Dawan

“Eight hundred thousand households, with thousands of lights… ” Dawan, a suburb of Chengdu, may not shimmer with quite that many lights today, but it still holds a spark of that ancient grandeur. We’re standing on the edge of Dawan, a place that has seen Chengdu transform from a humble Qin settlement to the bustling metropolis it is today. Dawan itself is classified as a ‘subdistrict’, a term that doesn’t quite capture the weight of its history. Remember those magnificent silk brocades that graced the courts of emperors and fueled the ambitions of kingdoms? Well, Chengdu was their birthplace. And Dawan, nestled within the city’s embrace, witnessed this industry flourish. It saw the “Brocade Officials” meticulously oversee the creation of these luxurious fabrics, their workshops humming with activity. Imagine the vibrant colors, the intricate patterns, the sheer artistry that flowed from Dawan’s heart and out into the world. Under the Tang dynasty, these very streets may have felt the footsteps of travelers bearing Dawan’s brocades to distant lands, a testament to Chengdu’s prosperity. Dawan, like a silent observer, watched as Chengdu earned its title, “City of the Brocade Official.” That legacy, though faded, still lingers in the air, a reminder of the artistry and the ambition that once pulsed through Dawan.