Chengdu

Best tourist spots around Chengdu of Sichuan Province selected by AbsolutePanda (Chengdu Travel Map)

The City More than Pandas
Few cities in the world can enjoy such unique resources as Chengdu. Located in the western part of the rich Sichuan Basin and to the east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the vertical elevation difference is close to 5,000m, creating a unique landscape that allow many kinds of nature environment, flora and fauna to flourish. Nearby are famous Emei mountain, Leshan giant Buddha, Qingcheng mountain - Dujiangyan Irragation System and many other cultural and natural heritage. Chengdu and its surrounding areas can be called the "panda capital". If you want a panda tour, Surely Chengdu is the best place to start. Not to mention the food, the welcoming people and the relaxed lifestyle of Chengdu who has all the ingredients needed for an unforgettable journey.

Best Things to do in Chengdu (To do List)

1. Meet Giant Panda
Seldom someone can refuse Giant Panda, especially kids.If you are considering a unforgettable family tour spending with pandas, Chengdu is no doubt the one of best place to visit. 80 percent of giant panda in captivity is in or around Chengdu.
Panda Base in Chengdu: Chengdu Research base of Giant Panda Breeding
Recommended Base for Panda Volunteer Program: Dujiangyan Panda Base
Other Panda Bases：Wolong Giant Panda Conservation Center, Bifengxia Panda Base

“Panda Capital”-Chengdu ； Clean Panda enclosure；Meet Panda face to face

2. Have a Sichuan Culinary Experience
Chengdu, is the first Asian city recognized as "THE CITY OF GASTRONOMY" by UNESCO. Chengdu Cuisine is the representation of Sichuan Cuisine, the most popular and beloved regional Chinese cuisine.
Learn how to cook Sichuan food in Mum’s Kitchen Program and try authentic hotpot and local snacks.

Mum’s Kitchen Program

Visit the local food market ；Prepare traditional Chinese dishes ； Eat your own achievements

Hotpot & Local Snacks

Sichuan Bamboo Strings；Hotpot ；Sweet-spicy flavored dumplings

3. The History of Chengdu

Chengdu,as one of the earliest and most prosperous cities in China, has never changed its name with over 2000-year continuity.

Jinsha museum
Jinsha Site Museum is built at a historical site of ancient “Shu”, located in Chengdu city which can be easily reached by Metro or bus. Stunning culture relics like “Golden Sunbird”, “Golden Mask“ are being exhibited to the visitors coming over the country and world.

Wuhou Shrine
Have you read about stories of Three Kingdoms? It is one of the best place to know this period of history, especially the heroes under Liu Bei’s Shu Kingdom represented by Zhu Geliang who is considered a perfect example of loyalty and virtue.

Wenshu Monastery
Wenshu Monastery (Manjushri Monastery) was originally built in Tang dynasty over 1200 years ago. Unlike most of traditional monasteries, instead of building in mountains and some place far , it is located in the city downtown. Exquisite architectures and statues allow you to flash back to the day when Buddhism was at its peak in ancient China.

Artistic Roof of Jinsha museum；Chinese style passage in Wuhou Shrine ；Beautiful architecture in Wenshu Monastery

4. Experience laid-back style life in Chengdu

Play Majong
In Chengdu,Majong is a way of life. To many people first time try Majong, it is quite an interesting challenge and fun to play.

Visit Famous Local Old Street
Jinli old street and Kuanzhai Alley are featured with modern commercial souvenir shops,special restaurant and bars in old delicate architectures.Walking in these streets, you will be like in a time travel and forget to leave.

Enjoy a Time in Traditional Tea House
Many citizens in Chengdu are addicted to this old laid-back place. Fast change life ways is inevitable in China but you still can enjoy a peaceful time in the city with a cup of tea.

Watch Magical Face Changing
In Sichuan opera,mask changing is the most important component element. Magical face changing is a visible stunt used to express the character's invisible mood in Sichuan Opera.

Traditional tea house ； Sichuan Opera ；Majong

Best Destinations around Chengdu

1. The Leshan Giant Buddha
The Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone seated Maitreya in the world at 71 meters (233 ft) high and 24 meters (79 ft) wide. As the local saying goes, "The Mountain is a Buddha, the Buddha is a Mountain".

Arial walk way；The Leshan Giant Buddha；Take a full view by boat

2. Mount Emei
Mt Emei is one of the four famous Buddhist mountains of China. It is one of the most well-known summer destinations in China thanks to its scenery and cultural and religious attraction.

Famous Tibetan Macaque in Emei ;Gigantic golden statue of bodhisattva at summit ;Incredible sunrise at Emei Mountain

3.QingCheng Mountain & Dujiangyan Irrigation system

QingCheng Mountain
As one of the birthplaces of Taoism, it is a peaceful and secluded mountain. Its front range is famous for cultural appeal and back range for natural landscape.

Elegant front Gate of Qingcheng Mountain;"The greenest mountain in China" ;Glorious Taoism Temple

Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Constructed more than 2,000 years ago for flood control, it is the only ancient irrigation system of the world which is still functioning properly till now. It has been playing an important role in farmland irrigation of Chengdu Plain and making Chengdu a land of abundance.