Best Things to Do in Chengdu, China

Chengdu has emerged as one of China’s most visited cities, driven by the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (the world’s most accessible place to see giant pandas in a relatively naturalistic setting), an extraordinary food culture (Sichuan cuisine is one of China’s eight great culinary traditions, defined by its characteristic mala — numbing-spicy — flavor profile from Sichuan peppercorns and chili), and proximity to Leshan and Emei Shan. The things to do in Chengdu include the Panda Base (arrive by 8am before the pandas retire from heat and feeding), Jinli Ancient Street (a reconstructed Qing-era commercial street adjacent to the Wuhou Shrine), Kuanzhai Alley (another restored historical district with teahouses and street food), the Wenshu Monastery (the best-preserved Buddhist monastery in the city), and the Sanxingdui Museum (45 km northeast, with extraordinary Bronze Age artifacts from a 3,000-year-old civilization unknown to historians until 1986).

Best time to visit

March through June and September through November are the best months. Chengdu has a reputation for cloudiness and mild temperatures year-round; the city sees fewer than 100 days of sunshine annually (the basin geography traps clouds). This makes the spring and autumn transitions the most comfortable. July and August are hot and humid. Winter is mild (5-10°C) and very foggy. Emei Shan can be visited year-round; spring and autumn are best for hiking, winter brings snow and ice on the summit area.

Getting around

Chengdu has two airports: Tianfu International Airport (opened 2021, now the primary hub) and Shuangliu International Airport. The metro system has 13+ lines covering most tourist areas and is cheap, fast, and English-signposted. The Panda Base is accessible by metro (Line 3 to Panda Avenue, then taxis/shuttles). High-speed trains connect Chengdu to Xi’an (3.5 hours), Beijing (8 hours), and Chongqing (1 hour). For Leshan and Emei Shan, buses or tour vehicles from the Xinnanmen bus station are the standard approach.

What to eat

Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu is exceptional — mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, twice-cooked pork (huiguo rou), kung pao chicken, and Chengdu-style hotpot are the canonical dishes. Chengdu was designated a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2010. For hotpot, Haidilao (for service spectacle) and local chains like Xiaolongkan serve the mala broth style. Chen Mapo Tofu restaurant (on Qingyang District’s main street) is the most historic source of the dish. For street food, Jinli Street and Chunxi Road pedestrian area have dense concentrations of snacks.