Chengdu Attractions - Things to Do
Chengdu is a famous historical and cultural city in southwest China, owning two world heritage sites: the world natural heritage of Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries is the no. 1 attraction of Chengdu, while the world cultural heritage of Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng is a must-see near the downtown.
Most tourists would like to stay in Chengdu for 1 or 2 days, to explore the popular tourist spots in the downtown area, including the must-go Panda Base, the Wuhou Temple in memory of Zhuge Liang, the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu (an ancient poet), the Taoist site Qingyang Palace, the Buddhist shrine Wenshu Monastery, and the 3,000-year-old Jinsha Site.
There are also several wonderful Chengdu attractions in the environs. If you have 2 to 4 days, a visit to Dujiangyan Irragation System and Mount Qingcheng would be worth your time. If you plan to stay longer, you may have a chance to feel the slow pace of life in Chengdu, spending 3 days to enjoy an in-depth downtown tour, while leaving some time to travel south to Leshan and Mount Emei, or far west to the scenic Jiuzhai Valley (Jiuzhaigou).
What’s more, UNESCO's Creative Cities Network has named Chengdu the “Capital of Gastronomic Delights”. Visitors can try the delicious local food at Jinli Street or Wide and Narrow Alley during traveling.
Top 5 Chengdu Attractions
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More Attractions in Chengdu
- Baoguang Temple
- Bifeng Gorge
- Botanical Garden
- Chengdu Museum
- Chengdu Teddy Bear Museum
- Chengdu Zoo
- Dinosaur Museum
- Dujiangyan Panda Base
- Haichang Polar Ocean World
- Huanglongxi Ancient Town
- Huanhua Stream Park
- Jiuyanqiao Bar Street
- Luodai Ancient Town
- People's Park
- Pingle Ancient Town
- Salt Industry History Museum
- Sichuan Cuisine Museum
- Sichuan Science and Technology Museum
- Stone Elephant Lake
- Wangjiang Pavalion Park
- Wolong National Nature Reserve
- Yongling Museum
- Zhaojue Temple
Special Recommendations: Attractions near Chengdu
Chengdu Attractions Visiting Routes for Reference
The panda base is a must for visitors to Chengdu. Here you can have a close contact with giant pandas, visit the museum, and watch a documentary film about the pandas. If you plan to stay a night, Chunxi Road and Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li are ideal places for dinner and shopping, while Jiuyanqiao and Lan Kwai Fong are popular bar streets for night owls.
Day 2: Jinsha Site Museum (3 hours) → Thatched Cottage of Du Fu (2 hours) → Chunxi Road (1-2 hours) → Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li (1-2 hours)
Day 3: front hill of Mount Qingcheng (3 hours) → Dujiangyan Irrigation System (4 hours)
If you have three days, a day tour to the world heritage site Dujiangyan is highly recommended. As an ancient water conservancy system, Dujiangyan owns a lot of cultural sites, including Fulong Temple, Erwang Temple, Anlan Rope Bridge, and Yulei Pass. The nearby Mount Qingcheng is one of the four famous Taoist mountains in China. The back mountain of Qingcheng is larger, more tranquil, and suitable for mountaineering, while the front mountain is more popular among tourists for its many historical sites and Taoist palaces. If you still have interest in seeing giant pandas, Dujiangyan has a Panda Valley and a Panda Base for you to choose.
Day 2: Jinsha Site Museum (3 hours) → Thatched Cottage of Du Fu (2 hours) → Qingyang Palace (1 hour) → Jiuyanqiao Bar Street (2 hours)
Day 3: Tianfu Square (1 hour) → People’s Park (1-2 hours) → Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li (1-2 hours) → Daci Temple (1-2 hours) → Chunxi Road (1-2 hours) → International Finance Square (IFS) (1-2 hours) → Dalongyi Hotpot (Taikoo Li Branch) (1-2 hours)
Day 4: Dujiangyan Panda Valley (2 hours) → back hill of Mount Qingcheng (5 hours)
Day 5: front hill of Mount Qingcheng (3 hours) → Dujiangyan Irrigation System (4 hours)
Day 6: Huanglongxi Ancient Town (3 hours) → Leshan Giant Buddha (3 hours)
Day 7: Mount Emei (a whole day)
With one week in Chengdu, you have enough time to do a side trip to Leshan. From Chengdu, there are high speed trains and buses to Leshan. You can spend a half day to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha statue, either on foot or by cruise as you like; and then if the weather is fine, it is highly recommend to take a bus or taxi to Mount Emei, spend one night on the mountain, because the sunrise on the golden summit of Mount Emei is beautiful and unmissable.