The name Chengdu has remained unchanged for almost 2,500 years. According to "The World" (the ancient Chinese geographic book published in the Song Dynasty), Chengdu arose in the words "it took a year to gather and live in a small community; the second year to become a county center; the third year to transform into a metropolis" . It literally means "becoming the capital." This is the most popular saying about its origin. The first mention of the beginning of the city of Chengdu appeared already 4500 years ago. During the early war period, the city district of Chengdu became a settlement of the Kai Ming dynasty. Then Chengdu turned out to be the seat of the local government of the Shu Prefecture, and at the same time Chengdu County was created using the resources of the fertile Chengdu Plain, which was irrigated by building the Dujiangyan irrigation system. In 316 BCE the county was conquered by Qin, which began conquests, eventually uniting China in 221 B.C. After the unification of China, Chengdu became the capital of Sichuan Province and one of the most important commercial centers of the Empire.
In 1911, the Chengdu branch of the Railway Protection Movement helped to establish the Wuchang, which led to the revolution in Xinhai, which overthrew the Qin dynasty. In 1928, a municipal office was created in Chengdu, and the city itself was under the supervision of a provincial government. During World War II, the 14th US Air Army, fighting the Japanese, used the Chengdu airport. Chengdu was the last major city of the continent remaining in the hands of nationalists after losing the civil war with the communists. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the Sichuan administration was established and Chengdu became its headquarters. In 1952, when the provincial system was restored, Chengdu turned out to be the capital of Sichuan Province and remains so to this day.

Chengdu is the home of literary giants such as Sima Xiangru and Yang Xiong, famous Ming scholars and poets of the Shu kingdom. Among the discovered monuments of ivory, jade artifacts, bronze objects, gold objects and carved stone artifacts. In 2001, an ancient artifact (Golden Sun Bird) was discovered from Jinsha ruins in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. It has the shape of an annular foil made of pure gold. The pattern consists of four birds, swimming in the same direction (counterclockwise), located around the perimeter. The piece comes from the late Shang dynasty and is now in the Ruins Museum in Chengdu Jinsha. In 2011, he was officially chosen as the main logo of the city of Chengdu. One of the cultural objects is the Sichuan Opera (Chan Yu) founded at the turn of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). Along with immigrants arriving in Sichuan, various dramas arrived here, which were mixed with the local dialect, customs, folk music and dances.

It is said that the ancient inhabitants painted their faces to scare away animals. The Sichuan opera absorbed this ancient skill and created art from it. To this day, changing faces during the performance is its main attraction. In addition, Chengdu boasts of numerous monuments. The most famous include: Marquis Wu Temple (complex of pavilions and gardens), Du Fu Village House (residence of Du Fu, poet of the Tang dynasty), Qingyanggong (temple of the Tang dynasty), Wenshu Temple (1,200 years old; current buildings come from the eighteenth century) and many others. Chengdu also has the Chinese Panda Research and Breeding Base along with 30 hectares of bamboo forest. It is also worth mentioning that since 2012 the city has been organizing one of the most prestigious snooker tournaments. Chengdu may also be of interest to team sports fans. Currently, the city has three football teams at different levels. The sports stadium is located in the heart of the city, it can seat 42,000 spectators. It is a multifunctional place where numerous competitions, training sessions and performances take place. In 2007, it was the arena of the struggle of the Women's World Cup. One can also find here something for people who like new culinary experiences - it is the main center of Sichuan cuisine, where the Sichuan Academy of Culinary Arts operates.

Chengdu is the most significant cultural and educational center in southwestern China. There are 40 universities. The most famous of them are, among others Sichuan University, University of Electronic and Technological Sciences, Jiaotong University and University of Economics and Finance. Every year, many students from abroad decide to study in this city. Chengdu has a long tradition of encouraging international exchanges in the field of education, and the city is currently working with its sister cities in Japan, Great Britain, France and Australia. Only by the end of 2013, 14 contracts were signed for projects in the field of educational cooperation with seven countries including the United Kingdom, France, USA, Australia and Finland. An increasing number of universities and colleges are running courses for foreign students in Chinese language and culture, traditional Chinese medicine. More and more parents are sending their children to international schools, of which the most famous in the city are: International School in Chengdu, International School in Chengdu Meishi, School Eton House, School Leman International and finally International School QSI. Teaching in Sichuan is a very interesting experience.
At the end of 2014, when Fangsuo Commune began operating, it became the largest bookstore and hot spot in the city. At the end of 2015, she moved to Tianfu Square. Its area is 52,000 m2 (it consists of 8 floors).

From 7 to 11 October 2019, meetings were held in Chengdu with the Mayor of Chengdu and representatives of the Great Panda Research Center, the Qinbaijiang transhipment station and the Qinbaijiang School, where Polish is taught.

During the meeting with the Mayor of Chengdu, the following issues were discussed: the Łódź-Chengdu cargo rail connection, expanding the operational activities of Łódź logistics companies in Chengdu, joint promotion of this connection and Chengdu's support in finding new partners for cooperation under this project.

In addition, a meeting was held at the Great Panda Research Center in Chengdu, which aimed to establish cooperation and exchange experiences between the Panda Center and the ZOO in Łódź. The city of Chengdu is interested in cooperation within the Orientarium being created in Łódź. Due to the fact that a huge complex with Asian flora and fauna will be created in the Łódź orientarium, the Great Panda Center is considering transferring the species of Great Panda to the Łódź orientarium under lease.

The city also had the opportunity to present its economic profile along with investment opportunities. In addition, the exhibition EXPO Horticultural 2024 in Łódź was presented - with the theme "Nature of the City". Chengdu City authorities have expressed interest in cooperation under EXPO 2024, all the more that China is currently implementing a new ecological strategy based on building a system of ecological civilization.

Samokhin Band represented Łódź at this year's music festival of partner cities Chengdu -2019 Chengdu International Sister Cities Youth Music Festival.

The festival was attended by over 50 bands - representatives of countries around the world, in total about 500 artists. Over 250,000 spectators watched the festival concerts.

Representatives of Łódź performed at the opening and closing Gala of the Festival with a repertoire referring to the multiculturalism of our city. The band also played concerts in Beijing and Chongqing (Sichuan Province).

Samokhin Band has released 4 albums and has over 3,000 concerts in Poland and abroad, currently recording the next, fifth album. The band operating in our city since 2003, in the music layer draws, among others from jazz, rock'n'roll and eastern folk. The band has won many awards, including 1st place at the Włodzimierz Wysocki International Poetry and Song Festival in Warsaw.

From 24 to 27 October 2018, we hosted the Chengdu TV crew in Łódź. In co-production with TVP, an 8-episode documentary series about the New Silk Road is being created. Łódź is one of the few Polish cities visited by the Chinese television. They are interested in, among others places and people common to Polish and Chinese culture, science, economy and industry. During their visit to Łódź, the Chengdu TV team visited the Asian Affairs Center of the University of Lodz, which organizes a summer school for students from China. The programme also included visits to Hatrans and Spedcont, companies which deal with the operation of the cargo rail link connecting Chendgu with Łódź.

A sculpture of Jarosław Borek was unveiled in Chengdu. This is the result of the artist's trip to the sculpture festival in Chengdu, which took place in Spring 2018.

The "The Ring" sculpture is made half of Corten steel and half of polished stainless steel. Its outer diameter is 8 meters and its weight is 9.2 tons.

From 22 to 26 September Chinese students from the Language Primary School in the Qingbaijiang District of Chengdu visited Łódź. During their stay, youth from China visited Łódź and became acquainted with Polish culture. Children from China took part in classes in Primary School No. 1 together with Polish peers. An official agreement was signed between the schools. Jarosław Pawlicki, deputy director of the Education Department, signed the agreement on behalf of the City of Lodz Office. Joint projects are planned, including a re-visit of students from Łódź to China.

On 6 September 2018 a meeting with representatives of Sinopol - the Foundation for Chinese-Polish Economic and Cultural Exchange took place at Primary School No. 1 in Łódź.

The meeting aimed at determining the details of the visit  of students from the Language Elementary School located in the Qingbaijiang District in Chengdu to Łódź. Since September 2017, this school, probably as the first in China, has introduced Polish to its curriculum. From  22 to 26 September Chinese students will visit Łódź. They will take part in classes at Primary School No. 1 together with Polish peers and visit our city. An official agreement between the schools will be signed.

The main motivation to organize the visit was intensive cooperation between Łódź and Chengu. Schools are hoping to broaden integration and establish relationships that would enable the start of various educational projects in the future.

Participants of the meeting: Director of Promary School no. 1 Magdalena Prokaryn – Dynarska, representatives of Sinopol Charlene Zhao i Jan Sękowski as well as the representatives of the Department of Education and Investor Service and International Cooperation Bureau of the City of Łódź Office.

"Chengdu in the world and the world in Chengdu" - this is the leitmotif of the festival of sculpture of sister cities of Chengdu organized by the Municipal Chengdu People's Government, an office of foreign cooperation of the Municipal People's Government in Chengdu and the Municipal and Rural Construction Commission in Chengdu.

The first stage of the festival assumed the invitation of artists - representatives of Chengdu's sister cities to learn about the construction of the eco-park - the target location for the implementation of the sculptures, the history of the city and the region, familiarization with the artistic / sculptural environment of Chengdu and gathering inspiration from the local culture and history of the Sichuan region.

To this end, a group of 40 artists from around the world visited, among others, places such as: Chengdu Exhibition Hall containing an ecopark plan, multimedia presentation and a detailed model of the city, Chengdu Museum, Dongjiao Memory Music Park and Taikoo Li to learn about the deep past of Chengdu and modern present. In addition, a seminar was held at the Sculpture Department of the University of Arts in Sichuan.

In 2018, an unveiling ceremony of selected works of sculptures of partner cities is planned „2018 Chengdu International Sister Cities Sculptures Creation and Exhibition”.

On 6 August, in Łódź, as part of a journey around Europe, a group of ten little Panda journalists from the City of Chengdu visited Łódź.

This trip was a reward for children for good results at school. The route of the visit of young journalists around Europe followed the train route connecting Chengdu with Europe.

The program included a meeting at the Hatrans transhipment station in Teofilów in Łódź, where the children got acquainted with the details of logistics operations, as well as at the International Training Center of the Lodz University of Technology, where future engineers are educated.

There was also a visit to Piotrkowska Street and to Łódź Fabryczna station, which made a great impression on young reporters. The children sang a specially prepared song there, gave an interview to TVP Łódź television and recorded a live TV broadcast from Łódź to Chengdu.

The expected effect of the visit may be the cooperation of selected schools from Lodz and Chengdu, because in September the course on knowledge about Poland and course on Polish language is being launched in Chengdu, and it was proposed to initiate a pilot visit in one of Lodz schools in the near future.

From 27 to 30 June 2017 the 14th International Logistics Week in Chengdu took place.

The 14th International Logistics Week in Chengdu was officially inaugurated by the Mayor of Chengdu and the Vice Mayor of the City of Łódź - Mr. Krzysztof Piątkowski.

During the conference, Łódź had the opportunity to present its logistic potential - a central location in Europe along with the communication system at the intersection of east-west and north-south routes. An important aspect presented during the conference is the location of the international airport in Łódź. In addition, the planned construction of a central airport between Łódź and Warsaw will give Łódź even more logistical significance on the "One Belt One Road" route.

The project of direct cargo connection Łódź - Chengdu, implemented since 2013, enjoyed the most interest. Thanks to this unique project, Łódź has become a recognizable center in southwestern China, it can participate in global economic development and is a bridge between China and Europe, and most importantly it can implement the ideas of the New Route and the Belt. The city of Łódź also had the opportunity to present its cultural and economic profile together with information summarizing the efforts to organize EXPO 2022.

In addition, during the Logistics Week conference, the idea of the New Silk Road was presented, under which road, rail and air connections networks between Asia and Europe will be developed. The New Silk Road is China's strategic economic project and creates particularly favorable opportunities for cooperation in the field of infrastructure and financial projects. Łódź has been repeatedly indicated as a location that has special potential to be a gateway to Chinese capital in Poland and Europe.

From 9 to 12 May  2017, the Chengdu Partner Round Table Forum and academic meetings for representatives of Lodz universities were held:

• University of Lodz
• Technical University of Lodz
• Medical University
• Academy of Fine Arts
• Academy of Humanities and Economics

Representatives of the City of Lodz Office and representatives of Lodz universities took part in an academic seminar organized by the Sichuan University. During the seminar, Łódź universities presented their offer for potential candidates for studies in Łódź. In addition, the universities presented their didactic bases, exchange offers for foreign students, professors exchange offer and the possibility of joint research projects.

During the seminar contacts were established with:

• Chengdu University
• China West Normal University
• Sichuan Film and Television University
• Sichuan University of Science and Engineering
• Chengdu Technological University
• University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
• Chengdu Institute Sichuan International Studies University
• Sichuan University of Culture and Arts
• Southwest Jiaotong University

The colleges also visited the Dawan High School in Qinbaijiang (Chengdu District). Lodz universities had the opportunity to learn about the Dawan school education system, they also got to know a wide curriculum with elements of art, sport and psychology. Our universities also presented their offer for future Chinese students in Lodz.

The universities and authorities of Łódź also took part in the Chengdu Round Table of Partner Cities and the opening of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair. The city had the opportunity to present its profile along with summary information about the efforts to host EXPO 2022. Universities, on the other hand, had the opportunity to promote on the international arena due to the participation in the forum of representatives of partner cities from around the world, including Bangkok, Brisbane, Busan, London, Hamilton, Perth, Honolulu, Johannesburg, Linz, Los Angeles, Maastricht, Maputo, Montpellier, Quebec, Moscow, Nashville, Sheffield, Sydney, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, Ulaanbaatar, Valencia, Vienna, Yangon or Zurich.

A delegation from Łódź paid a visit to the Polish Showroom in Chengdu, led, among others by Hatrans. During the meeting, the profile and activities of the Showroom in China were presented. Using the internet platform and directly it is possible to buy Polish food products: juices, beer, sweets, dressing materials.

From 23 to 25 June Forum of Innovative Chengdu Partner Cities took place. Lodz was represented by the Deputy Mayor of the City of Lodz, Mr. Ireneusz Jabłoński.

During the delegation, a visit was made to the Polish Showroom in Chengdu, where Polish products imported to China by Łódź-Chengdu cargo train are presented and promoted. These products are distributed directly to the recipients, they can also be purchased via an internet platform.

During the Innovative Forum of Chengdu Partner Cities, the profile of the city of Łódź was presented, its academic and economic potential and innovative solutions implemented in Łódź - nanotechnology or graphene. Moreover, the programme of revitalisation of Łódź was presented together with the City of the Tenements (Mia100 Kamienic) and EC1 project. Therefore, information on the application of the City of Łódź for the organization of EXPO 2022 was also delivered.

During meetings with the Mayor of Chengdu, Mr. Tang Liangzhi, the Deputy Mayor of Chengdu, Mr. Liu Shousheng, and Mrs. Katarzyna Wilkowiecka, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chengdu, the following issues were discussed:

• Joint promotion of the cargo train Łódź – Chengdu,
• Searching for new partners, exporters, investors to cooperate within this venture,
• Support in initiating further investments under the Łódź - Chengdu train connection.

The following officials took part in the Innovative Forum of Chengdu Partner Cities:

• The Mayor of Bangalore, India,
• The Deputy Mayor of Bonn, Germany,
• The Deputy Governor Chang Mai, Thailand,
• The Mayor of Cupertino, USA,
• The Mayor of Hamilton, Australia,
• The Deputy Mayor of Kazan, Russia
• the Mayor Kofu, Japan,
• The Deputy Mayor of Kyoto, Japan,
• The Mayor of Pecs, Hungary,
• The Mayor of Perth, Australia,
• The City Councillor from Tel – Aviv, Israel.

Na III Regionalne Forum Polska-Chiny przyjechało do Łodzi ponad pół tysiąca przedsiębiorców i przedstawicieli władz samorządowych. Przy okazji dyskusji i paneli toczą się rozmowy na temat wymiany gospodarczej, naukowej i kulturalnej oraz podpisywane są porozumienia o współpracy. Na forum przyjechał minister spraw zagranicznych Grzegorz Schetyna, a władze Łodzi i województwa reprezentowali: prezydent Hanna Zdanowska i marszałek Witold Stępień.
Wiceminister nauki i szkolnictwa wyższego prof. Daria Lipińska-Nałęcz podpisała dokumenty ułatwiające wymianę studentów między polskim uniwersytetami a uczelniami w prowincji Henan, co ma również znaczenie dla Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego i naszego miasta, które bardzo blisko współpracuje już z miastem Chengdu. Oba ośrodki łączy kolej cargo, a wczoraj Chińczycy otworzyli w Łodzi swoje biuro i oficjalne przedstawicielstwo.

W dn. 9-10 września 2015 r. miało miejsce III Forum Miast Partnerskich, poświęcone tematyce rewitalizacji w centrum miasta. Goście z Lyonu, Stuttgartu, Szegedu i Tampere mówili o swoich doświadczeniach w zakresie rewitalizacji i ożywiania centrów miast. Uczestnicy Forum mieli okazję wziąć udział w Kongresie Urbanistyki Polskiej "Powrót do Centrum", zorganizowanym przez Towarzystwo Urbanistów Polskich. Przy tej okazji specjaliści z całej Europy wymienili swoje doświadczenia w zakresie planowania przestrzennego, rewitalizacji, zwiedzili Łódź i zapoznali się z projektem starań Łodzi o EXPO 2022.
Swojego poparcia tej kandydaturze udzieli dyplomaci z Francji i Finlandii.

Materiał w sprawie poparcia starań Łodzi o EXPO z Forum:

https://youtu.be/phP7gtpELH0