Top 50 Best Things to Do in Chengdu

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118***80

It was such a wonderful place to visit! It was full of national treasures 🐼, giant pandas everywhere, all lazily relaxing. No wonder the base was built in Chengdu; it perfectly suits the pandas' personalities—so cute and adorable! I just wanted to pet and cuddle them. This was the Chengdu base where I saw the most giant pandas; it was my first time seeing them, and it was fantastic! The only downside was that Director Hua was off on Mondays and wouldn't be seeing guests. If you want to see Hua Hua, try to avoid Mondays.

卡皮巴拉游世界

Jiangyan, a World Cultural Heritage site, is a water conservancy marvel with over two thousand years of history. Strolling through the scenic area, one can see the Fish Mouth diverting the river, the Feisha Weir releasing floodwaters, and the Baopingkou (Bottle Neck) intake – the wisdom of the ancients is truly awe-inspiring. With its beautiful mountains and clear waters, and pleasant scenery, it is an excellent place to learn about history and get close to nature.

哎呦不错哦不错

If you're interested in Tang poetry, you definitely should go; it's best to rent an audio guide or hire a guide. Even if you know nothing about it, it's still a great place to stroll around like in a park 👍 The maple leaves are red, and there are also ginkgo trees perfect for taking photos; the scenery is beautiful. There are also some museums and bonsai gardens where you can admire plants. Even a quick visit and some photos took over an hour, and the subway station near the entrance isn't open yet.

Jazzles

What a peaceful way to start the morning. We entered the shrine at around 9am and its was still relatively quiet. It was way bigger than we thought so plenty to explore. Our favourite was the bonsai trees section

Anonymous user

Qingcheng Mountain has beautiful scenery. On a sunny day, the sun shines brightly, and the scenery is stunning. You can take the cable car up and walk down. I'd love to go again sometime, though it's a bit tiring on the legs. It's important to exercise more and get out more often. The air in Qingcheng Mountain is truly excellent; I highly recommend a visit.

NorCaLi

Definitely worth a visit—and not crowded! I went around 2 PM during feeding time and got to watch the pandas enjoying their lunch while the red pandas were napping afterward. Dujiangyan is a great place to see these amazing animals and also check out the famous Nanqiao Bridge. I’d love to come back again!

M59***75

On my first trip to Sichuan, I headed straight to the Jinsha Site, highly recommended by a friend—less crowded, a better experience, and it holds the ancient Shu romance that shares the same lineage as Sanxingdui. Upon entering the park, the Sun Bird gold foil is a must-see. On the paper-thin gold sheet, four divine birds are depicted head to tail, their forms reflecting the light and shadow of three thousand years ago. The bronze tree fragments, with their intricate patterns, reveal the ancient Shu people's worship of heaven and earth. Tons of ivory and warm jade cong and zhang silently tell the story of the ancient Shu Kingdom's sacrificial traditions. These artifacts, though not crowded, use details to depict the brilliance of the ancient Shu civilization. A visit here feels both historically weighty and unhurried, perfect for a leisurely experience.

M33***29

The Sichuan Opera face-changing performance at the Liyuan Guild Hall was absolutely stunning! The actors' skills were superb, and their face changes were rapid and mysterious. The atmosphere was vibrant, and the lighting and sound effects were perfectly coordinated. The entire experience was fantastic, allowing me to deeply appreciate the charm of Sichuan Opera. I highly recommend everyone to experience this visual feast; it's definitely worth seeing!

难 得糊 涂

Chengdu's Wenshufang, located at No. 66 Wenshuyuan Street in Qingyang District, is a national AAAA-level open-air historical and cultural district built around the ancient Wenshuyuan Temple. Admission is free and the area is open 24 hours a day, though it's recommended to plan a three- to four-hour visit. The district's architectural style is inspired by traditional western Sichuan courtyards, with blue tiles, white walls, and carved eaves. This creates a unique "courtyard-style commercial street" feel, earning it the nickname "Chengdu's Double Embroidery"—the sound of Buddhist chants echoes within the red walls, while the bustling market life unfolds beyond. Wenshufang's core identity can be summarized as "Zen culture combined with traditional Chengdu folk customs." Within the district, there's a temple every 100 steps and a pagoda every 1,000 steps. In addition to Wenshuyuan Temple (built in the Sui Dynasty and inscribed by Emperor Kangxi), the district also preserves the remains of the "Nine Palaces and Eighteen Temples," including the Five Mountains Palace, Lengjia Nunnery, and Aido Hall. This area boasts the most concentrated religious and cultural heritage in Chengdu's old city. Building on this foundation, the neighborhood has incorporated elements such as the "Empty Forest Zen Road" market for Zen-inspired goods, the "Manjusri Blessed Land" cluster of protected courtyards, the "Folk Old Street" offering intangible cultural heritage crafts, the "Chengdu Salon" teahouse featuring antiques, calligraphy, and paintings, as well as the "Old Chengdu Food Court" and "Tianzi Food Hall." This all-in-one experience combines incense worship, Hanfu travel photography, gaiwan tea, Sichuan Opera face-changing, and century-old snacks (such as dragon wontons, Zhong dumplings, and Lai glutinous rice balls). The atmosphere is enhanced by the lighting of lanterns at night. Wenshufang is a free historical district offering the most concentrated and convenient experience of old Chengdu: burning incense, enjoying vegetarian food, drinking tea, watching opera, strolling the ancient streets, enjoying snacks, shopping for cultural products, and photographing Hanfu costumes. For a quick experience of slow living and the essence of Zen, simply add this area to your half-day itinerary.

月🌕🌸儿

The Chengdu Museum holds various exhibitions from time to time. It has a great location, right next to the subway exit. Regular exhibitions are free, but reservations are required. Some solo exhibitions require additional tickets.