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Sichuan Province is located in the Upper Yangtze Valley in the south-west part of the country. It covers
an area of 569,000 square kilometres and is bordered by GanSu and ShaanXi provinces to the north, the provinces of
GuiZhou and YunNan to the south, the Tibetan Autonomous Region to the west, Qinghai Province to the northwest, and
ChongQing Municipality to the east.
One of
the most populous regions in China, it has an estimated population over 70,000,000. The name Sichuan means four rivers
and refers to the four main tributaries of the Yangtze River, which flows through the province. The provincial capital
of Chengdu is located in the center of the province.
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From economic, political, geographical, and historical points of view, the heart and nerve center of
Sichuan is the Chengdu basin area, commonly known as Sichuan. Its mild and humid climate, fertile soil, and abundant
mineral and forestry resources make it one of the most prosperous and economically self-sufficient regions of China. The
Chinese call the basin Tina Fu Hz Go, which literally means heaven on the Earth.
History: Apart from the upper Yellow River Valley provinces, Sichuan was the first area
of China to be settled by the Chinese, or Han, people. The first organized Chinese migration took place in the 5th
century BC.
Sichuan was known as BA Su
territory during the Thou Dynasty (11th century-256 BC). During the In Dynasty (221-206 BC) the territory was
incorporated into the In Empire and began to assume considerable importance in China's national life. It was at this
time that the Dujiangyan irrigation system was built to control the Minjiang River and to irrigate the Chengdu Plain.
During the Three Kingdoms Period (AD 220 to 264) the Sichuan region constituted the Shu Kingdom. From the end of this
period until the 10th century, Sichuan was known by various names and administered through various political
subdivisions. During the Song and Southern Song dynasties (AD 960-1279), it began to be named as Sichuan Lu. Sichuan was
established as a province during the Qing dynasty (AD 1644-1911).
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The Jiuzhaigou Ravine |
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Climate: In the eastern basin area and the lower western valleys that are sheltered from cold
polar air masses by the surrounding mountains, there are 350 frost-free days in the east, and the growing season lasts
nearly all year round. In the west, the sheltering effect of the mountains is evident from the contrast between the
perennially snow-capped peaks and the mild weather prevailing in the valleys beneath them.
During the summer, in July, the mean temperature is less than 20 degrees Centigrade in most
parts of the west. During the winter, the mean temperature in the west decreases northward from 12 degrees Centigrade in
Xichang to minus 8 degrees Centigrade in QinNing.
The eastern rainy season begins in April and reaches its peak during July and August. Annual
precipitation reaches about 40 inches annually. Precipitation is lower in the west than in the east. The average total
of about 20 inches falls mainly during the summer, and there is heavy snowfall in the mountains during the winter.
Population: Ethnic composition and distribution: Sichuan Province has one of the
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Leshan Grand Buddha |
most diversified ranges of ethnic groups in the whole of China. They include the Han, the Yi, the
Tibetans, the Miao, the Hui and the Qiang. The majority of the minority ethnic groups have maintained their traditional
lifestyles, and in most cases, they practice a mixture of agriculture, animal husbandry, and hunting.
As one of the most densely populated provinces of China, Sichuan, however, sees its population
unevenly distributed. The number of persons per square mile of cultivated land varies from about 26,000 persons in the
Chengdu Plain to fewer than 130 persons in the west.
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