East Gate

Why was Chengdu called the “Turtle City”? We’re standing before the East Gate, a relic of Chengdu’s past, and I’ll tell you. Chengdu, nestled in the Sichuan province, has been a city of strategic importance for millennia. The East Gate, once part of a formidable wall, has witnessed the ebb and flow of empires. According to the Universal Geography of the Taiping Era, Chengdu gained its name from King Tai of Zhou, who described how settlements evolve into metropolises. But it’s the nicknames that truly capture the imagination. One such moniker was “Turtle City”. Some attribute this to the shape of the old city walls resembling a turtle on a map. Others believe the city planner, Zhang Yi, charted the walls by following a turtle’s tracks. Imagine Chengdu under the Shu Han of the Three Kingdoms, the brocades flowing from the city, earning it another nickname, “City of Brocade”. Picture the hibiscus planted along the walls under Meng Chang of the Later Shu, giving rise to the name “Hibiscus City”. The East Gate, locked now, stands as a silent testament to Chengdu’s resilience. It watched as refugees streamed in during World War II, escaping the Japanese advance. It bore witness to the city’s brief stint as the Nationalist capital before their retreat to Taiwan. While we can’t go through the East Gate today, let its presence be a reminder of Chengdu’s enduring spirit. This city, a unique blend of ancient charm and modern dynamism, has not only survived but thrived through centuries of change. It even holds a claim to financial innovation. The world’s first paper money, Jiao Zi, originated here in the 11th century. So, as you admire the East Gate, remember the “Turtle City”, the “Brocade City”, the “Hibiscus City” – all facets of a city that has held onto its name and location for over two millennia. Chengdu. A city that has truly earned its title, the “Established Capital City”.