Montpellier is the capital of H¨¦rault D¨¦partement and the cultural, economic and educational center of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, southern France. It is located at the Mediterranean coast, 746 kilometers north of Paris, in the subtropical Mediterranean zone, with a population of 1,950,000 (1978). ``The city took shape in the 8th century B.C and prospered since the 13th century when it was granted the privilege to do free trade in France by Louis IX. Since the 17th century, it has been the capital of H¨¦rault D¨¦partement.

It is also a famous city for its culture. It boasts the University of Montpellier founded by Nicholas IV, Roman Pope, in 1289. The Fabre Museum and Atger Museum house numerous paintings, especially ancient ones, among which there are more than 300 paintings by the renowned Italian painter Raphael alone.

In the meantime, it has been the tourist resort for its temperate climate, beautiful scenery and ancient buildings. The Peyrou Garden at the highest point of the city is one of the famous squares in France, overlooking the Mediterranean, the C¨¦vennes£¬the Pyrenees and the Alps. The statue of Louis XIV on horseback built between the 17th century and the 18th century in the Garden and the gilded triumphal arch, the Peyrou Gate built in the 17th century opposite the Garden are used to commemorate Louis XIV. All the main boulevards of the city meet at the Garden, making it an ideal place for the residents to take a walk and have a rest. On the narrow streets are a hundred plus ancient mansions of the 15th and 16th century for sightseeing.

Located in southern France and rich in grape production, the city has a thriving trade in wine and other traditional industries such as foodstuffs, textiles, candles, soap, perfume and chemicals. The nuclear power plant built in 1956 at the city is well-known in France; in recent years, IBM of the United States also built factories there, which has promoted its development in modern industry.

In 1979, Montpellier and Chengdu were concluded as sister cities.