Chengdu, China is the most interesting city in the world (in my opinion) from the culture, vibrancy, food, and people. Chengdu is the capital city in the Sichuan Province and has a population of more than 20 million people. It has been voted China’s happiest cities for many years and is a UNESCO city for their gastronomy. Therefore, trying all the Sichuanese food is a MUST.
I found it to be a lively city with so many delicious food stalls, tea house culture, friendly people, and plants that cover the entire city. It felt like you were in a concrete jungle – in the best way possible. With that being said, Chengdu can be extremely overwhelming from just how big it is. So to keep it simple, here are the top 5 must do things while visiting Chengdu, China.
Need the steps on how to travel to China as an American? Read about it here.
1. People’s Park
The People’s Park (I believe) is the top thing to do in Chengdu. The People’s Park is quintessential China – from the tea houses, morning tai chi, bonsai tree gardens, elderly Chinese people gambling, food stalls, local games, and more. This park is a central hub where locals come to relax and simply hang out for the day. The best part is that it is completely free to go to and you really feel immersed in the culture.
Go to Heming Tea House and do as the locals do – just hang out for the day. Someone will come around and take your tea order. When they bring your cup and tea leaves they also bring a big jug of hot water, where you can get 5-6 cups of tea out of those leaves. There are also several food stalls to grab some dumplings, bao buns, noodles, and more.
Ear cleaners will come around to the tables if you want to get your ears cleaned while enjoying your tea – DO THIS! It’s such a unique a fun experience.
2. Chengdu Panda Research Base
Chengdu is home to one of China’s great treasures – the Giant Pandas. They are native to Chengdu and the government is making sure they are protected, as they are an endangered species. At the Research and Breeding base, you can see Giant Pandas, Red Pandas and their adorable babies.
Buy tickets at the door, but be warned this place gets REALLY crowded. Try to go early in the morning as well as on a weekday if you can. Even though this is touristy and extremely crowded, it’s a MUST-do activity in Chengdu to see these beautiful creatures in their native country.
To get here from the city center, I would recommend taking a Didi ride (their local rideshare app)
3. Walk Around Kuanzhai Alley
Kuanzhai Alley is the one of the ancient parts of Chengdu. Here you can leave the contemporary city skyscrapers and instead appreciate the ancient Chinese architecture from the Qing Dynasty. You can leisurely stroll into the many shops and restaurants. There are also several tea houses along the way, so stop and enjoy some tea in the peaceful setting. It’s a lovely way to enjoy an afternoon.
4. Chengdu Museum
The Chengdu Museum is located in the Center of Chengdu by Tianfu Square. This museum has become a cultural landmark of Chengdu. It is called an “encyclopedia” with all its history and records about the culture and people of Chengdu. Note: They are closed on Mondays
Of course there are several other museums to also check out to learn about the history and culture like:
- The Sichuan Museum
- Chengdu Art Museum
- Chengdu Natural History Museum
- Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum.
5. Bullet Train to Mount Emei
Mount Emei is worth the trip outside of Chengdu City limits as you see a completely different aspect of China – the stunning nature. In the summer, hike it or in the winter take the ski lift up and ski down it. Mount Emei is full of ancient trees, breathtaking views, ancient temples, and unique wildlife.
Getting to Mount Emei from Chengdu:
You can either book a private tour or just go to the Chengdu East Railway Station and buy a ticket for Emeishan station. The bullet trains (goes up to 140 mph) leave every 1-1.5 hours. It takes around an hour to get there. There are several security checks at the train station (it is like an airport) so always have your ticket and passport available. I would also recommend buying return tickets back or just knowing the schedule to ensure you come back before the last train departs.
Once at Emeishan station, walk towards the mountain to see some restaurants, temples, and monuments on the way up.
At the base of the mountain there will be maps to show what paths to take, but I highly recommend going to the Ecological Monkey Reserve where there are dozens of Tibetan Macaques. It is the biggest natural reserve for monkeys in China. In my experience at the beginning of June, the monkeys really came out during dusk around 5 pm.
To get to the Ecological Monkey Reserve take a coach bus up and then pay an entrance fee to get into this section of the mountain. Once in, you hike to the Ecological Reserve which can take around 1-2 hours. It’s kind of a lot of logistics, but go to the visitors center and they can help you out. It’s totally worth it.
Note: Please be mindful when around the monkeys as the monkeys are not afraid of people. There will be some tourists giving them food and down right harassing them. Keep your distance and don’t take any food or objects out when around them. Just respect and be in awe from afar.
These are my top 5 things to do in Chengdu, China – is there anything else you would add to the list?
