Is Jinli Old Street worth visiting? The answer is yes if you look for an ancient street to stroll on in downtown Chengdu. It's a vibrant stretch full of history, culture, and tasty street food, great for first-time visitors, culture lovers, photographers, and foodies.
Jinli is also one of the world's 21 most beautiful streets, named by CNN, and it's quite a long street, so you'll expect 1-2 hrs to explore. Sure, it's a bit commercial, but the ancient and Three Kingdoms vibe is strong. Plus, it's right next to Wuhou Shrine, so you can visit both together.
- Location: Wuhou District, Chengdu, 20min drive from Chengdu City center
- Opening Hours: Open all day; shops 8:30am–10pm
- What to Experience: Photos, Hanfu, snacks, crafts, performances
What's the Best Time to Visit: For Fewer Crowds or Nicer View
Evening around 8-10 pm: most beautiful and liveliest time
That's when the red lanterns are lit on, the street turns brilliant and super photogenic, perfect for snapping some night shots.
Red lanterns light up Jinli Old StreetBut it's also the crowded time, so you'd better avoid visiting on weekends and holidays.
Morning around 9-11 am: Fewer Crowds
Jinli is always busy and crowded throughout the day, but if you visit in the early morning, when most shops start opening around 8:30am, you can enjoy a relatively quieter moment to stroll, grab some local eats, and browse souvenirs without too much crowd.
Jinli Old StreetSpring Festival: lively lantern show, but also crowded and charging
If you visit during Spring Festival, there is a grand temple fair and lantern show in Jinli Old Street and Wuhou Shrine.
However, these two spots are ticketed together during this time, so you'll need to pay to enter both. On normal days, though, Jinli Street is free to wander, while Wuhou Shrine charges separately.
What to See and What to Do in Jinli Old Street
Jinli Old Street is great to take ancient-style photos, sample local snacks, browse crafts and souvenirs, enjoy traditional folk performances, and visit together with Wuhou Shrine.
1. Snap the Ancient Charm: Hanfu, Lanterns & Night Vibes
Jinli Old Street at nightJinli Old Street is filled with grey-brick buildings, red lanterns and traditional garden-style settings, perfect for you to enjoy an ancient atmosphere without traveling far from downtown Chengdu.
The most beautiful time is when the lanterns light up after 8pm. You'll not only capture some of the most popular night shots on social media, but also experience dressing in Hanfu or Sichuan Opera costumes for a fabulous photoshoot.
Top Photo Spots in Jinli Old Street
- The gate plaque with "Jinli" at the entrance: a classic photo spot
- Huanglong Pond: best for atmospheric photos, with lanterns, water, trees and an iconic stone arch bridge
- Fushou Alley: you'll capture great photo structures on this narrow alley covered in red lanterns
- Old Stage: the stage with a giant old tree and tea houses, adding a timeless and peaceful touch to your photos
The old stage in Jinli Old StreetPhoto Tips:
Plan your hanfu shoot around 4-5pm. This gives you time for hair, makeup and a few daylight shots before the lanterns turn on in the evening. You'll enjoy the best lighting, fewer crowds, and a golden hour to night transition, then get both daytime and night view photos.
2. Taste Local Bites: Street Snacks & Heritage Flavours
The craftsman is making the sugar paintingSnacks are a big part of the Jinli experience, and as you walk deeper into the street, you'll find even more food stalls and local specialty shops.
Besides traditional snacks, you can also find fun-to-watch heritage snacks like sugar painting and San Da Pao, where glutinous rice balls get thrown and slammed before landing on your plate.
Most items cost around ¥10-30. The taste may be mild, but if you're here to sample and soak in the lively vibe, it's still worth a try.
Top Picked Snacks to Try in Jinli
- Ye Popo Boboji: A Famous Chengdu brand, their spicy chicken skewers and sweet duck are must-tries.
- Zhang Fei Beef: Firm and chewy, you can pair it with chili powder.
- Juntun Guokui: Heritage crispy flatbread, suitable for all ages.
- San Da Pao: Sticky rice balls that make a loud "bang" when smashed. It tastes soft and chewy inside.
Spicy Boboji (cool skewers)If you want to find more local eats and food streets in Chengdu, please check out our Chengdu Snack & Food Street Guide.
3. Bring Home a Bit of Chengdu: Local Crafts & Souvenirs
The small handicraft stalls along the streetIf you're a fan of handmade crafts or just looking for a nice place to shop for souvenirs, Jinli won't disappoint you.
The main street is lined with stalls and shops selling modern souvenirs like panda plushies and fridge magnets, and also traditional Sichuan handicrafts and heritage pieces, such as hand-cut shadow puppets, Shu embroidery, fish-shaped lanterns, paper cutting, and more.
Most of these can be found at the street-side stalls near the entrance, while further in, you'll come across more curated stores with a wider selection.
4. Feel the Folk Vibe: Tea Houses & Street Performances
Face-changing show on the streetJinli is full of heritage and folk culture, from tea houses where you can sip tea and watch Sichuan Opera (like face changing and hand shadow shows), to street artists making sugar figures, dough figurines, and shadow puppets.
Tea houses usually charge about ¥30 per person, but watch out for any extra fees before you sit.
If you prefer a better watching experience with an English intro, we recommend the 90-minute show at Shu Feng Ya Yun, just outside Jinli.
It's one of the top theaters in Chengdu, where you can enjoy a tea set, ear-cleaning, or even a shoulder massage while watching top-notch performances.
5. Pair Jinli with Ancient Shu History: Visit Wuhou Shrine
Wuhou ShrineIf you love history, Wuhou Shrine next door is a perfect addition to your trip. It's just next to Jinli, only separated by one wall, so it's easier for you to visit them together.
Here you can learn about Zhuge Liang and other Three Kingdoms heroes, and the red wall and bamboo path here are also beautiful for you to take photos.
A small tip is if you want to really pop in your shots, skip wearing red as the red wall background.
Wuhou Shrine, the red walls, and the bamboo forestsVisit around 4 pm for the best photo lights and fewer crowds
If you want to avoid the crowds, visiting around 8:30am or 4pm on weekdays is better. Wuhou Shrine stays open till 6:30pm, so you'll still have plenty of time to look around.
But we especially recommend the afternoon, as the sunlight is mild and great for photos. What's more, by the time you finish exploring, it'll be just right for enjoying some local snacks in Jinli and waiting for the lantern-lit time.
Travel Tips for Visiting Jinli Old Street
How Can I Get to Jinli Old Street?
Take Metro Line 3 and get off at Gaoshengqiao Station (Exit C), then walk about 10-15 minutes to reach Jinli.
Taxis can drop you off directly, but we don't recommend taking one in the evening, as traffic jams are common in this area at night.
Is It Recommended to Stay in Jinli Old Street?
Jinli is one of the recommended areas to stay if you prefer some quaint and budget-friendly inns or boutique hotels. However, we suggest booking a place just outside Jinli rather than inside the street itself, for a few practical reasons:
- The street is pedestrian-only, so carrying your luggage in and out can be a hassle.
- It's not very convenient to reach other attractions. You'll need to walk out to the main road to catch a taxi or other transport
- Getting back to your inn often means squeezing through heavy crowds, especially in the evenings.
Jinli is crowded, especially during weekends and holidaysTour Jinli Old Street with China Highlights
Do you want to visit the old street? Please see our popular Chengdu tours below for inspiration:
- 3-Day Chengdu Cuisine Experience Tour
- 5-Day Chengdu and Its UNESCO Neighbors
- 7-Day Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou Fairyland Tour
Not interested in the above tours? We are more than happy to create a tour for you based on your interests and requirements.
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