Giant Pandas in Sichuan

• Visiting Time: Go in the early morning to see the active pandas and prepare to stay 3-4 hours to get the whole experience
• Ticket Price: 55 CNY

The Chengdu Panda Research Base is great for families and panda lovers. You can see giant, red, and baby pandas in the nursery and learn about their habitat and the bases' conservation efforts. Plus, it's just a 30-minute taxi ride from downtown Chengdu.

You can also take a public bus or the Metro Line 3 to Panda Aventure, where you can get a shuttle bus to the research site. If you want volunteer experience, consider visiting the Wolong, Bifengxia, or Dujiangyan Panda Research Centers.

Sichuan Hotpot

• Best For: Food lovers and people who like spicy flavors

Sichuan hot pot is one of the most famous dishes in China, and you can find authentic spots to enjoy it all around the city. Plus, you can customize your hot pot with your choice of ingredients, sauces, and garnishes. Sichuan hot pot is very spicy. If you want a milder version, ask for a yin-yang pot.

Huge bronze mask at Sanxingdui Museum

• Visiting Time: Arrive earlier when the museum opens (8:30 am) to avoid the crowds and plan to spend between 2-3 hours exploring the museum
• Ticket Price: 72 CNY

If you love art and history, the Sanxingdui Museum is an excellent option. This museum has relics that date back 5,000 years, including many unique pieces from the Shu civilization that tell the story of what the Bronze Age looked like in China. You'll find priceless items like the Holy Bronze Tree and Gold Stick in this museum.

Get to the museum by taking the high-speed train from Chengdu East Station to Guanghan North Station, then get a taxi the rest of the way. Alternatively, take the 10 or 6 bus to Guanghan North Station.

Drink tea and chat at People's Park

• Visiting Time: The park opens at 6:00 am, and early morning is a great time to visit and enjoy a quiet stroll. Plan to spend 1 to 2 hours.
• Ticket Price: Free

People's Park is an excellent place to take a quiet break in the bustling city and experience local life. It's one of the most relaxing places in Chengdu, and locals regularly meet to enjoy exercise and games. You can also visit the park's teahouse to enjoy authentic jasmine tea while you unwind. Get to the park by taking Metro Line 2 to People's Park station.

Jinli Ancient Street

• Visiting Time: Go during the evening and nighttime to experience this area's drinking and dining culture. Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours, depending on whether you're having dinner.
• Ticket Price: Free

Jinli Ancient Street is one of the most vibrant places in Chengdu, where you can find authentic Sichuan hot pot restaurants, live music, street food, and cafes. Plus, you can see plenty of Qing architecture as you walk through while you enjoy your lively night out. To get there, take Metro Line 3 to Goashengqiao Station.

Sichuan Opera

• Best For: Those who love live theater and want to see a one-of-a-kind cultural show

Sichuan Opera is a unique experience where you can learn about Chinese legends and lore while enjoying a face-changing performance. Performers use multiple masks to change their expressions instantly, so it appears almost magical. Book your tickets early, especially if you're visiting one of the city's more famous venues, like Jinjiang Theater.

Leshan Giant Buddha

• Visiting Time: Arrive early to avoid the heat and crowds, and plan to spend around 4 hours visiting the Buddha complex.
• Ticket Price: 80 CNY for the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, 70 CNY for the boat ride

The Giant Leshan Buddha is the largest Maitreya Buddha built into a cliff in the world and an excellent place to enjoy impressive views and beautiful hiking trails. It's also a great example of Tang Dynasty architecture and an important pilgrimage site for Chinese Buddhists.

It's 2 hours from Chengdu by car, or you can take the high-speed train from Chengdu East Railway Station.

Learn to cook Sichuan dishes

• Best For: People interested in Chengdu cuisine who want to learn how to make local dishes at home

Markets like Wenshugang and Jinli Street offer fresh ingredients for preparing your Sichuan hot pot. You can learn what to buy and how to prepare it all through an authentic cooking class. Selecting the ingredients at a local market and then turning them into a classic Sichuan hotpot is a unique way to soak in the local culture. We are happy to arrange a cooking tour for you and let you know what markets are best and how to translate the skills you learn in Chengdu to your home kitchen.

Jiuzhaigou Valley

• Visiting Time: Visit earlier in the day to avoid the sun and crowds, and plan to spend 2 days exploring both Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. We can arrange this for you.
• Ticket Price: 80 CNY during the low season, 190 CNY during the high season

Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong are UNESCO World Heritage Sites full of beautiful lakes, waterfalls, and ancient Qiang and Tibetan villages, where you'll enjoy some of the best natural scenery in China. You can get there by taking the high-speed train from Chengdu and then a shuttle from Jiuzhaigou train station to the park.

Golden Summit on Mount Emei

• Visiting Time: Arrive early and avoid holidays like Golden Week and Chinese New Year to have more of the mountains for yourself. Plan to spend 1 to 2 days.
• Ticket Price: 160 CNY

Mount Emei is one of China's four Buddhist mountains and has some of the country's best viewpoints, including the Golden Summit. You'll also find hiking trails, waterfalls, and lush landscapes around the mountain. To get there, take the high-speed train from Chengdu to Emeishan Station and then take the tourist shuttle to the mountain.

Wenshu Monastery

• Visiting Time: Visit early and avoid holidays and weekends to get more of the monastery to yourself. Plan to spend between 1 and 2 hours.
• Ticket Price: Free

Wenshu Monastery is one of the city's most peaceful places. You'll find beautiful outdoor spaces, quiet rooms to pray or meditate in, and lovely examples of Chinese calligraphy around every corner. Since it is a religious place, please remember to dress modestly. Get there by metro by taking Line 1 to Wenshuyuan Station and walking a few minutes to the monastery.

Wuhou Temple

• Visiting Time: The temple opens at 8:00 am, and it's best to visit early to avoid the crowds. Plan to spend about 1 to 2 hours in the temple complex.
• Ticket Price: 50 CNY

Wuhou Temple was built to honor one of the most important people from the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, and contains several priceless artifacts. Visitors can view the “Three Remarkable Steles”, statues of famous Shu Han people, and the Hui Mausoleum, where Liu Bei and several of his wives are buried. Wuhou Temple is a 10-minute walk from the Metro Goashengqiao Station.