Imagine the scene: shimmering water reflecting the sky. This is Tongji Reservoir. It stands as a serene oasis in Chengdu.
Tongji Reservoir offers more than scenic beauty. It represents harmony between nature and urban life. But what makes this reservoir so special?
Chengdu’s history stretches back over 2,300 years. Humans settled here even earlier. Evidence suggests settlements existed 3,700 to 4,500 years ago. The acknowledged history started in 367 BC. This is when the city was constructed.
Its location has remained constant. This is a rare feat worldwide. The Dujiangyan Irrigation System completed in 256 BC. This controlled floods and irrigated the land. The area then developed rapidly.
By the Han Dynasty, Chengdu was famed for Shu Brocade. The Three Kingdoms Period saw it as the capital of Shu. It became a major city in the Tang Dynasty. The city reached its golden age during the Song Dynasty.
Wars in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties caused decline. However, large-scale immigration soon led to recovery. After the Opium War, decline returned. But the People’s Republic of China brought renewed growth. Chengdu is now vital to southwest China.
The ancient Shu Kingdom thrived in the Chengdu Plain around 3,600 years ago. Sanxingdui and Jinsha are key sites from that era. Sanxingdui, dating from 3,000-1,200 BC, was northeast of today’s Chengdu. It was a prosperous center. Bronze masks and gold artifacts reveal an advanced civilization. Jinsha Site, west of Chengdu’s downtown, was likely Shu’s capital.
In 367 BC, the King of Shu moved his capital to a new site. He named it Chengdu. The name meant the final capital of Shu Kingdom. People see this as Chengdu’s true beginning as a city. It remained the capital until 316 BC. Then the Qin State conquered Shu.
Zhang Yi and Sima Cuo expanded Chengdu under Qin rule. In 311 BC, buildings mirrored Xianyang. This made the city even grander.
Li Bing built the Dujiangyan Irrigation System in 256 BC. This controlled the Minjiang River. It led to good harvests. Chengdu entered a period of fast growth. By the late Qin and early Han dynasties, Chengdu was a land of abundance.
During the Han Dynasty, Chengdu thrived in trade. Shu Brocade, lacquerware, and tea flourished. The city was a lacquer craft center. It was the birthplace of tea culture. The brocade industry boomed. The central government even appointed an officer to manage it. The city gained the name Jin Guan City. Jin Guan was the officer’s title. Jin referred to brocades.
In the Three Kingdoms Period, Liu Bei founded the Kingdom of Shu in 221 AD. He made Chengdu its capital. He and Zhuge Liang worked to make the kingdom prosper. It became a key city with many ethnic groups. It was one of China’s three centers.
Chengdu became one of China’s four major cities during the Tang Dynasty. It experienced economic and cultural growth. Agriculture and silk thrived. Handicrafts and printing advanced. The world’s earliest printing pieces were found in Chengdu. Poets like Li Bai and Du Fu lived here.
During the Five Dynasties and Ten States period, Meng Chang ruled from Chengdu. His wife loved flowers. He ordered hibiscus planted across the city wall. Chengdu became known as Furong City or Hibiscus City.
Chengdu was among China’s most prosperous cities during the Song Dynasty. Brocades had more patterns. They accounted for 70% of tributes to the court. Specialized markets sold silkworms, herbs, and flowers. Jiao Zi, the earliest paper currency, was issued here.
Wars in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties devastated Chengdu. Plague worsened the population decline. Emperor Kangxi moved people from richer provinces to Sichuan. Businessmen also immigrated. Chengdu gradually recovered.
The Opium War caused decline. Chongqing overshadowed Chengdu. After the People’s Republic of China, Chengdu grew. It became a leading city in western China.
As you stand here, remember Chengdu’s resilience. Tongji Reservoir reflects this spirit. It mirrors the city’s ability to adapt and thrive. The reservoir is a testament to Chengdu’s enduring legacy. It is a reminder of its vibrant future.