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Chengdu 成都

Meet the giant pandas, linger over tea in Chengdu’s courtyard lanes and follow the Jin River as the bridge lights come on.

Anshun Bridge crosses the Jin River at dusk, with trees and the Chengdu skyline beyond.

City overview

Meet Chengdu

Chengdu’s neighbourhoods are best explored at walking pace. Spend an afternoon among the brick courtyards of Kuanzhai Alleys, or pair the Three Kingdoms halls at Wuhou Shrine with lantern-lit Jinli next door. For an evening by the water, walk the Jin River to Anshun Bridge.

Allow a separate morning for the panda base. Farther afield, the bronze figures at Sanxingdui, the waterways of Dujiangyan and the cliffs of Leshan each make a day out. For the lakes of Jiuzhaigou or the valleys of Mount Siguniang, plan to spend at least one night away from Chengdu.

Places to Visit

Walk Chengdu’s old lanes, then explore Sichuan. The corner labels show which sights make a day trip and which are best with an overnight stay.

A giant panda rests across a fork in a tree, facing the camera through green foliage.

Chengdu Panda Base

4.5/ 5CTN Editor Score

Look up into the trees for resting pandas as you follow the bamboo-lined paths.

Warm shop lights trace a narrow lane between grey tiled courtyard roofs at dusk.

Kuanzhai Alleys

4.5/ 5CTN Editor Score

Walk between grey-brick courtyards and stop at a teahouse along the old lanes.

A roofed ferry crosses green water on Yuecheng Lake beneath a wooded hillside.

Mount Qingcheng

4.5/ 5CTN Editor Score

Follow forest paths past Yuecheng Lake to Taoist temples on the Front Mountain.

Turquoise lake water lies beneath forested slopes in Jiuzhaigou Valley.

Jiuzhaigou Valley

4.5/ 5CTN Editor Score

Follow boardwalks between clear blue lakes, waterfalls and forested slopes.

Blue-lit waterways converge beside a warmly lit covered bridge in Dujiangyan.

Dujiangyan

4.5/ 5CTN Editor Score

Explore the ancient irrigation works, then see the old town’s blue-lit riverfront.

A row of ancient Shu bronze heads recedes into a softly lit museum gallery.

Sanxingdui Museum

4.5/ 5CTN Editor Score

Meet ancient Shu face to face in galleries filled with bronze heads and figures.

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Scores, entry notes & image credits

Prices are in Chinese yuan for standard adult visits unless otherwise noted. Each entry includes its booking conditions and review date. All twelve scores are provisional CTN editor ratings. The Anshun Bridge banner and city sketch were supplied by CTN. Individual card images are credited below.

Image credits

  • A giant panda rests across a fork in a tree, facing the camera through green foliage.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.
  • Warm shop lights trace a narrow lane between grey tiled courtyard roofs at dusk.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.
  • A roofed ferry crosses green water on Yuecheng Lake beneath a wooded hillside.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.
  • Turquoise lake water lies beneath forested slopes in Jiuzhaigou Valley.: China Travel Notes · Previously approved CTN Lakes page asset · Source. Centre-cropped to 16:10 for this card.
  • Blue-lit waterways converge beside a warmly lit covered bridge in Dujiangyan.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.
  • A row of ancient Shu bronze heads recedes into a softly lit museum gallery.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.
  • The illuminated arches of Anshun Bridge reflect in the Jin River below Chengdu’s skyline.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.
  • An oblique close view shows the seated Leshan Giant Buddha carved into the cliff.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.
  • A faceted black-and-white panda sculpture climbs the sunlit wall beside the IFS lettering.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.
  • Snow-capped peaks rise above conifer forest and a shallow winding stream in Mount Siguniang Scenic Area.: CTN contributor · Contributor-supplied photograph · Source. Sky retouched with AI from the contributor’s photograph, then prepared for the attraction card.
  • A stone arch bridge and lantern-lit timber shops reflect in the water at Jinli after dusk.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.
  • Bamboo casts dappled shadows across vermilion walls beside a winding wet stone path.: China Travel Notes · CTN-supplied AI-generated travel illustration · Source. Prepared for the 16:10 attraction card.

Plan Your Visit

Group the central neighbourhoods together and give longer journeys their own place in your itinerary.

Where to Stay

Look around Chunxi Road for shops near the IFS panda or near Kuanzhai Alleys for courtyard lanes on your doorstep.

When to Visit

Allow daylight for the shrine’s bamboo paths. Around dusk, head for the lanterns of Jinli or the bridge lights on the Jin River.

Tickets & ID

Use the entry notes below the attraction cards to find official booking channels. For real-name tickets, take the ID used to book.

Sources & editorial notes

City-page design preview. Places to Visit uses CTN editorial suggestions and separately checked entry notes; other development examples remain labelled.