Chengdu was our first introduction to China. China had been on our travel wish list for years, but between visa requirements and uncertainty about how difficult it would be to travel there, we kept putting it off. When China introduced visa-free entry for our passports, we finally decided it was time.
Arriving in Chengdu, we were nervous. Immigration took around an hour as officials carefully checked our documents and even called our hotels to confirm our bookings. Nobody smiled, nobody explained what was happening, and we spent the entire time wondering whether we would actually be allowed into the country.
As soon as we cleared customs, our assumptions about China started to unravel. A security guard warned us away from an unofficial taxi driver, and while walking towards the train station two young men approached us with a camera. They asked if they could drive us into the city for free in exchange for filming a short interview for their YouTube channel.
My first instinct was that something felt suspicious. Sam’s first instinct was to jump in the car.
Thankfully, it turned out to be completely genuine. Interviewing foreign visitors is a popular type of content on Chinese social media, and what started as a chance encounter became one of our favourite memories from Chengdu. We ended up spending more time with them during our stay and it completely changed our first impression of China.
Looking back, Chengdu was the perfect introduction to the country. Relaxed, welcoming and full of surprises, it quickly became one of our favourite cities in China.
It was also the least touristy place we visited in China. Compared to Shanghai and even Chongqing, we saw very few foreign visitors during our time there. Most of the people we met were Chinese tourists or locals going about their daily lives. For us, that made the experience feel much more authentic and gave us a glimpse of a side of China that many international visitors never see.
Why Visit Chengdu?
Chengdu is one of the homes of the giant panda, and visiting the pandas is undoubtedly the city’s most famous attraction. It’s well worth doing and one of the highlights of any trip to China.
However, the pandas aren’t the main reason we enjoyed Chengdu so much.
What stood out most to us was the atmosphere and the people. Chengdu felt noticeably more relaxed than the other Chinese cities we visited. We were invited by complete strangers to share food and drinks despite us speaking no Chinese and them speaking very little English. Time and time again people went out of their way to help us, making us feel genuinely welcome.
We loved the mix of old and new. In the same day, you can explore modern shopping districts, visit historic temples and spend hours wandering through traditional neighbourhoods. Despite being a city of more than 20 million people, we were always able to find quieter corners away from the crowds.
One thing that made us smile was how much Chengdu embraces its giant pandas. They aren’t just found at the Chengdu Research Base, but throughout the city. We spotted panda statues, murals, souvenirs and artwork around almost every corner, with the giant panda climbing the side of the IFS shopping centre becoming one of the city’s most iconic landmarks.
In the evenings, locals gathered in parks and public squares to dance, play games and socialise. There was a sense of community and everyday life that made Chengdu feel different from what we experienced in Shanghai and Chongqing.
Food is another reason to visit Chengdu. The city is famous for its Sichuan cuisine, from hot pot and mapo tofu to countless street food stalls and local restaurants. Even if you’re not usually a fan of spicy food, trying the local dishes is a big part of the experience.
Chengdu is equally well positioned for exploring the surrounding area. Whether you’re visiting the giant pandas, heading to nearby ancient towns or continuing deeper into Sichuan Province, the city makes a convenient and enjoyable base.
Where to stay in Chengdu
Chengdu offers everything from luxury hotels to budget-friendly guesthouses, but for most visitors, staying around People’s Park, Tianfu Square or Kuanzhai Alley provides the best balance of sightseeing, restaurants and transport. We stayed at The Hidden House (Cheng Du Kuanzhai Alley People’s Park Subway Station Branch), a peaceful boutique hotel tucked away on a quiet street just a 5 to 10-minute walk from People’s Park, Kuanzhai Alley and the nearest metro station. It’s a great hotel to stay in the city, combining a tranquil courtyard setting with an excellent location for exploring the city on foot.
Things to Do in Chengdu
Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
If there’s one attraction you shouldn’t miss in Chengdu, it’s the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Seeing giant pandas was the main reason we travelled to Chengdu, and it completely lived up to our expectations. Alongside the giant pandas, you’ll also have the chance to see the playful red pandas, which were just as entertaining.
Best time to visit: Arrive when the park opens. The pandas are most active during the cooler morning hours before settling down for a long nap. It’s also the least busy time of day. We arrived at opening, and it was still busy, especially by the “famous” panda enclosures and the baby pandas, which we skipped completely due to the queue.
How long to spend there: Allow around 3 to 4 hours to explore the park without rushing.
π Read our complete Chengdu Panda Base Guide for everything you need to know, including tickets, transport, opening times, the best route around the park and our top tips for making the most of your visit.
Relax in People’s Park
If you want to experience everyday life in Chengdu, spend a couple of hours exploring People’s Park. We visited on a Saturday and it was full of local families enjoying the weekend together, giving the park a lively and welcoming atmosphere.
The park itself is beautiful, with tree-lined paths, lakes and traditional gardens, but it was the people that made it memorable. As we wandered around, we came across dance performances, groups exercising, musicians, people playing mahjong and friends relaxing over tea. Everywhere we looked, there was something happening.
We’d recommend allowing 1 to 2 hours to explore the park at a relaxed pace. It’s one of the best places in Chengdu to slow down, people-watch and experience the city’s famously laid-back culture.
Visit Wuhou Shrine
Wuhou Shrine was one of our favourite places in Chengdu. Dedicated to the famous strategist Zhuge Liang and the Three Kingdoms period, it’s one of the city’s most important historical sites, but you don’t need to know much about Chinese history to appreciate it.
The entrance was quite busy when we arrived, but as we wandered further into the complex, the crowds quickly disappeared. We found ourselves strolling through peaceful courtyards, beautiful gardens and pathways lined with towering cypress trees. The combination of traditional architecture, colourful red buildings and quiet surroundings made it one of the most relaxing places we visited in Chengdu.
We’d recommend allowing 2 hours to explore the shrine and its gardens. Whether you’re interested in history or simply looking for a beautiful place to escape the city’s busy streets, Wuhou Shrine is well worth adding to your Chengdu itinerary.
Explore Chunxi Road – shopping
For a completely different side of Chengdu, head to Chunxi Road. This is the city’s modern shopping district, filled with huge shopping malls, international brands, restaurants and towering skyscrapers. It’s a great contrast to the historic temples and traditional parks found elsewhere in the city.
Even if shopping isn’t your thing, Chunxi Road is worth visiting for the atmosphere alone. The streets are busy from morning until late at night, with street performers, colourful billboards and plenty of places to stop for food or a coffee.
One of the biggest highlights is the IFS shopping centre, where you’ll find the city’s famous giant panda climbing the side of the building. It’s become one of Chengdu’s most recognisable landmarks and is a popular photo spot. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also visit the rooftop terrace behind the panda for a different perspective.
Wander Around the Guihua Lane Neighbourhood (ζ‘θ±ε··)
Just around the corner from where we stayed, the streets surrounding Guihua Lane became one of our favourite areas to explore in Chengdu. While it isn’t home to any major tourist attractions, it’s the perfect place to wander and experience a quieter, more local side of the city.
We loved walking through the surrounding streets, discovering independent cafΓ©s, local restaurants and small shops tucked away between the tree-lined avenues. Compared to the busy shopping district around Chunxi Road, this neighbourhood felt much more relaxed and gave us a glimpse into everyday life in Chengdu.
If you have a couple of spare hours, we’d recommend putting away the map and simply exploring the area at your own pace. Some of our favourite moments in Chengdu came from wandering these streets without any particular destination in mind.
Where to eat in Chengdu
Chengdu is the birthplace of Sichuan cuisine, and after our visit it’s become one of our favourite cuisines in the world. The bold flavours, fragrant spices and famous numbing Sichuan pepper make every meal an experience. While there are countless dishes to try, some of the local specialities we think you shouldn’t miss include Sichuan Hot Pot, Dan Dan Noodles, Mapo Tofu, Kung Pao Chicken, and street snacks such as Tang You Guo Zi, Bo Bo Ji, Bing Fen and Dan Hong Gao. Even if you’re not usually a fan of spicy food, trying the local cuisine is an essential part of visiting Chengdu.
Be prepared for the spice! Sichuan pepper creates a unique tingling, numbing sensation that’s just as memorable as the heat.
Explore Wangping Street
One of our favourite food experiences in Chengdu was spending an evening exploring Wangping Street, one of the city’s best-known snack streets. Rather than wandering on our own, we had a local show us around, introducing us to dishes we almost certainly wouldn’t have ordered ourselves.
We sampled everything from freshly fried Tang You Guo Zi (sweet fried dough balls) and Dan Hong Gao (egg cakes) to Bing Fen (a refreshing herbal jelly dessert with brown sugar), cold noodles and cold jelly, traditional tea drinks, and sticky rice desserts served with rice wine and brown sugar. One of our stops was Simei Benben Chicken, where we tried Bo Bo Ji, a Chengdu speciality of cold skewers served in a spicy, aromatic broth. It wasn’t our favourite bite of the evening, but that’s part of travelling. You won’t love every local dish, and trying Chengdu’s famous specialities was an experience we wouldn’t have wanted to miss. Every stop offered something different, giving us a fantastic introduction to the flavours that make Chengdu one of China’s great food cities.
Explore the Yulin Neighbourhood
If you’re looking to venture beyond the main tourist sights, head to Yulin. This lively neighbourhood is one of Chengdu’s best food districts, packed with traditional Sichuan restaurants, hot pot, barbecue, cafΓ©s and late-night eateries. It was the same guy who gave us a lift from the airport when we arrived who later took us here, introducing us to one of his favourite neighbourhoods. We ended up having one of our favourite meals in all of China at a tiny dumpling restaurant, but despite our best efforts, we’ve never managed to find its name again. Sometimes the places without a name on your map become the ones you remember most.
How Many Days Do You Need in Chengdu?
We spent 3 nights in Chengdu, which gave us enough time to visit the city’s highlights, including the Giant Panda Base, People’s Park, Wuhou Shrine and several of Chengdu’s fantastic food districts. We could easily have stayed longer. Chengdu has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, incredible food and plenty of attractions both in the city and nearby, making it somewhere that’s easy to slow down and enjoy.
2 Days
If you’re short on time, two days is enough to see the Giant Panda Base and explore Chengdu’s historic centre, including People’s Park, Kuanzhai Alley and a few of the city’s famous food streets.
3 Days
We think 3 days is the sweet spot for most visitors. It gives you enough time to see the main attractions, enjoy Chengdu’s incredible food scene, and experience the city’s relaxed atmosphere without feeling like you’re constantly on the move.
4+ Days
If you have four days or more, there’s plenty to keep you busy. We would have loved to spend a day exploring Dujiangyan, visit the Dujiangyan Panda Base, and check out Dongjiao Memory, Chengdu’s creative arts and cultural district. With extra time, Chengdu also makes an excellent base for exploring more of Sichuan Province, whether you’re taking day trips or heading further afield to places like Mount Qingcheng, Leshan or Jiuzhaigou.
Practical Tips for Visiting Chengdu
Getting Around Chengdu
Getting around Chengdu is affordable and relatively straightforward. We mostly walked, caught local buses and used Didi, but the city also has a metro system.
Metro
Chengdu has an extensive metro network that connects most of the city’s major attractions. We didn’t end up needing it during our stay, but it’s widely regarded as one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get around the city, especially for longer distances.
Bus
We used the local buses several times during our stay. They took a little more planning than using Didi, but were inexpensive and a good way to get around. We set up a Chengdu Transport Card in Alipay, which allowed us to simply scan our phone on the bus.
Didi
For longer journeys or when we wanted the easiest option, we used Didi, China’s equivalent of Uber. It was affordable, reliable and simple to book through the Alipay or WeChat app.
Walking
Many of Chengdu’s attractions are close together, making the city enjoyable to explore on foot. We especially enjoyed wandering around People’s Park, Kuanzhai Alley, Wangping Street and the quieter streets around our hotel.
Best Time to Visit Chengdu
We visited Chengdu in September and found it hot and humid, although it certainly didn’t stop us from enjoying the city. If you’re planning to spend a lot of time exploring on foot, spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November)generally offer the most comfortable temperatures. That said, Chengdu is a year-round destination, with each season offering a different experience.
Internet, Payments and Apps
China is largely cashless, and Alipay and WeChat quickly became one of the most useful apps on our trip. Along with paying in shops and restaurants, you can also set up a local transport card for buses and the metro, allowing you to simply scan your phone when travelling instead of buying individual tickets. This worked seamlessly across several cities we visited in China.
Our hotel offered free Wi-Fi, but without a VPN we still couldn’t access many of the websites and apps we normally use. We used an eSIM with built-in access to blocked services, which meant we could browse as normal throughout our trip.
We also recommend downloading Didi for taxis and Google Translate (or your preferred translation app) before you arrive. For a full breakdown of the apps we found most useful, including maps, payments, transport and VPNs, read our complete guide to the best apps for travelling in China.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Chengdu
Chengdu was our first stop in China, and we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the country. We arrived expectingΒ giant pandas, spicy food and a culture very different from our own, but what stayed with us most was the warmth of the people. Everywhere we went, people were welcoming, curious and happy to help, making us feel at home from the very beginning.
Of the three cities we visited in China, Chengdu ended up being our favourite. We loved its relaxed atmosphere, incredible Sichuan cuisine and the way modern city life blends seamlessly with peaceful parks, historic temples and traditional neighbourhoods. Despite being one of China’s largest cities, it never felt overwhelming.
We only spent three nights here, but left wishing we’d planned a longer stay. Next time, we’ll definitely use Chengdu as a base to explore more of Sichuan Province, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend adding it to any China itinerary.
