Chengdu

Du Fu's Thatched Cottage

杜甫草堂; dù fǔ cǎo táng

Du Fu was a renowned poet during the Tang Dynasty. The thatched cottage was where he lived from 760 to 765 and wrote many of his best works. The cottage eventually fell into ruin and had to be rebuilt. The current buildings date mostly from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

May to September: 08:00-20:00, October to April: 08:00-18:30·¥60

Sanxingdui

三星堆

The ruins of an ancient Chinese city where archaeologists discovered remarkable artifacts that radiocarbon dated circa 12th-11th centuries BCE. Sanxingdui (Three star mound) is the name given to this previously unknown Bronze Age culture. First excavated in the 1930s, the site continues to yield surprises to the present day. Between 2020 and 2022, archaeologists working on the site discovered six sacrificial pits containing a treasure trove of artefacts. So numerous were the artefacts that a new museum had to be constructed. The new museum is now open. Be warned that the museum is extremely popular and often booked out, so it's best not to come here without first making a booking. Bookings can be done online (in Chinese only) on the museum's WeChat account. If you come here on an empty stomach, you should get something to eat at one of the food stalls outside the gate. The museum cafe does not serve food. After entering the gate, you can head straight to the new museum, as the two exhibition halls that made up the old museum have been closed. However, if you have time, you can still visit the Restoration Hall (修复馆) and see the archaeologists working to restore the artefacts. The restoration hall closes at 17:00, which is one hour earlier than the museum.

08:30-18:00, no entry after 17:00·¥72 (¥36 for students)

Jinsha Archaeological Site

金沙遗址; jīn shā yí zhǐ

Site featuring various tools and art pieces from around 3,000 years ago. The amount of unearthed items is just massive. They include pottery, blades, jade items, building foundations and various golden art pieces. There are two main buildings: the hall constructed over the centre of the excavation site and the modern exhibition hall with various artifacts on display.

May to October: 08:30-20:00, November to April: 08:30-18:30, no tickets sold in last 60 minutes, closed on Mondays·adults¥66children¥35 · Heritage listed

Anshun Bridge

安顺廊桥; ān shùn láng qiáo

A scenic, historic bridge crossing the Jin River in the middle of Chengdu. A bridge at this location was mentioned in the writings of Marco Polo. However, in the 1980s the bridge was destroyed by flooding, and was rebuilt in 2003. There is a restaurant on top of the bridge.

New Century Global Center (Chengdu Global Center)

新世纪环球中心（成都环球中心）

New Century Global Centre consists of New Century Global Shopping Centre, Ocean Paradise, Intercontinental Hotel, Central Business City and Music Fountain Plaza, etc.; [1-2] It is divided into four districts, namely, East, West, South and North, and the main body of the building is made of sea-blue colour, with white floating boards articulating the undulating body of the building into a whole.

10:00—22:00·¥100

Chengdu Museum

成都博物馆, chéng dū bó wù guǎn

A 6 floors museum containing different interesting things about Chengdu civilization from ancient times to modern times. Recommended to start the visit from the second floor upwards. The visit should take 2.5 hours.

May to October: 09:00-20:30, November to April: 09:00-20:00, no entry in last 30 minutes, closed on Mondays·Free, Foreigner needs to register from the opposite side of the entrance to get ticket

Sichuan Museum

四川博物院 (sì chuān bó wù yuàn)

3 floors museum containing artifacts (bronze, pottery, carving, etc.), including coverage of different tribes in Sichuan. Visit can be completed in about 2 hours.

Summer: 09:00-21:00, winter: 09:00-20:00, no entry in last 30 minutes, closed on Mondays·Free, foreigners must go through the 'Foreigner' entrance and register

Wuhouci Temple

Wuhou Temple, 武侯祠; wǔ hóu cí

This temple is built to commemorate Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮), who was the minister of Shu (蜀) in the Three Kingdoms Period. He is famous through the Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There are dozens of dust covered statues of obscure historical figures behind glass and not much else. The gardens are attractive, but not extensive.

May to October: 08:00-20:00, November to April: 08:00-19:00, no tickets sold in last 60 minutes·¥60 · Heritage listed · Built 1672

Chengdu Panda Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

成都大熊猫繁育研究基地; chéng dū dà xióng māo fán yù yán jiū jī dì

This is the biggest facility of this kind in the world. Due to habitat destruction and other reasons, the giant panda is maybe the most famous endangered animal. It is home to some 60 giant pandas, but also has some red pandas and a colony of black-necked cranes. The pandas are basically on display for tourists but views are much closer than is possible at most Western zoos. (If you want to get even closer and hold a panda or volunteer all day to feed them bamboo and clean the panda cage, visit the Dujiangyan Panda Base, about an hour's drive outside Chengdu.) A small museum and a cinema screening related documentaries is also available. A restaurant and souvenir-stalls top off the tourist installations. The best time to visit is in the morning, when pandas are most active. Pandas sleep during the hottest time of the day. Feeding time is around 09:30-10:00. Expect some crowd. It is recommended to arrive as early as you can to avoid the hordes of school and tour groups that arrive every morning.

730-1700·Entry fee is ¥55.English-speaking tour guide ¥100

Play Weiqi (the game of Go)

As a symbol of Chinese culture, Weiqi is one of the world’s great strategy games where a few simple rules lead to limitless possibilities. Weiqi is hugely popular in Chengdu to the point where it has been nicknamed Weiqi City. Chengdu Weiqi Classroom is the only place where foreigners can study this game with English speaking assistance.

Sichuan Science and Technology Museum

四川科技馆 (sì chuān kē jì guǎn)

This huge four-storey museum is filled with interactive exhibits about science, aerodynamics, space, mathematics, robotics and physics. Children will love the interactive displays and indoor playground on the 4th floor. Adults will appreciate the descriptions in both English and Chinese. Everyone will love the crowd-pleasers like the robotic orchestra and walk-through maps of Sichuan's waterways. During weekdays this museum can either be overrun by local school groups or be so deserted it's almost creepy. Overall, quite good value for money, especially on a rainy day.

09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays (except during the summer holiday period)·Free

Wenshu Temple

Wenshu Monastery, 文殊院; wén shū yuàn

This Tang Dynasty Buddhist temple is the most impressive, and perhaps also the most used, temple in Chengdu. It is dedicated to the Buddhist representation of Wisdom, Wenshu Pusa (Manjusri Bodhisatva), and contains more than 450 Buddha statues and other precious relics. In addition to the halls and gardens, the temple also has a charming tea house that offers an insightful window of Chengdu life as it is frequented by locals who engage in games of chess, reading, knitting and just chatting with family and friends. The temple also has a delightful vegetarian restaurant with seats offering views over the gardens. There are many shops around the temple, including some of the best street food in the city, such as a sweetwater noodle shop.

Closed · opens 9 am·Free · Heritage listed

Taikoo Li Chengdu

成都太古里

Located in the center of Chengdu, next to Chunxi Road and Daci Temple. With a total site area of approximately 70,800 square meters and a total gross floor area of more than 269,000 square meters, the boutique hotel Beaux-Arts also has 100 guest rooms and 42 serviced residences. It is a retail-led mixed-use development with an open-plan, low-density, neighborhood-style shopping center that creates a unique shopping and leisure experience for guests.

10:00~22:00

Jinli Ancient Street

锦里古街 (jǐn lǐ gǔ jiē)

This neighborhood is part of the old city of Chengdu; it features hotels and small stores built in an old-fashioned style. Antiques are sold in a variety of different stores. It is very popular among both tourists and locals, especially at night, with many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. You will find a lot of famous local snack food over there, prices ¥1-10. Restaurants and bars in Jin Li are more expensive than outside. There are also antique hotels in there. Some consider Jin Li is to be tourist trap, which is partly true. However, this 'new old street' offers regional and fairly affordable street food specialties as well and can be combined with a visit to the Wuhouci Temple (entry fee ¥60, unless you are the holder of a Panda Card). Don't forget to take your camera.

Shuijingfang Museum

水井坊博物馆

Shuijingfang is a liquor company that specializes in the production of high-quality baijiu (distilled rice wine). The company has been operating continuously in Chengdu for over 600 years, albeit under many different names. Around the turn of the last century, archaeologists uncovered the remains of the original distillery that was in use 600 years ago. As the oldest distillery site yet discovered in China, the site was declared a national heritage site and nominated for world heritage status. The site is now part of the Shujingfang Museum. Entrance to the museum's exhibition hall is free but you will need to pay for a tour guide if you wish to visit the archaeological site. English guides are ¥100 and Mandarin guides are ¥40. After visiting the exhibition hall and archaeological site, the tour guide will lead you to a modern distillery, which may or may not be operating at the time of your visit. The final stop on the tour is a tasting room where you can sample some of the baijiu produced here. Of course, there is also a shop where you can buy bottles of baijiu.

09:00-17:30, no entry after 17:00

Happy Valley

欢乐谷; Huanlegu

Moderate size amusement park with 3 main roller coasters, Water Rides, Kids zone and water park (in Summer). Overall Good day out for both adults and families, makes a nice break from the city and has enough attractions to fill a full day out, As of 2011 the entrance to the park is now a sports retail outlet, Imax and Indoor Sky diving Centre with Restaurants.

Closed · opens 9 am·¥150, discount for students

Yongling Mausoleum

永陵, 王建墓; yǒng líng, wáng jiàn mù / Wang Jian's Tomb

Yongling is the tomb of Wang Jian, the founding emperor of the Shu Kingdom, also known as Great Shu or Former Shu, which ruled over much of Sichuan during the early 10th century during a period known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. The burial chamber has been excavated and is open to the public. An on-site museum displays artefacts that have been excavated from the tomb.

Tomb and museum: 08:30-18:00, Gardens: 06:30-22:00·¥20

Chengdu Zoo

成都动物园; chéng dū dòng wù yuán

Offers all the typical animals that one might expect in a zoo (elephant, tigers, giraffes, monkeys, as well as panda bears). While the zoo itself is large and spread out, some of the cages are woefully small and the facility seems understaffed. Might be good for a family to visit. The zoo has vendors selling Chinese snacks as well as some carnival type rides.

April–November: 08:00-17:00, December–March: 08:30-17:00·¥20

Luodai Ancient Town

洛带古镇

The town is especially famous for the national key cultural relic protection unit - the Four Conference Halls (Guangdong Hall, Jiangxi Hall, Huguang Hall, Sichuan North Hall) and the Hakka Museum and Hakka Park. It is one of the wonders in China's ancient architecture "Daguan Garden", with a total area of more than 20,000 square meters. Luodai Hall is a condensed history of Hakka immigration.

Entrance: free

People's Park

人民公园; rén mín gōng yuán

This park is a rare island of tranquility amid the noise and hustle of central Chengdu. It contains beautifully landscaped walking paths, lakes with paddle boats for rent, tea shops and restaurants, children's amusement rides, small sports facilities, and other attractions. Some old people use the park to sing and dance in separate groups. Some people practice calligraphy with water on the floor around a monument in the northwestern corner of this park. Some parents take their unmarried children's information here to find potential candidates. The park is a great place to take a child or a date, and it is always full of locals relaxing and enjoying themselves. For laughs, there is an information display which lists the city's current air quality, claiming there is about 4 times less pollution than the US Embassy reports.

No entry fee

Sichuan Art Museum

四川美术馆 (sì chuān měi shù guǎn)

Sichuan Art Museum is a major contemporary art institution located in the heart of Chengdu’s Qingyang District near Tianfu Square in Sichuan Province, China. The museum’s modern building rises six stories and houses a large collection of Chinese paintings, prints, and artworks, including traditional and modern pieces. It also serves as the headquarters of the Sichuan Artists Association and is part of Chengdu’s vibrant cultural zone alongside other museums and galleries.

09ː00-20ː00, no entry after 19ː00, closed on Mondays·Free · Free entry

Mike's Pizza Kitchen

Chengdu Pizza Delivery

Freshly made to order pizza. Authentic New York style pizza pie, stone-baked. Delivery only.

Closed · opens 11 am·¥30-150

Tianfu Square

天府广场 (tiān fǔ guǎng chǎng)

This square, overlooked by an enormous Chairman Mao statue in the center of the city, has been spruced up. Every evening at dusk, as well as at noontime, an elaborate water show, synchronized to music, bursts out from the square's fountains. Below the square is the hub of Chengdu's subway system. In the subway entrance plaza, a small shopping mall has been built, almost literally under Mao's nose.

Chengdu City Concert Hall

成都城市音乐厅

Chengdu City Concert Hall is a landmark cultural venue that blends modern architecture with world-class acoustics, serving as a premier stage for music and performing arts in Chengdu. It regularly hosts symphony concerts, chamber music, opera, and other high-level classical and contemporary performances.

Kuanzhaixiangzi

宽窄巷子

Very nice place with lots of (expensive) tea houses, restaurants and local snacks. Great for relaxing. Streets date from late Qing-dynasty style but have been rebuilt. Free government Wi-Fi in this place.

Chunxi Road area

春熙路

A street and a contiguous shopping district. More than 700 shops in the area including shopping malls, department stores, boutiques and street stalls.

Jellyfish

Lively and crowded cocktail bar with a DJ playing music. Lot of expats but also local folk.

Closed · opens 8 pm

Shamrock Pub

三叶草酒吧

This Irish pub is in the hub of Chengdu's small foreign community (of approximately 3,000). Friendly pub atmosphere and live music some evenings. In addition to drinks the pub serves dishes including pizza, meat pies, sausage rolls, steaks, burgers, curries and a range of other snacks. The pub is also an active sponsor of several non-profit organizations, including holding events for moon bear rescue and for the disabled. Copies of the informative Chengdoo book are available at the Shamrock.

Wi-Fi

Veranda Bridge Restaurant

This restaurant is actually a historic bridge over Funan River. Sichuan food. Very good reputation within Chengdu.

Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant

北海道日本料理

Authentic Japanese food. Serves curry, tonkatsu, unagi-don, fried rices, sushi, ramen noodles, and various other selections. Serves Chinese and Japanese beers, as well as a selection of plum wine and sake. Food quality varies.

Meals range from ¥20 upwards, expect a plate of sushi to be quite a bit more expensive, but sides are generally decent priced