The administrative area of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in China, covers a total land area of approximately 14,335 square kilometers, which translates to about 5,535 square miles. However, older estimates frequently cited for the city's total area often specify 12,300 square kilometers, or approximately 4,749 square miles. Within this broader territory, the central city district is significantly smaller, occupying approximately 231 square miles (598 square kilometers). The geography of the region is characterized by its location in the heart of the Chengdu Plain within the Sichuan Basin, where the city functions as a major economic and transportation hub for Western China.