Editor’s note: This July, we are praying for Chengdu. Chengdu is a city of more than 20 million, and is widely recognized as one of the most important cities in Western China. Chengdu is seen as a “land of plenty,” and its people are known for enjoying life. It has a strong literary and educational culture, and is accepting of new people and new ideas.

To help us pray for their city, several house church pastors tell us about Chengdu, its people, and the needs they see around them as they introduce us to their comfortable and enjoyable city.

This interview has been lightly condensed and edited for clarity and length.

A City of Leisure

China Partnership: How is your city unique among China’s cities?

Wu Qiang: Chengdu is a city of leisure. People here value relaxing, socializing, entertainment, and enjoying life. Comfort is a big idol. Yet Chengdu is also a city of God’s grace. The city has abundant resources, and is known as a land of abundance. People enjoy God’s common grace: fruits and vegetables and all kinds of food.

Chengdu also has many children of God. We are just one church. To expand God’s kingdom, we need more connections with other evangelical churches in Chengdu in justice, evangelism, and mercy ministry. This is something we have been lacking since 2013. We also lack joint prayer.

Bai Dongyun: Geographically, Chengdu is the central city in China’s southwest region. Its influence radiates throughout all of Western China – north and south and west of Chengdu. It influences places like Ruili [by the border with Myanmar], Mongolia [in the far north], Xinjiang [a Muslim area in northwest China], and Gansu Province.

A big trend is for people from places north of Chengdu to buy houses here. In the past two years, Chengdu has become one of the first batch of central cities, with a population of more than 20 million. The cost of living is not high, and housing prices are not high either. A very important advantage is Chengdu’s inclusiveness: it has an accepting, friendly culture. A characteristic of Chengdu used to be that, when you squeezed into a bus and handed your card front, the person in front would swipe it and hand it back without losing it. Many people from other places are amazed by Chengdu’s inclusiveness.

Chengdu is the central city in China’s southwest region. Its influence radiates throughout all of Western China.

Chengdu is historical; it has not changed its name for more than two thousand years. There have not been major wars or famines here; it is a comfortable city. For example, 10 or 20 years ago, the income was not high, yet car ownership in Chengdu was the third highest in the country. People want to be comfortable!

They especially yearn for one thing: sunshine. Chengdu people pursue sunshine like Hong Kong people pursue air conditioning. Chengdu people are fond of traveling, especially to places with lots to eat and drink. One of the biggest depravities here is that the sexual culture is very developed, with a lot of homosexuality and divorce.

Chengdu has always attached great importance to education. There are many universities here, quite a few which were influenced by Christianity, such as West China School of Medicine. Faith has a history of more than a hundred years in Chengdu.

The 2008 Earthquake

2008, when the Wenchuan earthquake occurred in Sichuan, was a landmark time, shocking people all over the world. Churches from all over the country poured into Chengdu. Our church was small, but we did a lot of connecting work, sharing resources with the outside world and participating in disaster relief. Around the time of the earthquake, we began to grow and to go out.

2008, when the Wenchuan earthquake occurred in Sichuan, was a landmark time…When the gospel is preached in this city, many people are thirsty and willing to believe.

The identity of the church also began to emerge. Before, if you said you were a Christian, it was dangerous. But at that time, Christians began to surface. Because of the earthquake, churches began to cooperate and pray together. I experienced these things, so I know them well. In just a few years, our church grew tenfold.

When the gospel is preached in this city, many people are thirsty and willing to believe. This includes myself! I also became a believer around 2008.

Greedy for Comfort

Cai Lifan: Chengdu has a down-to-earth-atmosphere, a different feel from cities like Xi’an or Beijing. Tianjin may have a sense of humor, but Chengdu has a sense of relaxation. As has just been said, Chengdu people are greedy for comfort. Maybe this is because of the abundance of resources and the geographical location; after all, people don’t have to work too hard to have food to eat next year.

Chengdu is fashionable, and has the courage to accept new things. Its openness to new things even surpasses that of Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Chengdu has a sense of history, and a strong emphasis on education.

Lu Qing: Chengdu is a “green park city,” one of the best in the country. Its bookstores are ranked among the top in the country – I think this is related to the cultural love for knowledge and books. Another thing is the tea culture. You can spend just a few kuai or a lot of money, and can sit all day chatting and drinking tea. The drinking culture is also strong.

Finally, when you fly into Chengdu, the first thing you hear is the sound of mahjong.

Lu Qing: As someone from another province, I feel that Chengdu is very accepting. People do not view me as an outsider. I feel close to people here, both inside and outside the church. This is beautiful.

Chengdu has accepted a lot of immigrants over the years… Chengdu is a city you don’t want to leave once you arrive.

Bai Dongyuan: To understand Chengdu, you must understand Daci Temple and Wenshu Monastery. They are spiritual idol centers for old Chengdu. They are must-visit places for elderly people.

Wu Qiang: First, Chengdu has accepted a lot of immigrants over the years, not only from Sichuan, but also from many other provinces. Chengdu is a city you don’t want to leave once you arrive.

Second, although Chengdu people are inclusive, they also attach great importance to those of their own blood. Families usually have an inward-looking mentality, and put up boundaries with non-family in terms of closeness and distance. This may be gentler than other regions, but there is still a strong sense of exclusion.

Third, Chengdu people are facing difficulties: many are unemployed and have no jobs. There are a lot of older people in the city. When you walk around my community, you see many elderly, pushing wheelchairs, sitting in wheelchairs, and walking with canes. There are also many singles and many single parents.

Cai Lifan: In Chengdu, women have a remarkably high social standing. High divorce rates stem from the fact that women’s incomes often rival those of men. This economic independence empowers them with greater autonomy. Chengdu is a place where men are often perceived as more passive, while women take the lead.

Statistically, Chengdu boasts the highest concentration of LGBTQ individuals nationwide. It’s possible that Chengdu ranks among the top cities globally in this regard.

Wu Qiang, Bai Dongyun, Cai Lifan, and Lu Qing are pseudonyms for house church pastors in Chengdu.

Pray for the gospel to be proclaimed throughout the city of Chengdu.