10 Things to Do in Chengdu, China: From Pandas to Hotpot
Chengdu is home to giant pandas, spicy food, and one of the most INTERESTING vibes in all of China. It’s a city that feels easy to love from the very start.
HOW MANY DAYS | 3 - 4
BEST TIME TO VISIT | Apr - Jun & Sep - Nov
WHERE TO STAY | Chengdu Hexi Apartment
TOP THINGS TO SEE |
Panda Base, Sanxidui Museum, Sichuan Opera
HOW TO GET AROUND | Metro or Taxi
We spent five days exploring Chengdu and left completely charmed. Of course, we came for the pandas, but we found so much more. Expect peaceful parks, spicy street food, mystic museums, and spectacular night sights. It’s a place where you can spend the morning in a historic temple and the evening in a trendy mall with a giant panda climbing its wall. Whether you’re into history, food, or just soaking up the local rhythm, Chengdu has something for you.
In this Chengdu travel guide, we’re sharing our favorite spots, must-do experiences, daytrip recommendations, and tips to help you plan your own trip.
HOW MANY DAYS FOR CHENGDU?
We think 3 to 4 full days are ideal to explore Chengdu, try the food, and get a feel for the city. This also gives you time to take one or two day trips, like to the Leshan Giant Buddha, Dujiangyan, or the Sanxingdui Museum. If you want to see all three without rushing, 5 days is a better choice.
WHERE TO STAY IN CHENGDU?
The best place to stay in Chengdu for first timers is near Chunxi Road / Taikoo Li. It’s central and well connected by metro. We recommend picking a place close to the subway, especially near line 2, since many sights are along this route. It also gives you easy access to the high-speed rail station.
When booking places to stay in China, we usually use Trip.com. It has more hotel options than Booking.com and is widely used within China.
BUDGET | We stayed at Chengdu Hexi Apartment and loved that this place is part of a complex with lots of restaurants, convenience stores and is right above a metro station. The rooms are modern and offer a nice view of the city.
COMFORT | The The Hidden House is a great choice if you want a mix of comfort and design. Rooms are spacious, modern, and have subtle Chinese touches. Breakfast is included and well-rated.
ESCAPE | Yi Landscape Starry Sky Designer Holiday Homestay stands out for its stylish and minimal design. It’s a quiet spot with lots of thoughtful details, perfect if you want to unwind after a busy day in the city.
HOW TO GET TO CHENGDU?
Chengdu is well connected by high-speed trains and flights. From Xi’an, the high-speed train to Chengdu East Station (Chengdu Dongzhan) takes about 3.5 to 4 hours. If you're coming from Chongqing, it’s around 1.5 to 2 hours. From there, you can easily reach the city center by metro or Didi.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport has both domestic and international flights. It usually takes 1 to 1.5 hours to get into the city. You can take metro line 18 (and transfer to line 2) or use DiDi for a more direct ride.
AIR | Search for affordable air fares with kiwi.com here
TRAIN | Check HSR schedules and book your seat through 12go.asia here.
HOW TO GET AROUND CHENGDU?
The easiest way to get around Chengdu is by metro. It’s fast, clean, and super affordable. Most major sights are well-connected. You can buy tickets at the machines or use Alipay to scan and enter. Just make sure to set up the transport QR code in the app before your first ride.
Yes, it’s true, in China, almost everything works through apps. But don’t worry, we figured it out and you can too. To get around, stay online, and pay for things, you’ll just need a few important apps. We explain everything step by step in our guide Chinese Essential Apps for Traveling in China post.
We also used DiDi for taxi rides a few times. The app is in English, works well, and you can pay directly through Alipay or WeChat.
In sightseeing areas like Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli Street, or one of the many city parks, you’ll do a lot of walking. If you want to go a bit faster, grab a shared bike. You’ll see yellow and blue ones everywhere. Just scan with your Chinese payment app and go.
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TOP THINGS TO DO IN CHENGDU
See the Giant Pandas
If you're in Chengdu, you have to go see the pandas. They’re one of China’s national treasures, and watching them eat, nap, and clumsily climb around is just as cute as you’d expect. You can visit the famous Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu or head to the quieter Dujiangyan Panda Base. Both focus on conservation and education and are home to dozens of pandas, including playful cubs and older pandas living their best lazy lives. It’s the most popular attraction in Chengdu and a must for first-time visitors.
TIP | The pandas are most active early in the morning, so it’s best to get there right when they open. Book your ticket in advance here and go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
We joined the volunteer program at the Dujiangyan Panda Base. If you're thinking about volunteering and seeing the pandas up close, we wrote an article sharing our experience and what to expect.
READ | Is Dujiangyan Panda Base Volunteer Program Worth It?
BOOK | Dujiangyan Panda Keeper Volunteer Experience All Inclusive Day Tour
Explore the Modern Chengdu
If you’re curious about the city’s modern side, start at Taikoo Li, a stylish open-air mall surrounded by traditional-style buildings. It’s a good place to window-shop or grab a coffee. Right next to it is Daci Temple, a peaceful spot that feels worlds away from the busy streets. Just a short walk away, you’ll find the famous panda climbing the IFS building, a very popular photo spot.
If you have a bit of time left after a half-day trip to Leshan or just want to slow down, this area is easy to explore and gives you a nice mix of modern city vibes and quiet corners.
Relax at People’s Park
This is one of the best places to visit in Chengdu if you want to see local life. You can expect locals playing some music, dancing, and even matchmaking corners. We enjoyed a calm afternoon walking through the park. We had hoped to stop at the Heming Teahouse, but it was packed when we visited, so we had to skip the tea.
If you're traveling in China, we highly recommend getting an eSIM and a VPN before you arrive. It makes everything easier, from booking rides to staying in touch. It helps bypass the strict firewall restrictions, so that you can access everything on your phones just like at home.
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Visit Wuhou Shrine & Jinli Ancient Street
The Wuhou Shrine is a peaceful place to visit in Chengdu. It’s a historic temple complex dedicated to Zhuge Liang, a famous strategist from the Three Kingdoms period. The garden feels calm and is full of old cypress trees, red walls, and unique bonsais that give it a special feeling. We went shortly before closing time and really enjoyed how quiet it was, with hardly any people around. It’s not very big, but it takes around 1.5 hours to explore the grounds, including a few small museum rooms. Most signs are in Chinese, so keep that in mind.
Right next to the Wuhou Shrine is Jinli Street, one of the oldest shopping streets in Chengdu. After our visit, we went for a walk there and tried a few local snacks along the way. Like many ancient streets in China, it’s lined with souvenir stalls, small shops, street food, and drinks. You can try classics like sweet potato balls and fried sticky rice.
ENTRANCE FEE | ¥50 | €6 | US$6
BOOK | Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Ticket
Eat Sichuan Hotpot
If you’ve never had hotpot before, here’s what to expect. Hotpot is a popular Chinese dining style where a pot of boiling broth is placed in the middle of the table. You order raw ingredients like meat, vegetables, tofu, and noodles, and cook them yourself in the broth. The flavor broth to try in Chengdu is called Sichuan flavor. It is spicy and with tingling peppercorns.
Chengdu has hotpot places on almost every corner, so it’s best to search for one near where you're staying. That said, we’ve had quite a few hotpots during our travels in China, and this one really stood out. The sauce had a unique flavor and quality ingredients we hadn’t tasted anywhere else.But be aware, as they only serve spicy and very spicy broth. We went with the spicy option and it was seriously intense.
If you don’t eat spicy food, it’s better to pick a different hotpot place where you can choose up to 4 broth types. That way, if Sichuan flavor is too spicy, you still have other options to enjoy.
Take a Tuktuk Food Tour
If you're not into spicy food but still want to try amazing local dishes, Chengdu is a great place to do it. The city is famous for its rich food culture, and with a guided tuktuk food tour you won’t have to worry about the language barrier or not knowing what you’re eating. It’s a fun way to explore street stalls, visit a local bar, and discover hidden spots you wouldn’t find on your own.
BOOK | Hidden Dishes and Beers UNESCO Food Evening Tour
Watch a Sichuan Opera Show
The Sichuan Opera is one of the most iconic cultural experiences in Chengdu. The show blends traditional music, comedy, a bit of singing, and of course, the famous face-changing act. The performers switch masks in the blink of an eye. It’s seriously impressive to watch. During the show, you’ll be served unlimited tea and sunflower seeds.
We had mixed feelings, though. We expected more classic opera and less variety-style entertainment. It wasn’t quite what we imagined, but the face-changing alone is worth seeing at least once.
If you book through the link below, you can also get a massage or an ear cleaning before or during the show. We tried the ear cleaning with a metal pick, but honestly, we wouldn’t do it again. It felt really uncomfortable and not very safe.
BOOK | Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun
TIP | Book in advance to have your spot reserved.
Visit the Mysterious Sanxingdui Museum
We visited the Sanxingdui Museum on a half day trip from Chengdu and were honestly amazed. It’s about an hour north of the city by car or high-speed train. The museum shows treasures from an ancient civilization that lived here over 3,000 years ago. The bronze masks and statues were unlike anything we had seen in China. These masks are very special with wide eyes, a tall bronze tree, and gold items that looked surprisingly detailed.
If you're short on time, go through the ground floor a bit faster and spend more time on the second floor. For us, here is where the highlights are. With a bit of extra time in Chengdu, this museum is absolutely worth a visit, especially for anyone interested in archaeology.
BOOK | Sanxingdui Museum Tickets
Discover Dujiangyan: A Hidden Gem near Chengdu
We combined our Dujiangyan day trip with the volunteer program at the Dujiangyan Panda Base. If you already visited the panda base in Chengdu, it’s still worth coming for the ancient Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a UNESCO site and true engineering marvel from over 2,000 years ago.
Photo lovers shouldn’t miss the Dujiangyan Zhongshuge Library. It’s known for its mirrored ceilings, spiral shelves, and dramatic staircases. It is one of the most unique bookshops in China.
At the entrance to the irrigation system, you’ll cross the South Bridge, a traditional covered wooden bridge decorated with colorful carvings and paintings. During the day, it’s perfect for a peaceful stroll with mountain views. At night, the bridge lights up and the water below glows with a soft blue light. often called the “blue tears” effect. Try to come around sunset and stay a little longer to enjoy both.
You can easily reach Dujiangyan by train from Xipu Station in Chengdu. The ride takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Daytrip to Leshan: Visit the World’s Largest Buddha
If you have an extra day, visit the Leshan Giant Buddha. This massive statue is carved into a cliff and holds the title of the largest seated Buddha in the world. You can walk down alongside it for an up-close view or take a boat ride to see it from the river.
We put together a separate article with our best tips and personal experience. Check it out to help you make the most of your own visit.
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