Capital of Sichuan in south-west China and “City of the Giant Panda”, home to the panda breeding base; the birthplace of numbing-spicy Sichuan cooking and hotpot, and famous for its relaxed teahouse culture.
Mild weather for the panda base and the old lanes. source
September–November
The heat fades — perfect hotpot and night-market weather. source
Weather: March–May and September–November are best; June–August is hot, humid and rainy, and winter is grey and chilly. source
Times to avoid: Pandas are most active in the morning, so arrive at opening; book tickets online in advance (except visitors 60+). source
Weather varies from year to year; check the forecast before you go.
Don't miss in Chengdu
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding See giant and red pandas in leafy grounds; online booking required. source
Sichuan hotpot Cook beef, tripe and more in a numbing-spicy broth; first-timers should try the half-and-half “yuan-yang” pot. source
Chengdu snacks Dandan noodles, Zhong dumplings and chuan chuan skewers in lanes and night markets. source
Where to stay in Chengdu
Chunxi Road / Taikoo Li
The central shopping and dining district on Metro Lines 2 and 3.
Around Kuanzhai Xiangzi
Restored old lanes with teahouses and Sichuan snacks.
What to eat in Chengdu
Sichuan Hotpot — Meats and vegetables cooked in a numbing-spicy broth
Dandan Noodles — Soupless noodles tossed in spicy sauce with fried minced pork
Zhong Dumplings — Boiled dumplings in a sweet-spicy chilli-oil sauce
Chengdu tips and things to watch out for
Chengdu travel tips
The metro starts at ¥2 and rises with distance; a ¥20 day ticket gives unlimited rides. From Tianfu International Airport, Line 18 express reaches South Railway Station in about 37 minutes. source
Good to know in China
Payment runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay; link a foreign card before you fly and carry some cash too. source
Some overseas services, including Google services, may be unavailable in mainland China; prepare maps and communication options in advance. source
Watch out for in China
Security screening may take place at metro stations and some attractions; follow instructions and allow extra time. source
Friendly strangers near sights inviting you to a tea house or art show may be running a rip-off. source
General advice for the whole country. Check official government travel advice for entry rules and safety before you go.
Restaurant prices for Chengdu are still being collected. The estimate also uses some official meal and transit prices checked in other cities in China.
Chengdu attraction & theme park tickets
Official sellers’ prices for one adult admission. Select attractions in the calculator to add them to your budget.
Chengdu Panda Base (Adult): CN¥55.00 · child CN¥0.00