Free things to do in Chengdu

9 places in Chengdu with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

SeeArchaeological museum
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 MondaysFree, Foreigner needs to register from the opposite side of the entrance to get ticket
SeeArchaeological museum
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 MondaysFree, foreigners must go through the 'Foreigner' entrance and register
SeeScience museum
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
SeeHistoric site
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 amFree · Heritage listed
SeeArt gallery
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 MondaysFree · Free entry
See
A Thousand Plateaus Art Space
千高原艺术空间; Qian Gaoyuan Yishu Kongjian
A contemporary art gallery in Chengdu exhibiting Chinese and international artists. Exhibit openings generally happen once a month, and other events also take place.
Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00Free entry
See
Southwest Minzu University Museum of Nationalities
西南民族大学民族博物馆
This was one of the first ethnographic museums to be established in China following the founding of the People's Republic. It has one of the richest collections of ethnic minority artefacts in southwestern China. There are artefacts from 35 different ethnic groups and specialized exhibitions on the Tibetans, the Qiang, the Miao, the Yi, the Bai, the Tujia, the Dai and the Naxi.
Open to the general public every Tue from 13:30 to 16:30; visitors wishing to visit on a different day or time are required to make a bookingFree
See
Anren Ancient Town
安仁古镇; ān rén gǔ zhèn
Also called China's Museum Town (中国博物馆小镇) due to the large number of museums, including the Jianchuan Museum Cluster (see below).The entire scenic area west to Liu Xiang riding statue, east to the Convention and Exhibition Road, north to the road around the town, south to the Xiejiang River, the core scenic area of 3 square kilometers, including the old street of the Gongguan, Liu's Manor Museum, Jianchuan Museum, three core resources. Anren Ancient Town is 39 kilometers away from Chengdu downtown, 36 kilometers away from Shuangliu International Airport, 10 kilometers away from Dayi Station of Chengya High-speed Railway, 8 kilometers away from Dayi South Exit of Chengya High-speed Railway, and 8.5 kilometers away from Dayi County.
Free (Tickets are required for the museums)
See
Huanglongxi Ancient Town
黄龙溪古镇
The core area of Huanglongxi Ancient Town preserves Ming and Qing dynasty residences, ancient temples, and key cultural relics, covering approximately 31,200 square meters, with 13,700 square meters of Qing-era wooden structures. The town has rich folk culture, including traditions such as the Fire Dragon Festival and floating river lanterns. It has been designated a Sichuan Provincial Scenic Area, a National AAAA-level Tourist Attraction, and selected as one of the "New Ten Scenic Spots of Chengdu."
24hoursFree

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Chengdu (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.