Chengdu 成都
Chengdu is a relaxed, green megacity known for giant pandas, teahouses and fiery Sichuan food. Use the efficient metro to link central sights, then slow down in parks and backstreet restaurants.
Sights in Chengdu
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding 成都大熊猫繁育研究基地
Wuhou Shrine 成都武侯祠
Jinli Ancient Street 锦里古街
Du Fu Thatched Cottage 杜甫草堂
Kuanzhai Alley 宽窄巷子
People's Park 人民公园
Wenshu Monastery 文殊院
Qingyang Palace 青羊宫
Sichuan Museum 四川博物院
Chengdu Museum 成都博物馆
Jinsha Site Museum 金沙遗址博物馆
Sanxingdui Museum 三星堆博物馆
Mount Qingcheng 青城山
Dujiangyan Irrigation System 都江堰景区
Leshan Giant Buddha 乐山大佛
Chunxi Road 春熙路
Taikoo Li Chengdu 成都远洋太古里
IFS Chengdu 成都IFS
Jiuyan Bridge 九眼桥
Anshun Bridge 安顺廊桥
Dongjiao Memory 东郊记忆
Wangjiang Tower Park 望江楼公园
Shufeng Yayun Sichuan Opera 蜀风雅韵
Prices are approximate and hours change. Sights without a page haven't been checked yet.
Where to stay
Chunxi Road–Taikoo Li 春熙路
Central, walkable shopping and dining district with easy metro access and many hotels.
Good for: First-timers, shoppers, nightlife
Tianfu Square–People's Park 天府广场
Historic central area near museums, teahouses and a major metro interchange, good for sightseeing on foot.
Good for: Culture, families, transit
Yulin 玉林
Leafy neighborhood known for local restaurants, bars and a more everyday Chengdu vibe.
Good for: Foodies, nightlife, longer stays
Getting there
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport 成都天府国际机场
Metro Line 18 to Chengdu South Railway Station/central transfers, ~45–60 min, ~8–10 CNY; taxi ~150–200 CNY, 50–70 min.
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport 成都双流国际机场
Metro Line 10 to Taipingyuan then transfer, ~35–45 min, ~5–6 CNY; taxi ~50–80 CNY, 25–40 min.
Chengdu East Railway Station 成都东站
Main high-speed hub for Chongqing, Xi'an, Kunming and Shanghai; metro lines 2 and 7; allow extra time for security.
Chengdu South Railway Station 成都南站
Smaller station on metro lines 1, 7 and 18; useful for some high-speed trains and the Line 18 airport link.
Chengdu West Railway Station 成都西站
Secondary station in the west of the city on metro line 4; check your ticket as not all trains use it.
Getting around
Metro
Most city trips, stations and airport links
English signage and announcements; lines 1/2/3/4 cover main sights. Avoid 08:00–09:00 and 17:30–19:00.
Taxi/Didi
Late nights, hotpot runs, luggage-heavy airport trips
Have the destination in Chinese characters; Didi works in English but drivers may call in Chinese.
Bike-share
Short hops in flat central areas and along river paths
Use HelloBike/Meituan via Alipay and park in marked areas; avoid busy arterials.
Bus
Specific routes not covered by metro
Less English signage; use a map app and have the stop name in Chinese.
Good to know
- Alipay accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and Diners cards. Payments under ¥200 carry no Alipay service fee; payments of ¥200 or more carry a 3% fee. Verify your passport in the app to raise limits. Source
- A travel eSIM or home SIM on roaming reaches Google, WhatsApp and Instagram without a VPN; a Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi does not. Keep your home SIM active for SMS codes. Source
- Chengdu has two airports, TFU and CTU; confirm which one your flight uses and allow 1.5–2 hours to transfer between them.
- For the Panda Base, arrive at opening around 7:30–8:00 and buy tickets online with your passport; pandas are most active before feeding time.
- Popular hotpot and chuanchuan places issue queue tickets; eat lunch before 11:30 or dinner before 17:30 to avoid long waits.
- Ask for 微辣 (wēi là, mild) or 清汤 (qīng tāng, clear broth) if you need less heat, but confirm because some broths are pre-spiced.
- Chengdu metro usually stops around 22:30–23:00; for late hotpot nights, check the last train or plan a Didi back.
What to eat in Chengdu
麻婆豆腐
má pó dòu fu
Mapo tofu · Silken tofu in numbing chili-bean sauce; usually contains minced beef or pork.
回锅肉
huí guō ròu
Twice-cooked pork · Pork belly stir-fried with leek and chili bean paste; a Sichuan home-style classic.
宫保鸡丁
gōng bǎo jī dīng
Kung Pao chicken · Diced chicken, peanuts and dried chilies in a sweet-sour sauce.
担担面
dàn dàn miàn
Dan dan noodles · Dry-tossed noodles with minced pork, sesame paste and chili oil.
夫妻肺片
fū qī fèi piàn
Couple's Delight · Cold beef offal slices in chili oil and Sichuan pepper; despite the name, no lung.
火锅
huǒ guō
Sichuan hotpot · Communal hotpot; broth is often beef tallow, so ask for 清汤 or 素汤 if vegetarian.
甜水面
tián shuǐ miàn
Sweet water noodles · Thick chewy noodles with sweet soy, garlic and chili oil; usually meat-free.
冰粉
bīng fěn
Ice jelly · Chilled jelly dessert with brown sugar, peanuts and fruit; a cooling street snack.
Weather by season
| Months | Day | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar-May | 21 °C | 12 °C | Mild, often cloudy and drizzly; spring flowers |
| Jun-Aug | 30 °C | 22 °C | Hot and humid with frequent rain; peak summer |
| Sep-Nov | 21 °C | 13 °C | Comfortable autumn, cool nights, some rain |
| Dec-Feb | 10 °C | 4 °C | Cold, damp and overcast; rare snow |
Typical averages, not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Chengdu?
Mar–Apr and Sep–Oct
Which sights in Chengdu should I book in advance?
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Wuhou Shrine, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Kuanzhai Alley, Sichuan Museum, Chengdu Museum, Jinsha Site Museum, Sanxingdui Museum, Mount Qingcheng, Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Leshan Giant Buddha, Wangjiang Tower Park, Shufeng Yayun Sichuan Opera.
Which airports serve Chengdu?
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU); Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU).
Get a guide planned around you in Chengdu.
Build my guide