Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan and the gateway to Western China. Families come for the giant pandas, food lovers for Sichuan cooking, and businesses for one of China's fastest-growing regional economies.
Want Chengdu planned for you? Hotels for your budget, tickets booked on release, halal meals and directions, in a free detailed plan. Plan Chengdu free →
- Airports
- Tianfu International (TFU) and Shuangliu International (CTU)
- Best time
- March–June and September–November
- How long
- 2 to 3 days
- Good for
- Families, food, Western China business
What to see
01
Giant Panda Research Base
See giant pandas; go early when they are most active.
02
Kuanzhai Alley
Restored Qing-dynasty lanes with tea houses and snacks.
03
Wenshu Monastery and People's Park
A working Buddhist monastery and a park full of tea houses.
04
Leshan Giant Buddha
A 71-metre Buddha carved into a cliff, about an hour away by high-speed train.
05
Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng
An ancient irrigation system and a Taoist mountain, both UNESCO World Heritage.
What to eat
- Hotpot
- Mapo tofu
- Dan dan noodles
- Chuanchuan skewers
Halal food and mosques
Sichuan cooking often uses pork or lard, so Muslim travellers should choose restaurants showing the 清真 (halal) sign. We plan these for you.
Mosques
- Huangcheng Mosque, Qingyang District: the city's best-known mosque
Halal options
- Halal Sichuan-style beef and lamb
- Lanzhou beef noodles
- Xinjiang restaurants
Chengdu for business
Chengdu is the commercial centre of Western China.
- Electronics, automotive and food industries across the Chengdu–Chongqing region
- Western China International Fair, held in Chengdu
- Chongqing about 1 hour by high-speed train
Getting there and around
- Metro Line 18 connects Tianfu Airport with the city; Shuangliu Airport is closer to the centre.
- High-speed trains reach Chongqing in about 1 hour and Xi'an in about 3 to 3.5 hours.
Questions
When is the best time to see pandas in Chengdu?
Early morning, soon after opening, when the pandas are fed and most active.
Is Chengdu suitable for Muslim travellers?
Yes, with planning. Many Sichuan dishes use pork, so choose restaurants with the 清真 (halal) sign. Huangcheng Mosque is in Qingyang District.
Which Chengdu airport do international flights use?
Most international flights use Tianfu International (TFU). Shuangliu (CTU) is closer to the city centre and handles many domestic flights.
Opening hours, routes and rules change. Check before you travel.
