"Open Hub" at the Foot of Snow-capped Mountains: Chengdu Embraces the World

China News Service Chengdu, March 12 — Title: An “Open Hub” Beneath Snow-Capped Mountains: Chengdu Embraces the World

Author: Yuan Muzhi Bo

On February 17, the first day of the Year of the Horse, at midnight, the sound of a train horn echoed through Chengdu International Railway Port. A China-Europe train loaded with “Sichuan-made” goods slowly started moving, heading towards Minsk, Belarus, over 8,000 kilometers away. Thanks to this railway artery, the delivery time for these goods to Europe was compressed from over 40 days by sea to just over 10 days.

How does an inland city beneath snowy mountains make the world feel so close? Chengdu’s answer is: corridors, industries, and living.

From Inland Heartland to the Global Stage

Deep in Northern Europe’s sea, salmon can go from catch to table in Chengdu in less than 48 hours; auto parts manufactured in Chengdu can be delivered to overseas factories within 72 hours—logistics efficiency that was unimaginable ten years ago has now become routine.

Behind this is Chengdu’s increasingly dense three-dimensional transportation network. Chengdu is the “third city” in China to operate two international airports simultaneously. Data shows that by 2025, Chengdu’s international aviation hub will handle over 90 million passengers, maintaining a three-year streak of over 10 million annual growth, with a cargo throughput of 1.17 million tons. By January 2026, the international and regional passenger and cargo routes operated by Chengdu International Aviation Hub will reach 102, covering all five continents.

Ground logistics are equally busy. By 2025, the China-Europe (Chengdu-Chongqing) rail service will have exceeded 5,000 trains, leading the country for five consecutive years, with over 50 routes reaching more than 130 cities across Eurasia.

German traveler Felix Schmidt regularly travels between Munich and Chengdu. He uses his phone to time his customs process: “Customs has smart devices, luggage can be pre-checked, and I can pass through customs in just 30 seconds.” Efficient port services shrink geographical distances in time, making international travel smooth and convenient.

Indonesian student Ayu, studying in Chengdu, also feels this convenience from her taste buds. She can always find her hometown instant noodles and specialty sauces in Chengdu supermarkets. These Southeast Asian products travel north via the Western Land-Sea New Passage and are stocked in Chengdu. “When I miss home, a bite of my hometown flavor makes it easier,” she says.

High-Quality Opening Activates Development Momentum

The value of these corridors is ultimately reflected in trade and commerce. In 2025, Chengdu’s total foreign trade imports and exports reached 850.23 billion yuan, a record high—meaning over 2.3 billion yuan worth of goods flow between Chengdu and the world daily. Chengdu High-tech Comprehensive Bonded Zone achieved a total import and export value of 525.69 billion yuan, continuing to rank first among China’s comprehensive bonded zones. There are over 300 Fortune 500 companies in Chengdu, and more than 4,000 foreign-invested enterprises. On February 27, 2026, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone officially began operations.

On February 27, a cargo truck carrying Airbus A321 aircraft engines entered the bonded zone, marking the official launch of the first business in Chengdu Tianfu International Airport Comprehensive Bonded Zone. Chengdu Customs provided the image.

More and more companies are turning their attention here, making Chengdu an important hub for expanding into Western China and even the global market.

In Chengdu’s Chunxi Road shopping district, Korea’s well-known lifestyle IP brand Wiggle Wiggle’s first store in Central and Western China has become a popular check-in spot with its eye-catching “dopamine-colored” decor, attracting crowds of domestic and international tourists. From site visits to grand opening, it took less than five months. Jin Nanjun, general manager of China Yilian Group, who recommended the project, said: “Chengdu makes the unfamiliar Chinese market feel familiar.”

Stories like this keep unfolding: in June 2025, GE Healthcare’s China Precision Medical Industry Base Phase I project was completed and jointly inspected; in September, Schlumberger, a global leader in energy services, invested 700 million yuan to establish its China land-based service headquarters in Chengdu; in December, during the “Foreign Investment Institutions Chengdu Tour” event, over 15 billion yuan in fund cooperation projects were signed on-site, and the “Chengdu Global Investor Circle” was launched simultaneously, becoming a new link connecting global capital with Western China’s innovative forces.

To better understand Chengdu, in December 2025, the “2025 ‘Rong Yi Shang’ Foreign Investment Institution Chengdu Service Manual” was officially released, covering services related to Chengdu’s capital markets, opening-up, and investment indices. Chengdu Municipal Financial Office provided the image.

From the rapid establishment of a Korean trendy brand store to continuous inflows of overseas capital, Chengdu’s attractiveness is always recognized by the world.

Livability and Inclusiveness Build International Appeal

While corridors and industries bring in people, what truly makes someone choose a city is its livability and warmth.

In 2025, Chengdu’s aviation ports handled over 1.72 million foreign arrivals and departures throughout the year, with more and more people transforming from “passersby” to “regular visitors.”

Behind this flow are meticulous preparations by the city to welcome the world. Foreigners arriving at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Tianfu International Airport can directly use their foreign bank cards to take the subway without currency exchange. Tax refunds are available immediately at popular landmarks like Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li. In lively street shops, convenient electronic payments make immersive experiences everywhere.

For overseas talents wishing to start businesses or live in Chengdu, the city is building a comprehensive support system from landing to settling down. In 2026, a special support policy for overseas talents will be implemented, covering project funding, entrepreneurship incubation, residence facilitation, and living services. As of now, Chengdu has over 6.85 million talents and has been named China’s “Best City for Talent Attraction” for seven consecutive years.

Dutchman Robert was struck by Chengdu’s “living atmosphere” during a family visit. At He Ming Tea House in Renmin Park, he first experienced that “sunbathing and drinking tea” can be a daily routine, and he decided to settle here.

Foreign athletes experience Chengdu’s vibrant local life before the Chengdu World Games, riding hotpot buses to taste Sichuan hotpot. Photo by An Yuan.

Robert’s company is based in Chengdu High-tech Zone’s International Talent Port, which regularly hosts global innovation and entrepreneurship competitions. Young people from around the world gather here to exchange ideas and seek opportunities. His company has helped over ten thousand overseas talents find jobs in Chengdu. “Many people start just to take a look like I did, and then they never leave,” he said. “Chengdu’s charm is that it doesn’t ask where you come from, only whether you want to stay.”

Similarly, American couple Fei Si and Li Sen found a sense of belonging in Chengdu. They are the English voice-over artists for Chengdu Metro, and they established a voice-over company in 2020, completing thousands of projects. “Starting a company in Chengdu costs only a fifth of what it does in the U.S.,” Li Sen said, “but the lifestyle is more relaxed.”

Beneath the snowy mountains, this park city connects with the world through extensive corridors and retains enterprises and talents through industrial opportunities. From Nordic salmon to entrepreneurs from various countries and regions, Chengdu’s openness is never just one-way “attraction” but a deep “embrace” with the world. (End)