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Chengdu

China travel guide

What to see in Chengdu

The city of pandas and spicy Sichuan food, with teahouses and a relaxed pace.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 6 must-see places
  • Best time: from March to September and from November to January
  • Typical food: Mapo tofu
Photo: FISU · CC BY 3.0

Chengdu highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Giant Panda Breeding Base

    To see the pandas, go first thing, when they’re active.

  2. Kuanzhai Alleys

    Restored traditional houses with teahouses and shops.

  3. Wenshu Monastery

    A Buddhist monastery with a teahouse much loved by locals.

  4. Jinli Street

    An old street of food stalls and lanterns.

  5. Leshan Giant Buddha

    A couple of hours away: the largest stone Buddha in the world.

  6. Sichuan opera

    Famous for its lightning-fast mask changing.

Day trips from Chengdu

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Chengdu

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Chengdu are from March to September and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct with strong warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • February

    Lunar New Year (approximate dates)

    Millions of people travel at this time: trains and flights are full and expensive, and many shops and restaurants close for several days.

    What to do: Book transport weeks in advance and expect closures for the first three days.

  • October

    Golden Week

    From 1 to 7 October the whole of China travels: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the trains are packed.

    What to do: If you can, move your trip by a week; if not, book tickets in advance and visit first thing in the morning.

Typical food of Chengdu

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Chengdu from your kitchen).

Mapo tofu
Photo: Sichuanfoodlover · CC BY-SA 4.0

Mapo tofu

Silken tofu with minced meat in a red sauce of spicy bean paste and Sichuan pepper, which numbs the tongue. It’s Chengdu’s most famous dish.

  • Serves 4
  • 25 min

Ingredients

  • 500 g silken or soft tofu
  • 150 g minced beef or pork
  • 2 tablespoons of doubanjiang (spicy bean paste)
  • 1 tablespoon of fermented black beans (optional)
  • 2 garlic cloves and 1 piece of ginger
  • 1 teaspoon of ground Sichuan pepper
  • 200 ml stock
  • 1 tablespoon of cornflour
  • Spring onion and oil

How to make it at home

  1. Cut the tofu into cubes and blanch it for 1 minute in salted water to firm it up.
  2. Stir-fry the meat in oil until crisp.
  3. Add the doubanjiang, black beans, garlic and ginger and fry until the oil turns red.
  4. Add the stock and tofu and cook for 5 minutes, shaking the pan rather than stirring.
  5. Thicken with cornflour dissolved in water and finish with Sichuan pepper and spring onion. Serve with rice.

The trick: Toast and grind the Sichuan pepper just before using: it tingles more.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: a busy local spot with a queue. The dishes you can’t miss are in the China guide.

Frequently asked questions about Chengdu

What to see in Chengdu?

Giant Panda Breeding Base, Kuanzhai Alleys, Wenshu Monastery, Jinli Street, Leshan Giant Buddha and Sichuan opera.

What to see in Chengdu in one day?

Don’t miss Giant Panda Breeding Base, Kuanzhai Alleys, Wenshu Monastery, Jinli Street, Leshan Giant Buddha and Sichuan opera. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Chengdu?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Chengdu are from March to September and from November to January. If you can, avoid October (golden week).

What day trips can you take from Chengdu?

Pandas and Leshan Buddha.

What is the typical food of Chengdu?

Mapo tofu. Silken tofu with minced meat in a red sauce of spicy bean paste and Sichuan pepper, which numbs the tongue. It’s Chengdu’s most famous dish.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.