Chengdu Travel Guide | Meet the Laid-back City of Chengdu
| Meet the Laid-back City of Chengdu
Chengdu is a city full of life and leisure. Here, you can see adorable giant pandas and enjoy mouth-watering delicacies.
Best Time to Visit
Chengdu has a subtropical monsoon climate with distinct seasons. Spring and fall are the best times to visit, with pleasant weather and average temperatures of 15–25°C. In spring, the city is full of flowers, and in fall, the ginkgo trees turn golden. The streets are full of beautiful scenery. In summer, the temperature is high, around 25–35°C, and it is quite muggy. However, the streets of Chengdu are bustling at night, and the night markets and food stalls are great places to visit on summer nights. In winter, the average temperature is 5–10°C. Although it is not very cold, it is quite damp. If you want to experience the warmth of Chengdu in winter, you can visit a teahouse, bask in the sun, and drink tea.
Must-visit Attractions
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding: How can you visit Chengdu without seeing the adorable giant pandas? 🐼 Visit in the morning to see the pandas full of energy, eating bamboo or playing around. The base is full of greenery and has a quiet environment. In addition to giant pandas, there are also red pandas and other rare animals.
Wuhou Shrine: A temple dedicated to Liu Bei, Zhuge Liang, and other heroes of the Shu Han Dynasty. It is the only temple in China dedicated to both a king and his ministers. The red walls and bamboo shadows give the temple an ancient charm. Walking through the temple, you will feel as if you have traveled back to the Three Kingdoms period and can feel the weight of history.
Jinli Ancient Street: Located next to Wuhou Shrine, Jinli Ancient Street is full of ancient Shu charm. At night, the street is lit up with red lanterns, creating a lively atmosphere. There are many traditional handicraft shops and food stalls along the street. You can stroll around and enjoy the slow life of Chengdu.
Kuanzhai Alley: Consists of three parallel alleys: Wide Alley, Narrow Alley, and Well Alley. It is a well-preserved Qing Dynasty street in Chengdu. Here, you can taste Chengdu's special snacks, such as Three Cannons and sugar oil fruit, and experience traditional Chengdu customs, such as ear picking.
People's Park: A paradise for leisure in Chengdu, where you can see the most authentic Chengdu life. Find a teahouse, order a cup of tea, eat some sunflower seeds, chat with locals, or watch a Sichuan opera face-changing performance and enjoy a leisurely time.
Food Recommendations
Hot Pot: Chengdu hot pot is famous for its spicy and fragrant flavor. The red soup base is full of the aroma of beef tallow. Dip tripe, duck intestines, beef, and other ingredients into the soup. The spicy and numbing taste is very satisfying. Recommended restaurants: Shu Daxia Hot Pot, Xiaolongkan Hot Pot.
Chuan Chuan Xiang: Various ingredients are skewered on bamboo sticks and cooked in a pot. You pay according to the number of skewers. You can choose dry or oil dipping sauce. Every bite is full of happiness. The Chuan Chuan Xiang at Steel Pipe Factory No. 5 is very popular.
Zhong Dumplings: Thin-skinned dumplings with tender filling. They are served with special red oil, garlic sauce, sesame oil, and other seasonings. The slightly sweet and salty taste is delicious.
Long Chao Shou: Chao Shou is the Sichuan name for wontons. Long Chao Shou offers a variety of flavors, including clear soup, red soup, and seafood. The soup is delicious, and the wontons are smooth.
Rabbit Head: A favorite on Chengdu tables, available in five-spice and spicy flavors. When eating rabbit head, start with the meat on the cheeks and slowly work your way to the meat in the skull. The more you chew, the more fragrant it becomes. Shuangliu Laoma Rabbit Head is a must-try delicacy.
Tips
Chengdu cuisine is mainly spicy. If you can't handle spicy food, remember to tell the waiter in advance to ask the chef to use less chili or order some non-spicy dishes. You can also prepare some stomach medicine in case of stomach discomfort.
When visiting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, try to go early to avoid the crowds. Do not make loud noises or feed the pandas. Follow the park rules.
When buying souvenirs at Jinli Ancient Street and Kuanzhai Alley, pay attention to the prices and bargain appropriately.
Chengdu has convenient public transportation. You can download the Tianfutong app to take the subway and bus, or use shared bikes for convenient and fast travel.
This charming city is waiting for you to explore and discover. Come to Chengdu and start a leisurely food journey!