THE STORY OF CHENGDU, a Time-Honored City of Heart-Soothing Character
Author: GoChengdu 2021-07-28

(Photo by Jiang Renke)


Approximately 3,700 to 4,500 years ago, Chengdu Plain was the center of the settlement of forebears of the ancient Kingdom of Shu. Since the establishment of the Da Cheng (big city) of Chengdu in the Qin Dynasty over 2,000 years ago, Chengdu has never relocated, nor has ever had its name altered. In this sense, Chengdu stands alone as the only one of its kind and has no match whatsoever.


According to the latest data, in the first half of this year, the GDP of Chengdu stood at 960.272 billion RMB, an increase of 13.1% over the same period of the last year. The average annual increase of the GDP in the two years registered 6.7%. During the 13th Five-Year Plan Period (from 2016 to 2020), the GDP of Chengdu spiked approximately 600 billion RMB to hit 1.77 trillion RMB, ranking No.7 nationwide.

 

The azure sky, the white clouds, and buildings surrounded by green vegetation under the sky cohere to form a beautiful picture of quality life in an agreeable park city.

 


In your sight is a poetic picture of Shufeng 468, Sichuan Tower of China, Dong'an Lake Sports Park and snow-capped mountains.

(Photo by Jia Nan)


This land under our feet has witnessed the boom and rise of three urban civilizations:


In the pre-Qin period, Chengdu was the origin of the glorious Ancient Shu Civilization.


During the Qin and Han dynasties, Chengdu became "One of the Five Most Developed Cities (Luoyang, Handan, Linzi, Wan, Chengdu)" in China.


During the Han and Tang dynasties, Chengdu was only second to Yangzhou, the No.1 Chinese city of that period in standing.


Currently, at the critical juncture where the timeframes of the Two Centenary Goals converge, Chengdu is gearing up for a new peak when the city rises through national renewal and rejuvenation.

 

Bathing in the sunlight, Shufeng 468, a new peak of Chengdu, and the snow peak behind it constitute the "Two Wonders" of the city.

(Photo by Jia Nan)

 

As the rain gave way to sunshine, the sky of Chengdu was lit up and took on hues typical of comic pictures that can soothe your heart.

(Photo by JASON Xiangsheng)


The river originating on the North-West Sichuan Plateau streamed over mountains and cascaded down through the eastern Sichuan Basin where Chengdu Plain came into existence. 

 

Looking down from the top of the Longquan Mountain, you can have a panoramic sight of this park city under the snow-capped mountains.

(Photo by Jia Nan)


Chengdu, known as the "Land of Abundance", enjoys a vast expanse of fertile land. Living in this city is like standing in a park when spring comes and flowers bloom. It sets a new model for a modernized city featuring the highly harmonious integration of people, city, environment and industries.


Now, this park city is writing a new chapter of its happy and beautiful life.

 

 

Story 1: the legend of leaping over mountains: eastward development of Chengdu

 


Leaping over the Longquan Mountain is a transformation that has been brewing for thousands of years. At the 13th Party Congress of the CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee in 2017, a blueprint for the "Eastward Development" of Chengdu was drawn.

 

The road winding through the colorful woods in Hongqi Village is like a landscape painting.

(Photo by Jia Nan)


Since then, the "Eastward Development" of the city has progressed smoothly with no obstacles. The initiative breaks the landscape of "A City Sandwiched by Two Mountains" that has been in place for thousands of years and frees up new space for urban development featuring "One Mountain with Two Wings". The Eastward Development is a long-term fundamental strategy for the perpetual development of Chengdu.

 

At the twilight, the city is illuminated by a sea of light. Looking into the distance, the snow-capped mountains are shining on and off on the horizon. In the evening, Chengdu looks like a river of light spilling over into the world.

(Photo by JASON Xiangsheng)


On June 27, 2021, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport officially opened after 5 years of construction. Chengdu has then become the third Chinese city with two international airports.

 

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport | The roads are filled with the constant traffic, and the sky is adorned with aeroplanes that penetrate the clouds, adding luster to the shining city.

(Photo by MIK)

 

 Against the darkness of the night sky, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport is ablaze with lights. At 11:00 a.m. on June 27, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport officially commenced operations. Like a "sacred bird" spreading its wings, the airport will contribute to the opening up of western China.

(Photo by Zeng Yilun)


Change in strategic position—from hinterland to the forefront of opening up;

Change in driving force—from factors-driven to innovation-driven;

Change in value proposition—from "industry-city-people" to "people-city-industry";

Change in cultural character—from a city of leisure to a park city.

 

The emerging paradigm of mutually complementary development of Chengdu and Chongqing is also taking shape.

 

 

Story 2: a park city: a view of snow-capped mountains through the window

 

 

As the rising sun lights up the whole world, the city seemed to be covered by a colorful veil made of light and mist.

(Photo by Jia Nan)


There is an invisible line on the undulating surface of the earth. The places with altitudes above this line are covered with snow all year round.

 

Qionglai Nanhe Riverside Wetland Park | Against the backdrop of the snow-capped mountains, the lake is as clear as a mirror. As a pedestrian and two flying birds enter the sight, a beautiful picture of the park city is complete.

(Photo by Cai Jun, Department of Publicity of the CPC Qionglai Committee)


As the world's only mega-city offering a view of the snow-capped mountains above the altitude of 5,000 meters, Chengdu is familiar with the classic scene of "a snow-crowned mountain framed in the window".


On July 20, as the crest of the snow-capped mountains was lit up by the golden sunshine, a flock of birds shot across the sky. Xu Yunkai, who was in Chengdu at that moment, captured the spectacular scene with the snow-crowned mountains and the flying birds in one picture. The "big strategy" of a park city is becoming the "ordinary but reliable happiness" palpable to and within the reach of every citizen.

 

Snow-capped mountains in the distance and flying birds in the vicinity. 

(Photo by Xu Yunkai)

 

According to incomplete statistics, in the first half of 2021 alone, the topic "snow-capped mountains were glimpsed again in Chengdu" went viral and flooded the screen of Chengdu people 26 times. According to statistics, the snow-capped mountains were caught sight of in Chengdu for a total of 35 times in 2016, and the figure rose to 75 in 2020.

 

Jia Nan, a photographer born in Jiangxi Province, is a "peak-chaser" living in Chengdu. In his lens, the huge snow-capped mountains co-exist with the city and its residents in harmony.

 

In Chengdu, the freezing snow mountains created by nature are interacting with the vibrant and vigorous city to register a special urban temperature.

(Photo by Jia Nan)

 

Nursing a cup of tea on the Longquan Mountain, people just need to slightly raise their heads to catch sight of the snow-capped mountains.

(Photo by Jia Nan)  

 

Dong'an Lake Sports Park, the venue for the opening ceremony of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games, and the snow-capped mountains are captured in the same frame.

(Photo by Jia Nan)  

 

Late into the night, the bustling city traffic and the distant snow mountains set each other off nicely. 

(Photo by Jia Nan)  


In 2017, the 32 photos of these snow-capped mountains taken continuously by Jia Nan on the Longquan Mountain were pieced together to make a "Panorama of Snow Mountains" capturing 94 snow-capped mountains and the city in one frame. Rolling snow-capped mountains in the distance and the vibrant park city in front of our eyes are complementing each other in perfect harmony. The panoramic picture of "A Park City at the Foot of Snow-Capped Mountains" slowly unfolds.

 

Panorama of Snow Mountains.

(Photo by Jia Nan)


The linear distance between Chengdu Tianfu Square and Yaomei Peak is 120 kilometers. The linear distance between Chengdu Tianfu Square and Gongga Mountain is 240 kilometers. For the city and snow-capped mountains to appear in the same picture, it takes fine weather and clear and transparent air. The credit goes to the development of a park city.

 

The Eye of the City-Danjingtai Terrace.

(Photo by Jiang Renke)


As the "green heart" rises in east Chengdu, the Longquan Mountain Urban Forest Park covering 1,275 square kilometers rolls up and down and fosters lush greenery.

 

Longquan Mountain Urban Forest Park.

(Photo by Jiang Renke)

 

As the rising sun casts brilliant sunshines across the sky, the sky seems to be painted with splendid colors. The clouds surrounding the Longquan Mountain keep surging and cascading like waterfalls.

(Photo by Jia Nan)  

 

The main dam of Three Forks Lake | Cycling around the lake at the foot of mountains, you will encounter lush trees and lucid water enveloped in mists.

(Photo by Jia Nan)

 

The Loop of Wisdom looks like a red ribbon in the grassland. 

(Photo by Jiang Renke)


Round-the-City Ecological Park connects both sides of the Ring Expressway and runs for 100 kilometers, taking mountains as the background, greenways as the axis, and rivers as the vein. Chengdu started the construction of the Tianfu Greenway in 2017 with a total length of 16,930 kilometers. Now, a total length of 4,780 kilometers of the Tianfu Greenway is put into place in the city. This year, Chengdu will pave more than 1,000 "roads back home".

 

People cycling on the greenway in Bailuwan Wetland Park can view the blue lake and the beautiful scenery along the way.

(Photo by Jiang Renke)


Chengdu has added a total of 140,000 mu (9,333.3 hectares) of new greenery and landscape in three years. The forest coverage rate increased from 54% at the end of 2016 to 59% in 2020. "A Park City at the Foot of Snow-Capped Mountains" has become a beautiful calling card for Chengdu as it goes global and strides into the future

 

 

Story 3: new engine: new economy and new growth drivers

 

 

Chengdu Financial City, where the 218-meter-tall Twin Towers are located, is a business card of the western financial center.

(Photo by Jiang Renke)


Chengdu takes a unique approach to innovation. In 2017, Chengdu took the lead in setting up a New Economic Development Commission focusing on digital economy, smart economy, green economy, creative economy, flow economy and sharing economy  

 

Surrounded by woods, Chengdu Tazishan Park is full of life.

(Photo by Jiang Renke)


In 2019, Development of the Chengdu Supercomputing Center started. Within one year, three core buildings were erected and put into pilot-run underpinning Chengdu in developing "digital economy".

 

 Chengdu Supercomputing Center | Its highest computing speed is 1 billion billion times per second. Its commuting capacity equals that of 3.5 million 8-core home computers. The computing conducted in one second by the supercomputing center equals that conducted by 7.2 billion people worldwide without interruption for 32 years.

(Photo by JASON Xiangsheng)


Over the past three years, new economic industries have been booming in Chengdu. As of June, 521,000 new economy enterprises have registered in Chengdu, which means an average of more than 200 per day.

 

Chunxi Road, the most prosperous business district in Chengdu, continues to create new consumption scenarios.  

(Photo by Jiang Renke)


Its new economy aggregate index ranks 2nd in China up from 6th in 2016. The number of employees in new economy enterprises reaches 3.726 million, a 12% year-on-year increase. Phenomenal new economic products such as "Honor of Kings" and "Ne Zha" were born in Chengdu.

 

In Chengdu, the number and speed of high-speed trains continue to increase.

(Photo by Jiang Renke)

 

 

Story 4: community governance: the earthly pleasures of real life

 

 

The Anshun Bridge above the Jinjiang River connects life on both sides.

(Photo by Jiang Renke)

 

"When 9 heavens open their gates, an adorable picture unfolds in which Chengdu crops up with thousands of households". In Chengdu, the urban culture has prospered for thousands of years. In a picturesque city where flowers abound and bloom, we could simply put past behind and drown our sorrows with wine until we meet our doom. Looking back on Chengdu's past three thousand years, you will notice the most heart-warming is its earthly pleasures.

 

There is a vast variety of mouth-watering delicacies in Xiangxiang Alley, Wangping Street. Delicacies attracted so many people to visit this place that it turned into a hectic market.

(Photo by Aries)

 

(Photo by JASON Xiangsheng)

 

(Photo by An Sen)


Walking the streets lined with eateries, customers are pulled by the aroma of delicacies which whets their appetite. Opening the window to enjoy amazing views, visitors are tempted by tourist attractions that dotted the whole city. Chengdu, which has won the honor of "China's Happiest City" for 12 consecutive years delivered on its promise to be friendly to businesses and residents.

 

The street performers attract many pedestrians, putting a romantic touch to the night of Chengdu.

(Photo by An Sen)

 

The "Twelve-Month Markets" waded through a long river of history to these days, and with a dollop of fashion and vitality, revives the prosperous market of ancient times.

(Photo by An Sen)


15 minutes public service circle and life scenarios creation. The First Ring Road Town Life Circle Reconstruction and Upgrading Project is officially up and running. More than 130 demonstration communities and more than 1,200  internet-famous sites sprang up.

 

Open the window, you will enjoy the natural scenery that reminds you of your homeland and good old days.

 

Open the door, you will encounter the bustling world that fills you with earthly pleasures and fun that lift your spirits.

 

Tianfu Interchange | Chengdu ranks 2nd in terms of the number of vehicles ownership and 18th in terms of traffic congestion index.

(Photo by JASON Xiangsheng)


China's first pedestrian bridge with multiple scenarios, the "Jiaozi Ring", will be presented in full, adding new scenarios for life and consumption.

 

 The "Jiaozi Ring" landscape bridge, together with super high-rise buildings like Twin Towers, forms a new landscape featuring "one Ring and two Towers".

(Photo by JASON Xiangsheng)


People's city serves its people, and Chengdu's ten projects of well-being are progressing step by step.

 

 

Story 5: "Chengdu Drifters": a brand-new urban calling card

 

 

Young people arrive in Chengdu in droves to see their dreams come true.

(Photo by JASON Xiangsheng)


"Chengdu Drifters" is not only a brand-new urban calling card but also a brand-new trend. Nine years ago, Jia Nan, who is born in Jiangxi, deserted a coastal city for Chengdu Plain. Nine years later, he is happy to call himself a native photographer and displays his tender affections for Chengdu with pictures.

 

West Village Yard | Defying the gathering gloom, citizens playing football on the field are still alive with excitement.

(Photo by Jia Nan)


This livable and business-friendly park city retains innumerable talents like "Jia Nan" with tangible and concrete effort.


In 2017, Chengdu led the pack of Chinese cities in rolling out the permanent residency policy for bachelor's degree holders and rendered more policy support in housing arrangement, innovation incentives and entrepreneurship incubation. Chengdu established a "Talent Green Card of Chengdu" system with a focus on housing issues of "Chengdu Drifters", a cause for concern.   

 

The sleepless Intime City lit up by night lights.

(Photo by Jiang Renke)

 

Retaining talents starts with accommodating talents' concerns. Chengdu has attracted more than 500,000 newly settled young people as well as highly educated and highly skilled talents due to its care for talents. The total number of talents reaches 5.56 million, with an average annual growth rate of above 12%. Among "New First-Tier Cities", Chengdu is the most popular with young people and has the highest net inflow rate of middle and high-end talents. Talents from all across the world are gathering in Chengdu.

 

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

(Photo by Jiang Renke)


These five stories reflect the fact that Chengdu is embracing the fourth peak of urban development and riding the wave of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Looking into the future, Chengdu will stride towards a new modernized city and a world-class city of sustainable development!

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