Today, I’m sharing a comprehensive guide to Chengdu, a city I’ve visited more than 20 times. It’s time to summarize my experiences and give back to everyone.
If you’re planning to visit Chengdu this year, I believe this article will be helpful for your trip.
Overview of Chengdu Travel
Chengdu is a city that you won’t want to leave once you arrive. It’s suitable for visiting all year round, and people of all ages can have a great time here.
You’ll find adorable giant pandas, relaxing tea houses, and countless Sichuan-style snacks. As they say in Chengdu, “It’s very comfortable here.”
So, why visit Chengdu?
Chengdu is tolerant, with relatively friendly travel policies during the pandemic.
I remember when Hangzhou had restrictions, and it was inconvenient for me to go anywhere. Eventually, I went to Chengdu, where a 48-hour nucleic acid report was sufficient. The efficiency of the airport and hotel check-in was quite high.
Chengdu has delicious food
Maocai (Sichuan-style hotpot), skewers, couple’s lung slices, wontons, ice jelly, dandan noodles… Chengdu’s food is bold in flavor, diverse, delicious, and affordable, with many hidden gems.
It is a recognized food capital, with an abundance of delicious options.
Chengdu is sufficiently artistic
Wang Xiaobo once said that when it comes to art, Chengdu has plenty of reasons for you to stay. During my last two visits to Chengdu, I fully experienced the city’s artistic side.
The city has numerous art galleries, cafes, exhibitions, and performances.
What to do in Chengdu?
The itinerary for a first visit and multiple visits will certainly be different. I’ll list all the recommended attractions in Chengdu, and mark the ones suitable for a first visit in red. The rest can be visited during subsequent trips.
- Historical: Wuhou Temple, Wenshu Monastery, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Qingyang Palace, Jinli, Jinsha Site Museum, Chengdu Museum, Sichuan Museum
- Modern: Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li (IFS), Jiuyanqiao, Yulin Road Bars
- Local Life: Kuanzhai Alley, People’s Park, Guanyin Pavilion Old Teahouse in Pengzhen, Shuangliu
- Artistic: Tianfu Art Museum, Tianfu Library, Haha Quyi Society, Sen Art Museum, CITIC Underwater Bookstore, Luhu A4 Art Museum, Zhimei Art Museum
- Cute: Panda Base
- Food: Wangping Street, Xiangxiang Alley, Xiaoguanmiao Street, Jianshe Alley, Kuixinglou…
Highly Recommended
Sichuan Museum
When visiting a city, the museum is the top recommendation. It’s the only choice that can quickly get you into a travel state of mind.
The Sichuan Museum is a comprehensive museum focusing on history, culture, and art, sorting out the historical and cultural aspects of the entire Sichuan region. This museum has even been featured on the TV show “National Treasure.”
Panda Base
How can you not see the adorable pandas when visiting Chengdu? Be sure to visit the Panda Base in the morning! And go early! Because if you go late, the pandas will retreat to their rooms to rest.
Chengdu Panda Base has more than 100 round and chubby pandas, as well as many red pandas. It’s recommended to visit the Juvenile Panda Villa, where you’ll find cute and adorable little pandas.
For a second or third visit, you can go to Bifengxia in Ya’an or Panda Valley in Dujiangyan to see the pandas. These two places are relatively less crowded and more tranquil.
People’s Park
Sipping a cup of tea in an outdoor tea room, paired with Zhongshui dumplings, and perhaps getting your ears cleaned – this is the authentic taste of Chengdu.
People’s Park is currently the absolute internet celebrity among Chengdu’s parks, and it’s the perfect choice to experience Chengdu’s “comfortable life.” It’s located in the city center, making it a great place to visit whenever you have time.
Inside People’s Park, there’s the Heming Tea House, a great spot for drinking tea and playing mahjong.
Visitors from other places can also watch authentic Sichuan opera performances here, with the most common ones being face-changing and fire-spitting.
Similarly, for a second or third visit, there are more tea room options.
For example, Xiangyuan in Wenshu Monastery, Huanhuaxi Park next to Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Cultural Park near Qingyang Palace, Xinhua Park, Baihuatan Park, Tazishan Park…
These are all tea-drinking spots for local Chengdu residents.
Kuanzhai Alley
My previous impression of Kuanzhai Alley wasn’t very good, but my recent experience was truly excellent. Because there were fewer people. And I chose to stay at Diaoyutai, which felt great as Kuanzhai Alley was right outside the door, giving a sense of seclusion in the bustling city.
Kuanzhai Alley is recommended for visiting, but not for shopping or eating, as it lacks cost-effectiveness. Of course, drinking at %, Heytea, and Starbucks is still acceptable.
For dining, I recommend Kuixinglou next to Kuanzhai Alley, which offers a variety of affordable delicacies.
Taikoo Li
Chengdu Taikoo Li is definitely worth visiting. Although Beijing and Shanghai also have Taikoo Li, I think Chengdu’s is the most recommended. The highlight of Chengdu Taikoo Li is the ancient and charming Daci Temple located in the center of Taikoo Li, perfectly integrating with the architectural style of Taikoo Li. Next to it is the high-end IFS and the century-old Chunxi Road, forming a rare commercial complex.
For multiple visits, I recommend these places
Tea Houses
Chengdu is mostly cloudy throughout the year. On the rare sunny days, regardless of whether it’s a holiday or a workday, all the tea houses in Chengdu, big and small, are absolutely packed. Drinking tea, chatting, playing mahjong, and sunbathing – the carefree people of Chengdu would rather skip work to enjoy the sun at the tea houses.
Therefore, visiting a tea house is a must. The tea house I highly recommend in Chengdu is the century-old Guanyin Pavilion Old Teahouse in Pengzhen, Shuangliu. This tea house has a history of over a hundred years and is a living fossil among Chengdu’s tea houses. It’s also a great place for taking photos and checking in.
Activities
Listen to a Chengdu crosstalk or watch a Sichuan Opera face-changing performance.
For crosstalk, you can go to Haha Quyi Society. They have three small theaters in Chengdu. In addition to crosstalk, they also have performances that combine Sichuan characteristics, such as Jinqianban, comedy, Sichuan Qingyin, and bamboo piano.
The one near Dongmen Shijing is suitable for daytime visits and is called Haha Tea Shop.
The one in Xianting is suitable for evening visits, with performances almost every night.
For Sichuan Opera face-changing, you can go to Shufeng Yayun or Furong Guocui. These places are somewhat similar to the Hundred Year Pear Garden, with a wide range of programs.
They have Sichuan Opera face-changing, fire-spitting, rolling lights, folk music, Huqin, hand shadow puppetry, marionette, and excerpt plays. You can also enjoy massage, ear cleaning, and opera costume services.
For trendy young people, you can go to the Western Cultural Industry Center in Chengdu to watch “Apollonia.” This play is hard to get tickets for in Shanghai, but it’s relatively easier to buy tickets in Chengdu.
Art Galleries and Museums
Chengdu is a very artistic place, with many art galleries and museums, as well as numerous exhibitions to see.
Last year, the Chengdu Biennale was held, and the new venue of the Chengdu Art Museum was unveiled. This art museum is definitely worth a visit, not only for its beautiful architecture but also for its excellent exhibitions.
The Sen Art Museum, with its white walls and black tiles in a minimalist style, is also worth visiting. The best part is that it offers free admission.
Luhu A4 Art Museum is also good, with its striking red geometric cut structure. The exhibitions inside won’t bore you either.
There’s also the Zhimei Art Museum designed by Kengo Kuma, although it’s a bit far. However, their design concept is “you must leave the city and go into nature to reach the art museum.”
For museums, you can visit the Jinsha Site Museum, which has been listed as a national first-class museum by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and has many national treasures.
Bookstores
Chengdu has no shortage of bookstores, such as Fangsuo in Taikoo Li, Xinshan Bookstore in Vanke City Plaza, and Zhongshuge in Yintai Center.
My top recommendation is the CITIC Bookstore in Xinglong Lake, which is Chengdu’s first and currently only underwater bookstore. Part of the bookstore space is below the waterline.
Moreover, because it operates on an appointment basis (free of charge) and controls the number of people per hour, the experience is excellent.
Nightlife
Chengdu’s nightlife is truly amazing, with an abundance of bars. The bars in Chengdu are mainly concentrated in four areas: 339 (Chengdu TV Tower), Lan Kwai Fong, Jiuyanqiao, and Kehua North Road. Each area has its own unique characteristics.
339 is the first choice for clubbing, although there are also some quiet bars and live houses now.
Lan Kwai Fong is a mix, with all types of bars and some restaurants.
Jiuyanqiao has more folk bars and live houses, similar to Houhai in Beijing.
Kehua North Road is home to a group of underground bars.
How to explore around Chengdu
For your first visit to Chengdu, just focus on exploring the city itself. This city is enough to keep you occupied for 5 days and 4 nights without repetition. However, if you’re a frequent visitor to Chengdu, I suggest you venture out to the surrounding areas.
Chengdu is the central point for traveling in Sichuan. It’s very convenient to reach any destination in Sichuan from Chengdu.
Visiting the surrounding ancient towns
There are many ancient towns around Chengdu, such as Huanglongxi, Luodai Ancient Town, Furong Ancient Town, Pingle Ancient Town… all of which can be visited on a day trip.
I particularly recommend Huanglongxi and Luodai Ancient Town.
Huanglongxi is filled with buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The main street of the ancient town is paved with stone slabs, flanked by hanging foot buildings on both sides. There are streets, temples, and government offices. It’s also the confluence of the Jinjiang River and Luxi River. It’s an ancient town full of life and worth spending most of the day exploring.
Luodai Ancient Town allows you to experience Hakka culture. Surprisingly, Luodai even has tulou (earthen buildings), which is a remarkable thing to find outside of Fujian province.
Scenic spots suitable for one-day round trips around Chengdu include: Sanxingdui, Dujiangyan, and Qingcheng Mountain.
I highly recommend all three of them.
Sanxingdui is located in Guanghan, north of Chengdu, just an 18-minute high-speed train ride away. It’s absolutely worth visiting, as Sanxingdui leaves a strong impression on people.
Sanxingdui has a cultural relics restoration hall where you can watch staff members repair cultural relics on-site.
Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain can be combined into a one-day round trip if you’re short on time (although I actually recommend 2-3 days).
Worshipping at the Dujiangyan water conservancy project and seeking the Tao at Qingcheng Mountain, this is Chengdu’s backyard.
In addition, Emei Mountain, Leshan, Niubei Mountain, Siguniang Mountain, Xiling Snow Mountain… there are mountains all around Chengdu, and they are all famous mountains worth visiting.
If time permits, why not embark on a Sichuan tour starting from Chengdu?
If you’re going in late March or early April, I highly recommend Jiayang in Leshan.
The Jiayang Steam Train, currently the only steam train still in operation in the world, is located here. In the warm spring with drizzling rain, riding the Jiayang Steam Train while admiring the canola flowers is definitely a beautiful thing to do in spring.
For families with children, you can pay attention to the Chengdu Panda Train.
This is not just a train, but a special train travel route that departs from Chengdu and arrives in Chongqing.
The image below shows the distribution of scenic spots within Sichuan province. Basically, you first arrive in Chengdu and then visit other places.
Chengdu cuisine
I’m really limited in space today, but I will definitely write a separate article on Chengdu cuisine, as there are too many recommendations to make.
Let me just recommend a few distinctive food streets in Chengdu.
Jianshe Alley is the food street behind Chengdu’s universities (University of Electronic Science and Technology of China). It’s full of local snacks, such as skewers and ice jelly, which are irresistible.
The image below is what I captured. It’s a common phenomenon for many stores to have long queues outside.
Remember this egg sponge cake store on Jianshe Alley, it’s super delicious.
Xiaoguan Temple Street is full of local atmosphere, and the old street food is worth exploring. The specialty of this street is eating mutton hotpot and drinking mutton soup. Seeing the sheep hanging outside each store, I feel this street is reliable.
Xiangxiang Alley is dazzlingly retro. Not only does it have Chengdu snacks, but also specialty foods from all over the country and even the world.
Wangping Street is a street with artistic specialty shops, perfect for afternoon tea.
This street is very close to Xiangxiang Street, so you can have afternoon tea on Wangping Street and eat on Xiangxiang Street.
Kuixing Building is right next to Kuanzhai Alley. It has a wide variety of affordable food. It’s the perfect backup for eating and drinking in Kuanzhai Alley.
As for other Chengdu cuisines, I’ll owe it for now and make it up with a good article another day.
The best travel time for Chengdu
March to June and September to November, try to avoid the summer (mainly because it’s crowded in summer). Winter is not recommended because Chengdu doesn’t snow and there are too many cloudy and rainy days in winter. Holidays are also not suitable, as the crowds greatly affect the travel experience.
Where to stay in Chengdu
- First tier: The Temple House, Diaoyutai
- First and a half tier: Harbour Plaza Chengdu, The Langham Chengdu, Jinniu Hotel (remember to choose the new building)
- Second tier: Grand Hyatt, Hilton Chengdu Chenghua, Waldorf Astoria, W, The Ritz-Carlton, The St. Regis, InterContinental Chengdu Global Center, Fairmont, Wanda Vista, Hilton Chengdu Tianfu, Hilton Chengdu, Oakwood Residence Funder Chengdu
- Third tier: Other five-star hotels
- State Guesthouse: Chengdu Jinniu Hotel
- Time-honored brand: Sichuan Jinjiang Hotel
If you’re in the outskirts of Chengdu, Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain, qīng chéng shān zūn (under Hyatt’s Unbound Collection), Songpin Villa in Dujiangyan (with hot springs), aman lè, Meritage Resort Chengdu (with hot springs), InterContinental Chengdu Dayi and Hotel Indigo Chengdu Helong Lake are all good choices.
The difference from last time is that I downgraded Oakwood Residence Funder Chengdu by 0.5 tiers. The hardware was great this time, but the service was too poor.
When visiting Chengdu, it’s recommended to stay within the 2nd Ring Road, as Chengdu’s attractions are concentrated, and staying within the 2nd Ring Road makes it convenient to go anywhere.
Some tips about traveling in Chengdu
- It’s recommended to land at Shuangliu Airport, as Tianfu Airport is really too far away and inconvenient.
- Remember to check the weather forecast often, as Chengdu’s climate is humid and it often rains.
- Staying within the 2nd Ring Road makes it convenient to go anywhere.
- Chengdu’s metro coverage is very comprehensive, and you can reach almost all the desired attractions, which is very convenient.
