Reserve the Panda Base with your passport
All regular visitors need an online real-name reservation. Book up to 14 days ahead through an official channel and carry the original passport used for the booking.
Official Panda Base tickets →Reserve the animals and archaeology first.
Book the Panda Base and Sanxingdui before filling the week. The routes group north-east Chengdu, the historic west, Guanghan, Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain into separate days, so an early panda morning never becomes a late cross-city sprint.
GET YOUR BEARINGS
One hand-drawn map before you choose
Tianfu Square is the city anchor. The Panda Base and Eastern Suburb Memory sit north-east; Kuanzhai Alley, People's Park, Du Fu Cottage and Wuhou Shrine form the historic west; Sanxingdui, Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain are separate trips outside central Chengdu.
TOP SIGHTS
What to see in Chengdu
Du Fu's Thatched Cottage (杜甫草堂)
Du Fu's Thatched Cottage guide: tranquil gardens and bamboo, tickets, how to get there, and first-timer tips on…
Read guide →Dujiangyan (都江堰)
Dujiangyan guide: the 2,000-year-old UNESCO irrigation system, how to get there by high-speed rail, tickets…
Read guide →Heming Teahouse (鹤鸣茶社)
Heming Teahouse guide: the 1923 lakeside teahouse inside People's Park, how to get there, gaiwan tea and…
Read guide →Jinli Ancient Street (锦里古街)
Jinli Street in Chengdu: a folk street of food, crafts, and lanterns — free to enter, best in the evening.
Read guide →Kuanzhai Alley
Kuanzhai Alley guide: three Qing-era lanes of courtyards, cafés and snacks, how to get there, what to eat and…
Read guide →Giant Panda Base (熊猫基地)
Visiting the Chengdu Giant Panda Base: why go early, how to get there, tickets, and tips for seeing the pandas…
Read guide →People's Park
People's Park guide: how to get there, how long to spend, the popular hits and hidden gems (Shaocheng Garden…
Read guide →Sanxingdui Museum (三星堆)
A practical guide to the Sanxingdui Museum near Chengdu: the Bronze Age masks and gold mask, how to get there…
Read guide →Sichuan Opera & Face-Changing (川剧)
Sichuan Opera face-changing guide: the Shufeng Yayun show, tickets, what you'll see, and first-timer tips on…
Read guide →Wuhou Shrine (武侯祠)
Wuhou Shrine guide: the top Three Kingdoms site in Chengdu, next to Jinli Street, tickets, and first-timer tips…
Read guide →BEFORE YOU GO
Chengdu essentials for foreign visitors
Chengdu feels relaxed only after the passport bookings, payment, data and transport are ready. The Panda Base, museums and mountain routes can change entry arrangements, so check official pages again when you reserve.
Choose the earliest panda entry
March–October entry begins at 07:30; November–February begins at 08:00. Pandas are generally more active before the day becomes warm, so do not place a late city attraction before this visit.
Check official seasonal hours →Sanxingdui is a separate Guanghan day
Reserve before travelling and keep the original passport. Do not treat the museum as a short stop between downtown sights; transport, security and the large galleries need most of a day.
Open the Sanxingdui guide →Check which airport you booked
Tianfu International (TFU) is far south-east of the centre; Shuangliu (CTU) is much closer. Save the airport code, terminal and Chinese name before calling a car or choosing a metro route.
See the city-base advice →Metro for the city, rail for day trips
Activate Chengdu in Alipay's Transport section or buy a single ticket. Use high-speed rail and official scenic transport for Dujiangyan, Qingcheng Mountain and Guanghan; verify the exact station before buying.
Official foreign-traveller transport guide →Set up payment and keep cash backup
Link an international card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before the first taxi or teahouse. Carry small RMB notes as backup; cash remains legal tender but small vendors may lack change.
Official overseas payment guide →Stay near Tianfu Square or Chunxi Road
Both areas have strong metro access and late food. Show your original passport at hotel check-in; if you stay outside a hotel, accommodation registration is normally required within 24 hours.
Official accommodation guidance →Order spice by level, not bravery
Say "wēi là" (微辣, mildly spicy) and ask for a divided hotpot if needed. Sesame-oil dip cools flavour, but it does not remove chilli; allergies and dietary restrictions should be translated in writing.
Open the food-and-neighbourhood day →Keep one weather-swap day
Mountain paths, Dujiangyan walkways and outdoor panda areas are sensitive to rain, heat and temporary safety closures. A seven-day plan works because the city day can swap with an outdoor excursion.
Open the flexible seven-day plan →Planning information checked 10 Aug 2026. Reconfirm live opening hours, ticket release times, weather controls and transport before travel.