Written by Natalia |
Located in China’s southwest, Sichuan proudly bears the title “Heavenly Kingdom”. It has now become a more and more popular tourist attractions around the world, people may first know it from its iconic pandas. But beyond that, this dynamic and enchanting region also holds many UNESCO treasures like Jiuzhaigou’s kaleidoscopic lakes and Leshan’s 71-meter stone Buddha. From the 2,300-year-old Dujiangyan irrigation miracle to the misty temples of Mount Emei, every corner of this land whispers ancient wisdom. Here, spicy hotpots ignite conversations as quickly as Sichuan Opera’s face-changing masks dazzle eyes. Our guide reveals top 10 things to do in Sichuan: where wilderness roars, heritage breathes, and chili-laced warmth welcomes all.
1. Get Up Close with Adorable Giant Pandas
Seeing giant pandas is something you cannot miss in Sichuan. Chengdu is the hometown of the giant panda, which is known as the “living fossil” and “China’s national treasure”. It’s such a joy to watch them nibble bamboo or tumble lazily through the grass. The Chengdu Panda Base and the forested valleys of Dujiangyan are built to echo these panda’s wild mountain homes. Visitors here can catch a glimpse of panda’s interesting daily life, getting to know a creature deeply tied to the spirit of Sichuan.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
- Location:Northern Chengdu (10 km from downtown)
- Tickets:¥55 (adults) (Admission is permitted only once on the booked date during the reserved morning or afternoon time slot, exclusively for the ticket holder), free for children under 1.3m
- Opening Hours:
Period |
Morning Entry |
Afternoon Entry |
Closing Procedures Begin |
November 1 – February 28 |
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
12:00 PM – 4:30 PM |
5:30 PM |
March 1 – October 31 |
7:30 AM – 12:00 PM |
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM |
6:00 PM |
- Time Needed: 3–4 hours
- Highlight:Visit the Panda Nursery to see baby pandas tumbling in play.
Dujiangyan Panda Valley
- Location: Dujiangyan City (1.5 hours from Chengdu)
- Tickets: ¥58 (adults)
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM–5:30 PM(last entry: 4.30 PM)
- Time Needed:2–3 hours
- Highlight: Participate in a volunteer programto feed pandas (advance booking required).
Recommended Chengdu Tours with panda volunteer experiences:
- Panda Volunteer Day Tour
- One Day Private Chengdu Panda Volunteering Tour from Xian by High Speed Train
- 4 Days Chengdu Panda Volunteer Experience
2. Marvel at the Ethereal Beauty of Jiuzhaigou National Park
Jiuzhaigou, a UNESCO gem in northern Sichuan’s mountains, protects 643 km² of crystalline lakes and forests fed by Yangtze River tributaries. Known as the “heaven on earth”, Jiuzhaigou dances with colors you never knew existed. Snowcapped peaks cradle forests and mirror-like lakes that steal fragments of the sky—turquoise, jade, sapphire. Wander here, and you’ll swear the mountains are whispering old tales through rustling leaves. Its beauty so raw it rewrites your dreams.
- Location: Jiuzhaigou County (8–9 hours from Chengdu by road)
- Tickets: Off Season:
Entrance Ticket: ¥80/person
Sightseeing Bus Ticket: ¥80/person
Peak Season:
Entrance Ticket: ¥190/person
Sightseeing Bus Ticket: ¥90/person
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM(last entry 2:00 PM)
- Time Needed: 1–2 days
- Highlight: Five Flower Lake, a multi-colored pool reflecting surrounding forests.
3. Explore the Ingenious Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Crafted in 256 BCE by engineer Li Bing, Dujiangyan ingeniously tames the Min River without dams, diverting floods and irrigating Chengdu’s farmlands for millennia. Stroll the swaying Anlan Cable Bridge to witness its split-flow system in action, or explore Erwang Temple honoring Li Bing’s legacy. This living relic—still nurturing Sichuan’s “Land of Abundance”—pairs perfectly with a Chengdu tour for history and scenery.
- Location: Dujiangyan City (1 hour from Chengdu)
- Tickets: ¥80 (adults)
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Time Needed:3–4 hours
- Highlight: Walk across the Anlan Suspension Bridge for panoramic views of the Min River.
4. Hike the Sacred Slopes of Mount Emei
Countless hikers and pilgrims had winded through Mount Emei’s mist-cloaked trails, to feel the deep roots of Buddhism in every step, until a true sense of inner peace quietly unfolds. At dawn, the Golden Summit erupts in glory—gilded statues glow as clouds part over endless peaks.
- Location:Emeishan City (2 hours from Chengdu)
- Tickets:¥160 (peak season), ¥110 (off-season)
- Opening Hours:6:00 AM – 6:30 PM
- Time Needed: 1–2 days
- Highlight: Sunrise at the Golden Summit, where a 48-meter-tall golden Buddha statue overlooks a sea of clouds.
5. Stand in Awe of the Leshan Giant Buddha
Crafted over 90 years in the 8th century, the 71-meter Leshan Giant Buddha gazes serenely over three converging rivers and time surges ahead, leaving no way back. Tang Dynasty monk Haitong spearheaded this engineering feat to calm treacherous waters. Boat cruises reveal its weathered yet majestic presence—toes wider than cars, ears taller than houses. Arrive early to beat crowds at this UNESCO marvel, just 2 hours from Chengdu.
- Location:Leshan City (2 hours from Chengdu)
- Tickets: ¥80 (Buddha viewing), ¥150 (boat cruise)
- Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Time Needed:3–4 hours
- Highlight: Take a boat cruise for a full view of the Buddha’s serene expression.
6. Step Back in Time on Jinli Ancient Street
At Jinli Ancient Street, time bends, this 350-meter lane—adjacent to Wuhou Shrine’s Three Kingdoms history—comes alive at dusk when food stalls sizzle with chuanchuan skewers. For a quieter vibe, wander early morning when calligraphers ink scrolls to cicada songs.
- Location: Chengdu City Center (next to Wuhou Shrine)
- Tickets: Free
- Opening Hours: 24/7 (shops close by 10:00 PM)
- Time Needed: 2–3 hours
- Highlight: Try local snacks like zhangcha duck (tea-smoked duck) or spicy chuanchuan skewers.
7. Be Captivated by Sichuan Opera’s Fiery Face-Changing
Go to Chengdu’s Shufeng Yayun Teahouse, Sichuan Opera is here whispering ancient secrets through fire-breathing, puppet mastery, and bian lian—the art of split-second mask swaps. Performers flick sleeves to reveal new faces (some say 30+ in minutes!), leaving audiences gasping. Book front-row seats to catch how silk masks vanish—was it magic or millennia-old sleight-of-hand?
- Location: Shufeng Yayun Teahouse (Chengdu)
- Tickets: ¥150–¥300
- Opening Hours:2:00PM-9:30PM
- Time Needed: 5 hours
- Highlight: The rapid mask changes, performed in a split second!
8. Savor the Fiery Flavors of Sichuan Cuisine
Sichuan’s cuisine dances on the tongue: mala (numbing-spicy) flavors ignite your palate in hotpot broth simmering with chili and Sichuan peppercorns. Bite into mapo tofu—silken curd swimming in fermented bean sauce—or crunch fuqi feipian, cold beef tripe spiked with chili oil. At Chengdu’s Chen Mapo Tofu (1862), generations swear by their namesake dish. For street eats, Jinli Street’s zhong shui jiao (boat dumplings) balance heat with sweet black vinegar.
- Hotpot: Dive into a bubbling broth of chili and Sichuan peppercorns.
- Mapo Tofu: Silken tofu in a fiery bean sauce.
- Dandan Noodles: Spicy minced pork over hand-pulled noodles.
9. Trek Through the “Last Shangri-La” at Daocheng Yading
Daocheng Yading, a hidden kingdom cradled by sacred mountains, is often called “the last pure land on the blue planet.” Here, snowcapped peaks rise above the river-like valleys, and forests will lead you a way to wide pastures, where glacial lakes shimmer like forgotten jewels of the earth. It feels as if nature, in a rare moment of grace, left behind its most dazzling masterpiece on this land. Slow your steps, let the sunlight bathe your skin, and allow your spirit to drift into a rare, quiet peace found only in places untouched by time.
- Location: Daocheng County (2-day drive from Chengdu)
- Tickets:
| Item | Price | Period/Type | Notes |
| Entrance Ticket | ¥146/person | Apr 1 – Nov 30 (Peak Season) | Mandatory entry pass |
| ¥120/person | Dec 1 – Mar 31 (Off Season) | ||
| Sightseeing Bus Ticket | ¥120/person | Round-trip (37 km distance) | Tourist Center → Zhaguanbeng |
| Insurance | ¥10/person | Optional | Covers basic accident risks |
| Scenic Shuttle Ticket | ¥70/person | Round-trip | Intra-park transfers |
| ¥40/person | One-way |
- Opening Hours:
| Season (Dates) | Service | Route | Hours |
| Peak Season April 15 – November 30 |
Ticket Office | — | 7:00 AM – 4:40 PM |
| Sightseeing Bus | Tourist Center → Zhaguanbeng | 7:10 AM – 5:00 PM | |
| Zhaguanbeng → Tourist Center | 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM | ||
| Yading Village → Zhaguanbeng | 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM | ||
| Shuttle Bus | Chonggu Temple → Luorong Pasture | 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | |
| Luorong Pasture → Chonggu Temple | 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM | ||
| Off Season December 1 – April 14 |
Ticket Office | — | 8:20 AM – 3:50 PM |
| Sightseeing Bus | Tourist Center → Zhaguanbeng | 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM | |
| Zhaguanbeng → Tourist Center | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM | ||
| Yading Village → Zhaguanbeng | 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM | ||
| Shuttle Bus | Chonggu Temple → Luorong Pasture | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | |
| Luorong Pasture → Chonggu Temple | 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
- Time Needed: 3–4 days
- Highlight: Hike the Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake trails for breathtaking vistas.
10. Discover Tibetan Culture in Western Sichuan
In western Sichuan’s Tagong Grassland, nomadic herders guide yaks under snow-capped peaks, while Danba Valley’s ancient watchtowers guard Tibetan villages where women stitch rainbow aprons. At Tagong Monastery, join pilgrims spinning prayer wheels as dawn gilds Mount Yala’s summit. Sip salty yak butter tea with locals in stone homes, or hike to hidden Dzogchen Monastery—its golden roofs shimmering over rhododendron forests. Accessible via 6-hour drives from Chengdu, this region preserves living Tibetan traditions far from the tourist trail.
- Location: Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
- Tickets:Varies by site
- Opening Hours: Daylight hours
- Time Needed: 2–3 days
- Highlight: Attend a local festival like the Litang Horse Racing Festival (July).
