TravelTill

History of Chengdu


JuteVilla
The archaeological excavations in Sanxingdui-Jinsha Ruins demonstrate Chengdu's importance as a gathering place for ancient peoples for at least four thousand years. More than three thousand years ago, during the period of Shang and Zhou dynasties, it became the center of Shu culture. Two thousand and three hundred years ago, Kaiming IX, the king of ancient Shu, established the location as a capital city called Chengdu (literally means 'becoming capital') after the Chinese saying "It takes one year to form a community, two years to form a town, and three years to form a capital". Over time, Chengdu became the capital of six separatist feudal reigns. Chengdu is the only major city in China that has never changed its location or name for more than 2000 years.

As a central city for at least 2000 years, Chengdu’s influence has gradually expanded from the Sichuan basin to Western China. At its height, Chengdu was once named "One of the Five Metropolis" in China and was equally famous with Yangzhou in history. During the Three-Kingdom period, Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu kingdom, called Chengdu "the land of abundance". Li Bai, the famous poet during the Tang Dynasty, eulogized the city as "Chengdu lies above empyrean". Su Shi, the eminent writer during the Song Dynasty, hailed Chengdu as "the southwestern metropolis". In the Eastern Han Dynasty, brocade production was advanced here, giving Chengdu the name "the brocade city". During the Latter Shu Kingdom, it got the name "the hibiscus city" since hibiscus trees were planted throughout the city walls, quite a site during their yearly blossom.

In the early 4th century BC, the 9th king of the state of Shu moved his capital to the city's current location from today's nearby Pixian. The Song Dynasty geographical work Tai Ping Huan Yu Ji states that the king was inspired by King Tai of Zhou's statement that a settlement needed "one year to become a town; two years to become a capital." Following
previous1234next
JuteVilla