Chengdu is the provincial capital ofSichuan province in Southwest China,[1] as well as a major city inWestern China. As of 2014 the administrative area houses 14,427,500 inhabitants with an urban population of 10,152,632. Chengdu is the fifth-most populous agglomeration in China. Chengdu is one of the most important economic, financial, commercial, cultural, transportation, and communication centers in Western China. Chengdu also hosts many international companies and more than 12 consulates. More than 260 Fortune 500 companies have established branches in Chengdu due to huge demand of Western China. The giant panda, a Chinese national treasure, is one of the rarest animals in the world. The total number is estimated to be 1,500, including those living in the wild, 80 percent of which are in Sichuan Province.
