Special supplement: Chengdu's relaxed, alluring lifestyle

Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, is a livable city located on the fertile Chengdu Plain that has long enjoyed a reputation as a land of abundance.

Sheltered from northwest Siberian winter winds by the Qinling Mountains, the city is blessed with a mild climate.

It is also mostly free from strong ultraviolet rays as it has one of the lowest sunshine totals in China.

By the end of 2007, the city's population had reached 11 million, of which four million are urban residents.

Like other Chinese cities, Chengdu enjoyed robust economic growth since the nation's reform and opening up in 1978.

Today, Chengdu is a major metropolis and an economic center in western China. In 2007, the city's GDP reached 332.44 billion yuan.

According to the 2007 appraisal on the best Chinese cities for investment, Chengdu was named one of the top ten cities out of a total of 280 urban centers.

Relaxed pace

On the fast track to modernization, however, Chengdu has successfully preserved its unique culture and character.

The pace is relatively slow despite prosperous business in the city, as many local residents believe enjoying life is more important than working hard to make more money.

People with different levels of income are able to live a contented and relaxed life, making the city alluring to many.

Chengdu's people are famous for their love of leisurely activities such as sipping tea and playing mahjong.

Foreign guests have found that local residents are indeed friendly, interested and engaging.

"There were smiles abound as we wondered around the city, and we were able to strike up plenty of fun and friendly conversations along the way with people from all walks of life," said a foreign tourist in his travel blog.

"There is still a refreshing innocence and honesty about the place," he said.

Founded more than 2,300 years ago with the same name, Chengdu has acquired several nicknames, including "city of relaxation," "city of good food" and "city of shopping."

In 2007 it was one of the three cities - along with Hangzhou and Dalian - to receive the title of China's Best Tourism City awarded by the National Tourism Administration and the World Tourism Organization.

In 2005, Chengdu received the title of "Model City of Environmental Protection" from the central government.

Chengdu has tree-lined boulevards and a number of large, well-kept public parks. Air pollution remains relatively low.

In the center of downtown Chengdu is Chunxi Pedestrian Street, the bustling shopping and fashion center of the city.

Visitors can see many beautiful ladies - for which the city is renowned - and taste a variety of famous Sichuan cuisine and Chengdu snacks.

Jinli Street is a new attraction. The narrow street is crowded with all kinds of bars lighted by red lanterns.

People can buy or appreciate all kinds of indigenous handicraft articles hung on the vendor stands.

Long serving as a political, economic and cultural center in western China, Chengdu boasts of a large number of scenic spots and places of historical and cultural importance.

It is also the hometown of the giant panda.

The world cultural heritage site Dujiangyan, an irrigation project built in 256 BC, is only 60 km west of the city.

Major historical sites in the city include the Temple of Marquis Wu, an ancestral temple in memory of Zhuge Liang, a prominent statesman during the Three Kingdoms period (AD 220-280) and the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu, a great poet in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

(China Daily 09/01/2008 page3)