chengdu
Giant pandas, legendary hotpot, and a laid-back café culture that makes every visitor want to move here
Top Highlights
- 1 Giant Panda Base
- 2 Jinli Ancient Street
- 3 Kuanzhai Alley
- 4 Leshan Giant Buddha
- 5 Sichuan Opera
Visa & Entry
Visa required (most nationalities)
Check your nationality's eligibility for visa-free entry or the 144-hour transit exemption. Most visitors from Western countries need a standard tourist (L) visa.
Full visa guideBest Time to Visit
Mar–Jun & Sep–Nov
Suggested stay: 3–5 days. Avoid the Golden Week holiday (1–7 October) and Spring Festival (Jan/Feb) — crowds are enormous and prices peak.
Seasonal travel guideNearby destinations
30 articles — page 2 of 5
All destinations
chengduChengdu Hotpot Culture Guide: Mala Broth, Ordering Tips & Best Restaurants
Master Chengdu's legendary hotpot culture — from understanding the numbing-spicy mala broth and ordering raw ingredients to choosing the best neighbourhood restaurants, managing heat levels, and pairing your meal with local baijiu or craft beer.
Updated May 2026
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chengduChengdu Tianfu New Area: Tech Parks, Science City & Future Sichuan
Explore Chengdu's Tianfu New Area — China's newest national-level economic zone south of the city, featuring a futuristic science museum, tech parks, the Xinglong Lake district, and the emerging cultural venues that define contemporary Chengdu beyond pandas and hotpot.
Updated May 2026
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sichuanSanxingdui Museum Guide: China's Most Mysterious Ancient Civilization
Visit Sanxingdui Museum near Chengdu — home to the most enigmatic artifacts in Chinese archaeology, including the extraordinary bronze tree of life, enormous goggle-eyed masks, and evidence of a sophisticated Bronze Age civilization that existed entirely outside the written history of China's Yellow River cultures.
Updated May 2026
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ChengduChengdu Metro Guide 2026: Lines, Maps, Fares & Tips for Tourists
Complete guide to Chengdu's metro system for foreign visitors. Covers all lines, how to pay, airport connections, key tourist stops, and navigation tips.
Updated May 2026
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chinaChina with Kids: School Holiday Itinerary & Family-Friendly Destinations
Plan a successful family trip to China during school holidays — the destinations that genuinely engage children (pandas, terracotta warriors, acrobatics shows, Xi'an food), managing queues and heat with young children, Chinese child hospitality culture, the surprising places where kids love China most, and the practical logistics of travelling with under-12s in China.
Updated May 2026
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chinaSichuan Hot Pot Complete Guide: How to Order, What to Dip, and Survive the Spice
Master Sichuan hot pot in Chengdu and Chongqing — the complete guide to choosing your broth (split pot, single broth), the essential and adventurous ingredients, the dipping sauce you build yourself, the correct order to cook ingredients, managing the numbing-spicy flavour, the best value hot pot experience versus the premium Haidilao chain, and the unwritten rules of hot pot dining.
Updated May 2026
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