Things to Do in Chengdu: An Itinerary for 3 Days

Discover the best things to do in Chengdu, China—from giant pandas and Sichuan food to historic streets, day trips, and travel tips, based on a my 3-day visit.

Chengdu is one of China’s most enjoyable cities to visit. Known for its relaxed lifestyle, giant pandas, and bold Sichuan cuisine, Chengdu offers a refreshing contrast to China’s fast-paced megacities.

I visited Chengdu for 3 days, mainly because it was easy to take a direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. What I didn’t expect was how fun, lively, and memorable the city would be. Yes, it can be crowded—especially in summer—but the experiences are truly unique.

Here are some suggested things to do in Chengdu for your trip:

1. Visit the Giant Pandas

The absolute highlight of Chengdu is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

I spent almost a full day here, and it was 100% worth it. I saw both giant pandas and red pandas, including playful cubs lounging, eating bamboo, and climbing trees. The base is large, well-maintained, and surprisingly easy to navigate.

🕘 Best time to visit: Visit early in the morning, when pandas are most active. If you want to see the famous panda Hua Hua, arriving early is especially important—you’ll likely need to line up, and this is when she is usually still outdoors.

Try to avoid visiting Chengdu during peak summer. When temperatures get too high, pandas are kept indoors in air-conditioned rooms for their well-being. While it’s still interesting to see them inside, watching pandas outdoors—eating bamboo, playing, and climbing trees—is a much more exciting experience.

🚇 Getting there: The panda base is very easy to reach by public transportation. There is a Panda Base Express bus running directly from the city center. Alternatively, you can take Metro Line 3, then transfer to Bus 408, which goes straight to the entrance.
👉 Tip: Although Alipay and Wechat are widely accepted on public transportation, prepare some cash just in case, especially for buses or small purchases.

👥 Crowds: Yes, it’s crowded—but absolutely worth the visit, especially for first-time visitors to Chengdu.

Other Panda Bases in Chengdu & Sichuan (Brief Overview)

Wolong National Nature Reserve – A major panda conservation and research center, and the current home of Fubao, the famous panda returned from Everland Park in South Korea.
Dujiangyan Panda Base – Focuses on panda rewilding and conservation in a more natural setting.
Bifengxia Panda Base – An important breeding and rescue center, often less crowded than Chengdu city bases.

2. Experience Sichuan Cuisine (Even If You Can’t Eat Spicy)

Sichuan food is legendary—and yes, it is very spicy 🌶️. I personally can’t eat very spicy food, but Chengdu surprised me. The key flavor concept here is mala—the combination of chili heat and the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorn. Even if you avoid spice, Chengdu is still a food paradise.

You can try a wide range of dishes:

Classic Sichuan dishes (carefully choosing mild versions)
Spicy and non-spicy hotpot options. My friend introduced me this Wuli Pass Hot Pot (address on Amap), and it was amazing! There are classic Sichuan Spicy Oil Hot pot and other non-spicy hot pot broth such as Guizhou hot pot with tomato base, spices and fruits.
Wonton soup, noodles, dim sum: try Laitangyuan or Yuanji Yunjiao
Plenty of Western food if you need a break
Tea and coffee: Some famous milk tea & coffee chains are Mixue, Luckin Coffee, Chagee

In China, it’s very convenient that you can always access to the menu of every restaurant through Alipay and Wechat, with a QR code sticked on the table. Use the apps and its translation tool to order more easily!

3. Wander Jinli Ancient Street

Jinli Ancient Street is vibrant, colorful, and full of atmosphere. You can enjoy here:

Traditional architecture
Street food and local snacks
Souvenirs and lantern-lit streets at night

⚠️ But there is Crowd warning: Jinli is very crowded, especially in the evening. This is honestly the part of traveling in China that tires me the most—the crowds. Still, the experience is unique and worth seeing at least once.

4. Relax Like a Local at a Teahouse

Teahouses are everywhere in Chengdu and perfectly represent the city’s slow, laid-back lifestyle. Here, you’ll see locals spending hours sipping tea, playing mahjong, chatting with friends, and snacking without any sense of rush. Sitting in a teahouse was one of my favorite low-key experiences in the city—simple, authentic, and unmistakably Chengdu.

5. Discover Wuhou Shrine

Wuhou Shrine is a must-visit for fans of the Three Kingdoms period. Dedicated to legendary figures Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei, the shrine features beautiful traditional architecture, peaceful gardens, and rich historical storytelling that brings this famous era to life. While it does get crowded—like many popular attractions in China—the atmosphere and historical significance make it a special and worthwhile stop, especially if you enjoy Chinese history and culture.

6. Watch a Sichuan Opera & Face-Changing Performance

I’ve watched face-changing (Bian Lian) performances many times—on the street, in formal opera shows, and even at restaurants like Haidilao 😄. It never gets old; the speed and mystery of the mask changes are mesmerizing. Chengdu is one of the best places to experience authentic Sichuan opera.
Fun fact: Chengdu is the hometown of Haidilao. Surprisingly, I didn’t see many branches in the city center. A local friend told me most are in the suburbs—and that locals actually prefer the hundreds of traditional hotpot restaurants over big chains.

7. Take a Day Trip to the Leshan Giant Buddha

The Leshan Giant Buddha is massive and truly impressive. It’s perfect for a half-day or full-day trip from Chengdu. You can admire the statue from a boat—less tiring and great for photos—or walk down the cliffside path for a closer look. This is easily one of the most worthwhile day trips from the city.

8. Visit Jiuzhaigou (If You Have Extra Time)

If your schedule allows, consider visiting Jiuzhaigou, one of the most beautiful natural areas in China and a true highlight of Sichuan Province. Jiuzhaigou is famous for its crystal-clear turquoise lakes, multi-tiered waterfalls, colorful forests, and snow-capped mountain backdrops, creating scenery that feels almost unreal—especially in autumn.

That said, Jiuzhaigou is extremely popular, and crowds are common, particularly during peak seasons and Chinese holidays. Because of its distance from Chengdu and the sheer size of the park, Jiuzhaigou works best as a longer extension to a Chengdu trip rather than a quick add-on. Planning at least 2–3 extra days allows you to travel more comfortably and fully enjoy the landscapes without rushing. Despite the crowds, the natural beauty makes Jiuzhaigou well worth the effort if you have the time.

9. Enjoy Chengdu’s Night Streets

Beyond the main tourist spots, Chengdu at night is lively, colorful, and full of character. Night markets, street food stalls, and neon-lit local streets give the city a vibrant energy that feels very different from daytime sightseeing. Simple evening walks after dinner were one of my favorite ways to truly feel Chengdu’s atmosphere—relaxed yet buzzing with life.

Great places to wander at night:

Kuanzhai Alley (more touristy but atmospheric): it is one of Chengdu’s most famous historic areas, made up of Wide Alley, Narrow Alley, and Well Alley. It showcases traditional Qing-dynasty architecture mixed with modern cafés, teahouses, souvenir shops, and restaurants.
Tianfu Square – a central landmark with wide open spaces and evening lights
Taikoo Li – stylish, lively, and perfect after dark
Anshun Covered Bridge

Popular night markets such as:

Kuanzhai Alley (more touristy but atmospheric)
Yulin Night Market
Jiuyanqiao Bar Street

10. Go Shopping in Taikoo Li

Taikoo Li is modern, stylish, and incredibly convenient. With fashion brands, cafés, and restaurants set among beautifully designed spaces that blend old and new architecture, it’s an easy place to relax, eat, and shop.

Major department stores & shopping landmarks in Taikoo Li:

IFS Chengdu – famous for the giant panda sculpture climbing the building
SKP Chengdu – luxury-focused shopping mall
Taikoo Li Mall – open-air complex with international and Chinese brands

Another bonus for international travelers: tax refunds are easy to process in Taikoo Li, with many participating stores and clear refund services on-site.

Where to Stay in Chengdu

For first-time visitors, staying in the city center around Chunxi Road is an excellent choice. This area is lively, well-connected, and packed with shops, restaurants, and malls, making it easy to explore Chengdu’s highlights without long travel times. It’s also a great base if you enjoy being in the heart of the action, especially in the evenings.

Hotels near Taikoo Li offer a more modern and stylish experience. This area is highly walkable, surrounded by trendy cafés, international restaurants, and boutique stores, and feels especially pleasant for evening strolls. It’s ideal if you enjoy a mix of shopping, dining, and a polished urban atmosphere.

Staying near a metro line is another smart option, particularly if you plan to visit the panda base or take day trips to places like Leshan or beyond. Chengdu’s metro system is efficient and easy to use, so proximity to a station can save both time and energy.

To find a hotel in Chengdu, use trip.com. It is one of the best platforms for booking hotels, offering reliable listings, wide availability, and a user-friendly experience for international travelers.

Useful Apps to Make Traveling in China Easier

Traveling in China is much smoother once you have the right apps installed. For Chongqing in particular, these were the tools I relied on the most:

Amap (Gaode Map) (on App Store or Google Play Store): One of the most accurate map apps in China, with an English interface option. It works better than Google Maps, especially for public transport, walking routes, and real-time navigation. All the addresses pinned in this post need to be opened with the Amap app.
Alipay: An essential digital wallet for paying almost everything in China — taxis, public transportation, restaurants, convenience stores, and attraction tickets. You can link an international credit card, which makes payments very easy.
WeChat: More than just a messaging app, WeChat is also widely used for payments (everything from taxis, public transportation, restaurants, convenience stores, and attraction tickets) and also for local communication. Having it installed is extremely helpful, even if you only use basic features.
Baidu Translate: A lifesaver for communication. English is not widely spoken, so this app helps with text, voice, and even image translation when reading menus or signs.
Trip.com: Very foreigner-friendly and available in English. You can book hotels, tours, attraction tickets, national parks, museums, and even trains all in one place.
Railway 12306: The official app for buying train tickets in China. It’s the most reliable option for high-speed trains, though the interface is mostly in Chinese and requires a bit of setup. Buying train ticket on Railway 12306 is a better option than on trip.com: cheaper and easier to exchange to another trip.

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