Commerce and Trade
With its long history of over 2,300 years, Chengdu was the most important core in the Southwest China in all ages. Consequently, Chengdu's commerce and trade were extremely prosperous in history, and millions of businessman gathered here. Chengdu has also been a city with booming industry and flourishing business activities.
In the Din Dynasty (221 BC - 2176 BC) and Han Dynasty (206 BC 220 AD), it was a well-known business center. In the Han Dynasty, it was one of five best cities in China. It ranked as the 2nd, only next to Yangzhou in the Tang Dynasty {618 AD- 907 AD), and in the Northern Song Dynasty (960 AD- 1127 AD).
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Early in the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty, commerce and trade in Chengdu had outgrown the traditional family workshops, gradually developing into a modern city of sophistication. Each month was devoted to a different fair: January for lamps, February for flowers, March for silkworms, April for embroideries, May for fans, June for incense, July for jewel wares, August for sweet-scented osmanthus trees, September for wines, October for plum trees, and December for peach wood charms. Besides, in the downtown areas, the market for after-supper |
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shopping began to flourish. Even to this day, names of some old streets testify to that history, including names like Yanshikou Street (street for salt trade), Shangye Street, and Luomashi Street (street for mules and horses trade). Paper money appeared and was first used in China, with Chengdu being its birthplace. At that time, workshops for paper money making were located in Jingchong Temple to the north of Chengdu city (today known as Wanfu Temple, a temple of ten thousand buddhas). The paper money made here was the earliest paper money ever used, which played a significant role in promoting trade, financial transaction, and economic development.
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