave’s Oasis, a budget-conscious café / bar near the southern river, is a small-time travel agent always happy to provide information & advice.

Please tell all our Chengdu friends, that they were recommended by China Expat magazine.

Content courtesy of our good friend Warren Rodwell

For more information please visit his site at www.wocca.zoomshare.com