Chengdu Travel Guide
Land of pandas, spicy food & laid-back teahouse culture
Must-See Attractions
Chengdu Panda Base
Home to 100+ giant pandas — watch them munch bamboo, climb trees, and nap. Red pandas too!
Kuanzhai Alley (Wide & Narrow Alleys)
Restored Qing Dynasty courtyard lanes — boutique shops, tea houses, Sichuan opera, and street food
Jinli Ancient Street
Traditional-style pedestrian street with red lanterns, handicraft shops, and snack stalls next to Wuhou Shrine
Dujiangyan Irrigation System
2,000-year-old UNESCO engineering marvel that still works — tamed the Min River without a dam
Getting Around
Chengdu is well-connected with one of China's best metro systems:
Metro
¥2-9 per ride. 13+ lines covering the city. English signs throughout. Alipay QR works at all gates.
DiDi
¥15-50 within city center. Quick and affordable. Perfect for reaching outskirts like the Panda Base.
Where to Stay
Top neighborhoods for visitors:
Chunxi Road
Chengdu's downtown shopping hub. Metro lines 2/3. Walking distance to IFS and Taikoo Li. Great for first-timers.
Kuanzhai Alley Area
Historic vibe with boutique hotels in restored courtyards. Walk to People's Park and Tianfu Square. Metro Line 4.
What to Eat
Chengdu is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy — bold, numbing, and unforgettable:
Sichuan Hotpot
Boiling red broth with Sichuan peppercorns — numbing, spicy, addictive. Order maodu (tripe) and huanghou (beef throat)! ¥80-150/person.
Chuan Chuan Xiang (Skewer Hotpot)
Grab skewers from the fridge, boil them in spicy broth, dip in sauce. Casual, fun, and cheap. ¥0.5-2 per stick.
Rabbit Head (Tu Tou)
A Chengdu obsession — spiced rabbit heads split and eaten with hands. Sounds intense, tastes incredible. ¥8-12 each.
Dandan Noodles
Thin noodles in spicy sesame-peanut sauce with minced pork and preserved vegetables. A street food classic. ¥10-18.