Chengdu is located in southwestern China, specifically serving as the capital of Sichuan Province. Geographically, it is situated in the upper Yangtze River valley and the heart of the Sichuan Basin, resting on the fertile Chengdu Plain at an average elevation of about 500 meters (1,640 feet). The city is bordered by the Qionglai Mountains to the west and the Longmen Mountains to the northwest, while the Jin, Fu, and Sha Rivers flow through its urban landscape. Functioning as a vital economic, cultural, and transportation hub for Western China, Chengdu is historically notable for its ancient Dujiangyan irrigation system and is approximately 320 kilometers (200 miles) west of Chongqing.