In the 17th century, Chengdu was given the moniker, the City of Brocade, a function of the Han dynasty establishing an office in Chengdu to manage brocade production. When you understand just how pivotal Chengdu has been as a manufacturing center of silk brocade for over two thousand years, it’s clear the name City of Brocade fits perfectly.
Shu brocade is the oldest of four brocade styles in China. It is characterized by a variety of delicate, hand-woven patterns in bright colors and soft textures, most of which depict the different flowers, animals, landscapes, and people of the Sichuan province. That said, given Chengdu is home to the panda, it’s hardly a surprise to find the most popular Sichuan brocade design sought after by travelers is, well, that gorgeous black and white bear, the panda.