Chengdu is located in southwest China, is the capital of Sichuan province and a sub-provincial city. It is the fifth most populous city in China. Chengdu is also one of the most important economic centres and transportation and communication hubs in China. Chengdu has one of the lowest sunshine totals in China (less sunshine annually than London), and most days are cloudy even if without rain. This is especially so in the winter months, when it is typically interminably grey and dreary. Spring (Mar-Apr) tends to be sunnier, warmer and drier than autumn (Oct-Nov).

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is the sixth largest airport in Mainland China, after Beijing Capital, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Guangzhou Baiyun and Shenzhen Bao'an. In 2006, the passenger volume in Chengdu Shuangliu reached 16.28 million, one of the world's 100 busiest airports by passenger traffic.

Currently, there are direct international flights connecting, Chengdu to Singapore (Silk Air and Air China), Chengdu to Bangkok (Thai Airways International), Chengdu to Tokyo (Air China), Chengdu to Seoul (Asiana Airlines and Air China), Chengdu to Phnom Penh (Angkor Airways), Chengdu to Amsterdam (KLM: Royal Dutch Airlines). The Chengdu to Kuala Lumpur route with Malaysia Airlines was cancelled on 29 Nov 2006.

There are also international flights connecting Chengdu to Hong Kong (Dragon air, Hong Kong Express and Air China) and Macau (Air Macau).

The predominant ingredient in the food here is chilli and is based on the Sichuan dishes, the most famous dishes from the region include Spicy chicken with peanut (Gong bao ji ding), and spiced tofu with chilli Ma po Dou fu).