Home of giant pandas, archaeological wonders and renowned cuisine, Chengdu is a city with a wealth of tourism resources, which local leaders say are crucial to boosting the city's economy as well as gaining influence abroad.

One of China's famous historical and cultural centers, Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, has been recognized by the National Tourism Administration as one of the nation's best tourism destinations.

It is also the fifth Chinese observation site that the United Nations World Tourism Organization has established to promote sustainable tourism. The center gathers and reports data to measure the environmental, cultural, social and economic impacts of tourism based on the UNWTO's sustainable tourism indictors.