Written by Natalia |
Chengdu, with a history of over three thousand years, is a charming metropolis known for its perfect mashup of ancient vibes, laidback lifestyle, spicy eats, cute pandas, prosperity and convenience. It is a city where skyscrapers coexist with thousand-year-old temples. Also, it’s where you can start your morning with cuddly pandas and end your night with mouth-numbing hotpot. For people burnt out by daily bustling life, a Chengdu trip will offer a rare chance to learn how to relax.
Try to follow locals to sip a cup of tea in People’s Park or enjoy ear cleaning from pros. History and culture buffs will find a lot of fun from the city’s spectacular mask-changing performances, and multiple interesting and unique museums. As a gateway to Sichuan’s wild landscapes, Chengdu also offers easy access to Mt. Qingcheng, Leshan Giant Buddha, Mt. Emei, and Jiuzhaigou Valley. No matter your interests for the city, here’s how to plan a Chengdu trip like an insider.
Top Things to Do in Chengdu
Explore Must-Visit Attractions to Experience History & Nature
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
How can you not see pandas when you travel to Chengdu? This is the warm hometown of giant pandas, with a serene and beautiful environment where you can observe pandas’ adorable appearance and living habits up close.
Wide & Narrow Alley (Kuaizhai Alley)
It is a cultural card of Chengdu, where ancient buildings retain a strong Sichuan residential style. Tourists can experience the lifestyle of old Chengdu here.
Wuhou Temple
A holy land of Three Kingdoms culture, and the only temple where both the emperor and his Prime Minister are worshiped together. Apart from the buildings with unique styles, more than 50 statues among red walls and ancient cypress recreate the heroic figures of Shu Han Dynasty.
Jinli Ancient Street
Selected by CNN as one of the most beautiful streets in the world. The 550-meter bluestone pavement connects the residential buildings in western Sichuan during Ming and Qing dynasties. Gathering many Chengdu snacks and traditional folk culture, it is especially worth a visit when night falls.
Du Fu Thatched Cottage
Located by the Huanhua River, Du Fu Thatched Collage owns serene beautiful garden and elegant ancient architecture that engraved with 1455 poems by the Tang Dynasty great poet Du Fu. He lived here for four years, and today this place has become a famous cultural holy land in China.
Visit Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain
Dujiangyan Irrigation System is a perfect combination of ancient hydraulic engineering miracles and natural landscapes. Climbing up and overlooking, you can feel the wisdom and power of ancient Chinese people.
Boasting 36 peaks, 72 caves and 108 scenic spots, Qingcheng Mountain is a great summer resort that blends profound Taoist culture (front mountain) and tranquil natural scenery (back mountain). You can choose to visit according to your preferences.
Note: World Cultural Heritage – Dujingyan and Mt. Qingcheng are about 70 kilometers northwest of downtown Chengdu.
Experience Chengdu’s Unique Culture
- Entering a Chengdu Teahouse
Every teahouse is a epitome of old Chengdu. Perhaps the most relaxing and comfortable thing to do in Chengdu is going to a tea house, tasting local tea (jasmine tea, Zhuyeqing, etc.), and experiencing the leisurely slow life. Lying down on a bamboo chair to enjoy pedicure, massage, and ear cleaning!
- Appreciating Sichuan Opera Face Changing
Tourists can watch face changing performances in tea houses or theaters in Chengdu and learn about the magical charm of this traditional art.
Can’t Miss – Famous Teahouses in Chengdu:
Heming Teahouse inside People’s Park (鹤鸣茶社), Daci Temple Teahouse (大慈茶社), Chenjin Teahouse (陈锦茶馆), Shunxing Old Teahouse (顺兴老茶馆), Pengzhen Guanyinge Old Teahouse (彭镇观音阁老茶馆), etc.
Feel the Prosperity of Modern City
- Chunxi Road: The most livelycommercial pedestrian street in Chengdu, where numerous high-end brand stores, trendy shops, and gourmet restaurants converge.
- ChengduInternational Financial Center (IFS): A representative modern building in Chengdu, with the wall-climbing panda sculpture on the rooftop being an Internet-famous spot in Chengdu.
- Taikoo Li: Atrendy landmark in Chengdu, where you can appreciate its unique modern urban style. There are many fashion brands and specialty shops here.
Don’t forget to buy some Sichuan embroidery products, tea sets, bamboo weaving, specialty seasonings, and other featured souvenirs to take home during your Chengdu tour.
How Many Days Are Enough for Chengdu?
If you are on China tour, be sure to plan a trip to Chengdu and personally experience the infinite charm of this “Land of Abundance”. Generally speaking, it is suggested to arrange 3-4 days for a Chengdu travel.
Chengdu Itinerary 1-2 Days (Check-in Tour)
- Day 1: Panda Base, Wuhou Temple, Jinli Street
- Day 2: Wide & Narrow Alley, Chengdu Museum, Chunxi Road
Chengdu Itinerary 3-4 Days (In-depth Experience Tour)
- Day 3: Du Fu Thatched Cottage, People’s Park, Jiuyan Bridge Bar Street
- Day 4: Dujiangyan, Qingcheng Mountain
Chengdu Itinerary 5-7 Days (Side Trips with World Heritages)
- Day 5: Mount Emei(a Buddhist holy land featuring sea of clouds on Golden Peak), Leshan Giant Buddha (the world’s largest stone-carved Buddha)
- Day 6: Jiuzhaigou National Park(a fairyland on earth famous for colorful lakes and spectacular waterfalls)
On the last day, enjoy your free time in Chengdu!
Best Sichuan Chengdu Tours
- One Day Chengdu Panda Tour
- One Day Dujiangyan Panda and Mt. Qingcheng Tour
- 3 Days Sichuan Hiking Tour from Leshan to Emei Mountain
- 7 Days Chengdu Natural Exploration Tour with Mt. Emei & Jiuzhaigou
Chengdu Weather & Best Time to Visit
Chengdu has a subtropical monsoon climate, with abundant simultaneous heat and rainfall, and distinct four seasons. The annual average temperature is 16-18°C, and annual total precipitation is about 1000-1400 millimeters. The vast majority of Chengdu city has no scorching heat in summer, less ice and snow in winter, low wind speed, high humidity, more clouds and mists, and less sunshine.
Due to the mild climate, it is suitable to travel to Chengdu all year round. You can visit Du Fu Thatched Cottage to enjoy plum blossoms in spring, go to Qingcheng Mountain to escape the heat in summer, admire red leaves on Mount Emei in autumn, climb Xiling Snow Mountain to enjoy the beautiful snow.
But spring and autumn (March – May and September – November) are the best time to visit Chengdu. During these seasons, the temperature is moderate and most pleasant. It is important to avoid China public holidays such as May Day and National Day, which are peak tourist periods.
How to Get to & Travel Around Chengdu
For Chengdu, the three-dimensional transportation network extends in all directions, weaving a smooth and unobstructed picture.
By Airplane
Chengdu has a “dual aviation hub” of Shuangliu International Airport and Tianfu International Airport. In 2025, there will be over 80 international direct flight routes. As the fourth largest international airport in China, Shuangliu Airport has opened more than 300 international and domestic routes, with Metro Line 10 connecting the city center. While Tianfu Airport, which was put into operation in 2021, is located relatively far from Chengdu city. You’re advised to plan a Chengdu tour in advance to avoid any delays.
By High-Speed Train
Both Chengdu Railway Station and Chengdudong Railway Station are important railway transportation hubs in southwestern China, connecting major cities across the country. In particular, Chengdudong Railway Station mainly serves high-speed trains. Over 300 pairs of high-speed trains shuttle daily through high-speed railway arteries such as Chengdu-Chongqing, Xi’an-Chengdu, and Chengdu-Guizhou. It takes about 2 hours to Chongqing and 4 hours to Xi’an.
Related reading: How to Plan a Chengdu Chongqing Tour
Transportation Within Chengdu
A total of 15 metro lines (by Dec. 2024) run through the whole city like steel arteries; there are also many bus routes, but traffic congestion usually happen during peak hours. Take a taxi and use on-line ride hailing services at late night, and ride shared bicycles around the scenic area for short distance travel.
Related reading: How to Travel from Beijing to Chengdu
Where to Stay in Chengdu?
As a megacity and one of the most fmous tourist cities in China, Chengdu has a mature hotel industry and a wide range of accommodation options. Choose accommodation that suits your budget and preferences when you plan a Chengdu tour.
It is highly recommended to stay in bustling areas such as Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, and Tianfu Square in downtown Chengdu, which are convenient for visiting major attractions, tasting food, and shopping. There are a great many hotels of various levels to choose from, but accommodation prices are relatively high.
If you want to experience the lifestyle of old Chengdu, you can also stay near Wide & Narrow Alley and Wuhou Temple, where you can find peace amidst the bustle with convenient transportation and abundant local cuisine. The prices are relatively affordable, and there are many unique homestays to choose from.
What & Where to Eat in Chengdu
Did you know this: many people travel to Chengdu just for one word – “eat”! Chengdu was selected as a “City of Gastronomy” by UNESCO in 2010, becoming the first city in Asia to win this title, marking the international recognition of its food culture.
Speaking of Chengdu food, in addition to the representative hot pot, Sichuan cuisine, spicy Sichuan skewers, there are also authentic snacks such as Long Wonton, Dandan noodles, ice jelly, Zhong dumplings, rabbit head, etc.
Hot Pot
Just smell it, you’ll be tempted by overflowing aroma of the spicy Chengdu Hot Pot. Whether it’s the streets and alleys, or shopping malls, you can find an authentic hotpot restaurant to taste the red oil delicacy.
Recommended Hotpot Restaurants in Chengdu: Shu Daxia (蜀大侠), Xiaolongkan (小龙坎), Haidilao (海底捞), etc.
Sichuan Cuisine
As one of the eight great Chinese cuisines, Sichuan Cuisine is famous for its spicy and delicious flavor. The classic dishes include Fuqi Feipian, Mapo tofu, boiled pork slices, Kung Pao Chicken, etc.
Furthermore, Chengdu people regard food as a way of enjoying life. You can try various delicacies at restaurants and snack stalls in places such as Jinli Street, Wide & Wide Alley, and Kuixinglou Street to experience Chengdu’s vibrant street food culture.
If interested, you can also visit Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum to discover more.
Recommended Chengdu Food Tours:
- 3 Days Chengdu Food Tour with Cooking Class Experience
- 3 Hours Hotpot Dinner and Sichuan Opera Show Night Tour
Essential Travel Tips
- Chengdufood is very spicy and hot with heavy oil. When having meals, you can choose the spiciness according to your own taste. Tourists with gastrointestinal problems are advised to prepare medication.
- Pandas in Chengdu Panda Base are more active in the morning, soit is recommended to go there early to have a better encounter with giant Welcome to join us to start a wonderful Chengdu panda tour!
- Chengdu weatheris usually humid and unpredictable. Please check weather forecast before traveling and prepare accordingly. In addition, the temperature of Chengdu is high in summer, so pay attention to taking heatstroke prevention measures.
- At the end of2024, the National Immigration Administration further relaxed China’s visa–free transit policy. The stay time for citizens from 54 eligible countries has been extended to 240 hours (10 days). The ports of entry in Sichuan are Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. And the permitted stay area in Sichuan covers 11 cities. >> Chengdu Visa-free Tours
Hope the above suggestions can help you plan a trip to Chengdu easily and enjoy this city’s beauty, cuisine, and unique culture!
