When Traveling Is Caring ❤️
成都South-West China30.66° N · 104.07° E
Giant pandas, teahouse afternoons and some of the boldest cooking in China, in a city that refuses to hurry. Here is everything you need to know before you go.
Chengdu sits on a fertile plain in the Sichuan Basin, a region so well watered and productive that Chinese writers have called it the Land of Abundance for centuries. The city has been the capital of the region for well over two thousand years, and it still carries a reputation as the most relaxed big city in China, where long lunches, mahjong and an afternoon in a teahouse are part of daily life rather than a holiday treat.
Most visitors come first for the giant pandas, and the breeding base on the edge of the city is one of the best places in the world to see them. Stay a little longer and Chengdu shows its other sides: Buddhist monasteries full of incense, the Three Kingdoms shrine of Wuhou, restored Qing dynasty alleys and a food scene so celebrated that UNESCO named Chengdu a City of Gastronomy in 2010.
Two or three nights is enough for the city itself, with a rewarding day trip to the Leshan Giant Buddha or the ancient irrigation works at Dujiangyan. Chengdu is also the natural gateway to Western Sichuan, Chongqing and, by air, to Lhasa. Use this guide to plan what to see, what to eat, where to stay and when to come.
Every journey below is private and tailor-made, so you can linger over the pandas and the food or use Chengdu as a base for Leshan, Western Sichuan and Tibet.
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How our local guides would spend one unhurried day in the city, from pandas at breakfast time to hotpot and opera after dark.
Arrive at opening time, when the pandas are feeding on fresh bamboo and the paths are still quiet.
Incense, chanting and quiet courtyards at Chengdu's best-known Buddhist monastery, with a vegetarian teahouse inside.
A bowl of dan dan noodles and chilli oil wontons in a busy local noodle shop.
Bamboo chairs, covered teacups and locals playing mahjong, with the city's famous ear cleaners doing the rounds.
Stroll the Wide and Narrow Alleys, restored Qing dynasty lanes of grey brick courtyards and snack stalls.
The Three Kingdoms shrine in the late light, then the lantern-lit street beside it as evening falls.
A bubbling pot of chilli and Sichuan pepper broth, ideally split with a milder side for balance.
Music, comedy, puppetry and the famous face-changing, where masks switch in the blink of an eye.
Chengdu is surrounded by panda centres, and they suit different travellers. The city base is easiest and has the most pandas on view, while the mountain centres are quieter and more natural but take longer to reach. Here is how we would choose.
On the northern edge of the city, about 30 to 45 minutes from the centre. Landscaped bamboo enclosures, giant and red pandas and a nursery area. Busy, but the easiest choice for a short stay.
About an hour from the city, set in green hills and usually far calmer. It pairs naturally with the ancient irrigation works and Mount Qingcheng for a full day out.
A panda centre deep in the mountains of the Wolong reserve, around three hours from Chengdu by road. Best for travellers who want scenery and do not mind a long day.
The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
Founded in 1987, the base is home to giant and red pandas in bamboo-shaded enclosures. Come at opening time, when the pandas are feeding and the paths are still calm.
A working Buddhist monastery with Qing dynasty halls, incense-filled courtyards and a peaceful garden. Locals come to pray, and the vegetarian dining hall and teahouse are popular too.
The heart of Chengdu's tea culture: bamboo chairs, covered cups topped up with hot water, mahjong games and ear cleaners. Watch the matchmaking corner at weekends, when parents trade notes.
The Wide and Narrow Alleys are three parallel lanes of restored courtyard houses from the Qing dynasty. Lively and touristy, but lovely for a stroll and a few street snacks.
A temple honouring Zhuge Liang and the heroes of the Three Kingdoms period, with red walls and bamboo paths. Next door, Jinli is a lantern-hung street of snacks and crafts.
A peaceful park around the site where the Tang dynasty poet Du Fu lived and wrote. Quiet gardens, bamboo groves and pavilions make it a calm escape from the city.
An archaeological site of the ancient Shu culture, discovered in 2001. Its gold Sun and Immortal Birds ornament is among the most admired treasures in China.
About an hour north of the city, home to striking bronze masks and figures of an ancient Bronze Age culture. A must for anyone curious about early Chinese history.
A UNESCO World Heritage site combining an irrigation system more than two thousand years old with a forested Taoist mountain. A rewarding day trip about an hour away.
Carved into a red sandstone cliff during the Tang dynasty, the seated Buddha is 71 metres tall. See it from the cliff path or from a boat on the river.
Learn to balance chilli, Sichuan pepper and fermented bean paste, then cook classics such as mapo tofu and kung pao chicken. A good way to understand the flavours.
An evening of music, comedy, shadow play and the famous face-changing, where performers switch masks in a flash. Lively, colourful and easy to enjoy without knowing the language.
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The modern heart of the city, with shopping streets, the metro on the doorstep and easy access to Daci Temple and the restaurants of the centre.
Close to the Wide and Narrow Alleys and People's Park, with traditional lanes and teahouses around you. Atmospheric, though busy in the evenings.
Low-rise streets around the monastery in the north of the centre, quieter at night and a little closer to the panda base for an early start.
Tell us your style and our consultants will hand-pick a stay you would never find on your own.
A restored heritage house, a quiet lakeside villa or a family-run boutique: we match the hidden gem to you, and reveal it with your itinerary.
Ask for a surprise stayChengdu has two international airports. Most international flights now use Tianfu International Airport, about an hour south-east of the centre, while Shuangliu International Airport is closer, about 30 minutes away. High-speed trains link Chengdu with Chongqing, Xi'an and other cities, and flights to Lhasa leave daily.
The alleys, parks and temples of the centre are pleasant to explore slowly on foot.
Best for: Old lanesA large, modern metro network with signs in English links the centre, both airports and the main stations.
Best for: Crossing the cityDiDi is the easiest way to book a car, with an English interface and payment through Alipay or WeChat.
Best for: Short hopsIncluded on our journeys for the panda base, day trips and transfers.
Best for: Day tripsPlaces that pair well with Chengdu, with approximate travel times.
March to June and September to November are the most comfortable months, mild and good for walking and day trips. July and August are hot, humid and busy with domestic holidays. Winter is chilly and damp with grey skies, but quieter, and a steaming hotpot never feels better.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppTwo full days cover the pandas, the main temples, a teahouse afternoon and a good share of the food. Three days lets you add a day trip to the Leshan Giant Buddha or Dujiangyan. Many of our journeys pair Chengdu with Chongqing, Xi'an or a flight on to Lhasa.
Early morning, all year round. The pandas are fed and most active soon after the base opens, and they often sleep through the warm afternoon. In summer they may stay indoors in cooler enclosures. Arriving at opening time also means fewer crowds, which matters most at weekends and during Chinese holidays.
No. Holding or touching giant pandas is no longer offered to visitors at the main centres, for the animals' welfare. You can watch them closely from viewing paths and indoor halls, and the quieter centres around Dujiangyan and Wolong offer a more natural setting. Be wary of anyone who claims otherwise.
Many signature dishes are spicy and use Sichuan pepper, which gives a tingling, numbing feeling rather than pure heat. Plenty of dishes are mild, though, and kitchens will usually tone things down on request. Your guide can order a balanced mix and suggest a split hotpot with a mild broth.
Start with the giant pandas, then visit Wenshu Monastery, the Wuhou Shrine and Jinli Street, the Wide and Narrow Alleys and a teahouse in People's Park. Add the Jinsha or Sanxingdui museums for history, an evening of Sichuan opera, and a day trip to Leshan or Dujiangyan.
Yes, for most travellers. The Buddha is 71 metres tall and carved into a cliff above the meeting of three rivers. It takes a full day with the journey, and the cliff stairway can involve long queues on busy days, so we often suggest the river boat view as well.
The Chunxi Road and Tianfu Square area suits first visits and easy metro access. Around Kuanzhai Xiangzi you are close to the old lanes and People's Park, while the Wenshu Monastery area is calmer at night. Your travel consultant will match the area and hotel to your style.
Tianfu International Airport is about an hour from the centre by road, longer at rush hour, and is also linked by metro. Shuangliu International Airport is closer, about 30 minutes away. Your travel consultant will arrange a private transfer with a name-sign welcome from either airport.
Tell us what you have in mind and a local travel specialist will design a private itinerary around you. Free, with no obligation.
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