Top sights

The No.1 reason people visit Chengdu. Pandas of all ages in a huge bamboo park.

⏰ Best time:

Arrive at opening (~7:30). Pandas eat and play 8–10 am, then sleep.

🎫 Booking:

Real-name ticket (~¥55) with passport: WeChat official account or Trip.com. Sells out on holidays.

💡 Tip:

Take the shuttle bus inside — the park is big. Avoid Chinese public holidays.

Restored Qing-dynasty lanes with tea, snacks and street performers.

⏰ Best time:

Weekday morning or after 8 pm when lights are on.

🎫 Booking:

Free, no booking.

💡 Tip:

Snacks are cheaper one street away. Metro Line 4 Kuanzhai Xiangzi.

Lantern-lit old street next to the Three Kingdoms temple.

⏰ Best time:

Evening for lanterns; shrine during the day.

🎫 Booking:

Street free; Wuhou Shrine ticket ~¥50.

💡 Tip:

Very crowded on weekends.

The heart of slow Chengdu life: tea, mahjong, ear cleaning, matchmaking corner.

⏰ Best time:

Afternoon.

🎫 Booking:

Free park; tea ~¥20–40.

💡 Tip:

Pay at the counter first, then pick any table.

Peaceful working Buddhist monastery with a famous vegetarian restaurant.

⏰ Best time:

Morning.

🎫 Booking:

Free entry.

💡 Tip:

Great for vegetarians. Metro Line 1 Wenshu Monastery.

Fast mask-changing, fire-spitting and puppets in a 90-minute show.

⏰ Best time:

Evening show around 8 pm.

🎫 Booking:

~¥180+, book on Trip.com or at the door.

💡 Tip:

Come 30 min early to watch make-up backstage.

Shopping centre of the city, with the giant climbing panda on IFS.

⏰ Best time:

Evening.

🎫 Booking:

Free.

💡 Tip:

Many Tax Free stores here. Metro Lines 2/3 Chunxi Road.

71-metre Buddha carved into a cliff 1,200 years ago. UNESCO site.

⏰ Best time:

Go early; the queue to the Buddha's feet can take 2 hours.

🎫 Booking:

~¥80, train ~1h from Chengdu East/South.

💡 Tip:

Boat tour (~¥70) gives the full view without queues.

Alien-looking 3,000-year-old bronze masks from a lost kingdom.

⏰ Best time:

Weekdays.

🎫 Booking:

Book online with passport (WeChat / Trip.com). Closed some Mondays.

💡 Tip:

~1h by car or bus. Rent an audio guide.