How many days do I need in Chengdu?

Three full days is the minimum I would plan for a first Chengdu stop. One day for the city centre, from Daci Temple to the lanes of Taikoo Li. One day northwest for the pandas and Dujiangyan. One day for Wuhou Shrine, Jinli and the Kuanzhai Alleys after dark. A full week adds Mount Emei with a night on the mountain, then the Leshan Giant Buddha. The seven-day plan on this page is the week we would run, ending slow in People's Park and the new city. Sanxingdui's bronze museum is worth an extra day north if you have one.

Chengdu follows mainland China entry rules. Ordinary Australian, British, New Zealand and Canadian passports have up to thirty days visa-free, confirmed through 31 December 2026. United States passports still need a tourist visa under current rules. Tell us your nationality before we quote. We check the live entry wording against the embassy and foreign-affairs source for your country.

How does the Panda Base work, and is it worth the early start?

The base opens at 07:30 every day. The pandas are most active in the cool of the morning, and by mid-morning the adults retreat to the shade and sleep. The early start is what separates watching them eat bamboo from watching them snore. The seven-day ticket release sells out routinely the day before during peak holidays, so we book under your name in advance. Around 200 giant pandas live across the base, with red pandas on the lower paths. The seven-day plan on this page visits the pandas at Dujiangyan's Panda Valley instead, paired with the irrigation system, and the same morning rule applies wherever you meet them.

How spicy is Chengdu really, and what if I cannot eat much chilli?

Sichuan cuisine is built on mala, the combination of chilli heat and Sichuan-pepper numbness. The numbness is the part first-time visitors find unfamiliar, and it takes one or two meals to settle into. We book restaurants for the day's spice tolerance and the guide orders accordingly. A parallel Sichuan tradition of clean-broth and tea-smoked dishes gives a full route without chilli for travellers who would rather skip it. Zhe'ergen is the one ingredient worth flagging in advance. It is a strong-tasting root used in cold dishes and noodle toppings, which many first-timers find hard on the first bite. Your guide names it on the menu so you can decide before the dish arrives.

How do I get from Chengdu to Xi'an or Beijing?

Internal flights are the standard route: two scheduled hours from Xi'an, three from Beijing, included in the all-inclusive price when your trip spans multiple cities. Chengdu has two airports, Tianfu (TFU) and Shuangliu (CTU), fifty kilometres apart, so departure-airport confirmation is part of the trip pack. High-speed rail is also available to Xi'an, around three hours fifteen on the fastest service through the Qinling tunnels, and is the right choice if a day's flight window looks risky for weather.

How do payments work in Chengdu for foreign travellers?

Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly. Both can bind many overseas Visa and Mastercard cards, but in-app limits and small-merchant acceptance still vary. Your guide can help with restaurant and ticket moments on the ground. Keep one bank card and a little cash for older teahouses, smaller temple grounds, and the odd Jinli vendor that still prefers it.

Will there be any forced shopping or factory visits in the itinerary?

No. No jade factory, no silk showroom, no tea ceremony that ends in a sales pitch. The route you approve is the route we brief. If a driver or guide suggests an unscheduled detour, you have a named specialist to contact. The figure on your quote is what you pay. The trip you read is the trip you take.

What is actually included when you quote a Chengdu trip?

Daily guide and driver, hotels at the category you approve, the internal flight in or out if your trip spans multiple cities, daily breakfast, and every entrance ticket on the agreed route. Planned meals and optional costs are named before you confirm. Priced per person, up front, in the currency you switch the site to.

Destination · China

Chengdu

tea-house China, at a different pace

Chengdu is the slow-paced capital of China's southwest. Around 200 giant pandas live on the wooded hills north of the city. In the old quarter, the tea houses fill with bamboo chairs and mahjong from morning, and mala kitchens send chilli oil through the lanes.

Design my trip See the signature moments

Signature moments

Why people
come to Chengdu.

What to see

A giant panda eating bamboo at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — Chengdu Panda Research Base(the breeding hills north of the city)
Home to China's beloved giant pandas, the Chengdu Panda Research Base is dedicated to the conservation and breeding of one of the world's most treasured animals.
Set within peaceful bamboo forests, visitors can watch pandas play, feed and relax in a natural environment.
For the best experience, we arrange an early morning visit when the pandas are at their most active. With fewer crowds and cooler temperatures, you'll enjoy unforgettable close-up encounters with these gentle giants.

The 71-metre Leshan Giant Buddha carved into a red sandstone cliff above the confluence of three rivers in Sichuan — Leshan Giant Buddha(the Tang-era cliff Buddha above three rivers)
Carved into a towering cliff where three rivers meet, the Leshan Giant Buddha is the world's largest stone Buddha and a masterpiece of ancient engineering.
Standing 71 metres tall, it has watched over the surrounding waterways for more than 1,200 years.
Whether admired from the viewing platforms or by boat on the river, its immense scale is truly breathtaking. We recommend allowing plenty of time to appreciate both the monument and its spectacular natural surroundings.

The Jinding Golden Summit of Mount Emei, the highest of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, rising above a morning sea of clouds — Mount Emei(one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains)
One of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, Mount Emei is renowned for its breathtaking scenery, ancient temples and peaceful mountain trails.
Mist-covered forests, cascading waterfalls and golden temples create an unforgettable spiritual landscape.
Whether travelling by cable car or hiking through the mountains, every step reveals incredible views. We recommend starting early to enjoy the cooler weather and maximise your chances of seeing the famous sea of clouds.

The 2.6-metre bronze standing figure from the Sanxingdui Bronze Age site, the largest bronze human of the ancient world, with arms outstretched holding a ceremonial object — Sanxingdui Museum(Bronze Age site, Guanghan)
Discover one of China's greatest archaeological mysteries at the Sanxingdui Museum, home to extraordinary Bronze Age treasures unlike anything found elsewhere.
Intricately crafted masks, towering bronze figures and remarkable artefacts reveal a civilisation that flourished over 3,000 years ago.
Each exhibit offers fascinating insights into an ancient culture that continues to intrigue historians today. We recommend visiting with a guide to fully appreciate the stories behind these remarkable discoveries.

A night view of the Dujiangyan inner channel with the river water lit from beneath in luminous deep blue, the 2,000-year-old engineering glowing under the surface — Dujiangyan(the 2,000-year working irrigation system)
Built more than 2,200 years ago, Dujiangyan is the world's oldest functioning irrigation system and an extraordinary example of ancient Chinese engineering.
Without the use of dams, it continues to control flooding and irrigate fertile farmland to this day.
Surrounded by rivers, forests and historic temples, the area is as beautiful as it is significant. We recommend taking a leisurely walk through the scenic parklands to fully appreciate this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The red walls, ornate roof brackets and lacquered pillars of Wuhou Shrine in evening light, Chengdu's Three Kingdoms memorial — Wuhou Shrine(Three Kingdoms memorial)
Dedicated to the legendary statesman Zhuge Liang and the heroes of the Three Kingdoms era, Wuhou Shrine is one of Chengdu's most important historical landmarks.
Elegant halls, peaceful gardens and centuries-old cypress trees create an atmosphere rich in history.
Every corner tells stories of loyalty, wisdom and strategy that shaped China's past. We recommend exploring with a guide to bring these fascinating legends to life.

A wooden tea tray set with a clay teapot, celadon cups and carved figurines at a Chengdu teahouse — People's Park
A favourite gathering place for locals, People's Park offers a charming glimpse into everyday life in Chengdu.
Shaded walkways, tranquil lakes and traditional teahouses create a welcoming space where visitors can relax alongside residents.
From tai chi and dancing to lively games of mahjong, the park is full of authentic local culture. We recommend enjoying a cup of traditional tea while soaking up the relaxed Chengdu lifestyle.

Twilight view of a narrow alley at Kuanzhai Xiangzi, Chengdu's restored Qing-era quarter — Wide-and-Narrow Alleys(Kuanzhai Xiangzi)
Steeped in history, the Wide-and-Narrow Alleys preserve the charm of old Chengdu with beautifully restored Qing Dynasty architecture.
Traditional courtyards, boutique shops, local snacks and lively teahouses blend heritage with modern city life.
Every lane offers something unique, from handcrafted souvenirs to delicious Sichuan cuisine. We recommend visiting in the evening when the lanterns glow and the historic streets come alive with vibrant energy.

Six 39-metre bamboo-shaped fountain towers rising from the sunken plaza of Chengdu SKP, lit against the night sky — Tower of Vitality(bamboo fountain landmark, Chengdu SKP)
Rising above Chengdu's modern skyline, the Tower of Vitality is a striking architectural landmark that celebrates the city's innovation and dynamic future.
Its contemporary design and panoramic views showcase the perfect balance between Chengdu's rich heritage and rapid development.
Whether visiting during the day or after sunset, the views across the city are unforgettable. We recommend timing your visit for the evening to enjoy the spectacular city lights from above.

What to eat

A Chengdu hot pot table, split broth bubbling at the centre surrounded by plates of thin-sliced beef, skewers and fresh greens — Chengdu hot pot
Sichuan cuisine is built on mala: the combination of chilli heat and Sichuan-pepper numbness, with Chengdu as its home kitchen.
The numbness is the part first-time visitors don't expect. It lands as a tingle on the lips, then a slow buzz across the tongue, and by the second meal reads as flavour rather than confusion. Mapo tofu arrives glossed with chilli oil and fermented bean paste. Hot pot is the evening ritual: red broth bubbling at the centre, beef, tripe and greens dipped in.
We pick the restaurant against the day's spice tolerance, and the guide orders against what your table is comfortable with rather than what the menu can throw at it. Hot pot is paced across rounds so the numbness lands in waves rather than all at once.

A wide bowl of milky-white pig trotter soup with white kidney beans, beside a small dish of chilli-and-Sichuan-pepper dip on a Chengdu late-night table — Pig trotter soup(Ti Hua)
Pig trotter soup is what Chengdu reaches for when the mala has done its work.
A whole trotter simmers for six hours with white kidney beans, until the broth turns the colour of milk and the skin loosens off the bone. It arrives in a wide bowl beside a small dish of chilli flakes, ground Sichuan pepper, soy and chopped scallion. The soup is clean and almost sweet; the dipping dish is where you decide how much heat to put back in.
We time the meal for the late hour the dish was built for, after the evening's opera or after the Wide-and-Narrow lanterns come down. Your bowl comes from the pot that has been simmering all day, so the broth is already milky-white when it reaches you.

A small plate of plump pork wontons glossed in red chilli-oil sauce with garlic and scallion, the signature Chengdu lunchtime snack — Red oil wontons(Hongyou Chaoshou)
Red oil wontons are the dish Chengdu does best at lunchtime.
Square pork wrappers are pleated so the corners cross like folded arms, which is what 'chaoshou' means in the local dialect. They arrive on a small plate, glossed with a sauce of house-pressed chilli oil, aged soy, garlic and ground Sichuan pepper. The wonton itself is mild and slick; the sauce does all the talking.
We seat you at a respected house between lunch services, when the kitchen is dressing the day's sauce fresh and the wontons reach the table within three minutes of going into the pot. The guide orders both the red-oil plate and the mild clear-broth bowl, so you taste the dish in two registers.

Shows and experiences

A Sichuan ear-cleaning master with a headlamp working on a seated customer at an outdoor teahouse, red lanterns hanging behind — Sichuan ear-cleaning(Cai Er, the teahouse craft)
Ear-cleaning is one of Chengdu's three teahouse pleasures, alongside mahjong and a pot of bamboo-leaf green.
The masters move between the lakeside tables with a long brass pick and a small tuning fork, working table to table for a handful of coins a sitting. The tuning fork rings against the pick and sends a fine hum through the ear. A session runs around ten minutes.
We seat you at one of the older teahouses in the surrounding lanes, where the masters are second- and third-generation rather than the visitor-row pop-ups along the main path. Your guide handles the cash arrangement so the session reads as it does for the regulars.

Hanging red lanterns and the traditional wooden facade of a Sichuan teahouse at night, the setting for the long-spout tea-pouring performance — Long-spout tea-pouring(Chang Zui Hu, the Sichuan tea art)
Long-spout tea-pouring is the teahouse performance Sichuan made its own.
A tea master pours boiling water from a copper kettle with a meter-long spout, swung over the shoulder, behind the back, between the elbows, while the gaiwan on the table fills without a drop spilled. The moves carry martial-arts names: monkey offering peaches, Su Qin carrying the sword. Bamboo-leaf green or jasmine waits in the cup below.
We seat you at the front of the table at a working teahouse where the masters trained under the older line, not the hotel-lobby version on the coach circuit. The gaiwan is poured fresh before the show begins, and the second pour comes by hand at your table once the kettle returns to the brazier, so the demonstration closes back into an actual cup of tea.

A Sichuan opera performer in dragon-embroidered robe and painted mask, mid-performance — Sichuan opera face-changing
Sichuan opera is the regional theatre tradition built around face-changing, or bianlian: the trick of switching painted silk masks in less than a second.
The evening runs at one of the city's smaller working opera houses. Face-changing is the headline, but hand-shadow puppetry, on-stage fire-breathing and comic monologue often steal the night. About ninety minutes, gaiwan tea poured throughout.
We book a front-of-house table in advance at a working teahouse-opera, with seating close enough that the timing of the mask change is the trick, not the mask itself. Gaiwan tea is poured through the performance, and a quiet car waits at the lane outside for the return.

How long to stay

Recommended
5 to 7 days.

City centre
Day 1: Chengdu City Highlights
Begin in the middle of the city, where Daci Temple keeps its incense and morning chanting while the shopping streets run right up to its walls. After lunch, stroll Wangping Street along the river, where old teahouses and new cafes share the same block. As evening falls, join the crowds on Chunxi Road, then wander the open lanes of Taikoo Li beneath the temple's rooflines.
Morning
1. Visit Daci Temple
Afternoon
1. Stroll along Wangping Street
Evening
1. Walk Chunxi Road as the lights come on
2. Explore the lanes of Taikoo Li
Dujiangyan
Day 2: Pandas and Dujiangyan
Private car northwest, about an hour and a half
An early start northwest beats the coaches to Panda Valley, where the pandas are at their liveliest in the cool of the morning. The afternoon belongs to Dujiangyan, the irrigation system that has watered the Chengdu plain for more than 2,200 years and still works without a dam. Stay for the evening: Guanxian Ancient City settles down once the day-trippers leave, and Nanqiao Bridge lights up above the fast water.
Morning
1. Meet the pandas at Dujiangyan Panda Valley
Afternoon
1. Walk the Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Evening
1. Wander Guanxian Ancient City
2. See Nanqiao Bridge lit for the evening
Old city
Day 3: Chengdu History and Culture
The morning drives about an hour northeast to Guanghan and the Sanxingdui Museum, where the bronzes of a Bronze Age culture that left no writing behind sit under low light: masks with protruding eyes, sheets of gold leaf, and a 2.6-metre standing figure whose hands curl around a ceremonial object no one has identified. The afternoon returns to central Chengdu and Wuhou Shrine, where the heroes of the Three Kingdoms are remembered under centuries-old cypress trees, and Jinli's snack lanes wait just outside the gate. As evening falls, the lanterns come on in the Kuanzhai Alleys and the courtyard teahouses fill.
Morning
1. Drive out to the Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan
Afternoon
1. Visit Wuhou Shrine
2. Stroll Jinli Ancient Street next door
Evening
1. Wander the Kuanzhai Alleys after dark
Mount Emei
Day 4: Mount Emei
High-speed rail south, about an hour and a half
Give Mount Emei a full, unhurried day. Begin near Baoguo Temple at the foot of the mountain, then ride the cable car higher, with temple halls and viewpoints along the way. Your guide sets the route by fitness, weather and the day's crowds, with the Golden Summit and its sea of clouds the reward on a clear day. Stay the night on the mountain or at its foot.
Morning
1. Begin exploring Mount Emei from Baoguo Temple
Afternoon
1. Ride the cable car toward the Golden Summit
Evening
1. Stay the night on the mountain or at its foot
Leshan
Day 5: Leshan and Back to Chengdu
Private car, about forty minutes
Begin with the Leshan Giant Buddha, carved into the cliff where three rivers meet and watching over the water for more than 1,200 years. See it from the clifftop paths or from a boat on the river, then ride back to Chengdu through the early afternoon. A booked massage eases the mountain day out of your legs. As evening falls, the lights come on along the Jin River at Dongmen Wharf.
Morning
1. Meet the Leshan Giant Buddha
Afternoon
1. Return to Chengdu for a booked massage
Evening
1. Take in the riverside evening at Dongmen Wharf
City west
Day 6: Ancient Chengdu
Spend the morning at Qingyang Palace, the Taoist temple where bronze goats stand polished bright in the incense smoke. The afternoon slows down in the bamboo gardens of Du Fu Thatched Cottage, where the Tang poet wrote some of his best-loved lines. After dark, drive south to Financial City, where the Chengdu Twin Towers light up above the plaza and the new city stretches out in every direction.
Morning
1. Visit Qingyang Palace
Afternoon
1. Walk the gardens of Du Fu Thatched Cottage
Evening
1. Watch the skyline light up at the Chengdu Twin Towers
Across the city
Day 7: Modern Chengdu
Keep the last morning slow at People's Park, where bamboo chairs are set out by the lake and the mahjong tables run from breakfast. A nearby cafe works just as well if you would rather ease into the day. The afternoon goes to Eastern Suburb Memory, a red-brick factory quarter turned over to galleries, coffee and live music. End at the Tower of Vitality, where the fountain towers light up and the evening city spreads out around you.
Morning
1. Take a slow morning at People's Park
Afternoon
1. Explore Eastern Suburb Memory
Evening
1. End with the night views at the Tower of Vitality

Day 1: Chengdu City HighlightsCity centre

When to go

When to visit,
and how it feels.


Daily max (°F)	50°	55°	64°	74°	81°	84°	87°	87°	79°	70°	62°	52°
Rainfall (mm)	9	12	24	48	77	123	238	199	117	43	16	7
Crowds	Quiet	Crowded	Quiet	Steady	Busy	Steady	Busy	Busy	Steady	Crowded	Quiet	Quiet

March

Mild · Dry · Quiet

Early spring and still quiet. Comfortable walking weather returns.

Temperature and rainfall are China Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991 to 2020. Crowd levels follow the Chinese public-holiday calendar and daily booking caps at the major sites.

Everonia

tea-house China, at a different paceChengdu

A seven-day itinerary, with practical notes for every day.

Download free
Chengdu travel guide

Best time

March to May · September to November

Days needed

5 to 7 days

Where it sits

Two scheduled hours by air from Xi'an · three from Beijing

Before you enquire

Questions worth
answering early.

Three full days is the minimum I would plan for a first Chengdu stop. One day for the city centre, from Daci Temple to the lanes of Taikoo Li. One day northwest for the pandas and Dujiangyan. One day for Wuhou Shrine, Jinli and the Kuanzhai Alleys after dark. A full week adds Mount Emei with a night on the mountain, then the Leshan Giant Buddha. The seven-day plan on this page is the week we would run, ending slow in People's Park and the new city. Sanxingdui's bronze museum is worth an extra day north if you have one.
The base opens at 07:30 every day. The pandas are most active in the cool of the morning, and by mid-morning the adults retreat to the shade and sleep. The early start is what separates watching them eat bamboo from watching them snore. The seven-day ticket release sells out routinely the day before during peak holidays, so we book under your name in advance. Around 200 giant pandas live across the base, with red pandas on the lower paths. The seven-day plan on this page visits the pandas at Dujiangyan's Panda Valley instead, paired with the irrigation system, and the same morning rule applies wherever you meet them.
Sichuan cuisine is built on mala, the combination of chilli heat and Sichuan-pepper numbness. The numbness is the part first-time visitors find unfamiliar, and it takes one or two meals to settle into. We book restaurants for the day's spice tolerance and the guide orders accordingly. A parallel Sichuan tradition of clean-broth and tea-smoked dishes gives a full route without chilli for travellers who would rather skip it. Zhe'ergen is the one ingredient worth flagging in advance. It is a strong-tasting root used in cold dishes and noodle toppings, which many first-timers find hard on the first bite. Your guide names it on the menu so you can decide before the dish arrives.
Internal flights are the standard route: two scheduled hours from Xi'an, three from Beijing, included in the all-inclusive price when your trip spans multiple cities. Chengdu has two airports, Tianfu (TFU) and Shuangliu (CTU), fifty kilometres apart, so departure-airport confirmation is part of the trip pack. High-speed rail is also available to Xi'an, around three hours fifteen on the fastest service through the Qinling tunnels, and is the right choice if a day's flight window looks risky for weather.

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You enjoy the trip,
we do the rest.

From your first enquiry to your last airport pickup, our specialists design your trip and stay in contact every step of the way. The guides, drivers and hotels you'll meet are part of our trusted network we've worked with for years, briefed to the same standards.

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Jack Guo

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Jack has spent ten years working with the guides, drivers and hoteliers across China. He'll be your contact from first enquiry to final airport pickup.

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Tell us your preferences and we'll plan a private itinerary in Chengdu that fits how you like to travel.

Chengdu

Why peoplecome to Chengdu.

What to see

Chengdu Panda Research Base(the breeding hills north of the city)

Leshan Giant Buddha(the Tang-era cliff Buddha above three rivers)

Mount Emei(one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains)

Sanxingdui Museum(Bronze Age site, Guanghan)

Dujiangyan(the 2,000-year working irrigation system)

Wuhou Shrine(Three Kingdoms memorial)

People's Park

Wide-and-Narrow Alleys(Kuanzhai Xiangzi)

Tower of Vitality(bamboo fountain landmark, Chengdu SKP)

What to eat

Chengdu hot pot

Pig trotter soup(Ti Hua)

Red oil wontons(Hongyou Chaoshou)

Shows and experiences

Sichuan ear-cleaning(Cai Er, the teahouse craft)

Long-spout tea-pouring(Chang Zui Hu, the Sichuan tea art)

Sichuan opera face-changing

Recommended5 to 7 days.

Day 1: Chengdu City Highlights

Day 2: Pandas and Dujiangyan

Day 3: Chengdu History and Culture

Day 4: Mount Emei

Day 5: Leshan and Back to Chengdu

Day 6: Ancient Chengdu

Day 7: Modern Chengdu

When to visit,and how it feels.

Download freeChengdu travel guide

Questions worthanswering early.

How many days do I need in Chengdu?

What about a visa?

How does the Panda Base work, and is it worth the early start?

How spicy is Chengdu really, and what if I cannot eat much chilli?

How do I get from Chengdu to Xi'an or Beijing?

How do payments work in Chengdu for foreign travellers?

Will there be any forced shopping or factory visits in the itinerary?

What is actually included when you quote a Chengdu trip?

You enjoy the trip,we do the rest.

Stretch the trip. Stitch in another.

Xi'an

Guilin

Lijiang

Useful beforeyou enquire.

China tourist visa for US travellers

When to visit China, month by month

How many days do you need in China

Payments and connectivity in China

How our pricing works

Jack Guo

Design your Chengdu trip

Chengdu

Where in China do you want to go?

Why people
come to Chengdu.

Recommended
5 to 7 days.

When to visit,
and how it feels.

Download free
Chengdu travel guide

Questions worth
answering early.

You enjoy the trip,
we do the rest.

Useful before
you enquire.