Chengdu Travel Guide

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, about 10 kilometers away from downtown Chengdu. The facility is famous for the protection and breeding of endangered wild animals that are unique to China. It simulates the natural habitat of the giant pandas, where there are lakes, lakes, streams, bamboo forests and lawns. The chance to come into close contact with the giant pandas is a highlight here. Visitors can have a close-up observation of the pandas' living conditions. There is also a "Panda Villa", which is a preserved area for the pandas to rest.

Qingcheng Mountain is dubbed as the "most quiet and secluded place in the world". It is the birthplace of Taoism and there are many Taoist temples to explore there. Qingcheng Mountain is divided into two mountain areas: Qingcheng Front Mountain and Qingcheng Back Mountain. They require separate tickets. The Front Mountain is where Taoist culture and cultural relics are concentrated. When visitors talk about “Qingcheng Mountain”, they often refer to the front mountain; Qingcheng Back Mountain is known for its natural scenery making it a good place for vacation and leisure.

The Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum is a temple dedicated to honoring Shu Han heroes such as Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. Its origins date back to 221 AD during the first year of the Zhangwu era under Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han, when Liu Bei's Hui Ling Mausoleum was constructed. The Han Zhaolie Temple was also built during the same period.

Approx. around 500 AD during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, the Wuhou Shrine was relocated from Chengdu's "Shaocheng" to the vicinity of Hui Ling Mausoleum and Han Zhaolie Temple, maintaining this layout until the Ming Dynasty. In 1390 during the 23rd year of the Hongwu era, Zhu Chun, the Ming Prince of Shu, visited the Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum for worship. Citing that "monarch and subject should be united as one," he merged Hui Ling Mausoleum, Han Zhaolie Temple, and Wuhou Shrine into a single complex. As Zhuge Liang's influence among the common people surpassed that of Liu Bei, the site became colloquially known as "Wuhou Shrine."

The cultural relics area of the Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum mainly consists of the Hui Ling Mausoleum, Han Zhaolie Temple, Wuhou Shrine, and the Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum - Sanyi Temple, with the main structure being the Wuhou Shrine. The shrine is divided into the main gate, second gate, Liu Bei Hall, passage hall, Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum - Zhuge Liang Hall, and Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum - Sanyi Temple, all aligned along a central axis from south to north. The shrine houses 50 statues of Shu Han heroes including Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, along with numerous stone inscriptions and plaques related to Zhuge Liang and Three Kingdoms culture.

The famous "red wall and bamboo shadows" of Chengdu are located within the attraction. Don't forget to take photos.

The garden area of Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum, located on the west side of the shrine, features architectural structures such as the stone archway gate, three-arched gate, square pavilion, Jiexin Hall, and burial chamber. It is the only northern-style mausoleum complex in southwest China. The shrine is adjacent to Jinli Ancient Street (Jinli Folk Custom Area), making it convenient to visit both sites together.

During the Qing Dynasty, a new term emerged in Chinese opera history: the Pear Garden Guild. Opera has long been nicknamed "Pear Garden," with performers called "Pear Garden disciples." Originally serving as both a trade union and spiritual sanctuary for opera artists, this art form evolved into a gem of China's traditional arts and a vital folk cultural expression. With its diverse genres, captivating performances blending song, dance, dialogue, and martial arts—integrating singing, acting, recitation, and combat—Chinese opera stands uniquely distinguished in world theater history.

Liyuan Theater was co-founded by renowned Sichuan Opera dan role performer Hu Xuemei and entrepreneur Liao Xiaojian (a former Sichuan Opera actor). Located in Chengdu's Wenshu Fang central leisure tourism district, the theater originated after the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake. During that challenging period, it spontaneously organized "public benefit performances" to entertain opera enthusiasts, becoming a spiritual pillar for countless fans. The theater upholds the philosophy: "Live for yourself, perform for the audience."

Today's Liyuan Theater is not only the "Sichuan Opera Practice Base" recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, but also collaborates with the Chengdu Charity Federation to establish a public welfare fund for Sichuan Opera heritage preservation, contributing to the cultural legacy. It pioneered the Family-friendly Sichuan Opera Special, attracting numerous families to experience and learn about this traditional art form.

The Pear Garden Theater specializes in Sichuan opera, upholding its reputation as "Sichuan opera showcasing the world." Here you can explore both frontstage and backstage, interact closely with artists, and enjoy diverse performances including face-changing, fire-spitting, rolling lamp acts, kung fu tea ceremonies, puppet shows, and shadow plays—immersing yourself in traditional cultural charm.

The Pear Garden Theater welcomes visitors with authentic Sichuan opera performances while hosting classic opera showcases from various regions and gathering extraordinary folk art performances, creating a cultural hub where domestic opera masters gather.

The Pear Garden Theater aims high, where you can enjoy performances, savor tea, and taste local delicacies. If you're a "theater enthusiast," you can dress up as a star performer here and experience the saying "one minute on stage takes ten years of practice off stage." If you're here out of "passion," welcome to join the "Pear Garden disciples" as we collectively preserve and promote Chinese opera culture.

WenShuFang Cultural and Creative Zone is a key project of Tianfu Jincheng in Chengdu, located within the historical and cultural conservation area of Wen Shu Yuan in Qingyang District. It is one of Chengdu's three major historical and cultural conservation areas. The Wen Shu Fang block serves as the core area of the cultural and creative zone, with a total planned land area of approx. 143 mu (approx. 95,333 m²) and a total construction area of approx. 168,000 m². Currently, Phase I (56 mu/6.5 million m²) and the eastern section of Phase II (28 mu/4.3 million m²) have been completed and are operational. Planning is underway for the western section of Phase II, covering approx. 52.6 mu (excluding Jin Shun Yuan) with a total construction area of approx. 60,000 m². Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with completion expected by 2028. Since its official opening in 2006, Phase I has been a vital gateway to experiencing Chengdu's culture. Phase II aims to preserve urban heritage while meeting the demands of consumption upgrades. Guided by the vision "Millennium Chengdu, Charming Wen Shu," the project continuously optimizes its layout through "new formats, scenes, brands, and models." It exemplifies immersive cultural tourism consumption by blending "old Chengdu's charm" with "new Chengdu's vibrancy," enhancing attractions like intangible heritage, Hanfu, tea culture, cuisine, hotels, national trend theaters, creative products, and entertainment. This integration fosters a consumption hub, boosting regional tourism, hospitality, dining, and other service sectors, ultimately creating a landmark for integrated cultural, commercial, and tourism experiences.



Chengdu Museum is located on the west side of the city center, covering an area of approx. 17 acres with a total floor space of approx. 65,000m² and exhibition space of approx. 20,000m². The main building consists of south and north wings: the south wing's above-ground floors primarily house offices and research areas, while the basement level contains an auditorium (multi-function hall). The north wing mainly features exhibition areas, with the ground floor housing the lobby, screening room, and special exhibition hall. The basement level presents the "Man and Nature" thematic exhibition. Floors 2–3 showcase "Flourishing Chengdu - Ancient History and Culture of Chengdu," floor 4 displays modern history and folk customs, and floor 5 features the Chinese Shadow Puppetry and Marionette Exhibition.

The museum boasts a collection of nearly 200,000 artifacts, forming a comprehensive chronological sequence from the Neolithic Age to the Republic of China period. The collection encompasses bronze ware, gold and silver artifacts, brick carvings, stone sculptures, ceramics, paintings and calligraphy, furniture, shadow puppets, marionettes, ritual paintings, masks, wood carvings, and more—establishing both quantitative significance and qualitative excellence within a systematic framework.

Since its opening, the museum has hosted a series of highly acclaimed special exhibitions, including "The Restless Nostalgia: Zhang Daqian," "The Splendid Emperor: A Special Exhibition of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty," "The Soul of the Silk Road: Dunhuang Art Exhibition & Cultural Relics of the Land of Abundance and the Silk Road," "Summer Palace of the Empire: Treasures from the Peterhof State Museum, Russia," "French Modern and Contemporary Painting Art Exhibition & 'Portrait·Metamorphosis' Photography Exhibition," "Echoes of Civilization: Ancient Treasures from Afghanistan," and "The Road of Qin and Shu: Bronze Civilization Special Exhibition."

Manhua Sea of Flowers is located in the south section of Xiaolong Avenue in Xindu District. It has a European style garden and is ideal for families' weekend trips. The varieties of flowers planted here are numerous. In the flowering season, it is rich in color. It is a visual feast no matter where you turn.

Wenshu monastery is located in Qingyang district. Originally built during the Sui dynasty and rebuilt during the Kangxi reign, it was renamed Wenshu monastery. The monastery houses over 300 Buddhist statues of various sizes, crafted from diverse materials including iron, gauze-covered clay, wood, stone, and clay. Among them is a precious jade Buddha statue from Myanmar.

The temple complex features five grand halls - the Hall of the Three Great Scholars, the Mahavira Hall, the Dharma Hall, and the Scripture Depository - connected in sequence, seamlessly integrated with the bell tower, dining hall, and corridor houses on the east and west sides. Combined with other structures, they form an enclosed quadrangle courtyard. The compound also houses a teahouse and a distinctive vegetarian restaurant called "Xiangzhai Hall," making it a beloved leisure spot for local residents.

In addition, the monastery houses numerous precious paintings and calligraphic works from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The most renowned include the "Konglin" plaque bestowed upon Wenshu Monastery by Emperor Kangxi in 1702, as well as Kangxi's transcription of the Song Dynasty calligrapher Mi Fu's "Sea Moon" scroll. Other Buddhist artifacts include the parietal bone of Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang, Indian palm-leaf manuscripts, and gilded sutra cases from Tang Dynasty Japan. However, as these are precious cultural relics, they are rarely seen by outsiders.

The street in front of Wenshu Monastery, now developed as Wenshu Fang known as the "urban zen forest," features uniformly designed antique-style buildings where many snack stalls continue to operate.

The Jinsha Site Museum is located in the northwest of Chengdu city. It is an archaeological museum built on the original site of the Jinsha Site, an important archaeological discovery of the ancient Shu civilization, to protect, study and display the Jinsha Site and the ancient Shu civilization.

In April 2007, the Jinsha Site Museum was officially opened to the public. The museum covers an area of 300,000 square meters, with a total building area of about 40,000 square meters. It is divided into the Relics Hall, Exhibition Hall, Cultural Relics Protection and Restoration Center, Cultural Exchange Center, Garden Area and other parts. The collection of cultural relics is rich in variety and complete in system, and all have high historical, scientific, cultural and artistic value. The exhibition comprehensively displays the glory of the ancient Shu Jinsha Kingdom from multiple angles such as archaeological sites, ecological environment, production and life, religious sacrifices, and cultural background.

The Jinsha Site was rated as one of the "Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries in China in 2001", a national key cultural relic protection unit and one of the first national archaeological site parks, and was selected together with the Sanxingdui Site into the "China World Cultural Heritage Tentative List". The "Sun Bird" gold ornament pattern unearthed from the Jinsha Site was identified as the symbol of China's cultural heritage and the core pattern of Chengdu's city image logo.

The Jinsha Site Museum is now a national AAAA-level tourist Attraction, a national first-class museum, a national research and practice education base for primary and secondary school students, and a Sichuan Province postdoctoral innovation and practice base.

The Chengdu Natural History Museum is a significant venue integrating science, education, and culture, dedicated to showcasing Earth's natural history and biodiversity. With a rich collection spanning paleontological fossils, animal and plant specimens, and mineral exhibits, it vividly recreates the planet's evolutionary journey. Featuring modern exhibition halls with multimedia interactives and immersive experiences, visitors can delve deep into the wonders of nature. The museum serves not only as a vital hub for science education but also as a gateway for the public to explore natural sciences. Its diverse exhibitions and activities attract visitors of all ages, making it an ideal destination to discover nature and spark curiosity. Combining scientific rigor with engaging storytelling, the Chengdu Natural History Museum offers an enlightening cultural journey for every visitor.

Chunxi Road is the fashion hub of Chengdu and a culinary hotspot. Exploring this iconic commercial pedestrian street and indulging in local delicacies is a must-do when visiting Chengdu.

Chunxi Road is not just a single street, but refers to the area east of Beixin Street, south of Zongfu Road, west of Hongxing Road, north of Dongda Street, as well as Nanxin Street, Zhongxin Street and their surrounding areas. For visitors to Chengdu, missing out on Chunxi Road would be as regrettable as skipping Wangfujing in Beijing or Nanjing Road in Shanghai.

On both sides of Chunxi Road, you'll find a vibrant mix of century-old shops, trendy malls, brand boutiques, and delicious snack stalls. Famous local eateries like Zhong's Dumplings, Lai's Tangyuan, Han's Steamed Buns, and Long's Wonton all have branches here. On weekends, this area also serves as a popular leisure spot for Chengdu residents.

The intersection of Chunxi Road's main street is the famous Zhongshan Square, where the bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen stands. At the northern entrance, there's also a Chengdu folk-custom relief art wall carved from granite, depicting various scenes of Tang Dynasty Chengdu, including temple fairs, flower festivals, lantern festivals, and mulberry picking.

There are hundreds of species at Chengdu Zoo, including mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and beautiful fish. You can appreciate tigers, lions, giraffes, red-crowned cranes, and elephants. The most-loved animal at the zoo is the giant panda. The snub-nosed monkey is also a favorite for children. Zhaojue Temple, a Buddhist temple, is located right next to the zoo and you can visit both attractions on the same trip.