Chengdu

Ancient city and capital of Sichuan province, China; population (2001 est) 1,909,400. It is a busy rail junction and has railway workshops. Industries include food-processing, engineering (especially precision machinery), electronics, and the manufacture of textiles and petrochemicals. There are well-preserved temples of the 8th-century poet Tu Fu and other historical figures.

Chengdu is situated on a fertile plain, drained and irrigated by the Min River, a tributary of the Chang Jiang. Founded during the Zhou dynasty (c. 1066–256 BC), it is one of the oldest cities in China and was the capital of the Kingdom of Shu during the 3rd century BC. Its original dam and irrigation system at Dujiangyan, built in the 3rd century BC, are still in good repair. The city is the seat of Sichuan University, and several other colleges and research institutes.