Chengdu is the capital of the "Heavenly State" (Tian Fu Zhi Guo), habitat of giant pandas and city of cotton-rose hibiscus. The history of Chengdu can be traced back 2,400 years when the first emperor built his capital here and named the city. The hot-spicy cuisine and authentic teahouse culture have become the integrated part of local people's life. For giant panda bear lovers, here you will have an easy access to semi-wild or wild environment to see them. Besides, Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha situated not far from the city are the other major attractions, and were listed in World Heritage Sites in 1996.