What is the history and development of Chengdu?

Chengdu is the earliest developed area in southwest China and one of the 24 famous historical and cultural cities in China. As early as the 4th century BC, the enlightened dynasty of Shu moved its capital to Chengdu, which was named as "Chengdu in one year and Chengdu in two years" and has been attached to it ever since.

Chengdu has been an important town in southwest China since ancient times. In the Three Kingdoms period, it was the capital of Shu and Han, and in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, it was the capital of former Shu and later Shu. After the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Chengdu was the political, economic, military and cultural center of Sichuan and even the whole southwest region. With rich cultural heritage, 1982 was declared as a national historical and cultural city by the State Council.

Since Qin and Han Dynasties, Chengdu has been famous for its prosperous agriculture, handicrafts and developed culture. Chengdu and Luoyang are listed as one of the five major cities in Han Dynasty. In addition, the literature and art of Chengdu in Han Dynasty reached a high level. Sima Xiangru, Yang Xiong and Wang Bao were the most famous scientists in China at that time. The Han Dynasty brick and stone reliefs unearthed in Chengdu are beautifully painted and have a wide range of contents.

During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Chengdu was economically developed, culturally prosperous and Buddhism prevailed. Chengdu has become the third of the four famous cities in China (Chang 'an, Yangzhou, Chengdu and Dunhuang), with developed agriculture, silk industry, handicrafts and commerce, rapid development of papermaking and printing, and its economic status is called "Yang Yi Shu Er" (Yangzhou first, Chengdu second). "Shu Embroidery" is one of the three famous embroideries in China, and "Shu Brocade" is regarded as a tribute treasure, and its output ranks first in China. Chengdu is one of the birthplaces of woodcut printing in China. In the late Tang Dynasty, most printed materials came from Chengdu. In addition to the important vegetable market and sericulture market in China, there is also a "grass market" in Chengdu, which is a township market distributed in neighboring areas. In the Tang Dynasty, writers gathered in Chengdu, and great poets such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Wang Bo, Lu, Gao Shi, Xue Tao, Li Shangyin, Tao Yong and Kang Shu all lived in Chengdu for a short time.

During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, Chengdu was prosperous and its economy and culture were more developed. Due to the development of commerce, the world's earliest paper money "Jiaozi" appeared in Chengdu. During the reign of Renzong in the Northern Song Dynasty, a government-run Jiaozi business was established in Yizhou (Chengdu), which was publicly printed by the government and issued "Jiaozi".

As a famous cultural city with a history of more than 2,000 years, there are as many as 2 16 cultural relics protection units at or above the municipal level in Chengdu, among which Du Fu Caotang, Wuhou Temple, Wangjianglou, Shuwangling, Yongling and Jinsha ancient Shu cultural sites are well-known at home and abroad.

Today's Chengdu, with its profound cultural heritage and unique customs, shows the eternal charm of this famous historical and cultural city, breeds the urban spirit of "harmony, tolerance, wisdom, honesty and pragmatic innovation", and the ever-changing urban construction adds a charming modern atmosphere.