Watch China's West - Sichuan Province and The Chongqing Municipality

Sichuan, called "the Land of Abundance," has a past of developed agriculture in ancient times. The province boasts rich natural resources. It is also noted for liquors, Sichuan-style cuisine, embroidery and bamboo craftworks. There are numerous natural landscapes and cultural sites such as Jiuzhaigou, Mount Emei and Mount Qingcheng. Some of these are listed as the world's cultural or natural heritage. Sichuan occupies an important position in the country's western-region development strategy, playing an exemplary role for other provinces and autonomous regions in this vast area.Chongqing played an important role in the War of Resistance Against Japan and also in the period shortly after the area was liberated by the People's Liberation Army in 1949. As one of the major old industrial bases in China, it has an industrial system leaning heavily towards heavy industry. It is the first major city where comprehensive economic-structure reform was launched in the context of reform and opening up which were introduced in China in the late 1970s. As a port city on the golden waterway along the Yangtse River, Chongqing plays an essential role in the inland navigation. The city is poised to develop still faster in the future. .