Background Information About Chengdu and Bifengxia
Chengdu
- Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province. Locally, it is referred to as Tian Fu Zhi Guo, which means “heavenly state” in English.
- It is located in the west of Sichuan Basin and in the Center of Chengdu Plain.
- Its total area is 4,749 square miles and it has a population of 11 million.
- More than 40 rivers run through the area, including the Min and Tup rivers, which are branches of the Yangtze. The land is extremely fertile and produces bamboo in fall and spring.
- The average temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. In general, the west is cool and the east is warmer due to the abrupt change in altitude from east to west.
- The lowest part of the basin is 387 meters (in Yutai, Jintang County). The highest part is Shuanghe in Dayi County with an altitude of 5,364 meters. The great difference of 4,977 meters results in air and water temperatures being much lower in the west than in the east.
- The history of Chengdu can be traced back 2,300 years, when the first emperor built this capital and named the city.
- Since then, it has remained a significant center for politics, commerce, and military of the Sichuan area.
- Bronze culture, an indispensible part of ancient Chinese culture, originated in Chengdu. Also, the southern Silk Road started in this city. The earliest paper currency, Jiaozi, was first printed in Chengdu.
Bifengxia
- Bifengxia Panda Base, located in Ya’an, Sichuan, opened in 2004.
- It is five hours from the China Conservation and Research Center’s Wolong Nature Reserve, which operates Bifengxia.
- It is located at a lower, warmer altitude than Wolong.
