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Major city · China

Chengdu成都

Go to Chengdu to see giant pandas and eat real Sichuan hotpot; allow 2–3 nights, more if you add a day trip to the Leshan Giant Buddha or Mount Emei by rail.

Weather
see forecast
Best months
Mar–May and Sep–Nov: mild temperatures and clearer skies than summer or winter
avoid Jul–Aug (hot, humid), Dec–Feb (cold, frequently overcast — Chengdu's basin geography traps low cloud)
Airports
TFU · CTU
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
  • East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
  • China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
  • China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
  • China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
  • China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
  • China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province and the main gateway to western China. It has a panda breeding and research base on the edge of the city, a teahouse culture built around its old parks, and one of China's most distinctive regional cuisines. The Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei are within a day trip by high-speed rail.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Chengdu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda BreedingSichuan hotpot and mapo tofuJinli Street's Qing-dynasty-style old townLeshan Giant Buddha, a day trip by railTeahouse culture in People's Park
Airports
TFU Chengdu Tianfu (Metro Line 18 links to the centre in about 50 minutes) · CTU Chengdu Shuangliu (Closer to the centre; Metro Line 10)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Chengdu: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The metro is the easiest way to reach the panda base, Jinli Street and both rail stations. Taxis and ride-hailing (Didi) are common; set up Alipay or WeChat Pay in advance.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Tianfu Square

Central, on the metro, walkable to People's Park and shopping.

Chunxi Road

Shops, restaurants and nightlife within walking distance of Jinli Street.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Watch out

Safety

Low risk of crime against tourists; the main practical issues are winter air quality and spice tolerance.
  • Sichuan food is genuinely very spicy; ask for wēi là (mild) if you're not used to it.
  • Pandas are most active and least drowsy in the early morning; book base tickets ahead and arrive at opening.
  • Winter air quality is often poor due to the basin's low cloud cover; check an air-quality app if it affects you.
  • Foreign visitors need a valid visa or transit exemption; confirm current rules with official sources.

Emergency numbers

Police
110
Ambulance
120
Fire
119

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chengdu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May and Sep–Nov: mild temperatures and clearer skies than summer or winter · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, humid), Dec–Feb (cold, frequently overcast — Chengdu's basin geography traps low cloud)
  2. 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast
  4. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to China

Sources