Chengdu is really a relaxing and fun city to explore. Here, the laid-back lifestyle, lovely pandas, tasty Sichuan cuisine, and more, all make it a popular travel destination in China.
If you're also planning a trip to Chengdu, you may want to know what the top things to do here.
With over 26 years of experience creating China tours, China Highlights knows the best spots. And I just visited Chengdu myself in March. This guide combines insights with my personal highlights to help you make the most of your trip.
1. Visit Dujiangyan Panda Base
See pandas and join the volunteer program in Dujiangyan Panda BaseCompared to the popular but often crowded Chengdu Panda Breeding Center, I highly recommend visiting the Dujiangyan Panda Base instead, based on my visit in March.
It's less crowded, and you can see many pandas without strenuous walking. The entire visit takes only about 2 hrs, so if you travel with the elderly or kids, Dujiangyan Panda Base is a relaxed pace choice.
And if you look for a deeper panda experience, you can also take part in the panda volunteer program here, cleaning enclosures, chopping bamboo, making panda snacks, and more.
We visited around 9-10:30 pm during the feeding time, and saw that most of the pandas were very active at this time.
Recommended articles:
- How to Plan a Panda Tour: Find all the panda bases in Chengdu and some panda-themed experiences
- Best Time to Visit Chengdu: Check out the best time to visit pandas and other attractions
2. Savor Local Snacks in Wide and Narrow Alleys
Wide and Narrow AlleysChengdu is a foodie paradise approved by UNESCO, and has a lot of food streets to explore. Kuanzhai Alley (Wide and Narrow Alleys) is my personal favorite, and also my top recommendation.
It's a must-visit spot for first-timers to Chengdu. Here, you can not only try different local snacks, but also take photos of internet-famous spots.
That said, Wide and Narrow Alley can be a little bit pricey and quite crowded. If you're looking for some more cost-effective and less crowded streets, check out the nearby Jixiang Street and Kuixinglou Street.
And if you're not sure what to eat, or want to explore even more food streets, you can check our Top Chengdu Street Foods and Food Streets.
3. Enjoy a Sichuan Opera with Face-Changing
Watch a Sichuan Opera in the theater or a teahouseIf you're interested in traditional culture, you cannot miss a show with face-changing, fire-spitting, puppet, rolling oil lamp, folk music performances and more.
We recommend Shu Feng Ya Yun. It's foreigner-friendly with bilingual (Chinese-English) introductions. Unlike some other venues, there's no pushy sales, and you can also get a tea sipping, massage, or traditional ear-cleaning experience while visiting.
Unlike other tourists just sitting in the audience, we could arrange a backstage visit where you can meet the actors and watch them do their makeup. And with VIP seats, you might even have a face-changing actor stop right in front of you to perform the show up close!
4. Join Local's Laid-back Life in Qingyuan Community
We visited the embroidery room in Qingyuan CommunityWhen it comes to experiencing local life in Chengdu, People's Park is usually the go-to spot. It's lively, spacious, and popular with both locals and tourists.
But Qingyuan Community is also recommended, based on our last trip to Chengdu. Here, you'll find a quieter, more intimate glimpse into everyday life, such as snuff bottle acrobatics, embroidery, reading, and mahjong.
There were hardly any tourists, and we felt like Chengdu locals ourselves, taking part in the daily activities rather than just observing their lives.
You can also find a traditional teahouse, a quaint-style restaurant, and even a community canteen there. If you choose to dine or sip tea here, you'll enjoy a much quieter, more peaceful setting.
5. Explore Eastern Suburb Memory
A corner of Eastern Suburb Memory I took in MarchIf you're looking for some trendy but budget-friendly shops for shopping, then Eastern Suburb Memory is your place.
It's a cool industrial-style district packed with niche-designed clothes, items and boutique cafes like Shu Yan Fu. Also, you can find a lot of social media famous photo spots here, such as the vintage locomotive and red wall.
Find more best shopping areas in Chengdu, not only Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li.
6. Witness the "Blue Tear" of Dujiangyan Irrigation System
I took a photo of the blue tear in Tianyuanfu Gallery BridgeA night visit to view the "Blue Tear" is my favorite way to Dujiangyan Irrigation System.
The lights come on from 7 pm to midnight, and you'll get a more stunning visual experience than daytime.
The South Bridge is the most popular viewing and photo spot. But I also recommend the nearby Tianyuanfu Gallery Bridge. There's a vertical walkway in the middle of the river, so you can enjoy unique viewing and photo angles.
Actually, the "Blue tear" is the lighting effect, and what you see with your eyes may look different from what the camera captures. For me, I saw it as green in person, but it appeared blue in photos.
7. Marvel at the Grandest Leshan Giant Buddha
Our guests at Leshan Giant BuddhaLeshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone Buddha statue in the world, and also one of the UNESCO sites. You can explore by either hiking or a boat tour, or choose both.
The mountain hike takes 2-3 hours up and down. It's the best way to witness the Buddha up close and find many photo spots. But it can also get crowded with queues.
If you prefer less walking or have limited time, the 30-minute boat tour is less crowded, and you can have full views as well.
It takes a day from Chengdu to visit by both hiking and boat. Typically, you'll end the trip around 11 am (by boat) or 1 pm (by hiking). But if you choose just one way to explore, you'll have half the day free.
For the rest of the day, you can explore nearby activities, like a half-day Leshan food tour, a half-day trip to Huanglongxi Ancient Town (great for summer water play), or head back to explore downtown Chengdu.
8. Ski at Xiling Snow Mountain in Winter
Xiling Snow MountainIt's the largest and best-equipped ski resort around Chengdu, only a 2-hour drive from Chengdu.
The snow season is usually from December to February, and it offers slopes ranging from beginner to advanced, perfect even if it's your first time skiing.
Besides skiing, there are also many snow activities to enjoy, such as a snow-themed park, snowmobiles, archery, ice slides, ice sculptures and more. You can also capture snow forests and red Swiss-style castles, making it a winter feast to enjoy for all ages.
Get more ideas from Chengdu Itinerary to arrange your Chengdu and its surroundings visit.
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