Sights and landmarks in Chengdu
215 sights worth seeing in Chengdu: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 215.
Sights and landmarks in Chengdu
SeePerson museumDu 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
SeeSanxingdui
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)
SeeArchaeological siteJinsha 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 Mondaysadults¥66children¥35 · Heritage listed
SeeHistoric siteAnshun 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.
SeeArchaeological museumChengdu 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 museumSichuan 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
SeeHistory museumWuhouci 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
SeeChengdu 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.
730-1700Entry fee is ¥55.English-speaking tour guide ¥100
SeeScience museumSichuan 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 siteWenshu 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
SeeAttractionJinli 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.
- SeeMuseum
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
- SeeAttraction
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
SeeChengdu 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
SeeLuodai 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
SeePeople'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
- 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
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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.
SeeAttractionKuanzhaixiangzi
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.
- 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
Chengdu Natural History Museum
成都自然博物馆
One of the largest natural history museums in western China. The museum has around 70,000 items, of which around 10,000 are on display, including many fossils. As of November, visitor numbers are limited to 5000 people per day and bookings are essential. Bookings can be made on the museum's public WeChat account. The WeChat account name is "成都自然博物馆 成都理工博物馆".
09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays¥20
- See
Jianchuan Museum Cluster
建川博物馆聚落
Industrialist Fan Jianchuan built this campus of museums to explain the history of 20th century China. This is the first privately owned museum in Sichuan (privately operated museums in China have only been permitted since the year 2001). The Museum campus contains four buildings about World War II in China - one explaining the Communist Party role, one about the Kuomintang, one about the American volunteer group "Flying Tigers", and one about Sichuan volunteers. There is also the modestly named "New China Porcelain Museum", which actually tells the story of the Cultural Revolution through porcelain of that era. A museum that more directly addresses that era is under construction. You will also see buildings explaining the practice of foot-binding and one about prisoners of war. Nearby, you can also walk through a landlord's manor. Make a day trip out of it; the Museum is in the historic town of Anren about an hour's drive from downtown Chengdu. Get around the museum cluster by walking, renting a bicycle or paying ¥10 to ride the sightseeing car; a tea-house and restaurant is located on site.
Closed · opens 9 am¥60 for a one-day pass to visit all museums, ¥100 for a three-day pass, ¥20 to visit just one museum
- See
Sichuan University Museum
四川大学博物馆; Sichuan Daxue Bowuguan
Excellent display of local artifacts and is worth while way of spending an hour or two. The museum is one of the better in China and there are four floors of well lit, air conditioned displays with decent English translations. Starting in the basement, enter the first room where dozens of stone carvings dating from the Han dynasty to the Tang are on display. The room next door has a moderately interesting display on the museum's history and numerous examples of ancient bronzes and stone age artifacts. The first floor is mostly artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasty, including furniture, silk clothing, and an interesting display of leather puppets. The second floor has the perhaps the most engaging display: artifacts and daily use items from ethnic minority groups in China's southwest, including Tibetans, Miao, Yi, Qiang, Jianpo and Naxi. The third floor has a decent display of calligraphy scrolls, paintings, and ceramics.
09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on weekends¥30 (students ¥10)
- 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 Not mapped
Chengdu Art Museum
This major cultural landmark in the heart of Chengdu opened in 2021. It serves as a vibrant hub for contemporary art and cultural exchange in western China. The museum features modern architectural design and spacious exhibition halls that host a wide range of national and international art exhibitions. Through its diverse programs—including exhibitions, workshops, and public lectures—the Chengdu Art Museum aims to promote creativity, cultural dialogue, and appreciation for the arts among the public.
May–Oct: Tue–Sun 10:00-21:30 (last entry 21:00); Nov–Apr: Tue–Sun 10:00-20:00 (last entry 19:30) Closed on MondaysIt's free but need to make an appointment.
- 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)
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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
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Jiezi ancient town
街子古镇
25 km northwest of Chengdu, in Chongzhou, the Fengqi mountain, the mountain connected with Qingcheng.
- See
Liujiang Old Town
柳江古镇, 柳江镇
Liujiang town, located 25 km southwest of the county to spend Hongya River tributary of Liujiang sides. Town was founded in the Southern Song Dynasty, and modern architecture across the water from the Ming and Qing era buildings.
- See
Ming Prince Tombs
明蜀王陵; míng shǔ wáng líng
Five tombs of the princes of the Ming Dynasty, who were given estates in the area by the emperor, and subsequently buried here. Their burial chambers have been excavated, two of which are open to the public; the tomb of Prince Xi (僖王陵) and the tomb of Prince Zhao (昭王陵). The former is lined with beautiful carvings, and is often said to be the grandest burial chamber to have been excavated to date in China.
Adult ¥12, youth/student ¥6
- See
Qingyang Temple
青羊宫; Qingyanggong; lit. Palace of the Black, Green or Blue Ram
This Taoist temple is the oldest and biggest of its kind in the area, located in the west of downtown. A large and still-active temple that takes into consideration Taoist philosophy in its construction, and with both a park next door and a number of relaxed courtyards inside. While it has a long history, the buildings are modern, cheaply-made concrete constructions, and it quite frequently shows. The statues inside are also cheap modern constructions of no real interest. A teahouse and a vegetarian restaurant can be found within the temple complex.
Closed · opens 8 am¥10
SeeAttractionWest Pearl Tower
Tianfu Panda Tower (Chinese: 天府熊猫塔), also known as the 339 TV Tower, is a 339-meter (1,112 ft) radio and television tower in Chenghua, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. It stands at 168 Mengzhuiwan Street, by the Jin River. The tower serves as a broadcasting transmission hub for Sichuan and is one of the most prominent landmarks on Chengdu's skyline.
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Museum of Sichuan Cuisine
川菜博物馆
8 Ronghua Lane North, Gucheng Town, Pidu District (郫都区古城镇荣华北巷8号)
Closed · opens 9 am¥60 for general admission, ¥360 to take part in a cooking experience
SeeHistoric siteChairman Mao statue
The Mao Zedong Statue is a marble sculpture located in Tianfu Square, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. The monument stands 30 m (98.4 ft) tall and depicts Mao Zedong with an outstretched arm. Before 1967, the site was occupied by an ancient palace from the Shu Kingdom of ancient Sichuan.
.jpg?width=240 "Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0")
SeeLibrarySichuan Provincial Library
Sichuan Provincial Library is the provincial public library of Sichuan, China, located in Qingyang, Chengdu. It is the largest library in Western China and one of the ten largest libraries in the country. The library was officially established in October 1912 and is the second oldest public library in China.
Wheelchair accessible · Built 1912
SeeHistoric siteQingyang Taoist Temple
9 一环路西二段
SeeHistoric siteJinsha Site Museum
SeePublic art川军抗日阵亡将士纪念碑
- SeeAttraction
Happy valley Chengdu
- SeeViewpoint
成都杜甫草堂博物馆-观景台
外西草堂路28号
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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Chengdu (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).