Chengdu, an inland city in southwestern China known for its giant pandas and tasty cuisine, is striving to become a globally appealing city and China's western gateway for opening-up.

The city's ambition is backed by China's national strategy to develop western China and build the Silk Road economic belt.

"The relocation of industrial infrastructure and redirection of investment to inland western regions has provided Chengdu with a historic opportunity to build itself into an international metropolis," said Huang Xinchu, Party chief of Chengdu.