Business and Travel in Sichuan Province

In western China lies the province of Sichuan. For years this beautiful part of the country has been known as the ‘Province of Abundance’ due to the profusion of agricultural products and other items which it produced on an annual basis. Today it is also a center of trade and industry, as well as of agriculture and it certainly still deserves to be called the ‘Province of Abundance.

Sichuan, when literally translated, means ‘four rivers’. These four rivers, which feed into the Sichuan basin, have long helped the region to become a massive agricultural center. Today, just as was the case centuries ago, Sichuan in China continues to be one of China’s major contributors of grains, like rice and wheat. Other commercial crops include sugar cane, sweet potato, rapeseeds, peaches and a variety of citrus fruits. Sichuan is also a major producer of pork and silkworm cocoons and regularly mines and refines over 132 different kinds of underground minerals. In fact, Sichuan was the top silkworm cocoon producer in 1999 in the country. But there is even more to this province. Since the 13th century, the capital of Sichuan – Chengdu – has been known for producing beautiful satins, lacquer and brocades, as well as having one of the first printing centers in the country. Today, this trend of being at the top of the industrial chain hasn’t changed. The heavy industries in Sichuan include coal, energy, iron and steel. Light manufacturing industries include building materials, textiles, food, wood processing, silk processing and electronics. Yibin is also known for the production of wine. Foreign and domestic trade in Sichuan is also good, with the emphasis being on electronics, information technology, metallurgy, hydropower and food and beverages. You will also find aerospace and military defense industries based in Sichuan. All this amounts to a brilliant economy of which the nominal GDP for 2004 was US$81.3 billion. Sichuan certainly has one of China’s richest economies. This is almost strange when you consider how inaccessible the region has proved to be over the years. Fortunately modern advancements have changed all that.

But not everything in Sichuan province is about work. The area is also home to several beautiful tourist attractions, including a large number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of the most popular is the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary, which is one of the most important places for captive Giant Panda conservation in the world. The center has a zoo and a museum in addition to the conservation areas. Other interesting attractions include the Dazu Rock carvings, the Huanglong Scenic and Historic site, the Jiuzhaigou Valley, the Mount Emei Scenic area, which features the Leshan Giant Buddha, and Mount Qincheng. So why not plan a trip to Sichuan to explore the culture, history and industry of Sichuan? You may discover that there is more to this province than meets the eye.

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