Hello Chengdu

🗺️ Itineraries

🎒 First time in China? Read this first

  • 🛂Carry your passport all day. Real-name tickets (pandas, museums, trains) and hotel check-in all need it.
  • 📱Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card before you land, and get an eSIM or SIM. Cash is accepted less and less.
  • 🗺️Google Maps is unreliable in China. Use Amap (Gaode) or Apple Maps, and a taxi app like DiDi. Show-me cards help when the driver does not speak English.
  • 🎟️Book popular places ahead (pandas up to ~14 days before, Sanxingdui, high-speed trains). Many museums close on Mondays — check first.
  • 😴Keep day 1 light. Jet lag plus a long queue is a bad start; a tea house and a walk is enough.
  • 🌤️Best months: March–May and September–November. Summer is hot and humid; winter is damp, grey and cold indoors. 1–7 Oct and Spring Festival are very crowded.
  • 🚇The metro is the easiest way around the centre: scan a QR ride code in Alipay/WeChat, expect a bag check at the gate.

📅 By number of days

Pick this if you only know how long you have.

⚡ 1 day — the classics✌️ 2 days — pandas + old Chengdu🐼 3 days — city + Leshan Buddha🧭 3 days — a walkable route (from local posts)🖐️ 4–5 days — city + two day trips🗓️ 7 days — add Emei and Sanxingdui

⚡ 1 day — the classics

👤 Short stopover, first-timers

  1. 07:30
    Panda Base at opening — pandas are active until ~10:00.
    🐼 Giant Panda Breeding Base →
  2. 12:00
    Lunch: dandan noodles, zhong dumplings, mapo tofu.
  3. 14:00
    Tea in People's Park, watch mahjong, try ear cleaning.
    🍵 People's Park & Heming Teahouse →
  4. 16:30
    Walk Kuanzhai Alley.
    🏮 Kuanzhai Alley (Wide & Narrow Alleys) →
  5. 19:00
    Hotpot dinner (order a yuanyang half-mild pot).
  6. 20:00
    Sichuan Opera face-changing show.
    🎭 Sichuan Opera Face-Changing →
🎟️ Book ahead: Panda Base tickets with passport (WeChat / Trip.com).
⏭️ Can skip: Opera if you are tired — hotpot alone is enough for a night.

✌️ 2 days — pandas + old Chengdu

👤 Weekend trips, first-timers

  1. D1 AM
    Panda Base from opening to ~11:00 (shuttle bus inside).
    🐼 Giant Panda Breeding Base →
  2. D1 PM
    Wenshu Monastery and its vegetarian lunch/teahouse, then People's Park tea.
    🛕 Wenshu Monastery →
  3. D1 night
    Kuanzhai Alley when the lights come on, hotpot after.
    🏮 Kuanzhai Alley (Wide & Narrow Alleys) →
  4. D2 AM
    Wuhou Shrine (Three Kingdoms), then Jinli street for snacks.
    🏯 Jinli Ancient Street & Wuhou Shrine →
  5. D2 PM
    Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li: shops, the climbing panda, tax-refund stores.
    🛍️ Chunxi Road & Taikoo Li →
  6. D2 night
    Sichuan Opera, or a night walk along the river at Jiuyanqiao.
    🎭 Sichuan Opera Face-Changing →
🎟️ Book ahead: Panda Base in advance; opera tickets can be bought on the day.
💡 Tip: Fly out? Allow 2 hours for the metro/airport express and security.

🐼 3 days — city + Leshan Buddha

👤 Most visitors

  1. D1
    Panda Base → Wenshu Monastery vegetarian lunch → People's Park tea → Kuanzhai Alley.
    🐼 Giant Panda Breeding Base →
  2. D2
    Train to Leshan (~1h). Giant Buddha early, boat view, try Leshan snacks (tofu pudding, bobo chicken). Back for dinner.
    🗿 Leshan Giant Buddha (day trip) →
  3. D3
    Wuhou Shrine & Jinli → Chunxi Road / Taikoo Li shopping (tax refund) → evening opera or night market.
    🏯 Jinli Ancient Street & Wuhou Shrine →
🎟️ Book ahead: Panda Base ticket; high-speed train to Leshan (buy on Trip.com / 12306 with passport).
⏭️ Can skip: If time is short, swap Leshan for Dujiangyan (closer, see the day-trip route).
💡 Tip: A tourist-friendly pace: one big sight per day, food and tea in between.

🧭 3 days — a walkable route (from local posts)

👤 First-timers who want a compact, low-backtracking order

  1. D1
    Chunxi Road → IFS → Taikoo Li → Daci Temple → Wangping Street → Anshun Bridge (evening river view).
    🛍️ Chunxi Road & Taikoo Li →
  2. D2
    Panda Base → Dongjiao Memory (old factory arts park) → Wenshu Monastery → Kuanzhai Alley → Kuixinglou Street → Yulin Road (evening).
    🐼 Giant Panda Breeding Base →
  3. D3
    Chengdu Museum → People's Park → Kuanzhai / Kuixinglou → Du Fu Thatched Cottage → Huanhuaxi Park.
⏭️ Can skip: Panda Valley (Dujiangyan) can be more relaxed than the Panda Base if you do not care about cubs — check which suits you.
💡 Tip: Local advice from Xiaohongshu notes: don't try to fit everything in; Kuanzhai is good for a walk but not for main meals — eat one street away. Dujiangyan, Qingcheng and Sanxingdui are easier by chartered car than by public transport.

🖐️ 4–5 days — city + two day trips

👤 Want the full classic circuit

  1. D1
    Arrive, rest, ride-code and payment set-up. Evening walk in Kuanzhai or Chunxi, light dinner.
  2. D2
    Panda Base in the morning, afternoon at People's Park tea house, hotpot at night.
    🐼 Giant Panda Breeding Base →
  3. D3
    Leshan Giant Buddha day trip (high-speed train ~1h).
    🗿 Leshan Giant Buddha (day trip) →
  4. D4
    Dujiangyan irrigation system + Mount Qingcheng (front mountain), about 40–50 min by high-speed train from the city.
  5. D5
    Wuhou Shrine and Jinli, shopping and tax refund, then airport.
    🏯 Jinli Ancient Street & Wuhou Shrine →
🎟️ Book ahead: Leshan and Dujiangyan trains; Qingcheng tickets via the official channels.
⏭️ Can skip: Drop one day trip if you are travelling with kids or older people.

🗓️ 7 days — add Emei and Sanxingdui

👤 Slow travellers, repeat visitors

  1. D1–2
    Chengdu classics: Panda Base, People's Park, Kuanzhai, Wuhou Shrine/Jinli.
  2. D3
    Sanxingdui Museum (Deyang, ~1h) — book ahead.
    👺 Sanxingdui Museum (day trip) →
  3. D4
    Leshan Giant Buddha, overnight near Mount Emei.
    🗿 Leshan Giant Buddha (day trip) →
  4. D5
    Mount Emei (cable car + hiking, monkeys on the trail — do not feed them), return to Chengdu in the evening.
  5. D6
    Dujiangyan + Mount Qingcheng.
  6. D7
    A slow day: tea, shopping, a last hotpot, tax refund.
🎟️ Book ahead: Emei and Sanxingdui need advance booking in busy seasons.
💡 Tip: Pack for mountain weather: it can be 10°C colder and wet on Emei.

🎯 By interest

Pandas, food, history, family or slow life.

🐼 Panda lovers (2 days)🍲 Foodie weekend🏛️ History & culture (2–3 days)👨‍👩‍👧 With kids (3 days)🍵 A slow local day (Chinamaxxing)🌳 A park-city day🌃 Chengdu at night🛂 5 days on 240-hour transit

🐼 Panda lovers (2 days)

👤 Want to see pandas up close

  1. D1 AM
    Chengdu Panda Base at opening: cubs and adults, panda kitchen, shuttle bus inside.
    🐼 Giant Panda Breeding Base →
  2. D1 PM
    Taikoo Li for the giant climbing panda, panda shops and panda-themed café.
    🛍️ Chunxi Road & Taikoo Li →
  3. D2
    Optional: another panda site outside the city (Dujiangyan Panda Valley or Bifengxia in Ya'an) — check the latest status and tickets.
🎟️ Book ahead: Panda Base: real-name ticket, book as early as the platform allows.
💡 Tip: Arrive early: pandas sleep later in the morning. Respect the no-flash, no-shouting rule.

🍲 Foodie weekend

👤 Eating is the plan

  1. Breakfast
    Wet-market or street breakfast: sweet-water noodles, steamed buns, egg pancake.
  2. Lunch
    Old brands: Long Chaoshou (wontons), Zhong dumplings, Chen Mapo Tofu.
  3. Afternoon
    Tea and snacks: People's Park, then a stroll through Jinli or Kuanzhai street snacks.
    🍵 People's Park & Heming Teahouse →
  4. Dinner
    Hotpot at a well-known chain (see the Food page) — ask for a half-mild pot.
  5. Night
    Yulin or Jiuyanqiao: skewers (chuanchuan), beer, bars.
💡 Tip: Order small portions so you can try more. See the Food page for ordering phrases.

🏛️ History & culture (2–3 days)

👤 Museums, temples, ancient sites

  1. D1
    Wuhou Shrine (Three Kingdoms) → Jinli street → Chengdu Museum or a poet's cottage (Du Fu Thatched Cottage).
    🏯 Jinli Ancient Street & Wuhou Shrine →
  2. D2
    Sanxingdui Museum (3,000-year-old bronze masks). Book ahead, allow half a day to a full day.
    👺 Sanxingdui Museum (day trip) →
  3. D3
    Wenshu Monastery and Qingyang Palace (Taoist temple); end with a teahouse.
    🛕 Wenshu Monastery →
🎟️ Book ahead: Check Monday closures; Sanxingdui needs a real-name booking.
💡 Tip: Audio guides (English) help a lot at Sanxingdui.

👨‍👩‍👧 With kids (3 days)

👤 Families with children

  1. D1
    Panda Base in the morning (shuttle bus, stroller friendly), nap, then an easy park or playground.
    🐼 Giant Panda Breeding Base →
  2. D2
    Kuanzhai Alley for snacks and street shows, light dinner (mild noodles, dumplings).
    🏮 Kuanzhai Alley (Wide & Narrow Alleys) →
  3. D3
    Short Sichuan Opera, or a quiet teahouse hour; Chengdu Museum if it rains.
    🎭 Sichuan Opera Face-Changing →
💡 Tip: Use the card 'No spicy' (不要辣) for kids. Keep snacks and water; queues can be long.

🍵 A slow local day (Chinamaxxing)

👤 Repeat visitors, content creators

  1. 08:00
    Breakfast at a wet market: tian shui mian (sweet water noodles), steamed buns.
  2. 10:00
    Wenshu Monastery, then the teahouse inside.
    🛕 Wenshu Monastery →
  3. 14:00
    Learn mahjong with locals, ear cleaning, matchmaking corner.
    🍵 People's Park & Heming Teahouse →
  4. 19:00
    Yulin neighbourhood: skewers, beer, live music; then square dancing in a park.

🌳 A park-city day

👤 Easy pace, photos, local snacks

  1. AM
    People's Park: tea, mahjong, ear cleaning.
    🍵 People's Park & Heming Teahouse →
  2. PM
    Du Fu Thatched Cottage and Huanhuaxi Park (a riverside park next to it); walk the paths and have a snack.
  3. Evening
    Dinner in Yulin, then a quiet bar or live music.

🌃 Chengdu at night

👤 Night owls, couples

  1. 18:30
    Kuanzhai Alley when the lanterns light up.
    🏮 Kuanzhai Alley (Wide & Narrow Alleys) →
  2. 20:00
    Sichuan Opera face-changing show.
    🎭 Sichuan Opera Face-Changing →
  3. 22:00
    Jiuyanqiao bar street and river view; late snacks and skewers in Yulin.
💡 Tip: Use DiDi to go home late; metro stops around 23:00 — check the last train.

🛂 5 days on 240-hour transit

👤 Transit travellers (stays inside the permitted Sichuan area)

  1. D1
    Arrive, get cash, set up the metro code, rest. Evening: Jiuyanqiao bar street by the river.
  2. D2
    Panda Base + People's Park + hotpot.
    🐼 Giant Panda Breeding Base →
  3. D3
    Sanxingdui Museum (Deyang, ~1h) — book ahead.
    👺 Sanxingdui Museum (day trip) →
  4. D4
    Leshan Giant Buddha; optional night in Emeishan (Leshan city area).
    🗿 Leshan Giant Buddha (day trip) →
  5. D5
    Dujiangyan & Mount Qingcheng, then airport. Don't forget the tax refund counter!
💡 Tip: Confirm the current transit rules with your airline and the official sites before you rely on this route.

🚆 Day trips & nearby

Leave the city for a day or more.

🗿 Leshan Giant Buddha (1 day)💧 Dujiangyan + Mount Qingcheng (1 day)⛰️ Mount Emei (1–2 days)👺 Sanxingdui (1 day)🏞️ Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong (3–4 days)🏔️ Mount Siguniang (2 days)

🗿 Leshan Giant Buddha (1 day)

👤 Everyone's first day trip

  1. 07:30
    High-speed train from Chengdu to Leshan (~1h), then bus/taxi to the scenic area.
  2. 09:00
    Giant Buddha: go early; the queue to the feet can be long. Boat tour gives the full view without queues.
    🗿 Leshan Giant Buddha (day trip) →
  3. 13:00
    Lunch: Leshan snacks (bobo chicken, tofu pudding, sweet-skin duck).
  4. 16:00
    Train back to Chengdu.
🎟️ Book ahead: Train + scenic ticket online with passport; avoid public holidays.

💧 Dujiangyan + Mount Qingcheng (1 day)

👤 Easy, close to the city; history + nature

  1. 08:30
    High-speed train to Dujiangyan (~40–50 min from the city).
  2. 09:30
    Dujiangyan irrigation system (UNESCO): ancient dam, bridges, walkways.
  3. 13:30
    Mount Qingcheng (front mountain): Taoist temples, forest walks; use the cable car to save time.
  4. 17:00
    Return to Chengdu.
🎟️ Book ahead: Book tickets through official channels; check the latest opening status.

⛰️ Mount Emei (1–2 days)

👤 Hikers, temple fans

  1. D1
    Train to Emeishan, base-area temples (Baoguo Temple) and the ecology monkey area — do not feed the monkeys.
  2. D2
    Cable car + hike to the Golden Summit for sunrise or clouds, return to Chengdu by evening.
🎟️ Book ahead: Book tickets, shuttle and the cable car ahead in holidays.
💡 Tip: Weather changes fast; bring a rain jacket and layers.

👺 Sanxingdui (1 day)

👤 History & archaeology fans

  1. 08:30
    High-speed train to Guanghan/Deyang or car/bus (~1h), then taxi to the museum.
  2. 10:00
    Sanxingdui Museum: bronze masks, the standing figure, new exhibition halls. Rent the audio guide.
    👺 Sanxingdui Museum (day trip) →
  3. 16:00
    Return to Chengdu; optionally add Jinsha Site Museum in the city another day.
🎟️ Book ahead: Real-name booking is needed; some Mondays are closed.

🏞️ Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong (3–4 days)

👤 Nature lovers with more time

  1. D1
    Fly or coach from Chengdu to the Jiuzhai/Huanglong area (flight is much faster; long road otherwise). Rest.
  2. D2
    Jiuzhaigou Valley: turquoise lakes, waterfalls, park shuttle buses.
  3. D3
    Huanglong (higher altitude, walk slowly) and return.
🎟️ Book ahead: Tickets are real-name and limited; check daily caps and road/air conditions before booking.
💡 Tip: Altitude can cause headaches; carry water and rest. Check the latest scenic-area status.

🏔️ Mount Siguniang (2 days)

👤 Mountain views, light hiking

  1. D1
    Coach from Chengdu to Rilong town (several hours), settle in, short walk.
  2. D2
    Shuangqiao Valley or Changping Valley walk; return to Chengdu in the evening or next day.
💡 Tip: High altitude: do not rush on arrival. Check the road and weather status before going.

How we chose these routes

Routes are summarised from classic itineraries on Trip.com, Xiaohongshu and mainstream travel guides, then rewritten. Tickets, hours and train times change — confirm on the official channels before you go.

Read more (third-party, not official)

Trip.com — Chengdu travel guide ↗Wander in China — Chengdu itineraries ↗China Highlights — 3-day Chengdu tour ↗

➡️ What to do next

🐼Top sightsMaps, tickets, show-to-driver🚇Getting aroundMetro, taxi, bike🧮Trip budgetEstimate your daily cost🏨Hotel & registration24-hour registration rule📍My tripHotel card & checklist

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