Sichuan

Sichuan is located in the southwestern region of China. It is bordered by Hubei and Hunan in the east, Guizhou and Yunnan in the south, Xizang (Tibet) in the west and Qinghai, Gansu and Shaanxi in the north.

The name 'Sichuan' means 'four streams', and it refers to the four most important tributaries to the Changjiang: Minjiang, Tuojiang, Fujiang and Jialing Jiang which flow through the province from north to south. Thanks to the favorable climatic conditions, intensive farming and numerous mineral resources, Sichuan is one of the richest provinces in China.

History

The area of present-day Sichuan was not originally settled by Han Chinese, who did not come to Sichuan until 4th century BC.

During the Zhou Dynasty, the region was named Shu Ba; during the period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280), it became the Kingdom of Shu Han. Up into the 10th century, the region's name, administrative status and also its affiliation were changed many times. Sometimes it was an independent kingdom, at other times it was a regular part of the empire. Its remoteness and secure military position favored seperationist movements and called forth a strong feeling of regional identity.

The region has been called Sichuan since the Song era. Provincial status was achieved during the Qing period. After the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty, Sichuan became the plaything of individual military rulers, and it was difficult for the national government to maintain control. During the period in which the military rulers were in power, the province was torn apart into separate regions - for a time as many as 17. As the national government weakened, preceding the Japanese invasion in 1938, it withdrew to Sichuan, and the province was suddenly pushed into the spotlight of events. To a certain extent, the region profited from this development, as people and capital suddenly streamed from the coastal regions into remote Sichuan. The national government remained in Sichuan until 1946, and the Japanese never succeeded in conquering the region. Since the founding of the People's Republic, Sichuan has once more been brought under the firm control of the central government.

The province can be divided into an eastern and a western half. Numerous mountain chains divide the western region. The highest elevation in Sichuan, Gongga Shan mountain at 7,590m, is located in this area, about 70km from Ya'an. In contrast to the eastern half, the western half is sparsely populated. Most of the inhabitants have Tibetan-Burmese ancestry and live in the mountains. They make their livings by raising cattle and pasturing, faming or hunting. The Red Basin is located in the east, surrounded by mountain ranges. Several hundred million years ago, an inland sea was located here, and its red deposits led to the basin's name. The basin's surface is hilly and severely eroded. Effective farming became possible only by introducing terrace farming.

Today, the basin is also called Land of Millions of Terraces. It is one of the most densely populated areas of China and is inhabited primarily by Han Chinese. The Han make up about 96% of Sichuan's population. Thanks to the long growing period of around 350 days, it is possible to grow two crops a year almost everywhere in the region.

In the summer, almost a third of the entire land area is devoted to growing rice; corn, sorghum and sweet potatoes are planted in the rugged areas where it is difficult to irrigate. In the winter, wheat and rape are the dry land crops. Sugar cane, cotton, peanuts and citrus fruits are grown in certain river valleys. Tea is planted in the mountains in the west. Pressed brick tea is a specialty. Chengdu's plains are Sichuan's traditional region for the cultivation of rice. It is the only large area in the region that is relatively Dujiang Yan, was laid out here as early as the 3rd century BC under the direction of the prefect Li Bing and his son Erlang. This system was not only one of the oldest in China, but also one of the most successful. It guarded the basin against floods and droughts.

Due to the high mountains in the north and west which prevent cold air masses from entering the region, Sichuan's climate is mild. In Chengdu, the average temperature is 7℃ in January and 26℃ in July. In the mountainous western region, it is 20℃. Three-quarters of the annual precipitation falls between June and September.

Sichuan is one of China's most important suppliers of wood. Mineral resources are also significant. There are large supplies of ironore, copper, gold, silver, aluminum, salt, coal, oil, asbestos and marble. The leading industrial centers are Chongqing and Chengdu, as well as Neijiang and Yibin. The capital, Chengdu, is the second largest city in Sichuan. The largest city in the province is Chongqing.