Chengdu enjoys the reputation of “land of abundance” from ancient times. As a historical and cultural city in China, Chengdu attracts numerous of tourists in China and also around the world to visit. Here you can relax yourself since Chengdu is also known as the city of leisure, meanwhile, you can enjoy the splendid landscape as there are so many places worth visiting. How to plan a trip to Chengdu? Read on to get some inspirations for your upcoming trip.
Reading Guideline:
The best time to visit Chengdu is from March to June and from September to November. (Better not to choose the first week of May and October since it will be crowded.)
Read more about the Best Time to Visit Chengdu.
There are a lot of famous attractions in Chengdu, historical or modern, scenic or cultural. Find some ideal attractions you want to go to start your Chengdu trip. Here are some popular places you may like.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a non-profit research institute aims to protect giant pandas and other rear endangered wild animals. Here you can get close to giant panda and learn more about them.
You can go to Bifengxia Panda Base and Dujiangyan Panda Base as well. And there is giant panda volunteer program in Dujiangyan Panda Base if you want to have a closer interact with giant pandas.
Know more about Panda Volunteer Program in Dujiangyan Base.
Mt. Emei, located 150km away from Chengdu, is one of the famous Buddhism mountains in China. Here you can explore Buddhist culture while enjoy the beautiful scenery on Mt. Emei.
Leshan Giant Buddha is the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world with the height of 71 meters, which was listed on the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1996.
Sanxingdui Ruin Site is the largest and oldest ruins of the ancient Shu culture with a history of more than 4000 years. Sanxingdui Museum exhibits thousands of precious cultural relics unearthed from Sanxingdui Ruin Site, such as bronzes, jade, gold wares and so on.
Xiling Snow Mountain is considered to be the largest snow mountain ski resort in China with the best facilities. Except for skiing, you can also try varieties of winter sports here.
Know more attractions in Chengdu.
Choose a shopping place to relax yourself or buy some souvenirs for your friends will be a good choice for during your Chengdu tour. There are many shopping streets in Chengdu, you may choose the one you are fond of.
Chunxi Road, the fashion center of Chengdu; Jinli Street, a folk custom street in Chengdu where you can also find some local snacks here; Kuan Zhai Alley, combination of ancient culture and modern lifestyle.
More about shopping in Chengdu.
If you are interested in the local culture in Chengdu, you should not miss the Sichuan Opera which has a long history. It will be a fantastic experience of your trip in Chengdu.
Chengdu has a long history of tea-drinking culture, you could see tea houses at every corner. Find a comfortable tea house to have a rest and explore the local tea culture in Chengdu. By the way, you can also watch Sichuan Opera in some tea houses.
More activities in Chengdu you could choose.
Sichuan Cuisine must be on your list while planning your Chengdu trip. Actually, Sichuan Cuisine is really your best choice for people who are fond of spicy food, at the same time, a challenge for those who can’t eat spicy stuff. There are so many delicious food you could try in Chengdu, such as hot pot, Mapo Toufu, Dan Dan Noodles and kinds of famous snacks. You could always find what you like to eat in chengdu.
Read more about food in Chengdu.
Considering which area to stay in Chengdu? Well, there are too many hotels in Chengdu so that it’s really hard to choose an ideal one. You may book your hotel by choosing a district you prefer.
Know some recommended hotels, please read Where to Stay in Chengdu.
For travelers who hold a visa to the third country with a connecting airplane tickets can apply for a 144-hour visa-free stay in Chengdu. Just get a 144-hour panda tour in Chengdu during your international trip.
►Conditions for Chengdu 144-hour visa free transit
►How to apply Chengdu 144-hour visa free transit
Recommended Chengdu Tour:
Tailor-made your personal Chengdu Tour: Free Online Tailor-made Tour
International flights and domestic flights are both convenient in Chengdu since Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is one of the four largest airports in China, which is connected to most of capital cities of Asia countries and also other big cities like London, Paris, Vancouver, San Francisco and so on.
As the largest train station in Southwest China, traveling to Chengdu by train is considered to be a good choice. There are trains to Chengdu from most of big cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Kunming and 20 other main cities.
Read more about transportation in Chengdu.
Situated in the Sichuan Basin, Chengdu has a subtropical monsoon climate. The weather in Chengdu is warm and wet for the whole year with an average annual temperature of 16 Degree Celsius.
The hottest season in Chengdu is from July to August, and it’s also the rainy season. The coldest season is January. It’s misty all year in Chengdu.
Learn more about climate and weather in Chengdu.
Chinese | Pinyin | English |
你好 | Nǐhǎo | Hello/Hi |
再见 | Zàijiàn | Bye/See you |
谢谢 | Xièxie | Thank you. |
不客气 | Búkèqi | You’re welcome. |
对不起 | Duìbùqǐ | Sorry |
请问卫生间在哪里? |
Qǐngwènwèishēngjiānzàinǎlǐ? | Excuse me, where is the restroom? |
多少钱? | Duōshǎoqián? | How much? |
Learn more about Survival Chinese Phrases.
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Things to Do at Night in Chengdu
The Best Hot Pot Restaurants in Chengdu