LESHAN CITY

Outline of Leshan City

Leshan is a city which has a history of more than 3,000 years and is located in the center of Sichuan Province (四川省), south east of Cheng du City (成都市), which is the capital city of Sichuan. It has prospered as an important center of land and water traffic, because it is connected to Cheng du City, Chong Ging (重慶), etc. by three major rivers (the Qhing yijiang (青衣江), Mingjiang River (民江) and Dadu river (大渡河) which merge here.

Leshan City was divided into the Leshan and Meishan City (眉山市) in September 1997. As a result, its population became 3.5 million and the land area about 12,000 square kilometers.

The climate is relatively mild and warm, and the land is fertile. Mainly, rice, tea, and mandarin oranges are grown here. Most citizens are engaged in agriculture, but light industry is progressing remarkably these days.

Geographically, the lay of the land around the city rises and falls, having good natural surroundings and scenic beauty.

The Great Image of Buddha (楽山大仏)
The Great Image of Buddha is situated on the Ling Yun Mountain (凌雲山) in the south. It is said to be the tallest sitting stone statue in the world.

Emei Mountain (峨眉山)
36 kilometers away from the city is Emei Mountain, which is one of the four famous mountains of Buddhism, having dozens of temples.

Various kinds of animals and plants can be found around here, so the district could be called a natural museum. Many tourists visit throughout the year.

In December 1996, both the Great Image of Buddha and Emei Mountain were registered as world heritages.

Sequence of the conclusion

Guo Moruo(郭沫若) who lived with his family in Ichikawa for ten years (1928 - 1937), took an active role as a liaison between Japan and China. Also many Citizens were eagerly engaged in establishing friendly relations. Ultimately, in August 1978, after the completion of the Peace and Friendship Treaty between China and Japan, personal exchange became frequent. People in Ichikawa began to want friendly relations with one of China's cities.

June 1979,when Mr. Kazuo Guo, the son of Guo Moruo visited Ichikawa as a delegate from China, he was told that Ichikawa City hoped to establish friendly relations with one of China's cities. After he returned to China, he wrote a letter saying that Leshan City would be a suitable choice, because Leshan is the place where Guo Moruo was born.

In April 1980, when the city assembly visited China as the delegation from Japan, they also visited Leshan for the first time. They presented a personal letter from the Ichikawa City Mayor to the Mayor of Leshan. In August 1980, Ichikawa sent an official letter to Leshan and other Chinese organizations offering establishment of Friend City Status.

In April 1981, when the delegation from Ichikawa visited Leshan they learned that the Chinese had approved a Friend City Agreement, and protocol was drafted.

On June 22nd 1981, Ichikawa City Council approved the proposal unanimously.
On October 19, the mayor of Leshan and a delegation arrived, and both City Mayors signed the protocol. In this way, friend city relations between Ichikawa and Leshan came to effect.


Opening ceremony of China & Japan Friendship School	Leshan City Friendship delegation	Opening ceremony of Gou Morou Memorial Hall in Ichikawa City

Ichikawa City youth delegation with high school students of Leshan City	Goodwill visit of Citizens of Ichikawa to a school in Leshan City	Welcome party for youth delegation from Leshan City

Exchange between Ichikawa and Leshan City so far

Exchange between the two cities mainly consists of the exchange of various human resources.

Since the establishment of friendly relations, both cities have dispatched official delegations and citizen delegations to each other. In addition Ichikawa City has accepted trainees for agricultural technology, observers for city construction and financial inspectors.

As year-round events, performances of drama, song and dance, have been and have been carried out and many civic groups have been dispatched. 　

The Mutual Youth Dispatch Project was established in 1994, by which both cities dispatch and accept youths, mainly high school students, every other year.

In 2001, the China - Japan Friendship School was founded in Leshan City, the birthplace of Gou Morou, as one of the events of celebration of the 20th anniversary of friendship, with the cooperation of citizens of both cities. Publications introducing both cities were also exchanged at that time.　

In 2002, Ichikawa City accepted one Leshan City staff officer for training in Information Technology and General Administration, through the "Cooperation and Exchange Project for Local Goverment Staff ", where Ichikawa City provides know-how and technical training. 　

In 2004, the former residence of Gou Morou and transferred to the park in 5-chome Mama, was restored to be its original state and was opened as the Ichikawa City Gou Morou Memorial Hall.

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