Journey back in time. We are standing near Jianshe Road Brand Fang. Chengdu’s story began about 2300 years ago in 367 BC. The city’s location has remained constant. This is a rare feat worldwide.
After the Dujiangyan Irrigation System was completed in 256 BC, the area prospered. Chengdu became famous for Shu Brocade during the Han Dynasty. It served as the capital of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms Period.
Chengdu evolved into a significant city during the Tang Dynasty. It reached its peak in the Song Dynasty. Wars in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties caused chaos. Chengdu declined but quickly recovered through immigration.
After the Opium War in 1840, the city declined again. It gradually recovered after the People’s Republic of China was founded. Now, it is a vital city in southwest China.
The ancient Shu Kingdom thrived in the Chengdu Plain around 3600 years ago. Sanxingdui and Jinsha are important sites from that era. The Sanxingdui Site dates back roughly 3000-1200 BC. It was the most prosperous area then.
In 367 BC, the king of Shu Kingdom relocated the capital. He named the newly built capital Chengdu. This meant the final capital of Shu Kingdom. This marked the beginning of Chengdu as a city. It remained the capital until 316 BC. The Shu Kingdom was then conquered.
In 256 BC, Li Bing oversaw water control. He constructed the Dujiangyan Irrigation System. This system is still in use today. It was a crucial moment. Flooding was controlled. People enjoyed good harvests. Chengdu entered a period of rapid growth.
During the Han Dynasty, Chengdu was a regional metropolis. It had thriving trade in Shu Brocade, lacquerware, and teas. The city was a center for lacquer craftwork. It was the birthplace of tea culture. The brocade industry flourished. The government appointed an officer to oversee it.
Liu Bei established the Kingdom of Shu in Chengdu in 221 AD. He competed with two other powers. He and Zhuge Liang worked to make the kingdom prosperous. Chengdu became a key city in the southwest. It was one of three centers in China.
After the Three Kingdoms Period, Chengdu recovered quickly. It became one of the four largest cities in the Tang Dynasty. The economy, culture, and Buddhism thrived. Agriculture, silk, handicrafts, trading, papermaking, and printing advanced. The earliest printing samples were found in Chengdu.
During the Five Dynasties and Ten States period, Meng Chang ruled in Chengdu. His wife loved flowers. He ordered hibiscus planted across the city wall. Chengdu became known as Furong City or Rong City.
Chengdu was a leading prosperous city during the Song Dynasty. Brocades made in Chengdu accounted for 70% of tributes. Specialized markets existed for silkworms, herbs, and flowers. Jiao Zi, the earliest paper currency, was issued in Chengdu.
Wars in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties devastated Chengdu. The population declined severely. Emperor Kangxi relocated people from southern provinces to Sichuan. Chengdu gradually recovered.
After the Opium War, Chengdu declined due to chaos. Chongqing surpassed it in importance. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu grew. It became a super city in western China.
Chengdu is known as the Land of Abundance. It is famous for Giant Pandas and spicy Sichuan cuisine. Chengdu is considered one of China’s most livable cities. Its name has remained unchanged for over 2000 years. It is a wonder in Chinese history. So, as you stand here near Jianshe Road Brand Fang remember its long and important past.