Chengdu, Sichuan's capital, brings together Three Kingdoms history, Tang poetry and a lively teahouse tradition. Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding for conservation, Wuhou Shrine for Shu Han history and Du Fu Thatched Cottage for poetry and gardens. Leave time for tea in People's Park and a Sichuan meal or hotpot: the city's everyday rhythm is as rewarding as its major sights.
The best of Chengdu
Chenghua DistrictAbout 4 hoursCNY 55
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Chengdu's panda base combines breeding with conservation research. Newborn cubs are exceptionally small and require intensive maternal care, sometimes supported by keepers. Adults belong to Carnivora but obtain most of their food from bamboo, spending considerable time eating and resting. Watching different ages reveals development in action, from young pandas practicing climbing to adults handling and processing bamboo with practiced movements.
BookingBook a real-name time slot through official channels. A recent notice gives a 14-day booking window; bring the booked identity document. Passports are accepted; concession rules vary.
Location
South gate: 1375 Xiongmao Avenue, Chenghua, Chengdu, Sichuan.
Opening hours
07:30–18:00; morning-ticket entry 07:30–12:00 and afternoon-ticket entry 12:00–17:00.
Admission
Standard adult admission to the Chengdu base. CNY 55; shuttle rides and other services are extra. This ticket is for the Chengdu base.
Wuhou DistrictAbout 2 hoursCNY 50
Chengdu Wuhou Shrine
Chengdu's Wuhou Shrine commemorates Liu Bei, emperor of Shu Han, and his chancellor Zhuge Liang, placing the ruler's hall before the minister's. Liu Bei's mausoleum is also within the grounds. Figures such as Zhao Yun and Jiang Wei line the side galleries, with biographies drawn from the Records of the Three Kingdoms. A surviving Tang inscription by statesman Pei Du offers another encounter: a later dynasty's minister assessing Zhuge Liang's government of Shu.
BookingUse official real-name ticketing; the ticket site lists booking up to 14 days ahead and accepts identity cards or passports.
Location
231 Wuhouci Street, Chengdu, Sichuan.
Opening hours
The ticket site lists regular hours 09:00–18:00, last entry 17:00; the main website also displays 08:30–18:30 extended hours. Confirm the date's notice.
Admission
Adult admission to the Wuhou Shrine heritage area. Standard adult admission is CNY 50; this applies to the heritage area.
Qingyang DistrictAbout 2 hoursCNY 50
Du Fu Thatched Cottage
During the An Lushan Rebellion, Du Fu brought his family to Chengdu and built a cottage beside Huanhua Stream. Here he wrote poems including Spring Night's Happy Rain and his account of an autumn storm destroying his roof. Later generations created memorial halls and gardens. Gongbu Shrine takes its name from his honorary Works Ministry title, while the reconstructed cottage draws on his poems to present his courtyard, study and domestic surroundings.
BookingTickets are available through the official Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum WeChat account. A 2026 notice describes 14-day advance booking and on-site purchase with valid identification.
Location
37 Qinghua Road, Qingyang, Chengdu, Sichuan.
Opening hours
Regular hours 09:00–18:00, ticket sales stop 17:00. Summer and selected holidays may extend to 08:30–18:30 with sales ending 17:30; check notices.
Admission
Adult museum admission. The official standard adult rate is CNY 50; concessions and temporary free offers follow separate notices.
What to eat
Mapo tofu
Mapo tofu is said to have been created by a woman named Chen who ran an eatery in Qing-dynasty Chengdu. Soft tofu, minced beef, Pixian chilli bean paste and Sichuan pepper give it heat, tingle and depth. Order plenty of rice.
Dandan noodles
Dandan noodles take their name from the shoulder poles that street vendors once carried. Chilli oil, preserved greens, sauce and minced pork sit at the bottom of the bowl beneath the noodles, so toss everything before eating. With little broth and plenty of flavour, a small bowl makes a perfect snack.
Arrive, explore, settle in
Arriving
Chengdu has Tianfu and Shuangliu airports: check which one before arranging a transfer. Check your rail station’s full name too, and allow separate time to reach your city base.
Getting around
Use the metro between districts and walk within parks and neighborhoods. Give the panda base a separate half-day or longer instead of fitting it tightly between museum visits.
Where to stay
Chunxi Road suits transport and shopping; the People’s Park area suits teahouses and older streets. For Wuhou Shrine and Du Fu’s cottage, compare metro-connected bases toward the southwest of the center.
Check the base’s booking and entrance first, allowing time for its walking routes. Follow the visit with a relaxed park or teahouse stop.
Route 2
Shu history and city life
Focus on Wuhou Shrine, then explore nearby lanes. Give a People’s Park teahouse its own unhurried stop.
Route 3
Poet’s garden
Explore the architecture, garden and poetry context at Du Fu Thatched Cottage, leaving the rest of the outing for western neighborhoods or bookshops.
More planning advice
Give the panda base a generous visit slot. Confirm that your booking and entrance are for the Chenghua District base, and check its official time-slot and identification guidance.
At Wuhou Shrine, spend time with the memorial spaces for Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang and other Shu Han figures. At Du Fu's cottage, let the poems, reconstructed home and gardens guide your pace.
Check Wuhou Shrine's dated notices and official ticket page before setting your visit time. The records show different regular and extended schedules, so confirm last admission if arriving later.
Good to know
How many days do I need in Chengdu?
Allow 3–5 days, excluding intercity travel. Leave room for journeys, queues and meals.
When should I visit Chengdu?
Suggested months: Mar · Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov. Check weather, holidays and opening arrangements for your actual dates.
Which sights need advance booking?
Read each sight’s booking note and check official information before fixing your dates. Foreign passport booking channels may differ. Booking with a foreign passport →
Make Chengdu your own
Put your favourite places on the map, then decide how to spend each day.
