Chengdu
Home of giant pandas and Sichuan cuisine, a city that combines tradition and modernity. Enjoy hot pot, tea houses, and slow pace of life.
Last reviewed October 23, 2026 · conditions change — confirm opening times and permits before you go
Why Chengdu
Chengdu is the city Chinese people themselves go to for a good time: pandas in the morning, teahouses in the afternoon, hotpot at night. It is relaxed in a way few big cities are, and it anchors the best day trips in Sichuan — Leshan, Dujiangyan, Qingcheng Mountain.
How to plan your days
Two to three days. The panda base first — go at opening (7:30 am) because pandas nap by noon and the crowds double. Spend an afternoon in People’s Park: tea, ear cleaning, mahjong, locals. Add one day trip to Leshan’s Giant Buddha or Dujiangyan. If your trip is longer, Chengdu is the launchpad for Jiuzhaigou and western Sichuan.
Getting around
A fast, cheap metro covers the city; lines connect the airport, panda base area and most hotels. DiDi works everywhere. Day trips are best by high-speed train (Leshan is about an hour) or a private driver booked through your hotel.
Where to stay
Stay near Chunxi Road or Taikoo Li for convenience, or in the quieter Wide and Narrow Alleys (Kuanzhai) area for character. Both put you inside the food action.
What to eat
Hotpot is the headline, but real Chengdu life is the small stuff: dandan noodles, malatang, spicy rabbit heads if you are brave. The spice level is serious — tell them “wei la” (mild) if unsure. Snack streets like Jinli look the part but locals prefer the restaurants around Yulin and Wangping Street.
Practical notes
Chengdu is overcast most days — do not plan around sunsets. Sichuan food is genuinely spicy; if your stomach is sensitive, ease in with clear broth hotpot. English is less common than Beijing or Shanghai; a translation app plus pointing gets you through fine.
Routes that include Chengdu
Chengdu 3-Day Slow Trip
Three days in Chengdu with pandas, tea houses, hotpot and one strong day trip — paced like a city people actually enjoy, not a checklist sprint.
View day-by-day →Natural Wonders
Zhangjiajie, Guilin and Chengdu in ten to twelve days: sandstone pillars, Li River karst and pandas, with flights that avoid wasted days.
View day-by-day →Food Journey
Eight days of eating in Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Guangzhou — roast duck, noodles, hotpot and dim sum, with flights and bookings timed around meals.
View day-by-day →Other destinations
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Shanghai
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Questions about your trip?
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