<P> During the period of the Three Kingdoms, the Sichuan Basin was at the centre of another independent Shu State, until it was reunified with China in the 3rd century CE by the Jin dynasty . Around this time the basin's population is estimated to have been 1 million, with Chengdu the leading city . After the collapse of the Tang Dynasty in 907, the Sichuan Basin became home to a third Shu state, this time lasting only two decades . During successive Chinese dynasties, the Sichuan Basin was firmly integrated with Greater China . Mass migration occurred during the Ming Dynasty as the basin became one of the primary rice - producing regions of China . The basin's population fell sharply in the 17th century due to devastation caused by famine, war, and possible genocide . After this time, the basin was repopulated with emigrants from China, further assimilating the unique cultures and peoples inhabiting the basin . During the Second Sino - Japanese War when much of Eastern China was occupied by Japanese forces, Chongqing in the Sichuan Basin served as the Republic of China's capital . </P> <P> Owing to its vast fertile plains, the Sichuan Basin has long supported a high concentration of human population . The major population centres of Chengdu and Chongqing have flourished with their hinterlands providing staples such as rice, wheat, and barley . Irrigation in the western part of the basin has been controlled for over two millennia by the monumental Dujiangyan irrigation system, where the Min River enters . The region has been known as a major breadbasket of China, especially in the 20th century during times of war . Sichuan Basin also became a major focus of industrial development during Mao's Great Leap Forward . In more recent times, the Sichuan Basin and the corridor between Chengdu and Chongqing have become developed as an economic centre known as the Chengyu Area . This area is mostly coterminous with the basin; it is part of a branding scheme by the Chinese government to attract investment to the area . Chemical, textile, electronic, aerospace, and food industries have all been developed as part of the Chengyu Area . Another emerging industry in the basin is the petroleum industry, currently exploring and extracting from oil reserves locked under the eastern parts of the basin . </P> <P> While population growth stagnated during the Great Leap Forward, it has since recovered . Today, the basin has a population of approximately 100 million . Administratively, the entire basin was part of Sichuan province until Chongqing was separated into a provincial - level municipality in 1997 . In addition to Chengdu and Chongqing, significant cities found within the Sichuan Basin include Guangyuan, Mianyang, Deyang, Nanchong, Guang'an, Dazhou, Ya'an, Meishan, Leshan, Ziyang, Suining, Neijiang, Zigong, Yibin, and Luzhou . The former cities of Fuling and Wanzhou are now considered districts within Chongqing, but maintain their status as separate urban centres along the Yangtze . </P> <P> Despite Sichuan Basin's gradual integration with Chinese society, some unique elements of Sichuanese culture remain . Sichuanese cuisine today is renowned for its unique flavours and levels of spiciness . The Sichuanese branch of Mandarin Chinese is barely mutually intelligible with Standard Mandarin and originated in the Sichuan Basin . Today, Sichuanese is spoken throughout eastern Sichuan province, Chongqing, southern Shaanxi, and western Hubei . </P>

Where is the sichuan basin located on a map