Consulate General of United States of America

In 1985, Vice President George H. W. Bush inaugurated the Consulate General of the United States of America in Chengdu. It initially operated from an annex of the Jinjiang Hotel. In 1993, the Consulate General of the United States of America moved to its permanent location at No. 4 Lingshiguan Road. This striking building served as a vital diplomatic link between the U.S. and China for decades. The Consulate General of the United States of America oversaw a large consular district. This district encompassed Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces, the Tibet Autonomous Region, and Chongqing. In 2008, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited the Consulate General of the United States of America. Her visit followed the devastating Sichuan earthquake. She toured a relief camp and observed a U.S.-donated water purification project. The Consulate General of the United States of America was also at the center of a major political incident in 2012. Chongqing’s vice-mayor, Wang Lijun, sought refuge there. This sparked the Wang Lijun incident, which ultimately led to the downfall of Chongqing Party Secretary Bo Xilai. Sadly, in July 2020, the Consulate General of the United States of America in Chengdu was closed. This closure came as a result of escalating tensions between the U.S. and China. The U.S. flag was lowered for the last time on July 27, marking the end of an era.