So, you’ve been to straightlaced Beijing, metropolitan Shanghai and maybe even futuristic Shenzhen, but have you been to chill Chengdu?
Situated near the heart of China in the far inland regions of Sichuan Province, Chengdu is the center of western China with a reputation for pandas, spicy foods and a laidback people who’d love nothing better than to spend the day immersed in mahjong.
So, what’s on the must-visit list for a Chengdu-curious traveller? Read on to find out!
Chengdu Panda Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
First thing’s first – pandas!
Chengdu is home to not one, but *two* panda research bases! One is located near Dujiangyan while the other is closer to Chengdu City; the first is more remote and specializes in quarantine and senior pandas while the second holds younger pandas, many of whom have returned from overseas zoos.
For first timers to Chengdu, the closer Chengdu Panda Base is a much more attractive option thanks to its easy access and well-equipped tourist facilities such as translated exhibits, shuttle cars and wheelchair accessibility.
Visitors to the Chengdu Panda Base will be greeted by a vast facility featuring multiple indoor and outdoor zones where you can see pandas chilling or chowing down on their favourite staple of bamboo. Besides giant pandas, there are also golden monkey and red panda exhibits too!
But, the sheer size of this place is not to be underestimated, requiring at least a whole afternoon to explore comfortably. Make sure to get some decent walking shoes and pace yourself. There are shuttle buses available in certain areas but be prepared to queue during public holidays!
South Bridge
Another of Chengdu claim to fame is Dujiangyan, an ancient irrigation system built to prevent flooding from the Yangtze’s Min tributary.
There are many vantage points to admire this engineering marvel, but arguably one of the most picturesque is the South Bridge or Nanqiao.
From afar, Nanqiao’s majestic roof already impresses with its prominent flying eaves, particularly at night, when they’re lit by by orange floodlights against the pitch black sky.
Resist the urge to shop on the town side of the bridge, and you’ll be be rewarded with an exquisitely decorated interior featuring ceiling tiles of golden dragons and snow-white cranes.
Flanking these modern recreations (done due to historical damage) is a gallery of Chinese poems and watercolor paintings which make your walk across the bridge that much more pleasant.
Simply dashing across the bridge would be a huge mistake, since you’ll miss the massive, roaring river rushing underneath your feet! Every step on the bridge’s wooden flooring is accompanied by a blast of mist and cold air that’s particularly chilly on rainy nights. Be careful not to bump into huge crowds of tourists and peddlers on the way out!
For an even better view of the bridge though, walk just a few meters away from either side of the river’s banks. For the best results, try coming in the evenings. When it gets dark and the lights come on, you’ll be treated to the spectacular sight of the golden bridge floating above the blueish glow of the river waters, Nanqiao’s so-called “blue tears”.
The area around the bridge also features an old timey town area offering everything from fast fashion to tacky souvenirs and especially food! While the main road offers quirky statues for obligatory selfies, the road leading up bridge features small waterways that further add to the tacky yet charming atmosphere.
Speaking of ancient towns…
Jiezi Ancient Town
Compared to its peers around China, Jiezi Ancient Town has a generally better claim to the “ancient” part of its name due to its ancient landmarks and less conspicuous modern influences (besides the bubble tea stores and bumper car arenas).
Still, if you’re looking to shop, shop and shop in picturesque surroundings while taking a few breathers at a canal or river, then Jiezi is for you!
Shops here run the gamut of your ancient town offerings: full restaurants, snack shops, boutiques and souvenir stalls. Dumplings, dried meats, T-shirts, bottle gourds and even live chickens are just some of stuff you can buy in Jiezi. Unlike other similar ancient towns in the area, prices here are generally a bit more reasonable since they cater more for locals.
Local landmarks to check out include the Wastepaper Pagoda, a giant tower formerly used to ritually burn wastepaper, and Ruilong Bridge, a massive, covered bridge akin to Nanqiao Bridge that spans a wide, sleepy river. There are also traditional theatre stages, smaller side canals and a cozy little aqueduct seating area.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous though, head way, way north out of the touristy part of town, past the smaller markets and quieter streets. On the other end of the path, you’ll find the Yulong Bridge, a suspension bridge that offers a charming river view filled with greenery and quiet solitude. There’s also a temple and a few statues dedicated to the Tang-era poet Tang Qiu.
Chengdu City Centre
For city slickers, there’s no better place to hit the streets than the regional metropolis of Chengdu itself!
Boasting massive shopping malls, an array of large parks, diverse cultural attractions and a superb metro system connecting them all – it’s no surprise that it ranks highly among China’s most livable cities!
Tianfu Square
At first glance, Tianfu Square seems to be Chengdu’s answer to Beijing’s much more famous Tiananmen Square. But it’s much cooler than you think.
Typical of the socialist architecture of the time, there is a giant statue of Chairman Mao perched on a plinth. Under his watchful gaze, a towering flagpole bearing Chinese colors stands proudly over a vast square filled with snap-happy sightseers, and eager shoppers.
Shoppers to where, you ask? Why, only the largest underground mall you’ve ever seen!
Accessible through an entrance marked by one of two giant fountains, the Tianfu Square Mall is a maze of shops, restaurants and commerce selling almost every imaginable product from Chengdu and beyond. You can easily spend an afternoon here just sampling, window shopping or splurging your heart out.
When you’re trying food here (or anywhere in Sichuan, really), you simply have to try *anything* with mala seasoning – a chilli sauce blended with peppercorn – to give your tastebuds that distinctive numb and citrusy spiciness. Don’t forget the foods too: slick and springy dandan noodles, blood-red Sichuan hotpot and the mouth-blistering mapo tofu. Sichuan is truly a smoldering spicy paradise!
Still not enough shopping? There are also plenty of malls, shopping streets, museums and parks around Tianfu just waiting for the curious traveller. It’s also so much easier thanks to the central Chengdu Metro located right underneath the main mall too!
Renmin Park
Sick of the trappings of bourgeoise city life? Then come for a peaceful stroll through Renmin Park or The People’s Park.
Forget miniscule parks with overgrown weeds and rundown playgrounds, Renmin’s sheer size and breadth of quality activities puts most grand parks from other nations to shame.
You can start with the vast greenery that surrounds the park’s accessible paths before taking a moment to admire its colourful flowerbeds and a bonsai garden. Quick tip: for a quiet spot away from crowds, scale the hill at the southern end of the park and enjoy a leafy view of the park’s lake. And yes, there is a lake, with pleasure boat rides to boot!
Besides natural scenery, Renmin Park offers historical and cultural experiences as well.
There are monuments to the war heroes of the Sino-Japanese War, a museum dedicated to the development of Sichuan’s railways as well as an obelisk commemorating the sacrifice of those opposing the Qing government’s railway nationalization plans.
To witness a unique local Chinese custom, head to the mid-west section of the park where you’ll see a path lined with papers posting matchmaking information – an increasingly common sight with plummeting marriage rates.
Once you’ve all tuckered out, get a drink or snack to recharge yourself at a food stall. Or, for a local flavour, take a seat at one of the teahouses that get jam-packed during the weekends and holidays. If you time your visit right, you can even catch a bazaar during the weekends that offers books, trinkets and snacks!
To top it all off, Renmin Park is also home to an amusement park for some good old, cheesy fun!
So, those are just a few of Chengdu’s many charming attractions. Many more interesting locales await, including the famed poet Du Fu’s thatched cottage, picturesque old streets and museums filled with fascinating exhibits. Where will your Chengdu travels take you?
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