Top 10 Chengdu Attractions: Your Essential Checklist of Must-Visit Attractions

Written by Natalia | Updated October 15,2025

When we talk about the best Chengdu attractions, what will you think of? Giant pandas or spicy hot pot? Yes, they are two most frequent answers, but a Chengdu tour offers more than what you expect. Undoubtedly, what attract tourists most are the lovely fluffy creature – giant pandas. They are really exceptional ambassadors for their hometown Chengdu. In your travel to Chengdu, it’s not hard to find panda elements anywhere.

Chengdu is also a leisurely city embodying a slow-paced lifestyle as well as an ancient city bearing a history of over three thousand years. Whether you take a sip of local jasmine tea in a peaceful tea house or enjoy face-changing show in a hot pot restaurant, you will be addicted to the charm of this city. Here we summarize ten of the best Chengdu attractions for you to plan a trip easily.

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• Top 10 Chengdu Attractions at a Glance
• Chengdu Attractions: Top Historical and Cultural Sites
• Chengdu Attractions: Iconic Natural Wonders
• Chengdu Attractions: Entertainment & Shopping
• What to Do Around Chengdu?
• Tips for Visiting Chengdu
• How to Plan Your Chengdu Tour
• FAQs about Chengdu Attractions
• Visit Chengdu with China Xian Tour

Top 10 Chengdu Attractions at a Glance

Chengdu Attractions: Top Historical and Cultural Sites

There are abundant historical and cultural sites in Chengdu recording this city’s glorious past. Travelling to these places feels like a conversation with the ancient people.

1. Wuhou Shrine

• Location: No. 231, Wuhouci Avenue, Wuhou District
• Chinese name: 武侯祠
• Opening hours: 08:30 – 18:00, stop entering from 17:00.
• Ticket price: CNY 50 (Note that an appointment is required.)
• Best time to go: March – May, September – November
• Time needed: 2 hours

Wuhou Shrine is often the first stop for a Chengdu tour, witnessing the rise and fall of the once prosperous Shu State during the Three Kingdoms Period. It was initially built in 223AD to commemorate Liu Bei, the king of Shu State. Nevertheless, his minister Zhuge Liang, who showcased great military talent and loyalty to Shu State, won more popularity among Chinese. Therefore, most come here to pay a tribute to Zhuge Liang, who was titled as Zhongwuhou after death and known as Wuhou to later generations. At present, Wuhou Shrine is the only temple in China worshiping a monarch and his subject together regardless of the feudal hierarchy.

What to Do at Wuhou Shrine?

• Take photos at the twisting lane lined with dark red walls. When sunlight filters through bamboo leaves and casts dappled shadows on the red walls, it make a perfect background for photographing.
• Pay respect to Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang and learn about their lifetime stories.
• Appreciate the exquisite stone tablets and plaques bearing inscriptions from famous ancient calligraphers.

2. Dufu’s Thatched Cottage

• Location: No. 37, Qinghua Road, Qingyang District
• Chinese name: 杜甫草堂
• Opening hours: 09:00 – 18:00, stop entering from 17:00
• Ticket price: CNY 50
• Best time to go: March – May, September – November
• Time needed: 2 – 3 hours

Ranked among the top attractions in Chengdu, Dufu’s Thatched Cottage is a magnet to all literature lovers. It’s the former residence of Du Fu, a prominent poet of the Tang Dynasty. When the Anshi Rebellion was launched, Du Fu escaped from the capital Chang’an and found a retreat here. Afterward, he spent nearly four years in this thatched cottage. During the stay, he composed over 240 poems, including some well-known masterpieces. Nowadays, this site has evolved into a place to trace the life experiences of Du Fu, the commonly recognized Sage of Poetry in China as well as a serene and elegant classical garden.

What to Do at Dufu’s Thatched Cottage?

• Imagine Du Fu’s daily life in the simple thatched cottage. Learn a poem by Du Fu.
• Leave a memorial photo at the landmark pavilion housing the stone tablet with the inscriptions of the Prince Yunli in the Qing Dynasty.
• Wander around the neighbouring Huanhuaxi Park.

Related reading: Must-Visit Parks in Chengdu to Experience Culture, Nature & Local Life

3. Wenshu Monastery

• Location: No. 66, Wenshuyuan Street, Qingyang District
• Chinese name: 文殊院
• Opening hours: 08:00 – 17:00
• Ticket price: Free
• Best time to go: March – May, September – November
• Time needed: 1- 3 hours

Sitting at the city center, Wenshu Monastery is also honored as one of Chengdu’s top tourist attractions. Tibetan Buddhist disciples regard it as a holy land to worship Manjusri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Once you step into it, you will feel inner peace. The temple was first built in the Sui Dynasty and therefore owns a history of over 1,400 years. A number of national treasures are stored inside. Some of the best are the relic of the top skull of Monk Xuanzang, a jade Buddha statue from Myanmar, and a colorful cassock embroidered with 248 patterns of Buddhist statues.

What to Do at Wenshu Monastery?

• Enjoy the majestic Buddhist buildings and pray for a successful career at the Great Buddha’s Hall.
• Taste the special vegetarian food made of tofu products but having a flavor of meat.
• Spend a leisurely afternoon over a cup of tea in the Xiangyuan Tea House.

4. Jinsha Site Museum

• Location: No. 2, Jinsha Yizhi Road, Qingyang District
• Chinese name: 金沙遗址博物馆
• Opening hours: 09:00 – 18:00, stop entering from 17:00; closed on Monday.
• Ticket price: CNY 70
• Best time to go: All the year round.
• Time needed: 2- 3 hours

If you are interested in the mysterious civilization of the ancient Shu State dating back to 3,000 years ago, Jinsha Site Museum must be one of the best places to go in Chengdu. It was built on the original Jinsha Site and represents the heyday of the ancient Shu State. The visit is centered on the Relic Hall and Exhibition Gallery, where you’ll have a feast of unearthed cultural relics like utensils made of jade, gold, bronze, silver, and ivory. Among them, the most precious is the gold foil in the pattern of sun and bird god.

If you like, consider adding more museums in Chengdu and Sichuan to enhance your travel experience.

What to Do at Jinsha Site Museum?

• Walk along the wooden walkway to take a close look at the archaeological excavation site.
• Marvel at the Golden Mask, the largest and best-preserved of its kind at the same age.
• Appreciate the ebony forest composed by more than 60 pieces of ebony. They are living fossils recording the favorable ecological environment of Chengdu in ancient days.

Suggested Chengdu Tours:

3 Days Chengdu City Tour

4 Days Chengdu Panda Volunteer Tour with Leshan Giant Buddha

Chengdu Attractions: Iconic Natural Wonders

When it comes to natural landscapes, Chengdu has too much to offer whether you would like to interact with cute pandas, climb a mountain or explore a bamboo forest.

5. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

• Location: No. 1375, Xiongmao Avenue, Chenghua District
• Chinese name: 大熊猫繁育研究基地
• Opening hours: 07:30 – 17:00 from March to October; 08:00 – 16:30 from November to February.
• Ticket price: CNY 55 (Note that appointment is required.)
• Best time to go: March – May, September – November
• Time needed: 3- 4 hours

No one can resist the soft adorable giant pandas. Travelling to Chengdu, one of the must things to do is to say hi to the cute pandas at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, also called the Panda Base in short. As a world-renowned panda sanctuary, it is inhabited by over 200 giant pandas at all ages. It’s here that you can see the little cubs sucking feeding bottles and the grown-ups eating bamboos or playing with their partners.

Panda Viewing Tips

• Get up early to catch the most active moments of pandas.Pandas usually move around between 07:30 and 10:30 in the morning and sleep in the afternoon, so it’s advised to enter the Panda Base as soon as it’s opened.
• Take the classic route starting from the south gate.This route is designed for visitors longing to see the baby and superstar pandas.

Recommended Chengdu Panda Tour: 4 Days Chengdu Panda Volunteer Tour

6. Mount Qingcheng

• Location: Qingchengshan Road, Qingchengshan Town, Dujiangyan City
• Chinese name: 青城山
• Opening hours: 08:00 – 17:30 from April to October; 08:30 – 16:30 from November to March.
• Ticket price: CNY 80 for front mountain, CNY 20 for rear mountain.
• Best time to go: July – Mid-November
• Time needed: 4 – 5 hours for front mountain; 5 – 6 hours for rear mountain.

If you ask a local, what are the must-visit attractions in Chengdu? I’m sure Mount Qingcheng is on the list. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site noted for Taoist temples and tranquil hiking trails. With a luxuriant sea of forests and gurgling streams, it is also a natural oxygen bar to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. The mountain has two areas for you to explore: the front mountain dotted by Taoist relics and the rear mountain for natural scenery.

Scenic Routes of Mount Qingcheng

• Front Mountain: Mountain Gate – Yuecheng Lake (by boat) – Take an upward cable car – Shangqing Palace – Laojun Pavilion – Chaoyang Cave – Tianshi Cave – Mountain Gate
• Rear Mountain: Tai’an Ancient Town – Five-Dragon Valley – Youyi Village – Take Baiyun Cable Car – Cuiying Lake (by boat) – Feiquan Valley – Tai’an Ancient Town

How to Get to from Chengdu

Take Metro Line 2 to Xipu Station. Leave from Exit A1 and get on an intercity train from Xipu to Qingchengshan Station. Then take a sightseeing bus to Mount Qingcheng.

7. Dujiangyan

• Location: Gongyuan Road, Dujiangyan City
• Chinese name: 都江堰
• Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00, stop entering from 17:30
• Ticket price: CNY 80
• Best time to go: March – May, September – November
• Time needed: 4 hours

As a UNESCO world heritage, Dujiangyan is situated on the Min River in the west of Chengdu Plain. It was an ancient water management system built over 2,200 years ago by Li Bing, the governor of Shu Commandery, and his son. With the intelligent invention of the Fish-Mouth Water Diversion Dike, Feishayan Spillway, and Bottle-Neck Inlet, Dujiangyan functions well as an irrigation project. Up to now, it’s the world’s eldest and only survived irrigation system characterized by dam-free water diversion.

Highlights of Dujiangyan Day Tour

• Ascend to the Qinyan Tower to have a bird’s eye view of Dujiangyan.
• Stroll along the Anlan Hanging Bridge, noted as a lovers’
• Appreciate the dreamlike night piece on the South Bridge.

How to Get to from Chengdu

First, get to Xipu Railway Station by metro line 2. Then transfer to the bullet train to Lidui Park, which is only one kilometer from the scenic area.

Chengdu Attractions: Entertainment & Shopping

Besides authentic shopping and food experience, these streets are also best places where you can glimpse into the real and traditional local lifestyle in Chengdu.

8. Chunxi Road

Chunxi Road is one of the must-visit Chengdu landmarks not only for the advantageous location at the city proper but also for the bustling atmosphere. Always crowded with stylish young men, it unfolds the most open and fashionable side of Chengdu as a metropolis. The IFS and Taikoo Li there are perfect spots for shopping and photographing.

Things to Do at Chunxi Road

• Check in at the landmark IFS building with a climbing panda sculpture on its rooftop.
• Purchase all kinds of goods you like, from luxury cosmetics to unique handicrafts and souvenirs.
• Savor the most representative Sichuan cuisinelike hot pot, red oil wonton, and dumplings.

9. Jinli Ancient Street

First-time visitors always add Jinli to the list of top Chengdu attractions. It is adjacent to Wuhou Shrine, with a total length of 550 meters. The buildings follow the style of folk houses in western Sichuan over 100 years ago, giving a sense of primitive simplicity. At night, when the lights are on, the most charming moment comes.

Things to Do at Jinli Ancient Street

• Enjoy the breathtaking Chinese shadow puppetry and face-changing performance in a tea house or opera stage.
• Taste the featured snacks like Sandapao (glutinous rice balls mixed with bean powder and brown sugar syrup), Zhangfei Beef, and deep-fried glutinous rice balls.

10. Kuanzhai Alley

When talking about top Chengdu city attractions, we cannot miss Kuanzhai Alley. It’s a commercial pedestrian street left over from the Qing Dynasty, composed by three parallel old streets, namely Wide Alley, Narrow Alley and Jing Alley, as well as a cluster of traditional courtyards.

Things to Do at Jinli Ancient Street

• Relax in ear-picking service, a unique experience in Chengdu.
• Feel the slow lifestyle of locals in the tea houses, restaurants, and bars.

Suggested Chengdu tours with local life experience:

3 Days Chengdu Food Tour with Cooking Class Experience

3 Days Xian-Chengdu Tour by Bullet Train

What to Do Around Chengdu?

1. Mount Emei

• Distance from Chengdu: about 150 kilometers, 2 – 2.5 hours’
• What to Do: Known as the ashram of Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence, Mount Emei is a UNESCO world heritage site near Chengdu. The splendid four-faced giant Buddha statue on the golden summit is every climber’s goal. The summit is also an ideal place to enjoy the four wonders including sunrise, cloud sea, Buddhist light, and sacred fire. If interested in Buddhism, you can hike to explore the thousand-year-old temples scattered on. The naughty monkeys add more fun to your journey.

2. Leshan Giant Buddha

• Distance from Chengdu: about 150 kilometers, 2 – 2.5 hours by car.
• What to Do: At a height of 71 meters, Leshan Giant Buddha is the tallest stone-carved sitting statue of Maitreya in the worl Its construction began in 713 and took approximately 90 years to complete. The statue was carved on a mountainside facing the river, symbolizing Maitreya guarding this land and its people. You can either climb or take a boat to get close to the Buddha statue.

3. Xiling Snow Mountain

• Distance from Chengdu: about 120 kilometers, 2.5 – 3 hours by car.
• What to Do: Xiling Snow Mountain, merely 2.5 – 3 hours’ drive from Chengdu, presents you with gorgeous scenery for all seasons, especially in winter, when it transforms into a largest ski resort allowing you to gallop freely in the wilderness. Whether you want to experience the excitement of skiing or watch the sun rising over the sea of clouds, Xiling Snow Mountain can meet your expectations.

Recommended Chengdu Side Tours:

2 Days Xiling Snow Mountain Ski Resort Tour from Chengdu

5 Days Chengdu Winter Tour to Xiling Snow Mountain

6 Days Chengdu Leshan Mt. Emei Tour with Panda Volunteer Program

Tips for Visiting Chengdu

• Best time to visit Chengdu: Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) for the pleasant temperature, little rainfall and high visibility.
• Best time for pandas: It’s better to visit the pandas before 10:30 in the morning as they are more active. If you visit in spring, there is a chance that you see new-born baby pandas.
• Transportation tips: Chengdu is developed in metro operation, so that you can get around by metro very conveniently. Public buses are accessible and can reach areas not covered by metro. If you travel together with others, particularly at night or you carry with heavy luggage, it’s recommended to hail a taxi, with the starting price of about CNY 9.
• Best places to stay in Chengdu: Most travelers choose to stay near Chunxi Road for the convenient transportation. If you prefer a quieter environment, it’s advised to lodge around Kuanzhai Alley or the People’s Park.
• Must-try Chengdu food: Dandan Noodles, hot pot, classic Sichuan dishes, tofu pudding, spicy Sichuan skewers…

Related reading: Top Free Things to Do in Chengdu

How to Plan Your Chengdu Tour

You can spare 2 to 5 days for a Chengdu tour depending on your budget and schedule.

A 2-day itinerary is enough to cover the essence of Chengdu if you are in a rush.

Day 1: Panda Base – Kuanzhai Alley – Wuhou Shrine – Jinli Ancient Street

Day 2: People’s Park – Chunxi Road – Dufu’s Thatched Cottage/Jinsha Site Museum

If time permits, you can extend your trip to 4 or 5 days.

Day 3: One day tour in Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng (front mountain)

Day 4: Leshan Giant Buddha

Day 5: Mount Emei

You can also get to How to Plan a Chengdu Tour page to see more detailed planning information and tips.

FAQs about Chengdu Attractions

What is Chengdu famous for?

Chengdu has a lot to boast, such as the mouth-watering hot pot, cute pandas, profound cultural heritage from the glorious ancient Shu regime and Three Kingdoms Period, mysterious face-changing shows, and leisurely lifestyle of locals.

Is Chengdu really worth visiting?

Absolutely. Chengdu will not disappoint you whether you seek for natural landscape or historical and cultural relics. Once you arrive, you won’t want to leave.

How many days are enough for a Chengdu tour?

Generally speaking, 3 – 5 days are enough.

Is Chengdu cheap or expensive?

In general, Chengdu is cheaper compared with other top destinations like Beijing and Shanghai. A moderate 5 day tour may cost CNY 2,500 – 4,000 based on your travel style. Learn more tips on how to travel China on a budget.

Where can I see Giant Pandas in Chengdu?

Apart from Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, you can see giant pandas at Dujiangyan Panda Valley, Dujiangyan Panda Base, Wolong Panda Base, and Bifengxia Panda Base.

What is the difference between Jinli Ancient Street and Kuanzhai Alley?

Jinli more focuses on the culture of Three Kingdoms and folk customs of Sichuan, while Kuanzhai Alley mainly shows the slow lifestyle in the traditional tea houses, modern cafes and book stores.

What famous day trips can I take from Chengdu?

You can take a one day tour from Chengdu to Mount Qingcheng, Xiling Snow Mountain, Luodai Ancient Town, Mt. Emei, and Leshan Giant Buddha. With more time, you can also extend your Chengdu trip to Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong Scenic Area.

Where can I watch a Sichuan Opera performance?

Famous theaters are good choices for watching Sichuan Opera, including Liyuan Guild Hall, Sichuan Provincial Opera Theater, and Jinjiang Theater. You may also enjoy Sichuan Opera in some tea houses and restaurants.

Visit Chengdu with China Xian Tour

Are you touched by the charm of Chengdu? I’m sure you are! Come on, contact China Xian Tour’s experienced travel consultants to customize the best itinerary for you. Our expert team will listen to your travel ideas carefully and make them all happen with their inside information and professional knowledge. A relaxing Chengdu tour is waiting for you!