Apart from the Great Wall of China, the next thing which comes to people’s mind when mention China will most likely be PANDA.
Fun fact: Did you know that Chengdu is the only place where giant pandas live in the wild?
Nonetheless, this post is not going to focus on pandas but other awesome places this Sichuan’s capital has to offer.
I visited Chengdu at the beginning of December and it was freezing cold. Most of the restaurants and shops do not have heating system so if you’re traveling during winter, be prepared to face the cold. However, the best part of travelling during this period: lesser crowd and cheaper ticket price for attractions.
Don’t Miss: Leshan – Visiting The Largest Stone Buddha In The World
Tianfu Square (天府广场)
Tianfu Square, is the busiest and largest district in the heart of the city popular with both the locals and tourists. Right in front of the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum stands a marble sculpture of Mao Zedong, waving his hand to visitors.
Nearest Metro: Tianfu Square Station
Chunxi Pesdestrian Street (春熙路)
A shopping heaven and fashion paradise, Chunxi Street is a trendy place to shop till you drop. There are over 700 commercial sites in this area, ranging from international high-end brands to low-end local shops where you can bargain.
Nearest Metro: Chunxi Road Station
Wide and Narrow Alley (宽窄巷子)
Probably my favorite hangout in the city! Here, you will find traditional Chinese restaurants with beautiful gardens, souvenirs shops, art shops and delicious street food. I spent almost 4-hours here watching endless street performances, taking pictures and being amused by how the Chinese outsell their products to the tourists.
Nearest Metro: Wide and Narrow Alley Station or People’s Park Station
DuJiangYan Irrigation System (都江堰)
Dujiangyan Irrigation System is honored as the “Treasure of Sichuan”, which still plays a crucial part in draining off floodwater, irrigating farms and providing water resources for more than 50 cities in the province. It is the oldest and only surviving no-dam irrigation system in the world; and a wonder in the development of Chinese science. There are also historical sites here such as Erwang Temple and Fulong Temple which were built to commemorate Li Bing.
Getting there: Take Bullet train from Chengdu Railway Station to Dujiangyan City (RMB15). The ride is about 45-minutes, then change to Bus No.4 to Liduigongyuan Station.
Entrance Ticket: RMB90
Attend a Chinese Wedding
The main reason why I’m ended up in Chengdu is to attend my Chinese friends’ wedding!
Chinese weddings usually start off with gatecrashing ceremony whereby the bridesmaids will lock the groom out of the house until they are satisfied with the amount of angbaos (red packets) they have received.
Lastly, if you want to keep a track of all my photos and travels, remember to follow @wanderrsaurus on Instagram!
Pin this post for your next travel to Chengdu!
