While the main stem of the Yangtze River does not flow directly through the city center of Chengdu, the city is a vital part of the Yangtze River Basin and owes its historical prosperity to the river's complex system of tributaries. Chengdu is situated on the Chengdu Plain, which is irrigated by the Min River, a major tributary of the Yangtze. The ancient Dujiangyan Irrigation System, located just west of the city, was built over 2,200 years ago to tame the Min River and divert its waters to nourish Chengdu’s agricultural landscape, earning the region its reputation as the Land of Abundance. Although the mighty Yangtze itself passes further south through cities like Yibin and Chongqing, Chengdu's economic and cultural life is inextricably linked to this watershed, serving as a primary industrial and transportation hub within the broader Yangtze River Economic Belt.