Pandas, hotpot, teahouses and old towns — the soul of Chengdu is taking it easy. This relaxed 4-day route is great for families and first-timers, with cuteness and great food in equal measure, plus a half-day at Dujiangyan for 2,000 years of water-engineering genius.
Itinerary
Panda Base · Chunxi Road
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda BreedingSight
The main event — watch the pandas munch bamboo, climb and tumble; the cubs are impossibly cute. You won't stop taking photos.
- Chunxi Road & Taikoo LiSight
Afternoon shopping; snap the wall-climbing panda art installation and the IFS rooftop.
Kuanzhai Alley · People's Park · Hotpot
- Kuanzhai AlleySight
Old Chengdu courtyard culture — ear-cleaning, face-changing and covered-bowl tea all on offer.
- Heming Teahouse, People's ParkActivity
Sit down for a covered-bowl tea, crack some seeds, soak up the sun — the essence of Chengdu's slow life.
- Chengdu old-style hotpotFood
The evening highlight — tripe, duck intestine, brain flower and crispy pork, cooled off with a bowl of icejelly.
Dujiangyan (full day)
- Dujiangyan Irrigation SystemSight
A water-control marvel built by Li Bing and his son, still working after 2,000+ years — Fish Mouth, Flying Sand Weir and Bottle-Neck in one sweep.
- Nanqiao Bridge & Guanxian Old TownFood
Nanqiao is gorgeous at dusk; have a local dinner in the old town before heading back to Chengdu.
Jinli · Wuhou Shrine · departure
- Wuhou ShrineSight
A must for Three Kingdoms fans; the red-wall-and-bamboo lane is wonderfully photogenic.
- Jinli Ancient StreetFood
Three-cannon rice cakes, sugar-oil dumplings and bobo chicken to eat as you stroll — grab some souvenirs before you go.
Tips
1) Get to the panda base early! Be there for the 7:30 opening — pandas are most active in the morning and mostly nap after 10am. 2) The base is big — rent an electric cart or follow the moonlight nursery → sunlight nursery → toddler yard route. 3) For hotpot, the chuanchuan skewers and old-style pots locals love are plenty spicy at 'mild' for visitors. 4) Shop around Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li, then see the nightlife by the bars at Jiuyanqiao.