Chengdu mountains. Chengdu city is the capital of Sichuan province

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province, a major economic center of China and at the same time one of the oldest cities in the country. Modernity and history are intricately intertwined here with each other, creating a unique flavor of the city. In Chengdu and its environs, many monuments of past eras have been preserved, including temples of different religions, Buddhist sculpture and the house of the great poet Du Fu, who laid down more than two hundred of his masterpieces in it. In addition, in the vicinity of Chengdu there is a panda breeding center open to tourists. Chengdu is also famous as a place where you can taste Sichuan cuisine, whose delicious dishes are becoming more and more popular in China.
Geography. The city of Chengdu is located in the southwestern part of China, in the valley of the Minjiang River and is the administrative center of Sichuan Province. It is a major transport hub and machine-building center with a population of four million people, and taking into account the suburbs - more than eleven million

Climate

Chengdu has a subtropical humid climate with short winters and long summers. Summer here is hot and humid, in the daytime the air temperature averages +29 C (sometimes it can rise up to +33 C). In winter, the air sometimes cools to zero, but snowfalls are rare in Chengdu. The greatest amount of rain falls in July - August. In addition, Chengdu is characterized by cloudy weather, often fogs. A warm pleasant spring lasts from March to April, and an equally short but cooler autumn from October to November.

Story

Chengdu originated in the 4th century BC. e. Until 316 B.C. e. Chengdu was the capital of the Shu kingdom, during the Three Kingdoms era from 221 to 263 - the capital of the Shu-Han kingdom, and during the Five Dynasties in 908-965 - the capital of the Later Shu (Later Shu) kingdom. At the beginning of N. e. Chengdu was famous for its brocade production and was also called Jincheng ("brocade city").
In 1644-46. Chengdu was occupied by Zhang Xianzhong's rebel army. Since the second half of the 17th century, after the conquest of China by the Manchus, it became the administrative center of Sichuan province. In September 1911, the Sichuan Uprising of 1911 took place here. Until December 27, 1949, Chengdu was under the rule of the Kuomintang.
As a result of its own history, Chengdu is still known as the city of lace (Jin Chen) or the city of hibiscus (Rong Chen). After 14 colleges were built in the city, among which was Sichuan University (1927), the city received the status of a cultural center .
After the Cultural Revolution, the tradition of Chengdu tea houses was revived.

What to see

• Giant Panda Sanctuary. Panda Center is located 18 km from the center of Chengdu in a suburban area. The park recreates the natural habitat of giant pandas. The area of ​​the park is about 37 hectares. In addition to pandas, other rare animals live here. The area of ​​the park is 96% covered with trees. You can see many giant pandas of different ages. In the nursery, they live in spacious enclosures and nibble on fresh bamboo - it's not for nothing that the panda is declared a national treasure of China, they treat it here as a treasure. Also on the territory of the park is a large museum, opened in 1993. The museum has more than 2,000 exhibits of various representatives of the fauna of Sichuan.
• Mount Qingchenshan has 37 peaks. This is one of the places of pilgrimage for Taoist pilgrims. Several palaces, towers and pavilions lurk in the bosom of this mountain.
• Celestial Master's Cave(Tianshi Dong). The legendary founder of the Tao religion, Zhang Daolin, preached his teachings here, and from that time on, the cave began to bear the name of the cave of the heavenly master. The temple was built during the Sui Dynasty, but it was rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. Here you can see a terracotta statue of Zhang Daolin and three 90 cm statues depicting three rulers who lived in China in ancient times: Fuxi, Shengong and Xianyuan.
• Valley of the Nine Villages(Jiuzhaigou). The valley is located 110 km from Huanglong, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. The valley is distinguished by the surrounding forested hillsides, but the main attraction of the valley are 108 teardrop-clean ponds. The valley is at its most beautiful in autumn when the foliage changes color.
• Du Fu Cottage. The home of Dufu, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty, is located in the west of the city, on the banks of the Huanhuaxi River. Du Fu (712-770) is one of the most prominent Chinese poets who lived in the Tang era (618-907), whose work is still considered the pinnacle of Chinese poetry. According to legend, little Du Fu wrote his first poem when he was only 7 years old, and even then his talent was highly appreciated. The poet traveled a lot, at one time was an adviser to Emperor Suzong, was imprisoned for criticizing the ruler and died in his junk boat in Hunan in 770, having spent his last years wandering like "a lone seagull between sea and sky." The poet ended up in Chengdu in 759, having fled from Chang'an, which was mired in war, which was the capital at that time. In the new place, the poet built himself a modest hut with a thatched roof and lived there for four years, during which he wrote 240 of the 1400 works that have come down to us. After the poet left the city, the hut was abandoned, and only three centuries later, another famous Chinese poet, Wei Zhuang, ordered a park to be set up on this site, paying tribute to the memory of Du Fu's talent. Since then, the park has been completed and rebuilt several times, and the main reconstruction works that determined the modern look of the complex were carried out in 1500 and 1811. The garden surrounding the buildings with thatched roofs deserves special attention. In addition to dense bamboo, magnolias, camellias, azaleas, laurel, apple trees, plums and about 25 other tree species grow here. The modest-looking pavilions house a memorial hall, Du Fu's abode and a small museum where you can get acquainted with the biography and creative activity of the great poet. In the premises you can also see statues of the poet, his books published during the reign of different dynasties, stone steles and other items reminiscent of an outstanding person.
• The ancient village of Huanlusi. 30 km southeast of Chengdu in Shaongliu County, among the picturesque landscapes, lies the ancient village of Huanglongxi, whose history goes back more than 2000 years. The name of the ancient town is literally translated from Chinese as "mountain stream of the yellow dragon." The history of the city began in the Western Han era (206 BC - 24 AD), and in the era of the Three Kingdoms (220-280) the city became an important military point associated with Chengdu, the capital of the Shu kingdom at that time. This place attracts tourists today not only with its extraordinary picturesqueness, but also with the opportunity to get acquainted with the old Chinese culture and customs. The city has seven ancient streets built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) eras, the houses on which are well preserved to this day. The streets are paved with stone slabs, the houses are decorated with porches with columns and engraved frames, the roofs are covered with tiles. This is one of the few places in China that has retained its medieval appearance. In many houses, taverns are now open where you can have a delicious lunch and try the local specialty drink - soy yogurt. Tea houses, which are found everywhere, also deserve special attention. In picturesque rooms decorated with bamboo, the best Sichuan teas are also served. On the main street you can see three ancient temples - Gulun, Zhenjiang and Chaoyin, where temple holidays are celebrated annually (June 9 and September 9 according to the lunar calendar). Visitors to the city can not only walk along the streets and see the Ming and Qing buildings, but also take a river walk, during which their path will lie along the ancient houses on stilts, reflecting the residential culture of the Shu people. Another attraction of Huanglongxi is six thousand-year-old ficus trees. The districts of the city also have interesting caves, a former battlefield and rock burials of the Han era, discovered recently and of great interest to historians.
• The ancient settlement of Sanxingdui. A few decades ago, in the suburbs of Chengdu, 16 km from Xindu, a sensational discovery was made that amazed the whole world, and historians had another unsolved mystery of China. Some sources claim that the discovery was made by archaeologists looking for Shan settlements, others, as usual, adhere to the more romantic version that an ordinary peasant stumbled upon the sensation while working in the field. Be that as it may, in 1986, in the suburbs of Chengdu, real treasures were discovered in the ground - elephant tusks, gold, bronze and jade items and sculptures, specially broken before burial. During the excavations that followed the discovery, an entire settlement from the period of 3000 BC was found. - 1000 BC, once belonged to a developed civilization, but for unknown reasons abandoned. Historians suggest that this city may have been the capital of the semi-mythical Ba-Shu culture. The fact that Sanxingdui is located on the same latitude as Mount Everest, the Bermuda Triangle and the Mayan civilization, one of the most mystical places on the planet, makes this dead settlement and the discovered artifacts even more mysterious. Even without that, the finds that can be viewed at the Sanxingdui Museum inspire a sense of awe and horror. Huge human-sized bronze statues froze in bizarre poses with outstretched arms and bulging eyes, large masks with strange, non-Asian, some kind of alien faces, blurred in a frightening grin, give historians new ground for thinking about the mysterious lost civilization. Among the main finds are a golden staff depicting human heads and eight "heavenly" bronze trees 3.6 m high, cast in bronze. Experts say that the technique of making such a tree is extremely complicated, and it took more than three years to restore only one such exhibit using the most modern technologies, so how the ancient masters managed to create such a miracle is a real mystery. Presumably, a tree entwined with a dragon, which has human palms with knives instead of paws, symbolizes the Universe, and its fruits - the Sun, Moon and stars. The Sanxingdui Museum is open daily from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
• Soul Pagoda. On Lingyunshan Mountain stands the Soul Pagoda (Lingbao Ta), the height of the building is 38 m, it dates back to the reign of the Song Dynasty. From here you have a beautiful view of the surroundings.
• Chengdu Mosque, located in the south of the city, was partially destroyed during Japanese air raids in 1941. The prayer hall, 15.7 m long and 11.7 m wide, lined with enameled tiles, remained intact. On the crossbar there is an inscription “the seventh year of the Qianlong Empire”, which means that the mosque was built in 1742.
• Monastery of Precious Light(Baoguang Si) is located in the small town of Xudu, 189 km from Chengdu. It is believed that the monastery was built during the Han Dynasty. More than 20 buildings (pagoda, 5 temples and 16 courtyards) are scattered over an area of ​​​​8 hectares, almost all of them were built in 1670.
• Wang Jian's grave, the ruler of the early Shu Empire, also known as the "eternal mausoleum" is located in the northwest of the city. The 15-meter building is divided into three halls. In the central hall there is a decorated sarcophagus of the king, and in the next hall there is a stone statue of Wang Jian.
• Wanjianglou Park. The park was made famous by the famous poetess Xue Tao (769-834) who lived here. In the park there is a 30-meter four-story tower "River View". Nearby is a functioning fountain from the Tang Dynasty. It is believed that the poetess used the waters of the fountain to produce red paper. There are several buildings in the park, all built in her honor: the Poetry Recitation Tower (Yinshi Lou), the Paper Washing Pavilion (Wanjian Ting), and the Lace Washing Tower (Zhou Lou). The poetess was very fond of bamboo, so a grove of 140 different varieties of bamboo was planted here in her honor.
• Park of Culture. In the cultural park (Wenhua Gongyuan), located in the west of the city, there is an old Taoist Qingyang Temple dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Modern buildings date back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
• Manjushri temple. The temple is located in the north of the city and covers an area of ​​5 hectares. The temple complex includes five temples made of stone and wood, built on the ruins of a monastery from the time of the southern dynasties. In the Shofa Tan hall there are 10 bronze statues of Buddhist guardian gods. And in the Cangjing Lou Hall there are bronze statues of Buddha and Buddhist saints.
• Temple of Prince Wu. The first temple was built by Li Xiong in 302 in honor of Zhuge Liang, a strategist and statesman, famous to this day. Zhuge Liang was also the Chancellor of the Shu Han Empire. For his services, Liang was awarded the title of prince in 223. In the central hall of the temple there is a gilded clay statue of Zhuge Liang, in front of which there are three bronze drums. The two small sculptures on the sides of Zhuge Liang's figure depict his son and grandson. There is also a temple dedicated to Liu Bei, the ruler of the Shu Han Empire. Nearby is a mound under which his remains are buried. In the covered side corridors, 28 terracotta statues of ministers, generals and senior officials of the Shu Han state are exhibited. In front of each of the statues is a small stele that tells about the life of this person.
• Temple of the Dragon Slayer(Fulong Guan). At the northern end of a small island in the river stands the Temple of the Dragon Slayer. According to legend, the Minjiang River overflowed its banks so often because a cunning dragon made his lair in its waters. Li Bing and his son were able to capture the dragon by putting it on a chain, so that there was no need to fear floods. It is not known exactly when the first temple in honor of the dragon slayer was built, it is only known that the modern building belongs to the Qing Dynasty. The stone statue of Li Bing was carved in 168. Its height is 2 m, and its weight is 4.5 tons, the year and month of the sculpture can be read on the chest of the statue.
• Leshan- a small town 120 km from Chengdu, at the southern foot of the Linyunshan Mountain. In ancient times, the town of Leshan was called Jiazhou and had the reputation of having "the most beautiful scenery in Sichuan." It was known for its abundance of flowering Chinese apple trees and was also called Xianggu - "fragrant city". Currently, Leshan is one of the most visited cities in the province due to the sights located in the area - the Emei Mountains and the giant stone Buddha.
• Great Buddha Leshan. In the city you can see the colossal stone statue of Maitreya. The height of the statue is 71 m, it was carved from a single rock. The Buddha sits at the confluence of three rivers - Qingyi, Min and Dadu, which, according to legend, were once turbulent capricious streams and brought many troubles to the locals. In the 8th century AD, one of the monks named Khaitun decided to help people and came up with a beautiful solution - to hollow out a huge idol in the mountain, and to cover the streams with pebbles obtained from the mountain during construction, which interfered with navigation and disturbed the peasants. It took the novice 20 years to raise the necessary funds in order to begin to implement his plan. It is said that towards the end of his life, in fruitless attempts to get the necessary amount from the authorities to continue the work, Khaitun became blind, and other monks continued his work. The grandiose construction began in 713 and lasted 90 years, ending in 803 with the participation of the local ruler Wei Gao. The Big Buddha inspires a sense of awe with its size, grandeur and impartial face, and its view captures more and more as you approach it by boat. Being at the feet of the Buddha, which is equal to the height of a 23-story building, you feel like a miserable grain of sand. For almost a century that took to build the colossus, numerous monastic cloisters were also built in the vicinity, which are now of historical and cultural value. In 1996, the Buddha and Mount Etaishan were included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. The statue is the largest Buddha statue in the world..
• Mount Emeishan, dedicated to the Bodhisattva Puxian, is located 160 km southwest of Chengdu. The highest peak of Emeishan is called Ten Thousand Buddha Peak, it reaches a height of 3099 m. The mountain is revered by Chinese Buddhists as one of the four holy mountains (other mountains are Wutai Mountain in Shanxi Province, Jiuhuashan Mountain in Anhwei Province and Mount Putuo Shan in Zhejiang Province). The first Taoist temple was built on the mountain during the Han Dynasty (25-220). During the Tang Dynasty, the mountain became a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists due to the more than 200 shrines built here during that time. 20 temples and monasteries have survived to this day, the plans of the local government include their complete restoration. Translated from Chinese, the name of the mountain "emei" means "beautiful", "charming", and one legend is associated with this name. Tradition says that a long time ago there was a plain and a small town in which there was a Buddhist monastery. Once a wanderer came up to the door of the monastery and asked the monk for permission to spend the night, to which he received consent. The Stranger turned out to be an artist and in the morning, in gratitude to the monk, he painted on four canvases after a lovely girl. However, the enigmatic artist warned the novice that the paintings should be hidden in a chest and not removed from there until 49 days had passed. With these words, he left. The monk, left alone, took out the canvases and hung them on the walls, unable to hide such beauty in the chest. After admiring the pictures, he went to pray, and returning to his cell, to his great surprise, he found that the beauties had miraculously left the pictures and appeared before his eyes in their full splendor. The unrestrained servant of the monastery immediately forgot the Buddhist precepts forbidding spending the night under the same roof with a woman, and tried to grab one of the written beauties, when suddenly, as soon as he touched the skirt of the most beautiful girl, she immediately turned into a mountain peak! Three other girls, seeing what happened, did not want to leave their friend and also turned into mountains. Since then, these four beautiful peaks, dressed in lush forests and pearly clouds, have stood at this place, known as Mount Emei: one at a distance and three side by side.
• Ancient irrigation works of Dujiangyan. The Dujiangyan complex of buildings is a brilliant pearl of the irrigation construction of ancient China. Despite its venerable age - more than 2200 years - the complex still serves people. Dujiangyan is located at the foot of the Yulei Mountains, located in the western part of Guanxian County, Sichuan Province, which is the highest point in the northwest of the Chengdu Plain. The Dujiangyan large irrigation complex is considered an original scientific object and testifies to a breakthrough in the irrigation construction of ancient China, during which a method of diverting water without the help of a dam was undertaken. The structures are located on the nodal section of the plain. In its main part, the complex is formed by three structures: the watershed dam Fengshuyujuyjuy ("Maw of the fish"), the Feishayan flood control canal ("Flying Sands"), the drainage structure of Bao Pingkou ("Magic Bottle Neck"). These structures, being closely connected with each other, interact in a single complex, limiting and regulating each other, together they make up a carefully planned and rationally located hydraulic facility, which simultaneously performs irrigation, flood control and transport functions. Dujiangyan is located in an extremely picturesque area full of historical sights. Large-scale irrigation facilities, majestic mountains, beautiful gardens, thrilling legends, Fulun (Reclining Dragon) Temple, Erwan (Two Knights) Temple, and suspension bridge attract numerous domestic and foreign tourists. In 2000, the Qingchenshan Mountains and the Dujiangyan complex of buildings were included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

What to buy

The most famous souvenirs in Chengdu are Sichuan brocade, lacquerware, embroidery, and bamboo-covered porcelain. The cost of brocade varies from 80 to 200 yuan, depending on the size. Small porcelain vases with bamboo cost between 30 and 50 yuan, and large ones between 500 and 600 yuan. You can find all the souvenirs at the largest handicraft market Songxianqiao. It is opposite the Qingyang Temple.
In the evening, there is an antique market on Zhenming Nan Lu Street, opposite Jingjiang Hotel. There you can find very beautiful souvenirs, such as woodcarving or calligraphy. Since the province of Sichuan borders Tibet in the west, there is also a Tibetan market. In the southwestern part of Chengdu, opposite the Wuhou Temple, you will find many Tibetan souvenirs.
Shu Brocade Factory and Academy. Address: Caotang East Street 1
Sichuan antiques shop. Address: Shudu Avenue, Shaocheng Road, 6e
Bamboo factory. Address: Jiefang Street 12
Shop of Sichuan arts and crafts. Address: Sichuan Exhibition Hall, Middle People's Street (Renminzhong lu), 16. .
Factory of lacquerware. Address: Jinhe Street, 81
Wholesale center Hehuachi (Hehuachi). Address: third section of the second ring highway

Where and what to eat

Chengdu has a local Sichuan cuisine that is becoming more and more popular throughout China. It is characterized by abundant use of pepper and other hot spices. Among the main culinary techniques of Sichuan cuisine are frying, steaming, stewing, but the full list of techniques will consist of at least 20 items. Beef is more popular in Sichuan cuisine than in other provinces. It is cut into thin pieces and quickly fried, but is sometimes steamed and rolled in rice flour to make a thick gravy. The most famous Sichuan dishes are pork with fish flavor (yuxiang zhousi), spicy chicken cubes with peanuts (gongbao jiding), pork cooked in spicy sauce (huiguo zhoupien).
If Sichuan cuisine is not to your liking, then Chengdu has a large number of excellent restaurants that offer cuisine from other regions of China, Asia and Europe. In addition, Chengdu has a network of McDonald's.

• Old Ma Imperial City Restaurant (Huangcheng Laoma). This restaurant belongs to a chain of restaurants open throughout China for the most solvent visitors. Address: Shenlong Road, 14.
• Tanya's Fish Head Restaurant. This restaurant got its name in honor of its creator named Tan. The restaurant has become famous for its delicacy of fish heads, prepared in the style of "Hot pot" (hot pot).
• Restaurant Yulin Chuanchuan Xiang. The name of the restaurant comes from the name of a dish that is especially popular among the female half of Chengdu residents. It can be very expensive or very inexpensive. In principle, this is still the same "Hot pot (hot pot)" with the only difference that the ingredients - vegetables, meat, poultry, shrimp - are not just lowered into the cauldron, but strung on a small bamboo skewer and dipped into boiling water at one end. bouillon. You can think of it as a fast version of Hot Pot - instead of a long, leisurely meal with friends, you just buy a certain set on a skewer. Chuanchuan Xiang can be bought on the street or ordered in an expensive restaurant.
• Muslim Restaurants in Chengdu
• Yuexiangcun niuro restaurant. This restaurant is located in the center of Chengdu. Prices are moderate. The restaurant specializes in beef dishes. Address: Dongcheng Gennan Road, 66.
• Restaurant "Tianfanglou". Address: 108 Xiyu Street, mosque building.
• Restaurant "Shanshui Pavilion Vegetarian Teahouse". Address: No.56, Zijing Nan Road, Wuhou District.

CHENGDU- a city of sub-provincial significance in southwestern China, in the valley of the Minjiang River, the administrative center of Sichuan Province.

Population - 14.0 million people (2010), the 5th most populated city in China.

The emblem of the city is the ancient gold disc "Birds of the Golden Sun", found in 2001 during excavations of the Jinsha culture within the city.

Chengdu originated in the 4th century BC. e. When people came to these places during the founding of the Shu kingdom, they were told: “In the first year, establish a region, in the second year, establish a city” (一年成邑, 二年成都); from the words "establish the city" (成都) and the name "Chengdu" appeared. In the ancient kingdom of Shu, Chengdu, Xindu and Guangdu (modern Shuangliu), collectively referred to as the “three Du” (三都), were famous, but later it was Chengdu that rose, and Xindu and Guangdu have now become its constituent parts.

At the beginning of our era, Chengdu was famous for the production of brocade and was also called Jincheng ("city of brocade"). Until 316 B.C. e. Chengdu was the capital of the Shu kingdom, in the Three Kingdoms era from 221 to 263 - the capital of the Shu-Han kingdom, in the first half of the 4th century - the capital of the Cheng state, at the beginning of the 5th century - the capital of the Western Shu state, and in the period of the Five Dynasties - the capital of the Early Shu and Late Shu. In 994, Chengdu was for some time the capital of the rebel state of Li Shu.

In 1644-46, Chengdu was occupied by the rebel army of Zhang Xianzhong, becoming the capital of the Great Western State he created. During the years of the Great Peasant War, the Manchurian conquest of China and the war of the three tributary princes, the city was badly damaged and practically depopulated. After the establishment of the Qing Dynasty, the government had to take special measures to repopulate the deserted Sichuan province, and the city gradually recovered. The province of Sichuan was separated into a separate military governorship, and from 1731 Chengdu became the residence of the governor of Sichuan.

Until the 20th century, Chengdu was a county town that did not have its own governing bodies. In 1928, the counties of Chengdu and Huayang were officially merged into Chengdu City, with their own governments.

On December 27, 1949, the People's Liberation Army of China entered Chengdu, and Chengdu became part of the PRC. In 1952, the province of Sichuan was restored, and Chengdu became a city of direct provincial subordination, it housed the provincial government.

Geography and climate

The city is located on the western tip of the Sichuan Basin, on the Chengdu Plain. The city district stretches for 192 km from west to east and 166 km from north to south with an area of ​​12,390 km². It borders on the urban districts of Deyang, Ziyang, Meishan and Ya'an, as well as on the Ngawa-Tibet-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. The urban area is located at an altitude of about 500 m above sea level. The lowest point of Chengdu urban area is 378 m, outside the city, the terrain is more diverse.

The climate of Chengdu is characterized as humid subtropical. Comfortable for both human habitation and agriculture. The Qinling Mountains protect the city from the penetration of northern air masses from Siberia, so the winter in Chengdu is milder than in the lower part of the Yangtze. The average January temperature is 5.6 °C; snow falls extremely rarely, although short-term frosts are sometimes possible. Summers are humid and rather hot, but not as hot as in the cities down the Yangtze. Average temperatures in July and August are around 25°C, although during the day they can reach 33°C and higher. Sustained heat waves are also quite rare. The greatest amount of precipitation falls from June to September.

Administrative-territorial division[edit | edit wiki text]
The sub-provincial city of Chengdu is divided into 9 districts, 4 urban counties, 6 counties.

Economy

Chengdu is a major center of economy, trade, finance, science and technology, as well as an important center of transport and communications. According to the 2007 World Bank report on the global investment climate, Chengdu was declared the benchmark for China's investment climate. Also, according to a study conducted by Nobel economics laureate Robert Mundell and renowned Chinese economist Li Yining, published by the National Information Center in 2010, Chengdu has become the engine of the Western development program and the benchmark of China's investment climate, as well as the main center of new urbanization.

In 2010 alone, 12 Fortune 500 companies including ANZ Bank, Nippon Steel Corporation and Electricite De France opened their offices, branches or operations centers in Chengdu. In total, at the end of 2010, more than 200 companies from this list had their offices in Chengdu, which is the highest figure among the cities of western and central China. The city has become the largest center for attracting investments in the western part of the country.

Manufacturing plays an important role in the economy. Major industries in Chengdu include machinery, equipment, food, medicine, and IT products. The largest enterprises in these industries include Chengdu Sugar and Wine Co. Ltd., Chengdu Food Group, Sichuan Medicine Co. Ltd., Chengdu Automobile Co. Ltd. and others.

A high-tech industrial park has been deployed and expanded in Chengdu, where one of the country's largest aerospace industries is located. Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation produces military and other aviation equipment, including the modern Chengdu J-10 Swift Dragon fighter and the first copies of one of the few fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 Black Eagle fighters in the world.

The city is one of the most important centers of the automotive industry and the production of auto parts in the country. The city produces several hundred thousand vehicles a year and plans to reach 1.25 million in 2020. Automakers such as Volvo, FAW Volkswagen, FAW Toyota and Sinotruk Wangpai are represented in Chengdu. There are also about 200 major manufacturers of components for German, Japanese and other automobile lines.

Chengdu has been developing as a national electronics and IT base for quite some time now. Chengdu High-Tech Industrial Development Zone attracts at least 30 companies from the list of 500 companies and about 12,000 Chinese companies, including Intel, IBM, Cisco, NOKIA, Motorola, SAP, Siemens, Canon, HP, Xerox, Microsoft, Tieto, NIIT and Wipro, as well as such a local giant as Lenovo. Dell also plans to open its second major center in China in Chengdu as an extension of the center in Xiamen. Chengdu is one of the top five software industry bases in China.

The National Development and Reform Commission has approved a proposal to set up a national bio-industry center in Chengdu. The city government also approved a plan to develop the biopharmaceutical industry.

At the beginning of the 21st century, a large hydroelectric power station was built in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River near the city of Dujiangyan.

Transport

The Chengdu Metro was officially opened in Chengdu on October 1, 2010, and includes one 18 km line running from north to south from Shengxiang Lake to the city center, and one line from northwest to southeast, which opened in September 2012 of the year. Construction and planning of four more lines, including the ring line, is underway. There are about 400 bus routes in the city and the agglomeration.

Shuangliu International Airport is located about 16 km from the city center. It is the 5th busiest airport in mainland China; in 2012, traffic amounted to 31.6 million passengers. It operates flights to most major cities in the country, as well as international flights to cities such as: Hong Kong, Osaka, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Bangkok, etc. In 2009, an agreement was signed to improve the infrastructure of the airport, which would allow Shuangliu to increase its traffic to 40 million passengers by 2015. Chengdu Airlines is based at the airport. There is also a long-term plan to build another airport with five runways. With the implementation of the plan, the trip from the new airport to the center of Chengdu would take no more than 30 minutes.

Chengdu is a major railway junction. The Baoji-Chengdu, Chengdu-Chongqing, Chengdu-Kunming and Chengdu-Dazhou branches intersect here. Currently, the city has 4 main stations. In addition, North-Marshalling Station is the largest marshalling yard in all of China. In the coming years, another station will be built. Two high-speed railway lines operate from Chengdu (Chongqing and Dujiangyan) and are completed with the construction of three more high-speed railway lines, while the line to Chongqing will be transformed into part of the main latitudinal national high-speed highway (up to speeds of 350 km / h).

Chengdu is the intersection of many national highways from Shaanxi, Yunnan and the Tibet Autonomous Region. The Chengdu-Chongqing highway became one of the first autobahns in the country and the first in its western part.

Attractions

• Uhoutsy temple complex (XVI-XVIII centuries)
• Temple of the Green Goat - Taoist Temple
• baoguangsi monastery
• house-museum of the poet Du Fu
• sichuan provincial museum
• China Giant Panda Nature Reserve
• tianfu square
• The 339-meter West Pearl Tower, the tallest tower in western China
• more than 20 high-rise buildings of 30-45 floors, in 2012-2013 the construction of three 48-60-story skyscrapers is being completed; in terms of the number of such buildings, Chengdu is second only to Chongqing in western China
• Chengdu Sports Center
• The world's largest building. The opening took place on July 1, 2013. 1.7 million square meters, equivalent to three Pentagon buildings or 20 Sydney Opera buildings

Chengdu City (成都chéngdū) is the capital of Sichuan Province in southwestern China. With a population of almost 15 million, it belongs to the ten largest cities in the country. Chengdu boasts ancient history, distinctive cuisine, traditional arts and more.

Unfortunately, this city is little known to most of our tourists, although I can say for sure that there are places worth visiting in it. For travelers, Chengdu is interesting not only for its attractions, but also for the fact that it is easy to get to the numerous natural and man-made heritage of Sichuan province. In addition, this is the birthplace of the giant panda, and it is here that a unique reserve for breeding and protecting these cute animals is located.

Over the years of my life in China, I visited many cities and beautiful places, but for some reason it was he who was remembered for his liveliness and warmth. Why go to Chengdu and what to do there, I will tell you more in this article.

How to get there

By plane

The most convenient way to get to Chengdu is by plane. The nearest international airport Shuangliu (成都双流国际机场) is located at a distance of 20 km from the city and is one of the ten largest airports in China.

The largest number of flights, of course, are carried out by popular Chinese airlines, for example: Sichuan Airlines, Air China, Chengdu Airlines, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern, etc. Domestic flights in China are very developed, and you can easily fly from Chengdu to almost any city in China.

As for international flights, most are made to Asian countries (, Japan, Korea, Maldives), there are also flights to Europe (,) and (), Canada (), Australia ().

Recently, Sichuan Airlines has launched a Moscow-Chengdu flight. This is so far the only direct flight from Russia to Sichuan. Departure is carried out on even numbers from Sheremetyevo Airport. Such a flight lasts 8 hours 30 minutes, and the cost of an air ticket starts from $ 275 per person one way. In addition, there are many different options for departure from Moscow with transfers in Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, etc. But, as I checked on the airline booking sites, sometimes a direct flight is cheaper than a connecting flight. It is inconvenient to get from St. Petersburg, you will have to make two transfers, and it is unprofitable for the price (from $ 400 one way).

You can check and compare how it is more profitable to get there in the TravelAsk section.

How to get from the airport to the city

Bus

This is perhaps the easiest way to get to the city. In total there are five bus routes that will deliver to the right places:

• Route 1 - to the city center (Mingshan Hotel); from 06:00 to 22:00.
• Route 2 - to the main (northern) railway station; 06:30–20:00.
• Route 3 - to the southern railway station (South Railway Station); 07:00-20:00.
• Route 4 - Huayang bus station, through the city center (Exhibition Center); 08:00-20:00.
• Route 5 - Xipu Bus Station, via Chadianzi Bus Station Bus Terminal; 08:00 - 20:00.

Fare 1.5 - 2 dollars.

High speed train (CRH)

You can quickly get to the city by high-speed train. But it goes only to the southern and eastern railway stations. The departure station is located under terminal 2. The trip will cost only $ 2 and take 10-20 minutes.

Taxi

Of course, you can easily take a taxi near the airport, which will cost about 10 dollars to the center of Chengdu and 15 to the northern railway station.

In addition, buses and trains run almost from the airport to other cities in the province and neighboring attractions.

By train

Considering that the railway is the most popular way to travel around the country, Chengdu can be reached by train from almost any part of China. There are 3 passenger stations in the city:

• Chief (North Railway Station 火车北站),
• Eastern (East Railway Station 成都东站),
• Southern (South Railway Station 火车南站).

I marked the location of the stations on the map below.

Main Station

The main (northern) station connects Sichuan province with major cities of the country. The main destinations are Wuhan, Kunming, Guilin, Lanzhou, Changsha, Chongqing, Guangzhou. From most of these cities, several trains run a day, for example, from Beijing 5 trains a day, Xi'an - 11, Guangzhou - 4, Shanghai - 5, Kunming - 6. But there are disadvantages to using the railway: due to the large travel distances take a long time, and ticket prices are quite high. So, for example, the journey from Beijing to Chengdu will take about 28-30 hours, and a ticket in a reserved seat car will cost $ 70, a compartment about $ 100. From Shanghai, a regular train takes about 36 hours, the price is the same, from Guangzhou - 30-40 hours, and a ticket will cost 80-120 dollars. So, in terms of convenience, this option is clearly inferior to the flight, and the price is not always more profitable.

How to get from the station to the city

The station is located near the center. From here you can easily get to the main places by metro, bus or taxi. Right next to the station, there is a subway station North Railway Station (火车北站), which is very convenient. The center of Chengdu is Tianfu Square 天府广场, it takes only 4 subway stops (it takes 10 minutes in time - the fastest and most convenient way) and get off at the station of the same name or take buses number 16, 52, 55 ( 30-40 minutes). For a taxi you will need to pay about 2-3 dollars. In the photo below, the main square of the city.

Eastern (East Railway Station 成都东站)

High-speed trains arrive at the East Station from Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Hangzhou and several other cities. High-speed trains from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou take about 14 hours, but the cheapest ticket costs $ 133, so sometimes the plane will be cheaper. The East Station is also located next to the East Railway Station (成都东站) subway station on the second subway line, it takes 7 stops to get to the square. Also from here to the city center there are buses numbered 4, 47, 101, 104, the bus fare is 0.3 dollars. A taxi to the city will cost about 4 dollars, and to the airport - 10.

Southern (South Railway Station)

Chengdu South Station provides passenger transportation to the cities of Sichuan Province: Emeishan, Leshan, Mianyang, Jiangyou, Guangyuan, Nanchong, Suining, etc. It is located on the first subway line, at South Railway Station (火车南站). Getting to the center is also easy: by buses, taxis and metro. The central square of the city can be reached by bus 16, in addition, there are routes to other parts of the city.

By bus

Another way to get to Chengdu is to take the bus. But this is not the most convenient option, because it will take quite a long time to drive from popular Chinese cities, and in the neighborhood of noisy and not always cultured Chinese, moving can seem like a nightmare. In addition, there is very little information on the Internet about the bus schedule. Despite this, it can be said that the bus system in Chengdu is very well developed, the city has several bus stations that connect it with neighboring cities in the province, as well as such large cities as Kunming, Nanjing, etc.

Most long-distance buses (, Lanzhou, Kunming, Chongqing, Ningbo) arrive at the North Bus Station (城北客运站), which is next to the main railway station. How to get to the center from it is described above, the same methods are suitable if you arrive at this bus station.

Tourist buses from the main attractions of Sichuan, such as Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Songpan, Leshan, Emeishan, Dujiangyan, etc. come to Xinnanmen (新南门汽车站) and Chadianzi (茶店子客运站) stations. How to get from them is written in another mine.

Clue:

Chengdu - time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow - 5

Kazan - 5

Samara - 4

Yekaterinburg - 3

Novosibirsk - 1

Vladivostok 2

When is the season. When is the best time to go

Chengdu is not a resort city, so the time of year does not play a special role for visiting it. Due to the fact that the city is surrounded by mountains, the climate in Chengdu is quite mild and pleasant. Here, winter is more like our spring with an average temperature of + 5-10 ° C, and snow and cold are more likely to be an exception. I have been to Chengdu twice in winter, and I can say that I was comfortable walking around the city, and the weather did not interfere with sightseeing at all. And what surprised me even more - at the end of January, some bushes, trees and even tulips were blooming in the parks.

It is hot here in summer, +25-30°C, but it often rains. At the same time, due to the high humidity, it seems that the temperature is higher than it actually is.

Another feature of Chengdu is humid air, fogs and cloudy skies. It is said that due to such weather conditions, local girls have delicate white skin, and are considered the most beautiful in all of China.

As you understand, when to come to Chengdu is not at all important, but if, in addition to the city itself, you want to visit the natural attractions of Sichuan province, for example, Huanglong, Jiuzhaigou, Emeishan, Qingchenshan, then it is still better to come from April to November.

Chengdu monthly weather

Clue:

Chengdu monthly weather

Districts. Where is the best place to live

In my opinion, in Chengdu it is best to stay closer to the city center so that it is more convenient to get to the main tourist attractions, parks and restaurants. The most popular among tourists are the areas of Qing Yang and Jin Jiang, it is there that I advise you to choose a hotel. In terms of price, there will not be much difference, in any area you can find both cheap housing and super expensive ones. With food and shops the same, the prices are different and determined by your personal preferences. In China, you can always find budget options and not so much, and it does not depend on the area.

You can choose the best option on Booking - and - compare prices from different services. To get deeper into the atmosphere of the city, you can rent an apartment or an apartment from the locals, for more details.

By the way, even though there are only 9 districts in the city, 5 are considered internal, which I will briefly discuss below.

• The Qing Yang (青羊区) area is the heart of the city and most tourists choose to stay here. Most of the city's attractions are located in this area: parks, museums, temples, tourist streets.
• Jin Jiang District (锦江区) is a bustling and thriving business center. It houses a large number of firms, offices, expensive shopping centers. It is in this area that the largest shopping street in the city is located, in addition there are bars, restaurants, clubs, cinemas and many hotels. This is the second most popular area.
• The Wu Hou District (武侯区) is the largest. Tourists are interested in the fact that the famous Wuhou Temple and the ancient Qingli Street are located here. There are a sufficient number of hotels, bars and cafes.
• Jin Niu District (金牛区) is another shopping area with a lot of markets and shopping malls. It includes the main railway station.
• The Cheng Hua District (成华区) is an ordinary urban area with residential buildings, but it is in it that almost the main attraction is the panda breeding center. The rest of the area does not attract tourists.

Main attractions. What to see

Chengdu and its environs boast a sufficient number of both cultural, historical and natural attractions. In the city itself there are many temples, museums, ancient streets, which are the cultural and spiritual heritage of the whole country. Beyond its borders, tourists will get acquainted with the unique and beautiful nature of Sichuan province. It is not for nothing that tours from Russia are organized here (you can look at dates and prices).

Top 5

Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center

The main attraction for which most tourists come to Chengdu is the giant panda - an amazing animal that is almost never found in the wild. In the breeding and research center, you can get to know these lazy bumpkins quite closely, completely unlike bears.

At the same time, it is located practically in the city, and it is easy to get to the center by city bus. Its Chinese name is 中国大熊猫繁育研究基地 (zhōngguó dàxióngmāo fányù yánjiū jīdì).

What I liked was the conditions in which the acquaintance with these animals takes place: there are no glasses, no nets, no high fences. Of course, pandas are at a safe distance from people, but still it seems that you can reach out and touch them. Most of the time, these lazy people either eat or sleep, and often they eat lying down and fall asleep in an embrace with half-eaten bamboo, the process of eating exhausts them so much. Only young animals frolic, and even then rather clumsily. When I saw pandas hanging on a tree like that, I couldn’t even believe that they could climb there, I thought that they were specially planted there to amuse people, but no, it turns out that they climb there themselves and even manage to sleep there, it’s a pity only it was not possible to see the moment when they climb there.

In addition to pandas, there is a lake with swans on the territory of the center, peacocks walk along the paths, and you can also get acquainted with another, no less amazing animal - the red, or small, panda.

Unlike their larger counterparts, red pandas are more like raccoons in both appearance and behavior. They are very mobile, playful and restless.

Center opening hours and entrance fee

The center is open daily from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, but ticket sales end one hour before closing. It's best to come in the morning when the pandas have breakfast time, but to be honest, we were stuck in the park for the whole day, I loved watching these cuties so much. The entrance ticket costs only 9 dollars (58 yuan), which is extremely cheap considering the amount of positive emotions and impressions that you will get there.

How to get there

You can get to the center by taxi, which will cost 5 dollars (30 yuan) one way (if you are traveling with a group or family, then this is a great option). If you are interested in a budget option, then you should use public transport, which is cheap, but not very convenient, because you will have to make a transfer. But this is the way I chose. The easiest way to change is at the Zoo stop (动物园 dòngwùyuán). You can get to it by buses at numbers 39, 70, 99, 150, 193. If you are coming from the central railway station, then you need the 9th bus, and from the main square - 53, 64, 99. Then at the bus stop zoo you need to transfer to bus number 198, 198a or 87 to 大熊猫基地站 (dàxióngmāo jīdìzhàn).

The downside for those who do not know the language is that stops are only announced in Chinese. But most buses have a scoreboard that displays the name of the next stop and a route map, where special lights come on to indicate stops that have already been passed and which have not. Even without knowing the meaning of the hieroglyphs, you can visually compare them or show the driver where you need to, so that he tells you where to get off.

House Museum of Poet Du Fu

Du Fu (712-770) is a great Chinese poet who lived and worked in the Tang era. One day he left the capital and settled on the outskirts of Chengdu in a small house with a thatched roof. In this place, he wrote more than 200 poems that have become a national treasure. The house in which Du Fu spent several years has survived to this day and has become a museum. In it you can learn about the life path and work of the poet.

Now on this territory, in addition to the museum itself, there is a temple, a beautiful orchard, a pavilion, gazebos and a monument to the poet.

The museum is open from 8:00 to 18:00, admission fee is $10. You can get there by the following buses: 19, 35, 58, 82, 151, 165, 170, 309, 319, 1024 or 1031 to the stop 杜甫草堂站.

Wuhou Memorial Temple Complex (武侯祠

wǔhouci)

The Wuhou temple complex is a reminder of such a period in Chinese history as the Three Kingdoms, when the struggle for power was fought between the three kingdoms: Wu, Wei and Shu. At that time, Chengdu was the capital of the Shu kingdom, headed by Emperor Liu Bei. But the temple itself is dedicated to Zhuge Liang, an assistant to Liu Bei, a famous commander and statesman of that era. On the territory you can see sculptures of Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, pavilions of their name and ancient plates with inscriptions.

Opening hours from 8:00 to 18:00, entrance fee - $ 10. To get there, take a taxi or bus number 1, 57, 82, 109, 334, 335 to 武侯祠站.

Qingli Ancient Street (锦里古街 jǐnlǐ gǔ jiē)

Another tourist attraction in Chengdu is Qingli Ancient Street, which has a special flavor and seems to take you back in time. It is located next to the Wuhou temple complex, so I recommend not to miss the opportunity and combine visiting these two places. Qingli has many cozy cafes, bars and souvenir shops. How to get to the street, see above, where the Wuhou Temple is described.

The largest building in the world

The Chinese once again broke all records and built the building, which became the largest in terms of area in the world. It was the New Century Global Center (新世纪环球中心 xīnshìjì huánqiú zhōngxīn), with an internal area of ​​1.7 million square meters. Since opening in 2013, the mall has become a treasure of Chengdu and a tourist attraction.

What is there inside? In addition to the huge number of shops, offices, restaurants, conference halls, two five-star hotels, an ice rink and the largest IMAX cinema in Chengdu, there is something that simply does not fit in your head. Inside the shopping complex, the Chinese have equipped an artificial beach with an area of ​​​​5 thousand m², which can simultaneously accommodate more than 500 people. If you want to visit it, then here is some useful information for you: the beach is open from 10:00 to 20:00, and the entrance costs $ 28 (180 yuan).
You can get to this marvel of architecture by subway to Jinchen Plaza Station (锦城广场) Exit A.

Churches and temples. Which are worth a visit

If you are not the first time in China, then perhaps the temples and other traditional architectural buildings have become boring and no longer impressive, but there are several in Chengdu that will interest you.

Green Goat Temple (青羊宫 qīngyáng gōng)

The Temple of the Green Goat is not just an example of Taoist architecture, but also one of the most ancient temples, which contains the sacred relics of Taoism. For those who are not fond of religion, the place is still worth a visit, because there is a beautiful well-groomed territory, beautiful architecture and a unique atmosphere. The temple itself is located on the territory of Wenhua Park (文化园wénhuàyuán), where you can also have a good time.

Bronze goat statues can be found at the entrance to the Hall of Three Origins. They have already been polished to a shine by visitors who believe that touching the statue will bring them good luck. One goat there, by the way, is very unusual, the main thing is to look carefully :)

The temple is open from 8:00 to 18:00, and the entrance fee is symbolic, less than $ 2.

You can get there by subway, the nearest station is Provincial People's Hospital 中医大省医院 on Line 2 and then walk a little more. Or by buses: 11, 19, 27, 34, 35, 58, 59, 82, 129, 151 , 170, 309, 319 to the stop 青羊宫.

Wenshu Monastery

Wenshu Buddhist Monastery is one of the best preserved sacred Buddhist sites in Chengdu. More than 300 Buddhist statues made of stone, bronze, wood and other materials are kept on the territory of the monastery. The oldest of them belong to the Liang (502-557) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. In addition, the monastery exhibits valuable paintings, frescoes and calligraphy.

It works from 8:00 to 18:00, the entrance fee is symbolic, about a dollar. To get there, take the first subway line, the station is called Wenshu Monastery (文殊院) or city buses 16, 52, 55 and 298.

Museums. Which are worth a visit

Sichuan Provincial Museum

The museum consists of four halls and covers an area of ​​46,000 square meters. Its collection includes more than 300,000 artifacts that tell the history of Sichuan from prehistoric times to the present day.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to visit it, so I can’t tell from my own experience, but I think it’s worth a visit, because it is there that you can get to know the history and culture of the province better. Open from 9:00 to 17:00, except Monday. According to rumors, admission is free, you only need to have a passport with you, but I'm not sure about this information. You can get there by buses No. 19, 35, 58, 82, 151, 165, 170, 319 to the stop Songxianqiao 送仙桥.

In addition, if there is nothing to do, you can visit such museums as:

• Sichuan University Museum (四川大学博物馆). Entrance fee 5 dollars.
• Sichuan Museum of Science and Technology. It is located on the main square of the city, behind the statue of Mao Zedong. It works from 9:30 to 16:30, but visitors are no longer allowed in an hour before closing. Entrance 5 dollars.
• Dinosaur Museum of the Polytechnic University. Located on the territory of the Polytechnic University - 成都理工大学. Entrance 1.5 dollars.

parks

The Chinese are very fond of spending their free time outdoors, so every city has many parks and gardens. They are worth visiting not only to be closer to nature, but also to see how the locals spend their leisure time. It is especially interesting to watch the older generation. The old people play mahjong, gather, so to speak, in "interest groups" and sing songs, play instruments, read poetry, do dancing and breathing exercises, and practice calligraphy.
Almost every park has a teahouse where you can taste local teas and play board games.
Parks worth visiting:

• People's Park (人民公园 rénmín gōngyuan). It is located within walking distance from the main square of the city, you can get to the metro station of the same name.

• Baihuatang Park Admission is free and the park is open from 6 am to 9 pm. Buses 35, 115, 126, 127, 129, 170 go there.

• Wangjiangtang Park You can visit the park for free from 6 am to 9 pm. The nearest bus stops are 三官堂 (sānguān táng) and 龙船路 (lóngchuán lù), which are served by buses 3, 12, 18, 31, 56, 68, 74, 82, 106, 152, 218, etc.

tourist streets

Wide and Narrow Alleys (宽窄巷子 kuānzhǎi xiàngzi)

This place is a popular tourist attraction in the city center. It consists of three parallel streets with cafes, shops and funny monuments.

Here you can sit in a cafe, buy souvenirs or try local "delicacies" and feel that you are in ancient China. But the prices for everything are a bit overpriced, after all, this is primarily a tourist attraction.

It is easy to get to the street, from the center it will not be a problem to walk from the square (30 minutes) or the People's Park (15-20 minutes).

From other parts of the city, you can take the subway station 人民公园 Line 2, and then walk.

I really liked this place, there is some special atmosphere in it, so I advise you to visit.

What to see in the surroundings

Many tourists come to Chengdu not for the sake of the city itself, most often it serves as a starting point for exploring the treasures of Sichuan. I would like to offer several of them, all of them are included in the UNESCO list.

Dujiangyan Irrigation System

Almost 50 km from Chengdu, on the Minjiang River, there is a kind of monument to the engineering thought of the ancient Chinese - the Dujiangyan irrigation system, which was created more than two thousand years ago. Now it is a tourist place with interesting temples to visit, a suspension bridge and tea houses.

There are several ways to get there from Chengdu:

• as part of a tourist excursion,
• by bus,
• by train,
• by taxi.

Buses to Dujiangyan run from the airport, Xinnanmen, Chadianzi and other bus terminals. Upon arrival in the city, you still need to get to the park on the city route number 4 or by taxi for 3-5 dollars. If you want to get there by train, then you need the main station (journey time is only 30 minutes, ticket price is 2-3 dollars). A taxi straight from Chengdu will cost 20-25 dollars per car. The entrance ticket to the park itself costs $15.

Mount Qingchenshan

70 km from the city of Chengdu and only 20 km from Dujiangyan is Mount Qingchenshan, revered by the Taoists, since it was here that the first Taoist temple complex was erected. Now on its territory you can see Taoist monasteries, pavilions and pagodas, caves and lakes. This place combines Taoist culture and natural beauty. To get from Chengdu, you can take the train (to the station 青城山火车站), then take bus number 101 along the front of the mountain. Or take a bus from Xinnanmen or Chadianzi stations. In addition, you can get from Dujiangyan. You will have to pay about $ 15 for the entrance, plus the cable car and visiting some caves are paid separately.

If you have enough time, I would advise you to combine a visit to the irrigation system and the mountain, especially since they are nearby. You can stay overnight in the park at the hotel or at the monastery, or outside at the foot of the mountain and return to Chengdu the next day. But I have not tried this option.

Leshan Giant Buddha Statue (乐山大佛 lèshān dàfó)

Near the city of Leshan, which is 140 km from Chengdu, in a beautiful park, there is a unique 70-meter Buddha statue carved into the rock, the work on which lasted for about a hundred years. Its dimensions are really impressive, as several people can fit on just one toe. Leshan Town can be reached by bus from bus stations or Chengdu Airport by tourist bus, taxi or train from South Railway Station. The entrance fee is about 15 dollars (90 yuan).

Sacred Mountains of Emeishan (峨眉山 éméishān)

Mount Emeishan is one of the four great and sacred Buddhist mountains of China and is a special place in terms of its beauty and atmosphere. Today, about 300 monks live in this territory and more than 20 monasteries operate. It attracts pilgrims and ordinary tourists who are ready to overcome the difficult path to the top and meet the dawn in this amazing place. The ways to get there are the same as to Leshan.

Jiuzhaigou National Park

One of the main treasures of Sichuan province is a unique nature reserve with incredible beauty of lakes, waterfalls and mountain scenery, 400 km from Chengdu. All the necessary information about the park can be found in my article.

Huanglong National Park

No less beautiful is the Huanglong National Park, which is located 70 km from Jiuzhaigou. The pride of the park is the extraordinary beauty of colored pools, waterfalls and a mountain with a height of 5588 meters, which wears a snow cap all year round. Best combined with a visit to Jiuzhaigou.

I highly recommend visiting at least a few of these amazing places, because each of them is unique in its own way. By nature, I am a big nature lover, so visiting Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong was an ideal choice for me, but for people who are interested in Buddhism, I advise you to conquer Emeishan, this is just a mandatory item on the program. If there is not much time, then you can escape from the city to Mount Qingchenshan, admire nature, and at the same time visit Dongjiangyan. Well, it is best to visit everything, so as not to regret later.

Food. What to try

You probably know that Chinese cuisine is very interesting, varied and sometimes exotic. I wrote more about food in China and dishes worth trying in another article, you can read it.

But the province of Sichuan has its own special cuisine 川菜, which is famous all over the world for its burning spiciness. So, if you are in Chengdu, be sure to try the local signature dishes. Some of them, such as gongbao chicken (宫保鸡丁gōngbǎo jīdīng), hogo (火锅）, and pork in fish sauce (鱼香肉丝 yúxiāng ròusī), I have already mentioned before.

• mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐 má pó dòufǔ) - bean curd tofu fried with minced meat and hot Sichuan pepper;

• boiled fish in spicy Sichuan sauce (水煮鱼shuǐzhǔ yú);

• twice-cooked pork, or "meat returned to the cauldron" (回锅肉 huíguōròu) - pork stewed in a special way with hot peppers;

• beef with citrus zest (陈皮牛肉chénpí niúròu);

• braised pork chunks (东坡肘子dōng pō zhǒuzi);
• chilli fish (辣子鱼丁làziyúdīng);
• fish with pickles (酸菜鱼suāncài yú) - steamed fish with marinade according to a special recipe;

• dan-dan noodles, or Sichuan-style spicy noodles (担担面dàndànmià).

By the way, to extinguish the spiciness after eating, you need to drink not water, but milk.
Finding what to eat in Chengdu is not a problem, because, as in all of China, there are establishments for every taste and budget on every corner. The price will depend on the place you choose, the dish and the type of cuisine. European cuisine is more expensive, Chinese is cheaper. The most budget option is street food: various snacks, sandwiches, kebabs. A trip to a good restaurant will cost decent money, but I won’t say that it tastes much better than in small street establishments.

As you understand, you can eat almost everywhere in Chengdu, there are both Chinese establishments and cafes, restaurants and fast foods with European cuisine, so you won’t have to go hungry.

A variety of dishes can be found on the tourist streets, which I wrote about above, there are a large number of places near the main attractions. The photo shows restaurants near the ancient Qingli Street (锦里古街).

There are even separate, so-called food streets, but I would say that this is more suitable for the Chinese than for foreigners. The most famous are Shaxixian (沙西线美食一条街), Yangxixian（羊西线美食一条街), Wenshuyuan (文殊院小吃街) and others. .

In addition, in any shopping center or mall there will definitely be a whole floor with cafes and restaurants. Most often these will be good and clean places with quality food.

In case you can't put up with spicy Sichuan cuisine, you can always grab a bite to eat at MacDonald's, KFC (except for hamburgers and fries, there are often rice dishes with meat) or Pizza Hut.

Things to do

Shopping and shops

Chunxi Shopping Street (春熙路)

If you want to buy something for yourself in Chengdu, then I would advise you first of all to go to Chunxi Street, which is called a shopping paradise.

On this street, there are just a lot of boutiques, shopping centers, supermarkets and just shops where you can find things from Chinese and world brands at moderate and not very prices. Most shops are open from 10:00 to 22:00.

In addition to shops, there are a lot of coffee shops, fast foods and restaurants, both Chinese and European, where you can have a delicious meal and have a good time.

How to get there

It is located almost in the center of the city, and it is best to use the metro. There is a station on Line 2 called Chunxi Road (春熙路), which is exactly what you need. Arriving at the place, use exit C or D. In addition, you can also get by city buses, here are a few routes that run here: 43, 47, 55, 56, 58, 81, 98, 104 and others.

Zongfu Street

This street is near 天府广场 Square. It has a large number of shopping malls that attract both locals and visitors. There you can buy branded cosmetics, shoes, clothes and jewelry. But as for me, it will be enough to go to Chunxi street, because there is more choice, and there is a special flavor. But if you go to go, then the map below will help you, it will take about 20 minutes on foot from the square.

• handicrafts and antiques market (送仙桥 sòng xiānqiáo);
• Broad and Narrow Alley (宽窄巷子kuānzhǎi xiàngzi);
• Tibetan souvenir market near Wuhou Temple (武侯祠横街 wǔhóucí héngjiē);
• Qingli Ancient Street, next to Wuhou Temple (锦里古街sòng xiān qiáo);
• antique market on Renmin South Road (人民南路rénmín nán lù).

Bars. Where to go

Chengdu is a big and advanced city where young people also like to have fun and relax. Therefore, there are a fairly large number of interesting establishments and even entire streets of bars and nightclubs. It is enough to tell the taxi driver 酒吧街 jiǔbā jiē, and he will take you to one of the many bar streets.

A popular street frequented by both locals and foreigners is Lan Kwai Fong 兰桂坊, which has about 30 bars, restaurants and nightclubs in one place, but the prices are not cheap. If you like parties and do not spare money for them, then you definitely go there. It is located near Dong Da Road (东大路) ​​subway station. In addition, you can visit:

1. Shaoling Road Bar Street (少陵路酒吧一条街);
2. Jiuyanqiao Bar Street (九眼桥酒吧街);
3. Yulin Neighborhood Bar Street (玉林酒吧一条街);
4. Wuhou Temple Bar Street.

If you want to spend the evening in a bar with a glass of beer or a cocktail, then I advise you to take a walk along one of these streets, where you can definitely find something to your taste, or you can look into one of the establishments suggested below.

Bars popular among foreigners:

• Beernest (啤酒窝j酒吧),
• Underground (隧道酒吧),
• bookworm,
• bar-restaurant Lazy Pug,
• Irish pub Shamrock, live music bar Music House (音乐房子).

Others frequented by local youth include:

• Machu Picchu,
• little bar,
• Elephant Bar,
• Lotus Place,
• Shark's and others.

Most bars are open from noon until 2 am.

Clubs and nightlife

In addition to bars, there are nightclubs and discos in the city, but from my own experience I can say that the format of such an institution is different here and in China. With the exception of VIP establishments, which I have not been to, in most of them the entrance is free, and there are no requirements for appearance either. And no one touches foreigners at all, because it will be prestigious for any club if such guests come there. In some places, there is even a practice that administrators specially invite laowai (as the Chinese call all foreigners 老外) and treat them for free, just to create a reputation for their institution. In addition, there may not be a familiar dance floor, instead there will be a narrow stage for a dance show or singers (this is also a feature of local clubs), and the Chinese themselves rarely dance in clubs. By the way, another big disadvantage of many "Chinese" clubs is that they do not sell single drinks and cocktails, and to sit down at a table, you need, for example, to take a case of beer or expensive whiskey (often a fake), and if you come together, then it is absolutely not profitable. But there are exceptions. Chinese clubs also close early, at 2-3 am, although in my homeland I used to dance until the morning :)

The most popular clubs include:

• jellyfish,
• Muse,
• NASA,
• Here We Go
• BABI,
• Kakadu.

Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

The choice of souvenirs is probably an important part of any trip, because all these pleasant little things will later remind you of a great time. And from China you definitely won’t want to return empty-handed. Chengdu is no exception, the choice of shops and markets is quite large, I would even say that your eyes run wide, so if you have free time, devote the day to shopping. In addition to the usual Chinese souvenir products, Sichuan has its own interesting and special products.

Bamboo products

Sichuan Province is rich in bamboo forests, which panda bears love so much. Not surprisingly, bamboo souvenirs have become popular here. As a gift to yourself or your loved ones, you can bring boxes, lamps, baskets, kitchen and writing utensils made from this material, they are sold both in expensive stores and in the markets.

If you want to buy some unusual gift, then here's an idea for you: recently it has become fashionable to combine porcelain and wicker bamboo, very beautiful interesting things are obtained, such as this tea set in the photo below.

Sichuan Shu brocade (蜀锦 shǔjǐn)

The craftsmanship of making Sichuan Shu brocade, or, as it is also called, patterned silk, originated more than two thousand years ago and has survived to this day. Previously, only emperors could have such a luxury, but now it is considered an important cultural heritage of Chengdu, but at the same time anyone can buy it. By the way, the city even has a Shu Brocade Museum, in Chinese it is called 成都蜀锦织绣博物馆 (chéngdū shǔjǐn zhīxiù bówùguǎn) and is located at 青羊区草堂东路2号(qīngyáng qū cǎotá ng dōng lù èr háo), which is not far from home of Du Fu Museum and Baihuatang Park.

Sichuan Shu embroidery (蜀绣 shǔxiù)

This is a traditional artistic silk embroidery, typical for this province. In Chengdu, you can buy paintings, scarves, clothes, pillowcases and bedding with traditional Sichuan embroidery, but it will not be cheap. From inexpensive tourists, such small embroidered paintings in frames are in demand.

Lacquerware（漆器qīqì）

Variety of lacquerware became popular souvenirs from Chengdu: crockery, vases, boxes. Sichuan lacquerware has been famous for its quality since ancient times, so if you like this kind of thing, don't miss the opportunity to get it.

Other souvenirs

In addition, you can buy silverware, jade jewelry, porcelain, tea, spices, local alcohol, antiques and ordinary Chinese souvenirs (fans, paintings, Chinese traditional clothes, Chinese masks, etc.).

How to move around the city

Chengdu has an excellent public transport system; to the services of local residents and tourists there is a metro, regular and sightseeing buses, taxis. To date, the most convenient way to get around the city is by bus, but only for those who know Chinese, because the names of the stops are written only in hieroglyphs, and the stops are also announced in Chinese. With many different routes, you can easily reach the main city and suburban attractions, railway and bus stations, shopping centers and tourist streets. Traveling by bus is also the cheapest - $ 0.3 per trip. The metro system is not yet sufficiently developed, because the first line was launched relatively recently, in 2010. But you can also get to many places, and at the same time without traffic jams. The subway will cost 0.3 - 1.1 dollars depending on the distance, plus all signs are duplicated in English. For those who do not like public transport, it is always possible to use a taxi. More on all this below.

Taxi. What features exist

In Chengdu, as in all of China, there are fixed prices for taxi services. Most of the cars are equipped with a taximeter and are charged at certain rates. I specifically checked what the current rates are in Chengdu, and you can use this information to roughly calculate how much you need to pay for the fare, provided that you, of course, at least know the approximate distance.

From 6:00 to 23:00, landing and the first 2 km cost 8-9 yuan, then the price for each kilometer is 1.9 yuan for a distance of up to 10 km, over 10 and up to 60 km for each kilometer you will have to pay 2.85 yuan. At night it gets a little more expensive. From 23:00 to 06:00 landing - 10 yuan, up to 10 km the price per km is considered to be 2.2 yuan, from 10 to 60 km - 3.3 for each km.

That is, if you need to drive 2 km, you should be charged only 1.2 dollars, if 10 km, then 3.6 dollars, 20 - about 8 dollars.

You can catch a taxi everywhere and without much effort, just wave your hand to a passing taxi. In China, you usually don't need to call and pre-order a car, but if you have a flight to the airport, it's better to ask the hotel staff to arrange transport in advance.

When you get in a taxi, have the taxi driver turn on and reset the taximeter, or, when there is none, agree on a price in advance (if you have an idea how much you should pay). In China, you can also take a ride, they are usually also paid at about the same price. The problem with Chinese drivers is that they often don't speak English, so it's always better to have an address written in hieroglyphs on a piece of paper. It's one thing if you need some tourist place or a train station, an airport, the location of which everyone knows, but there are problems with hotels. Drivers do not always understand the back streets of the city and can stray, while you will pay for this ignorance.

Metro

The subway in Chengdu appeared relatively recently. The first line was opened in 2010, and according to the plan, there will be 10 by 2020. But so far, 3 metro lines have been launched: Line 1 (blue), Line 2 (red) and Line 4 (green). The scheme of operating metro stations is presented below.

How much does the metro fare

As I said above, the fare on the metro varies depending on the distance and is calculated by the number of stops. So, for example, driving 6 stops costs $0.3, 12 - $0.46, and so on. That is, if you, for example, need to get from the end to the end on Line 1, you will have to pay 0.77 dollars. (22 stops). The maximum amount will be $1.1 if you drive 40 stops.

Working hours

• Line 1 operates from 6:20-22:50;
• Line 2 from 6:20-22:30;
• Line 3 from 06:30-22:30.

How to buy a ticket

So far, it is not possible to buy a one-day or two-day pass in the Chengdu metro, and each trip is paid separately. The locals have a special smart card that gives a discount on travel, but it makes no sense for tourists to purchase it.

To pay for the metro, there are special machines (they have English), the screen shows the metro map and the station where you are. Next, you should choose the station where you are going to get off, after which the machine will tell you how much you need to pay. You insert money into the bill slot, you get change and a ticket. Keep the ticket until the end of the trip, because when you exit it will need to be applied to the turnstile. That's all, nothing complicated.

Buses

Regular city buses

City buses are the most popular and developed way of getting around the city. There are stops literally on every corner, and you can get to almost anywhere in the city. The public bus fare is $0.3. You need to pay in cash, and it is advisable to always have some small money with you. Most often, buses do not have a conductor, and the fare is placed in a special transparent box next to the driver. Locals use a card to pay, which, if I'm not mistaken, is the same for all urban transport, including the metro. On most routes, traffic starts at 6:30 am and ends at 21:00, although some buses run until 23:00. The exact timetable can be found at the stops, not only the route of movement is written there, but also the hours of operation for each route.

In addition, the city has one night route number 298, which runs from 22:00 to 05:30, the fare costs $0.46. It goes from the Exhibition Center (Century City New Convention and Exhibition Center) to the Main railway station through the city center. The route practically runs along the first metro line, as can be seen on the map below.

Tour buses

There are also sightseeing buses in Chengdu that you can use to get to some of the attractions of the city and its environs. But the proposal is rather peculiar. I am not a fan of group trips, so I have not tested this option, but I can still tell a little about it.

The advantage of such a bus is that it travels to its destination quickly, without stops and transfers, you do not need to look for a place yourself. Minus - in addition to travel (it can be either one or two directions), its cost includes both the entrance fee and the services of a guide. So it turns out more expensive than going on your own by public transport. Prices and timetables must be checked on the spot.

For example, I found information that a guided tour to the panda breeding center will cost 20 dollars (128 yuan) per person, this price includes round-trip travel, an entrance ticket to the center and guide services (what they mean by this, I don’t know , most likely, you will have to follow him with a group). At the same time, you can get to the place on your own by city bus, which will cost a maximum of 1.5 dollars (10 yuan) in 2 directions (this is if you go with transfers), and pay 9 dollars for the entrance to the park. (58 yuan). I think the price difference is significant. If you are traveling with a group, then a taxi will be more profitable.

But for those who do not like to look for something on their own, this option is not bad.

Where to buy tickets

There are special offices for selling tickets for such excursions, they are located near the main tourist attractions (at the main entrance to the pandas, the Wuhou Temple, the Dufu House Museum), and buses leave from there. In addition, tickets can be bought at Shuangliu Airport (you need to find the International transit passenger service center in terminals 1 and 2) and at Tianfu main square (at -1F near Starbucks at the Jinzhan Shopping Center)

Where can you get to

On such a sightseeing bus, you can go to see the Panda Breeding Center, the house of the museum of the poet Du Fu, the Wuhou Temple, the Dujiangyan irrigation system, Mount Jingchenshan and more.

Transport rental

In order to legally drive a car in China, you only need to have a Chinese driver's license. No foreign or international documents are suitable. Therefore, it is not possible to rent a car on your own and quickly. If the question is fundamental, you can apply for Chinese based on the already existing driver's license of your country, but you will have to pass the exam in China, and this takes time and money. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend driving here. But if the desire to drive is irresistible, you can navigate the prices for car rental. Although the local roads are of high quality, drivers drive as they like, absolutely not following the rules, and it can be very difficult for a person who is not used to such traffic to navigate. If retaking your license is not an option for you, then the only possible way is to rent a vehicle with a Chinese driver or a person who has a document issued in China, but this will not be cheap.

Chengdu- the administrative center of Sichuan province, rightfully named "Paradise Abode". A land of abundance and the most populous province in China. Chengdu has been known since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the city is often referred to as Little Beijing. “A city in one year, a metropolis in three!” proclaimed the Prince of Shu, setting his capital at Chengdu during the Warring States era (453–221 BC).

It is located in the western part of the Sichuan depression. Chengdu is the scientific, technological, commercial, financial and transportation center of southwestern China. The total area is 12.4 thousand square meters. km, population - 9.6 million people.

Chengdu has a historical name "Celestial wealthy capital". There are rich natural resources and a favorable climate. Attractions are found everywhere. Chengdu is famous for local handicrafts, unique customs and traditions. Three characteristics are appropriate for Chengdu: the native land of bamboo bears, the famous historical cultural city, the beautiful scenery of the fertile land.

Chengdu has a convenient geographical position. Shuangliu International Airport is one of the six largest airports in China. The city's railway station is the largest in Southwest China. The railways Baoji - Chengdu, Chengdu - Chongqing, Chengdu - Kunming are connected here. From here it is convenient to get to Three Gorges "Sanxia" in the east, Tibet, Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, Huanglong Temple in the west, in a northerly direction, the road leads to Xi'an, where you can visit the Museum of the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Moving south, one can reach Emeishan Mountains and Leshan City where the largest seated Buddha statue is located.

Chengdu, a monument city with 3,000 years of history, the uniqueness of the city lies in the fact that throughout the long history of the city's borders and its name has not changed. Chengdu city is one of the best tourist cities in China with rich history.

Chengdu - capital of Sichuan- one of the most important central cities of the country. Chengdu is a secondary provincial level city and is also historical cultural center of China. By definition of the State Council, Chengdu is scientific and technical, trade, financial center, as well as the main communication and communications hub, an important air hub in the western part of China, one of the four air towns in China is located on the territory of Chengdu. State Administration for Tourism and World Tourism Organization recognized the city Chengdu the best tourist city in China, The United Nations World Tourism Organization has listed Chengdu as one of the cities with a great impact on China's tourism development. Tourists now have the opportunity stays in the city for 72 hours without a transit visa for transit flights from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Chengdu is divided into 9 districts, 4 towns and 6 counties, with a total area of ​​12,400 square kilometers, and a resident population of 14,070,000, of which 11,630,000 are residents and 7,680,000 are urban residents.

Today's Chengdu impresses with its scale and level of development. Chengdu is regarded as modern city, in which the investments of the entire mainland China are invested, today it is the main engine economic development of western China. This economic environment stimulates the surrounding areas of the city to develop, and also attracts more and more investment from outside. October 8th, 2010 famous American Forbes financial magazine published a research report on the fastest growing cities of the past decade, in which Chengdu located at the first place in the list. At present, there are representative offices of Intel, IBM, Dell and more than 200 other well-known enterprises in the world in Chengdu. Chengdu ranks first among the cities of the western part of China in terms of the number of large manufacturing enterprises. Chengdu ranks first in the number of foreign banks and foreign consulates among the cities of the western part of China. The venue for the Global Fortune Forum 2013 was Chengdu, the fourth city after Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong to host the forum.

Chengdu is rich in tourism resources, on the territory of the city there are famous Qingchenshan mountains, ancient dujiangyan irrigation system, bamboo bear (panda) sanctuary and other cultural and natural heritage such as, Temple Uhoutsy(in honor of Zhuge Liang), hut "Tsaotan"- the hermitage of the poet Dufu, Jinsha ruins, snowy mountain peaks xiling and other scenic areas of the state level category AAAA.

As one of the country's historical and cultural cities, Chengdu is famous for unique monuments of ancient architecture. The beauty of the city was sung by such famous poets of Chinese literature Li Bo and Du Fu. During three kingdoms, the city was the capital State Shy, later it was here that culture began to flourish.

Chengdu is known for its food culture and dishes Sichuan cuisine, which has a sharp, spicy and fresh taste. Sichuan cuisine has about 6,000 main dishes. There is a saying: "The most delicious food is Sichuan cuisine, the best food culture is Chengdu". The UNESCO International Organization recognized the city of Chengdu as "Gastronomic Capital of the World" in Asia. From the abundance of dishes during banquets, ripples before your eyes, and the aroma and spicy taste do not leave anyone indifferent.

Chengdu is extraordinarily beautiful during blossoming peach trees. Nice, mild climate, greenery and flowering peach trees everywhere, give tourists sense of harmony and togetherness. Chengdu is not only a large, rapidly developing modern city, but also a cozy, green corner in the western part of China, which will leave unforgettable memories in the memory of tourists.

Chengdu perfect vacation spot, Here you can enjoy the solitude and beauty of nature, architectural and other attractions, having a large historical value, learn about the history and culture of the ancient city, or simply walk around the modern, beautiful city. Chengdu is the city of wealth, the capital of success.

Chengdu is located on the territory of the state (country) China, which in turn is located on the territory of the continent Asia.

Population of Chengdu city.

The population of Chengdu city is 7,123,000.

What time zone is Chengdu in?

Chengdu city is located in the administrative time zone: UTC+8. Thus, you can determine the time difference in the city of Chengdu, relative to the time zone in your city.

Phone code for Chengdu

The telephone code of the city of Chengdu: +57 28. In order to call the city of Chengdu from a mobile phone, you need to dial the code: +57 28 and then directly the subscriber's number.

Official website of the city of Chengdu.

Website of the city of Chengdu, official website of the city of Chengdu, or as it is also called "Official website of the city of Chengdu": http://www.chengdu.gov.cn/.

Coat of arms of the city of Chengdu.

In the description of the city of Chengdu, the coat of arms of the city of Chengdu is presented, which is the hallmark of the city.

Subway in Chengdu city.

The subway in Chengdu city is called Chengdu Metropolitan and is a means of public transportation.

The passenger traffic of the Chengdu Metro (Chengdu metro occupancy) is 103.00 million per year.

The number of subway lines in Chengdu is 2 lines. The total number of subway stations in Chengdu is 37. The length of subway lines or subway tracks is: 40.97 km.

Metro map (metro map) of Chengdu city.