Chengdu
Giant pandas, teahouses and the spiciest, most addictive food in China.
Highlights of Chengdu
Sichuan's laid-back capital is the best place to see giant pandas and to eat real Sichuan food. It's also the gateway to Jiuzhaigou and Leshan.
Chengdu Panda Base
See pandas at breakfast time, around 8–10am, when they're most active.
People's Park teahouse
Sip jasmine tea and watch ear-cleaners, mahjong players and matchmakers.
Sichuan opera
Fire-breathing and the famous face-changing masks.
Local food
- Hot potA bubbling pot of chilli and Sichuan pepper broth. Ask for a split pot if you prefer mild.
- Mapo tofuSilky tofu in a spicy, numbing sauce, invented in Chengdu.
- Dandan noodlesNoodles with chilli oil, pork and preserved vegetables.
Connections
| To / from | By | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chongqing | High-speed train | about 1–1½ hours |
| Leshan | High-speed train | about 1 hour |
| Xi'an | High-speed train | about 3½ hours |
| Kunming | Flight | about 1½ hours |
Times are typical and vary by service.
Tips from our guides
- Take a Sichuan cooking class. You'll learn why the pepper makes your lips tingle.
Nearby and nicely paired
2 daysLeshan & Mount Emei
The world's largest stone Buddha and a sacred mountain of monasteries above the clouds.
1–2 daysChongqing
A vertical megacity of cliffs, bridges and neon, and the start of the Yangtze River cruise.
2–3 daysJiuzhaigou
Turquoise lakes, waterfalls and mountain villages in a forested valley.
Add Chengdu to your China trip
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