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
29 articles — page 3 of 5
All destinations
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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foodChina Food Guide: 30 Dishes You Must Try and Where to Find Them
The essential China food guide for travellers: 30 must-try dishes organised by region, how to find the best versions, how to order without Chinese, food safety tips, and a guide to the regional cuisines that make Chinese food endlessly varied.
Updated May 2026
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beginners2 Weeks in China: The Ultimate Independent Itinerary for First-Timers
The definitive 14-day China itinerary covering Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Shanghai — with exact train connections, daily budgets, booking tips, and honest advice for independent travellers doing it without a tour group.
Updated May 2026
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chengduChengdu Food Guide 2025: Hotpot, Mapo Tofu, Street Snacks & Where to Eat Like a Sichuan Local
The complete eating guide to Chengdu — from authentic Sichuan hotpot and mapo tofu to dan dan noodles, rabbit head, teahouse culture, and the street food alley that locals actually eat at.
Updated May 2026
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itineraryChina Southwest Golden Triangle: 10 Days in Chengdu, Guilin & Yunnan
The classic 10-day southwest China loop — giant pandas in Chengdu, karst peaks along the Li River in Guilin, and the ancient towns of Lijiang and Dali in Yunnan.
Updated May 2026
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