Chengdu travel blog — The fullest Chengdu travel guide for first-timers

Chengdu is a large city located in the southwest of China. This place is not only an important trade center but also one of the most famous tourist cities in the country. Chengdu city has a history of up to 4000 years from the Jinsha culture, this place is known as the “Country of Heaven”, “the heart of Sichuan” thanks to its ancient beauty mixed with modernity and the long-standing culture attracts millions of tourists every year.

So, is Chengdu worth visiting, how to visit Chengdu, what to do in Chengdu and how to plan a budget trip to Chengdu for the first-time perfectly? Let’s check out our Chengdu travel blog (Chengdu blog) with the fullest Chengdu travel guide (Chengdu tourist guide, Chengdu city guide, Chengdu china travel guide, Chengdu China guide, Chengdu guide) from how to get to Chengdu, best places to visit, best time to come, what to eat as well as top things to do in Chengdu to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Traveling to Chengdu, visitors will admire the harmonious combination of tradition and modernity. Historical relics, majestic natural landscapes and unique modern works promise to bring you unforgettable impressive experiences.

A short introduction to the capital city Chengdu (#chengdu travel blog)

Chengdu is a city located in the southwest of China, in the province of Sichuan. It has a total area of about 14,378 square kilometers and a population of nearly 10 million people (Metro area population). Around 256 BC, Chengdu at that time was the most prosperous capital of Sichuan province – which was dubbed the “Country of Heaven”.

When coming here, visitors will be overwhelmed by the history of more than 4000 years of development of the Jinsha culture. Famous monuments and landscapes will surely make a strong impression on visitors right from the first time visiting Chengdu.

If Guangzhou is known as a shopping paradise, Beijing is famous for its magnificent palaces, then Chengdu is a “culinary capital”. In 2010, Chengdu became the second food city in the world recognized by UNESCO and the first food city in Asia because of its Sichuan cuisine. A trip is too wonderful to taste countless delicacies, and be immersed in the beauty of majestic natural scenery.

Benefiting from the Dujiangyan irrigation system built in 256 BC, Sichuan province is known as Tian Fu Zhi Guo (Country of Heaven), which is rich in natural resources. In which, Chengdu was the most prosperous capital at that time. Along with a dense system of rivers connecting to the Yangtze River, providing irrigation water for more than 700 square kilometers of arable land, Chengdu has not only abundant mineral resources but also extremely fertile soil.

With a history of more than 4000 years of development, Chengdu has a rich history and culture with a wide range of famous tourist attractions including historical sites, majestic natural landscapes and distinctive modern architectures, making Chengdu a leading technology and economic center in China.

When is the best time to visit Chengdu? (#chengdu blog)

Located in the border region of the northwestern Sichuan highlands and the Sichuan Basin, Chengdu has a subtropical monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. The average annual temperature is usually around 16 degrees Celsius and the rainfall is about 1000mm. The weather here is typically cloudy and humid. Another feature is that the climate in Chengdu is often high humidity. Therefore, although the summer temperature here is not too high, it is very hot, and in the winter, the average temperature is above 5 degrees Celsius, but it still feels very cold due to the dense fog.

The rainfall in Chengdu usually concentrates in July and August, the winter here has almost no snowfall. With the above weather information, the best time to visit Chengdu is from March to June and from September to November every year. However, thanks to four distinct seasons as well as diverse tourist destinations, each season in Chengdu has its own unique features for visitors to explore.

Spring: Usually lasts from early March to early May, the weather starts to warm up. This is an opportunity for visitors to see the flowers in full bloom and the trees turning green under the nice weather. In particular, the cherry blossom festival held every year in Qingbaijiang attracts a lot of visitors from late March to April.

Summer: This is the best time to visit the famous giant pandas here. At the same time, a lot of tourists also come to Chengdu to experience the majestic scenery of the cool mountains surrounding the city.

Autumn: September to early November is considered a great time to visit Chengdu. At this time, the ginkgo groves began to change leaves, the space gradually turned bright yellow, especially in Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong. This is known as the most beautiful autumn scenery in China.

Winter: For visitors from the tropics, the snow-covered scenery at Xiling Snow Mountain or Emei Mountain will leave a deep impression. The sight of plum blossoms blooming in the middle of winter in Jinjiang Park is also a popular attraction for tourists visiting Chengdu during this time.

We highly recommend coming here around March to June, or from September to November. Because at this time the weather is dry, the climate is mild, very convenient for sightseeing and travel.

How to get to Chengdu? (#chengdu travel guide)

To get to Chengdu, most tourists will have the two most popular options: Air and road because it will save a lot of time.

By air (#chengdu travel blog)

Traveling to Chengdu by air is the most popular and time-saving option for travelers. Currently, major airports in Vietnam including Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Cam Ranh – Nha Trang and Da Nang airport all operate daily flights to Chengdu. Most flights from Vietnam to Chengdu have one transit point throughout the journey, operated by Vietnamese and international airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Thai Lion Air, Shenzhen, China Southern, Air Macau, Air China… with a price of about $150/way or more.

In particular, the route Ho Chi Minh – Chengdu currently has a direct route operated by Sichuan Airlines. The route from Hanoi and Da Nang to Chengdu also has a direct route operated by Vietnam Airlines. Therefore, to save time and costs, visitors should refer to direct flights or flights departing from Tan Son Nhat or Noi Bai airports.

By road (#chengdu blog)

To get to Chengdu, there are two most popular routes:

Hanoi – Nanning – Chengdu: from Hanoi, you can take a train or bus to Nanning before continuing to Chengdu. The Hanoi-Nanning intermodal train route has 1 trip per day at 9 p.m. daily. It takes about 10 hours to travel to Nanning. If you take a bus from Hanoi to Nanning, the time will be a little shorter, about 8 hours traveling and there are 4 to 5 departures per day. From Nanning to Chengdu you can also choose to take a train or a car, the train time is about 31 hours and the car ride is about 20 hours from Langdong bus station in Nanning. This journey takes a total of about 4 days to travel with a fee of about $127.

Hanoi – Kunming – Chengdu: From Hanoi, you can take a train or car to Lao Cai city, then getting to Ha Khau (Hekou) border gate to complete immigration procedures and then take a bus or take a train to Kunming. Travel time by bus from Hekou to Kunming takes about 4 hours for bus, and about 6-8 hours for train. Then you continue to travel from Kunming to Chengdu by train or bus, travel time from 14-17 hours. This journey takes about 3 days with a fee of about $106.

Transportation in Chengdu

When coming to Chengdu, visitors can choose from many different means of transportation such as bus, subway, taxi or walking, etc. To be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery, immerse in the atmosphere both ancient and modern of Chengdu.

Bus

This is the most economical means of transportation in Chengdu. The bus price is about 1 yuan for the inner city trip (about more than $0.15). Even cheaper than in Vietnam! Traveling by bus in Chengdu is an advantage because the bus routes have stops at some stations that are large parks or famous tourist sites, so it will be very convenient for visiting and exploring the city. A small note is that you remember to bring yuan in cash to take the bus, because the driver does not return cash or coin. Taking the bus, although very convenient and enjoyable, is only for those who know a little basic Chinese.

Taxi

This means of transportation will be suitable for those of you traveling in groups of 2-3 people and have a good budget. Taxi prices here are quite high and you need to have good negotiation skills to get a price that suits your needs.

Metro (Subway)

This is a popular form of transportation in this country, so when traveling to Chengdu, the subway is no exception. With prices ranging from 2 to 7 yuan, depending on the distance, this will be a form of transportation that you should try.

What to do and where to go in Chengdu? (#chengdu travel blog)

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Address: 1375 Xiongmao Blvd, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 6100
Opening hours: 7:30pm-6pm
Ticket price: 55 yuan

Giant pandas are one of the rarest animals in the world, also known as living fossils of mankind. Known as the home of pandas, you can’t miss the chance to see these adorable animals up close in Chengdu.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is home to the “national treasures” of the country. There is a special thing here compared to other zoos that you will be hugging and feeding pandas, giving baby pandas milk to drink. If you are lucky enough to have a mother panda, you will see how staff incubate their cubs in incubators. There are also 2D or even 3D documentaries showing the maturation process as well as information about pandas.

As one of the symbols of China, seeing these adorable pandas is an opportunity that you should not miss when you come here. After all, this is an extremely rare species of giant panda.

Here, you will be able to observe pandas in the closest natural habitat. Through it, we can learn fully their life cycle. This place not only takes care of giant pandas, but is also home to some precious animals and other rare species are endangered. Visitors can experience the joy of feeding pandas and capture their cute moments.

Chengdu Renmin Park

Address: 9 Citang St, Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610015

Dubbed as one of the eight beautiful scenes of Ung Chau in the past, it is no exaggeration to name this place Chengdu Renmin Park because of their beautiful peach blossom scene every spring.

Tianfu Square

With its location in the heart of Chengdu and the symbol of Chengdu, it is an ideal place to start exploring Chengdu. The center of the square features a tall statue of Mao Zedong, and houses buildings such as the Chengdu Museum (New Hall), the Sichuan Museum of Science and Technology, and the Jincheng Art Palace.

Tianfu Square is one of the busiest areas located in the commercial and business district of the city. This is another beautiful spot to take pictures, but it is also the center of the city at the intersection of 2 MRT lines, so getting here is very easy.

Wuhou Temple

Address: 231 Wuhou (Wuhou), Chengdu.
Opening hours: 8:30am – 6pm (from November to April); 8:30am – 8pm (from May to October).
Ticket price: 50 yuan

Wuhou Temple is located in the southern suburbs of Chengdu – an ideal destination for tourists who love the novel Three Kingdoms. This place was built to commemorate Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, Guan Yu and the military advisor Zhuge Liang, who were instrumental in building the state of Shu at that time. The temple has an area of more than 15,000 m2 and is divided into 3 compartments. Legend has it that anyone who comes to Chengdu should stop by here once to pray for a smooth trip.

One of the most famous tourist attractions in Chengdu is Wuhou Temple. This is a complex including the temple and the tomb of Liu Bei and the shrine of Zhuge Liang. Almost all tourists visiting Chengdu come to Wuhou Temple at least once to greet him and ask him for blessings for a smooth trip. It includes many historical and cultural monuments. In addition, the scenery here is also very beautiful and the climate is pleasant and cool all year round.

Qingcheng Shan

Address: Qingcheng Mountain, Qingchengshan Road, Dujiangyan, Chengdu
Opening hours: 8am – 6pm
Ticket price:  20 – 80 yuan/person

This is a mountain about 70km from Chengdu city. Qingcheng Shan Mountain is recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site with the impressive Dujiangyan irrigation work. Visiting here, you can explore the mountain front that includes many historical sites and Taoist temples (this is also where the center of Taoism is widespread throughout China). The back mountain area has beautiful natural scenery with a cool and fresh climate.

Mount Qingcheng Ticket Chengdu

Qingcheng mountain is divided into two areas, including front and back. The mountain in front has many historical and cultural sites and many Taoist temples. Meanwhile, the mountain behind is famous for its charming scenery and fresh nature.

Luodai Ancient Town

This ancient town is located on the outskirts of Chengdu, about 20km from the city center, you can reach this old street. The ancient street goes through many years from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Visitors here can walk around the town’s 7 alleys, or buy gifts for loved ones at the buildings and shops.

Jinli Pedestrian Street

Jinli Street is very crowded and bustling, especially on weekends. It is famous for its traditional-style houses, with the sale of local handicrafts, snacks, etc. In addition, traditional art performances are also regularly held here.

Jinli was the first street of Shu state and is also a famous snack street in Chengdu. Coming here, you will enjoy the typical traditional Chinese atmosphere with ancient houses and meaningful historical stories.

The evening here is extremely beautiful by the brightly lit lanterns. The main street connects with many small alleys bustling with shopping. Here, you can find a lot of unique handicrafts, lively bars, restaurants, and traditional food stalls.

Illuminated by beautiful lanterns at night, this place is bustling with shopping activities on the small alleys. Especially, if you want to buy gifts, this can be the ideal place with many traditional crafts, bars, and food stalls on sale.

New Century Global Center

Address: 1700 North Section, Tianfu Avenue, Wuhou District, Chengdu.
Opening time: 10am – 10pm.

The next destination is New Century Global Center. This is a complex building of offices, commercial centers, food and entertainment areas, including an artificial sea. Experience here must have take all day, but we recommends that you just go shopping and have fun, not eat because the price is quite expensive, a bowl of noodles here costs about 50 yuan.

The New Century Global Center is the world’s largest building by floor area. This promises to be a destination that makes visitors overwhelmed not only because of its vastness but also its lavishness and splendor.

Jinsha Archaeological Site and Museum

Address: 2 Jinshayizhi Rd, Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610074

As a country with a wonderful past and culture, it wouldn’t be too surprising that the Chinese really honor their history. This is evidenced by the number of archaeological sites you find all over China. Chengdu is no exception. One of the best places you can visit while you are there is the Jinsha Archaeological Site. It was discovered a few years ago by accident and relics from this site may be more than 1000 years old. If you have time, you should definitely go and visit.

The museum is located in Chengyang District, which is a place to record the Bronze Age appearing in China. It has an area of 30,000 square meters displaying objects at the museum and what archeology is. A large number of pieces of ivory, gold and jade were discovered.

Wide and Narrow Alley (Kuanzhai Xiangzi)

It is also a place to learn about the local culture, with bustling street food stalls, craft shops and restaurants.

Du Fu Cottage

This is a museum and park renovated on the old house of poet Du Fu to commemorate his contributions to Chinese literature. Here, visitors can not only learn more about the life of poet Du Fu in his lifetime with more than 240 famous poems composed here, but also enjoy a peaceful setting in the middle of a busy city.

Chengdu Botanical Garden

The Chinese owns some of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Everywhere, from the smallest in a village to the largest in a city, you will find a botanical garden. Chengdu is also the same, and as one of the largest and most important cities in China, its gardens are also some of the most beautiful you can visit. If you need time to think or if you just want to go see the flowers, you should definitely check it out.

Wuhouci Heng Street

Address: 231 Wuhouci Street, Wuhou District (Wuhou), Chengdu.
Opening time: 9am – 10pm

Especially, when you come here, you should find a place to sell beef because you will have the opportunity to meet “Zhang Fei” in real life that selling meat. In addition, if you’ve seen the movie Sanmao, you probably still remember the scene where the waiter staff holds a teapot with a long spout and pours tea from a meter away into a cup. The teahouses here have that performance. So don’t miss this exciting experience.

Chengdu Huangcheng Mosque

Although Islam is not the first thing that many people think of when they think of China, the Huangcheng Mosque in Chengdu is one of the most amazing mosques in Asia. Although the original mosque dates back to 1666, the current version was built more recently, and is the same as the original. Muslims have historically been prominent citizens and merchants in Chengdu, and today are no different.

Sichuan Opera (Face changing performance)

Address: 132 Qintai Rd, 草堂餐饮娱乐圈 Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610032
Ticket price: About 210 yuan/person

In the evening in the city, you should go to watch Sichuan opera). This is a Sichuan cultural show, including many types of culture of the Sichuan region, especially a face changing show, if you don’t watch this show, your trip to Chengdu China will be very pity. The show usually lasts for 1 hour 30 minutes and is especially crowded every weekend.

What to eat?

Chengdu cuisine is one of the most interesting things that every visitor is interested in. The delicious dishes here are: smoked sausage, fragrant chili fried rabbit or Sichuan dumplings, Mapo tofu, etc. The characteristic of Sichuan cuisine is the pungent taste. Suitable for enjoying on snowy days.

In 2010, Chengdu was recognized as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. This confirms the richness in flavor as well as the value of traditional cuisine in Chengdu in particular and Sichuan in general. Here are the most popular and unique dishes not to be missed if you have the opportunity to visit Chengdu.

Sichuan-Style Stir-Fry Noodles: This signature dish has a spicy taste from the satay spice itself – a special flavor that attracts foreign tourists as well as locals.

Sichuan hot pot: Sichuan hot pot is so famous all over the world, this dish has the flavor of herbs and special spicy chili. It has brought Chinese cuisine around the world, the characteristic of this dish is the taste of herbs and hot chili peppers.

Xinjiang Noodles: Dubbed as the famous Chinese noodle dish, famous far and near. This noodle dish is prepared and transformed in an artistic and fair way when the chef himself will prepare everything in front of you.

Dan Dan Noodles: Dan Dan noodles are often used as an appetizer in parties, with a unique spicy flavor that can awaken all your senses immediately. A full bowl of noodles includes the main ingredients are minced pork, egg noodles that have been poached and seasoned with spices such as pepper, vinegar, satay chili and green onions… so tasty.

Shuang Jiao Tu (Fried rabbit with chili): Rabbit meat is considered an iconic dish of Chengdu. This dish can be cooked in a variety of ways, and can be grilled or fried. However, the dish of fried rabbit with chili leaves a strong impression thanks to the characteristic flavor of the meat mixed with red pepper, green pepper, fresh Sichuan peppercorn, garlic, and ginger. The freshly fried rabbit meat pieces will leave a long-lasting flavor after eating.

Hong You Chao Shou (Sichuan Spicy Wonton in Red Oil): This is a special version of dumplings from the Sichuan region, with a thin crescent-shaped crust filled with pork and ginger. The flavor of the dish comes from the spicy, sweet sauce with a subtle garlic flavor. This is also considered a special way to fully enjoy the famous chili sauce here without being overwhelmed by other flavors.

Mapo Tofu: Mapo Tofu is one of the most famous dishes of Sichuan cuisine. The dish is a combination of soft white tofu in a rich bright red sauce of garlic, minced beef or pork, fermented soybeans, chili oil and pepper. Guests can also choose to eat non-spicy or vegetarian without meat when enjoying.

Guo Kui (Chinese Meat-Stuffed Flat Bread) is a unique dish of the locals that you should not miss. Cakes are quick to prepare and can be easily carried and enjoyed. Its shape is quite similar to the popular pancake or sandwich, but the taste is completely different.

Kung Pao Chicken: The taste of this dish is characterized by tender chicken served with crispy peanuts and aromatic spices. Chicken is cut into squares to taste, when enjoying, you will not forget to include peanuts. Two different flavors when combined together to create a delicious and mouth-watering whole.

Liang Ban Ji (chicken with chili oil sauce): This is a rare cold dish in Chengdu cuisine that is still loved today. This dish is a combination of boiled chicken cut into bite-sized pieces, then sauce with Sichuan’s famous chili oil to create a delicate dish that balances the sweetness of the meat, the variety of flavors. Condiments include fermented vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, sugar, sesame, scallions, and Sichuan chili oil. Although you may be overwhelmed by the initial spiciness of this dish, the balance of flavors will leave a deep impression.

Wonton: The people in this city have a way of making delicious wontons that visitors should not miss. Look at the batches of wontons that are all handmade by skilled craftsmen. Wonton filling is a blend of minced pork with chopped cabbage and spices. The cakes are cooked in a sweet broth and stewed for hours. This dish will be most delicious when served hot, children or adults can eat it.

La Xiang Chang (smoked sausage): This is a very popular traditional dish on the rice tray of indigenous people on New Year’s Eve in China. Usually, sausages are made in the winter, when people in Chengdu slaughter the meat to store it later. The remaining organs will be marinated and stuffed into the pig’s intestines, then smoked and left to use gradually. This dish is characterized by the salty, smoky aroma and the pungent taste of Sichuan peppercorn.

Fen Zheng Niu Rou (Steamed beef with roasted rice): This dish may not be so popular with tourists but is considered a classic dish of this region. The beef is wrapped in rice flour along with spices, then steamed in a bamboo basket and garnished with garlic, chili powder and herbs before serving. The delicate sweet aroma along with the rich taste of meat with the right amount of chili help everyone to enjoy this special dish.

Where to eat?

If you want to eat well, just walk in the 2km radius around Sichuan University and you will find a variety of cheap and delicious places to eat. Note that if you can’t eat spicy, you should inform the server so that they can add less chili or choose non-spicy or less spicy dishes to have the most enjoyable experience with the unique cuisine here.

Wenshu Temple Vegetarian Restaurant (Address: 6 Wenshuyuan St, Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610084): Located in the historic Wenshu Temple, if you want healthy vegetarian this is the definite place to go. Managed by the temple, here you’ll find cheap and plentiful vegetarian food. It’s a great place to eat after a long and hard day of temple climbing, and shouldn’t be missed.

Chen Mapo Tofu Restaurant (Address: China, Sichuan, Chengdu, Jinniu District, 解放路二段): Perhaps the most famous restaurant in Chengdu, Chen Mapo is rumored to have opened in 1862. That makes it over 150 years old, which is astounding for any restaurant. It is known as the birthplace of Mapo Tofu, and is a place you must eat at least once during your trip to Chengdu. For those who don’t like tofu, Chen Mapo also serves a variety of beef, chicken, and pork dishes, which means everyone is filled with happiness.

Veranda Bridge Restaurant (Address: 66 Binjiang E Rd, HeJiangTing, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610061): One of the coolest places to eat in Chengdu is at the Veranda Bridge Restaurant built on the bridge. It is also considered one of the best restaurants in Chengdu. This is the perfect place to experience authentic high end Chinese food while in Chengdu.

Chengdu Bookworm (Address: China, Sichuan, Chengdu, Wuhou District, Yujie E St, 2号附6 邮政编码: 610044): Another great place for food is the Chengdu Bookworm. In addition to restaurants and coffee shops, Bookworm Chengdu is also a fully functional bookstore, so you can also buy some books while enjoying your favorite. Bookworm Chengdu is one of the best places to get English and foreign language books while in Chengdu. You could easily spend hours here just looking for books.

Dave’s Oasis (Address: Luomashi, Jinjiang District, Chengdu, China, 610093): Every Chinese city has its own place for foreigners. In Chengdu, that place is Dave’s Oasis. With some of the best hamburgers in Chengdu, it’s no wonder expats flock here. Dave’s Oasis also gets bonus points on pub quizzes, poker games and is one of the only places in Chengdu where you can watch NFL games. When you go there, be sure to try the fries thoroughly, which are among the best on the menu.

What to buy?

A gift with unmistakable characteristics in Chengdu will be the most meaningful thing for friends and relatives if you have the opportunity to visit this impressive City. Let’s take a look at the most interesting and convenient gifts mentioned below for you refer to.

Specialties and souvenirs in Chengdu China are very diverse for you to choose from, but to bring back, you can buy the following typical items:

Chengdu Shu Brocade and Embroidery

Brocade items, usually silk, are among the most popular souvenirs for tourists. They not only carry the quintessence of Chinese culture but also have high value.

The oldest brocade style in Chengdu is Shu embroidery, one of the four most famous embroidery styles in China. There are many items using this technique to decorate including embroidery, duvet covers, pillowcases, clothing items, shoes, etc. You can freely refer to and choose the most suitable gift.

In addition, silk products such as towels, clothes, purses… are all kinds of souvenirs for women that are loved and chosen by many tourists.

Souvenirs in the shape of pandas

This is also a very popular gift, because Sichuan is the home of giant pandas. This cute animal is very popular, so there are many souvenir products to choose from. Includes postcards, keychains, t-shirts, stuffed toys, panda figurines and even embroidery.

Tibetan style decorations

Tibetan culture has long played an integral role in the overall development of China, especially in the mountainous region of Sichuan. Therefore, you can find a lot of souvenir items in the area near Wuhou Temple. These products include unique, colorful beaded jewelry items or more traditional items made of gold, silver and copper.

Sichuan Hot Pot Soup Base

Spicy hot pot is a popular and famous dish of this region. And if you are a lover of this dish or want to introduce it to your loved ones, don’t forget to buy packaged Sichuan Hot Pot Soup Base at famous hotpot restaurants or at supermarkets. This spice is characterized by the number of ingredients used and is only found in the mountains of Sichuan, making this dish so unique.

Lacquer items

Chengdu is considered the cradle of Chinese lacquer craft with 3,000 years of development and has been listed as a national heritage. Talented artisans breathe life into lacquer products using vivid colors and intricate details. Popular products that are often bought as gifts include vases, dishes and jewelry boxes in a variety of colors and sizes for you to choose from.

Dried herbs

Chinese herbs are traditional medicines from herbs, seeds, and dried fruits that are all very good for the body, suitable for you to buy as gifts, especially for the elderly. Chinese herbs in Sichuan often cure headaches, insomnia, bloating and are very useful for health.

Paintings

Calligraphy paintings and paintings with the meaning of fortune, luck are valuable gifts for display and are often bought for home decoration or given as a gift.

Chunxi Shopping Street: This place is about 600m from Tianfu Square, so walking is fine. Here, things are very cheap and easy to buy, remember to bargain. In addition to clothes, here is also a street food paradise.

Where to stay?

In general, the hotels in Chengdu are relatively expensive, ranging from $25 to $150/night depending on the 2 star – 5 star room class. To book a hotel in Chengdu at the best price, you should book a room about 1-2 months in advance of the travel time. Besides, visitors also need to choose reliable websites to book a good hotel.

The most expensive place to stay in Chengdu is near Anshun Bridge, opposite Shangri-La Hotel, one of the most expensive hotels here. If you want to find affordable hotels, you need to go a bit far from the center, within a radius of 1.5km there will be good places to stay for only $25 / room / night. Some hotels in Chengdu that you can refer to below:

Chengdu Flipflop Hostel (Agoda, Booking)

Located right in the city center of Chengdu, Chengdu Flipflop Hostel is a great choice for travelers who love to explore and socialize at an extremely affordable price. Located right near Chunxi Road Metro Station (exit E1), guests can easily visit the city’s main attractions within just a few minutes.

The hotel’s facilities are 2-star standard, providing guests with a comfortable rest space with vintage decoration and an airy green-covered terrace, convenient for social activities and meals. outdoor light party. Regular free entertainment activities are held here including paper cutting tutorials, local food making and Sichuan opera performances.

Rayfont Hotel Chengdu (Agoda, Booking)

Just a few steps from Chengdu East Railway Station, direct connection to subway lines 2 and 7, Rayfont hotel offers guests a 4-star quality accommodation at an extremely affordable price, right in the city center.

All rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV, mini bar and other personal items. Some rooms also have a spacious and comfortable seating area. There is also a restaurant serving German and Italian cuisine, a bar on the 42nd floor overlooking the city space.

Mercure Chengdu Chunxi

Conveniently located, Mercure Chengdu Chunxi is only 1.4 km from Tianfu Square, 4.3 km from Wuhou Memorial Temple and 4.3 km from Jinli Old Street. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is also just 19km from the hotel.

This is a place to stay that is very popular with tourists not only because of its convenient location but also thanks to its luxurious and comfortable space. The entire interior of the hotel is designed with gentle tones, creating a sense of elegance and comfort. Some rooms also have sweeping city views for a luxurious getaway.

Dorsett Grand Chengdu (Agoda, Booking)

Located in Chengdu’s famous historic Luomashi district, nestled next to Chunxi Road, guests staying here have easy access to downtown areas with convenient access to subway lines 1 and 4 right in front of the hotel.

With 556 spacious rooms, designed simply but extremely delicately, giving guests the most perfect experience. Modern amenities combined with typical Asian touches are spacious and the bedrooms are comfortable. Each room has a window that offers panoramic views of the shimmering city at night and warm light during the day.

JW Marriott Hotel Chengdu (Agoda, Booking)

This luxury hotel is located just 1km from Tianfu Square, JW Marriott Hotel Chengdu offers guests the most comprehensive experience of culture as well as top class values. Elegantly designed, modern and cozy rooms, spacious bathrooms and great city views right in the heart of Chengdu. Here, guests will be served a variety of cuisines and perfect services to make your trip more wonderful than ever.

From JW Marriott Chengdu, guests can easily reach the famous Chunxi Road just 1.3km away, Kuanzhai Alley just 2.8km away and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport just 18km away.

InterContinental Century City Chengdu (Agoda, Booking)

Coming from the world’s leading resort hotel brand, InterContinental Century City Chengdu offers guests the most luxurious experiences with luxurious interiors and superb ambience along Century Avenue. All rooms here are designed in Chinese style with a modern twist. All come with flat-screen televisions, work areas, and high-quality sound systems.

The InterContinental is just a short distance from the Chengdu international exhibition center. Other famous places such as Vu Hau Temple and Thao Do Phu Street are also only about 30 minutes away by car.

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• Grand Hyatt Chengdu (Agoda, Booking)
• Niccolo Chengdu (Agoda, Booking)
• Shangri-La Chengdu (Agoda, Booking)
• The Temple House (Agoda, Booking)
• Crowne Plaza Chengdu City Center, an IHG Hotel (Agoda, Booking)
• Ascott Raffles City Chengdu (Agoda, Booking)

Check out more top and best hotels in Chengdu on Agoda.com or Booking.com

Average cost of a Chengdu trip

To have an overview of the cost of Chengdu travel, we can roughly calculate the following:

• Visa cost is about $51.
• Hotel costs and about $25 – $130/night for 2-5 star hotels.
• The cost of traveling is about $150 – $250.
• And there are many other miscellaneous fees such as clothes, medicine, gifts, etc.

All in all, to have a perfect trip to Chengdu, we have to spend a minimum of about $345.

Tips before you go

• UnionPay cards are accepted at most stores in China, but Visa cards may not be able to pay.
• If you are used to getting up early, ignore it temporarily, before 8 am, all clothing, accessory stores, commercial centers, supermarkets or even food shops are still not open, only after 9 am, they open.
• When shopping in Chengdu, you can bargain freely, even bargain half the price of the item, the seller will be happy with you.
• Always carry a map, dictionary or 3G – 4G network ready on your phone so you can find your way and communicate easily.

5 essential apps to have in your phone

• VPN: This is used to access Facebook and Instagram, update the story every moment
• Google Translate: Used to translate images with Chinese words, and does not require 4G to look up. This is used at restaurants, the menu is full of Chinese and of course doesn’t speak English.
• Wechat: Used to communicate and make friends with Chinese friends. It’s also quite good because in China everything is paid by Wepay, if you have credit cards issued by a Chinese bank, there is no need to bring cash here.
• 有道翻译官: App to translate voice Chinese – English. This app is like a dictionary for Chinese students to learn English, so holy. With this app, you can freely roam China
• Map.me: Offline map if you don’t have the network, you can still use the map, just like Ggoogle Map.

With very detailed information about Chengdu travel guide above, we hopes that you are ready to plan your upcoming trip. Of course, a land rich in history and impressive scenery like Chengdu cannot be encapsulated in a few pages. Everything is waiting for you to discover by yourself and don’t forget to share interesting things in your trip with us!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Chengdu you can refer to

• Dujiangyan Panda Base and Mount Qingcheng Tour from Chengdu
• Chengdu Gourmet Night Group Tour
• Chasing Dawa for 3 days and 2 nights (free Tibetan travel photography + Gedi Ram +
• Dawa Gengza + Shenmu Lei)
• Chengdu Radio and TV Tower Admission Ticket
• Essence of Chengdu City Private Day Tour
• Chengdu Downtown Private Car Charter
• Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class
• Dujiangyan Admission Ticket Chengdu
• Chengdu Food Day Tour with Chengdu Giant Panda Base Ticket
• Dufu’s Thatched Cottage Ticket Chengdu
• Classic Chengdu One Day City Tour
• Giant Buddha and Tea Terrace Town Day Tour from Chengdu
• Chengdu Private Day Tour (With Visit to Chengdu Panda Base and Hotpot Experience)

Read more top places to visit in Chengdu here. Read more China guide here.