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China travel and tour destination Chengdu

China Destination Guide - Chengdu 成都

With a population topping 13 million and growing (the fifth most populous city in China) Chengdu is the capital of mountainous Sichuan province and the place to come to to see Giant Pandas. The city does have charm beyond Pandas though, the people are friendly and the food excellent making Chengdu and easy place to spend a few days. It is also a natural base for exploring more of Sichuan including nearby Leshan and Emeishan as well as the further afield to Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou.

➤ TCTC Tip: Chengdu is usually visited after Xian and before Guilin or Yangtze Cruises.

What there is to see in Chengdu:

Du Fu's cottage was set up to commemorate the famous Tang Dynasty poet and is now in a lovely park and perhaps Chengdu's most beautiful green space.
The Giant Panda Breeding Research Base is the city's most popular attraction and is 10km outside the city. Get there early in the morning to see the Pandas active.
The Green Ram Temple is the oldest and most extensive Taoist temple in Chengdu and a place of active worship these days. Sichuan opera is played here nightly.
Wenshu temple is Chengdu's largest and best preserved Buddhist temple as well as being wonderfully atmospheric with the smell of incense and gentle sound of chanting.
The bustling Jin Li Street and the more serene Wenshuyuan area provide great opportunities for shopping, watching traditional performances and soaking up the local atmosphere in a traditional Chinese setting.

Best time to Visit Chengdu

April, May, September and October are the best months to visit but Chengdu can be visited year round although the summers are rainy and it can feel surprisingly cool in the winter.

Best reason to visit Chengdu

For the city itself the nearby Giant Panda Research and Breeding Centre is the top sight with good opportunity to learn about Pandas as well as Red Pandas and see them in a better environment than a zoo.

Our last word on Chengdu

Chengdu is the key to unlocking the fantastic sights of Sichuan province and although a pleasant city in itself it is the places which can be seen when using Chengdu as a base that make this city a popular China stop.