History of Chengdu in Timeline

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province in China and the fourth most populous city in the nation, boasting a population exceeding 20 million. Beyond its size, Chengdu serves as the traditional hub of Western China, holding significant regional importance.

1901: Mission Rebuilt

In 1901, the mission compound was rebuilt a third time after being destroyed in riots.

1911: Railway Protection Movement

In 1911, Chengdu's branch of the Railway Protection Movement helped trigger the Wuchang Uprising, leading to the Xinhai Revolution.

1914: Hart College Dedicated

In 1914, missionaries relocated and expanded the Boys' and Girls' Schools and dedicated the Divinity College as Hart College.

1924: Chunxi Road Built

Chunxi Road was built in 1924 and named after a part of the Tao Te Ching.

1937: Capital Moved to Wuhan

In 1937, during World War II, the capital city of China was forced to move inland from Nanjing to Wuhan.

1938: Capital Moved to Chongqing

In 1938, the capital city of China was moved from Chengdu to Chongqing during World War II.

1940: Japanese Appear With Advanced Fighter Plane

In mid-late 1940, the Imperial Japanese appeared in the skies over Chongqing and Chengdu with the A6M "Zero" fighter plane.

March 1941: Huang Xinrui Died Battling Zero Fighters

On March 14 1941, Major Huang Xinrui, an American volunteer fighter pilot, died battling Japanese A6M "Zero" fighters while defending Chengdu.

1941: United States set up Stations at Airbases

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor at the end of 1941, the United States began setting up stations at airbases in China.

1944: Operation Matterhorn Launched

In 1944, the American XX Bomber Command launched Operation Matterhorn, basing B-29 Superfortresses in Chengdu to bomb the Japanese Home Islands.

1949: Communist Forces Take Chengdu

In 1949, Communist forces took Chengdu on December 27, marking it as the last city on the Chinese mainland held by the Kuomintang. On December 10th, remnants of the Nationalist Chinese government evacuated to Taiwan.

1949: First Foreign Consulate in west-central China

In October 1985, the United States Consulate General at Chengdu opened, the first foreign consulate in west-central China since 1949.

1952: Railway Built to Chongqing

In 1952, a railway was built to Chongqing, expanding Chengdu's importance as a link between Eastern and Western China.

1984: Hospital Returned Chapel Building

In 1984, the Chengdu City Second People's Hospital returned the chapel building to the church.

October 1985: United States Consulate General at Chengdu Opened

On 16 October 1985, the United States Consulate General at Chengdu opened, the first foreign consulate in west-central China since 1949.

1988: Housing System Reform and Real Estate Development

In 1988, the Implementation Plan for a Gradual Housing System Reform in Cities and Towns marked the beginning of overall housing reform in urban areas of China, and more than 20 real estate companies were established in Chengdu.

August 1992: Sanxingdui Museum Founded

In August 1992, the original complex of Sanxingdui Museum was founded.

1992: Establishment of Chengdu Taiwanese Investment Zone

In 1992, the Chengdu Taiwanese Investment Zone was established.

February 1996: Founding of Chengdu Tiancheng Soccer Club

On 26 February 1996, Chengdu Tiancheng, Chengdu's soccer team, was founded and formerly known as Chengdu Five Bulls.

1997: Start of the Five Main Roads & One Bridge Project

In 1997, Chengdu started the Five Main Roads & One Bridge project, establishing the foundation for the eastern and southern sub-centers of Chengdu.

1997: Sanxingdui Museum Opened

In 1997, the original complex of the Sanxingdui Museum opened.

1998: Funan River Project Won UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award

In 1998, the Funan River Comprehensive Improvement Project won the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award.

2000: Funan River Project Won Local Initiative Award

In 2000, The Funan River Comprehensive Improvement Project won the "Local Initiative Award" by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.

2000: Commercial Real Estate Projects Appeared

In 2000, dozens of commercial real estate projects appeared in Chengdu, and the Chinese government encouraged citizens to buy their own houses with subsidies.

2000: Dujiangyan Irrigation System History

The Dujiangyan Irrigation System, located 58 km away from downtown Chengdu, has a history of over 2000 years as of the year 2000.

2001: Beijing Hosted FISU Summer World University Games

In 2001, Beijing hosted the FISU Summer World University Games.

2001: Intel Capital acquires stake in Primetel

In 2001, Intel Capital acquired a strategic stake in Primetel, Chengdu's first foreign technology company.

2001: Golden Sun Bird Unearthed

In 2001, the Golden Sun Bird, an ancient relic, was unearthed from the Jinsha Site.

2003: Kuanzhaixiangzi Alleys turned into mixed-use strip

In 2003, the local government turned the Kuanzhaixiangzi Alleys area into a mixed-use strip of restaurants, teahouses, bars, avant-garde galleries, and residential houses.

2004: Longquanyi Stadium Hosted AFC Asian Cup

Longquanyi Stadium was one of the four venues which hosted the 2004 AFC Asian Cup.

December 2005: Sheffield United F.C. Took Over Chengdu Five Bulls

On 11 December 2005, English professional soccer club Sheffield United F.C. took over Chengdu Five Bulls.

2005: Intel sets up factory in Chengdu

In 2005, Intel set up its second factory in China, after its Shanghai factory, in Chengdu.

2005: Golden Sun Bird designated as official logo

In 2005, the Golden Sun Bird was designated as the official logo of Chinese cultural heritage by the China National Relic Bureau.

November 2006: IBM signed agreement with Chengdu High-Tech Zone

In November 2006, IBM signed an agreement with the Chengdu High-Tech Zone to establish a Global Delivery Center.

2006: Chengdu Listed as Service Outsourcing Base

In 2006, Chengdu was listed as one of the first service outsourcing base cities in China by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

2006: Grand Slam Champions Win

In 2006, Chengdu's Grand Slam champions Zheng Jie and Yan Zi won the women's double championships at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

2006: SMIC sets up plant in Chengdu

In 2006, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) set up an assembly and testing plant in Chengdu.

2006: Chengdu called "China's party city"

In 2006, an article by the Los Angeles Times called Chengdu "China's party city" for its carefree lifestyle.

2006: Jinsha Site Selected as a "key conservation unit"

In 2006, the Jinsha Site was selected as a "key conservation unit" of the nation.

February 2007: IBM Global Delivery Center Scheduled to be operational

The IBM Global Delivery Center in Chengdu was scheduled to be operational by February 2007.

2007: Chengdu declared a benchmark city for investment environment

According to the World Bank's 2007 survey report on global investment environments, Chengdu was declared "a benchmark city for investment environment in inland China."

2007: Chengdu Hosted FIFA Women's World Cup

In 2007, Chengdu, along with Shanghai, Hangzhou, Tianjin and Wuhan, hosted the FIFA Women's World Cup.

2007: Chengdu Sports Center hosted the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup

In 2007, the Chengdu Sports Center hosted the FIFA Women's World Cup.

March 2008: IBM Global Business Services Working Team Stationed in Chengdu

On 23 March 2008, IBM announced that the southwest working team of IBM Global Business Services is now formally stationed in Chengdu.

May 2008: IBM Chengdu to increase staff number

On 28 May 2008, IBM China disclosed that IBM Chengdu would increase its staff number from 600 to nearly 1,000 by the end of the year.

2008: Anren Historic Town - hometown of Liu Wencai

Anren Historic Town was the hometown of Liu Wencai in 2008, a Qing dynasty warlord, landowner and millionaire.

2008: Expressways Connecting Downtown Chengdu to Suburbs

By the end of 2008, there were ten expressways connecting downtown Chengdu to its suburbs.

2008: AMD sets up R&D center in Chengdu

In 2008, AMD set up an R&D center in Chengdu.

May 2009: Agreement Signed to Improve Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

On 26 May 2009, Air China, Chengdu City Government and Sichuan Airport Group signed an agreement to improve the infrastructure of the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and increase the number of direct international flights.

October 2009: Multinational enterprises in Chengdu

By October 2009, 133 multinational enterprises had subsidiaries or branch offices in Chengdu, including Intel, Cisco, Sony and Toyota.

2009: Match-fixing Scandal

In 2009, Chengdu Tiancheng was embroiled in a match-fixing scandal and punished with relegation.

2009: Chengdu hosted World Cyber Games Grand Finals

In 2009, Chengdu hosted the World Cyber Games Grand Finals (11–15 November).

2009: Sri Lankan Consulate in Chengdu Opened

In 2009, the Sri Lankan consulate in Chengdu opened.

2009: Start of ATP Champions Tour Tournament in Chengdu

Starting in 2009, Chengdu became part of an elite group of cities to host an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) Champions Tour tournament, called the Chengdu Open.

May 2010: Chengdu-Dujiangyan Intercity Railway Entered Operation

On 12 May 2010, the Chengdu–Dujiangyan intercity railway, a high-speed rail line, entered operation.

October 2010: Chengdu Metro Officially Opened

On 1 October 2010, the Chengdu Metro officially opened with Line 1.

October 2010: Chengdu Hi-tech Comprehensive Free Trade Zone Established

On 18 October 2010, Chengdu Hi-tech Comprehensive Free Trade Zone was established with the approval of the State Council.

December 2010: Ownership Changes for Chengdu Tiancheng

On 9 December 2010, the owners of Chengdu Tiancheng sold their majority to Hung Fu Enterprise Co., Ltd and Scarborough Development (China) Co., Ltd.

2010: Chengdu as an "engine" of the Western Development Program

According to a research report published in 2010, Chengdu has become an "engine" of the Western Development Program, a benchmark city for investment environment in inland China, and a major leader in new urbanization.

2010: Chengdu a top investment destination

According to the 2010 AmCham China White Paper, Chengdu has become a top investment destination in China.

2010: Dell expands in Xiamen

In 2010 Dell expanded its operations center in Xiamen.

2010: Fortune 500 companies opened offices in Chengdu

In 2010, 12 of the Fortune 500 companies opened offices, branches, or operation centers in Chengdu. By the end of 2010, over 200 Fortune 500 companies had set up branches in Chengdu.

2010: Shuangliu County entered "2010 China's Top 100 Counties of New Energies"

In 2010, Shuangliu County under Chengdu's jurisdiction entered "2010 China's Top 100 Counties of New Energies".

2010: Museum dedicated to the memorial of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake built

In 2010, a museum dedicated to the memorial of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake was built in Anren Historic Town.

2010: Direct revenue from the convention and exhibition industry

In 2010, direct revenue from the convention and exhibition industry was RMB 3.21 billion, with a year-on-year growth of 27.8 percent in Chengdu.

2010: Offshore Service Outsourcing Value Increased

In 2010, offshore service outsourcing in Chengdu achieved a registered contract value of US$336 million, a 99 percent increase compared to the previous year.

February 2011: Chengdu Hi-tech Comprehensive Free Trade Zone Passed National Acceptance

On 25 February 2011, Chengdu Hi-tech Comprehensive Free Trade Zone passed the national acceptance.

May 2011: Chengdu Hi-tech Comprehensive Free Trade Zone Officially Operated

In May 2011, Chengdu High-tech Comprehensive Free Trade Zone officially began operations.

2011: ANZ's data services center established

ANZ's data services center, established in 2011 in Chengdu, employs over 800 people.

2011: Dell opens operations center

Dell opened its second major China operations center in Chengdu in 2011.

2011: City Logo Adopted

In 2011, Chengdu adopted a city logo inspired by the Golden Sun Bird relic.

2011: Chengdu Ranked First in Investment Value for New Energies

In 2011, Chengdu was ranked first again in the list of China's 15 "Cities with Highest Investment Value for New Energies", and Shuangliu County entered "2010 China's Top 100 Counties of New Energies".

2011: UNESCO Recognition

In 2011, Chengdu was recognized by UNESCO as a city of gastronomy, reflecting the culture of Sichuan province.

2011: Li Na Wins French Open

In 2011, Chengdu's Li Na won the French Open, leading to increased interest in tennis in Chengdu.

2011: Shenzhen Hosted FISU Summer World University Games

In 2011, Shenzhen hosted the FISU Summer World University Games.

2011: Volvo Announces Manufacturing Base in Chengdu

In 2011, Volvo announced the construction of its first manufacturing base in China, with an investment of RMB 5.4 billion, to be built in Chengdu.

September 2012: Chengdu Metro Line 2 Opened

Chengdu Metro Line 2 opened in September 2012.

2012: Government of Chengdu plan

By 2012 the government of Chengdu planned to create a 90-billion-CNY bio pharmaceutical sector.

2012: Logistic industry

By 2012, the logistic industry in Chengdu will realize a value added of RMB 50 billion, with an average annual growth exceeding 18 percent.

2012: Retail sales of consumer goods

By 2012, total retail sales of consumer goods in Chengdu reached RMB 331.77 billion, up 16 percent annually on average.

2012: Chengdu's New Energy Industry Investment and Sales Revenue

In 2012, Chengdu's new energy industry reached an investment over 20 billion RMB and sales revenue of 50 billion RMB.

2012: Expected value-added financial services

It is expected that by 2012, value-added financial services will make up 14 percent of the added-value service industry and 7 percent of the regional GDP.

April 2013: First Express Cargo Train Linking China and Europe

Since April 2013, companies are able to ship goods three times a week to Europe on trains originating from Chengdu Qingbaijiang Station bound for Łódź, Poland, taking 12 days to complete the full journey.

May 2013: Tiancheng Investment Group Acquired Chengdu Tiancheng Club

On 23 May 2013, the Tiancheng Investment Group announced the acquisition of the Chengdu Tiancheng club.

2014: Li Na Wins Australian Open

In 2014, Chengdu's Li Na won the Australian Open, further increasing interest in tennis in Chengdu.

December 2015: Chengdu Metro Line 4 Opened

Chengdu Metro Line 4 opened in December 2015.

2015: Automobile Production Capacity Expected to Reach 700,000 Vehicles

By 2015, the automobile production capacity of Chengdu's Comprehensive Function Zone of Automobile Industry was expected to reach 700,000 vehicles.

2015: Expected value-added financial services

It is expected that by 2015, value-added financial services will make up 18 percent of the added-value service industry and 9 percent of the regional GDP.

2015: Passenger Traffic Objective for Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

The objective was to increase passenger traffic to more than 40 million by 2015, making Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport the fourth-largest international hub in China.

July 2016: Chengdu Metro Line 3 Opened

Chengdu Metro Line 3 opened in July 2016.

2016: Increased Tennis Courts and Membership

Between 2006 and 2016, over 700 standard tennis courts were built in Chengdu, and membership for the Chengdu Tennis Association grew significantly.

2016: Temporary Closure of Sri Lankan Consulate in Chengdu

In 2016, the Sri Lankan consulate in Chengdu was temporarily closed.

2016: Chengdu Open held annually since 2016

Since 2016, the Chengdu Open, an ATP Championship Tour tournament, has been held annually at the Sichuan International Tennis Center.

December 2018: Authorities Attempted to Close Underground Church

In December 2018, authorities in Chengdu attempted to close the Early Rain Covenant Church, arresting over 100 members, including the pastor and his wife. The church's kindergarten and theological college were raided, and media outlets were shut down.

2018: Passenger Traffic at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

In 2018, Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport had a total passenger traffic of 53 million, making it the busiest airport in Central and Western China and the nation's fourth-busiest.

March 2019: ANZ recruited further staff

In March 2019, ANZ recruited further staff to support its data analytics and big data efforts in Chengdu.

July 2019: Amazon Web Services signed deal with Chengdu High-Tech Zone

In July 2019, Amazon Web Services signed a deal with the Chengdu High-Tech Zone to establish an innovation center.

2019: Chengdu has the most bars in China

A statistical report in 2019 showed that Chengdu had more bars than Shanghai, becoming the city with the most bars in China.

2019: Chengdu Overtakes Shenzhen

In 2019, Chengdu overtook Shenzhen as the best-performing Chinese economy.

2019: Chengdu Represented in Overwatch League

In 2019, Chengdu was represented in the Overwatch League by the Chengdu Hunters, the first major esports team to represent Chengdu.

July 2020: Closure of the United States Consulate General at Chengdu

The United States Consulate General at Chengdu was closed on 27 July 2020, corresponding to the closure of Chinese Consulate-General, Houston.

2020: Chengdu Shuangliu Airport Ranked Busiest in China

Chengdu Shuangliu Airport ranked the No.1 busiest airport in China in 2020.

2020: ANZ repurposed its Chengdu data center

In 2020, ANZ temporarily repurposed its Chengdu data center to an IT helpdesk, as part of the bank's pandemic response.

2020: Chengdu Population

In 2020, Chengdu had a population of 20,937,757, making it the fourth most populous city in China.

2020: Chengdu Hi-Tech Comprehensive Free Trade Zone Import and Export Volume

In 2020, the Chengdu Hi-Tech Comprehensive Free Trade Zone achieved a total import and export volume of 549.1 billion yuan, accounting for 68% of the province's total, and ranking No.1 in the national comprehensive free trade zones.

2020: Automobile Production Capacity Expected to Reach 1.25 Million Vehicles

In 2020, the automobile production capacity of Chengdu's Comprehensive Function Zone of Automobile Industry was expected to reach 1.25 million vehicles.

2020: Delay of Tokyo Olympics

The delayed Summer Olympics in Tokyo from 2020 to 2021 caused the proposed dates of the Chengdu Summer World University Games to be moved.

June 2021: Opening of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport

In June 2021, the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport opened with two main terminals and three runways.

August 2021: Original Scheduling of Chengdu Summer World University Games

Chengdu was originally scheduled to host the Summer World University Games from 8–19 August 2021, but the dates were moved due to the delayed Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

2021: Chengdu Shuangliu Airport Ranked Second Busiest in China

Chengdu Shuangliu Airport ranked the No.2 busiest airport in China in 2021.

2021: Won Site-Selection Voting

In 2021, Chengdu beat out Winnipeg, Canada, in site-selection voting to host the World Science Fiction Convention.

2021: Global Financial Centres Index Ranking

In 2021, Chengdu ranked 35th globally on the Global Financial Centres Index, highlighting its position as a leading financial hub. Furthermore, Chengdu added more residents than any other city in the country, with a population of 21,192,000.

2021: Chengdu Financial Hub Ranking

In 2021, Chengdu ranks 35th globally and 6th in China after Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou in the Global Financial Centres Index.

March 2022: Sanxingdui Museum New Complex Founded

In March 2022, the new complex of Sanxingdui Museum was founded.

2022: Chengdu Hunters Played in Overwatch League

In 2022, the Chengdu Hunters played as part of the Overwatch League's Pacific Division.

August 2023: Chengdu Hosted Summer World University Games

Chengdu hosted the delayed Summer World University Games from 28 July – 8 August 2023 due to COVID-19 concerns.

2023: Teahouses and Bars in Chengdu

In 2023, Chengdu had more than 30,000 teahouses and 3,566 legally registered bars, nightclubs, and dance halls.

2023: Hosted FISU Summer World University Games

In 2023, Chengdu hosted the 31st FISU Summer World University Games, becoming the third Chinese city to do so after Beijing and Shenzhen.

2023: Hosted World Science Fiction Convention

In 2023, Chengdu hosted the 81st World Science Fiction Convention.

2023: International Flights Transferred to Tianfu International Airport

Since 2023, all international flights have been transferred to Tianfu International Airport.

June 2024: Chengdu Metro Operational Length

As of the end of June 2024, Chengdu has 558 km of metro lines in operation.

2024: Chengdu Hosted Mid-Season Invitational

Chengdu hosted the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational from 1 May to 19 May at the Chengdu Financial City Performing Arts Center, where South Korean team Gen.G defeated home favorites Bilibili Gaming.

2025: Chengdu to host the World Games

In 2025, Chengdu is scheduled to host the World Games.

2025: Chengdu to Host League of Legends World Championship Final

Prior to the 2024 League of Legends World Championship grand finals, it was announced that Chengdu would also host the 2025 tournament Final.

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