2020 Dragon Boat Festival Chengdu Travel Guide, Recommended Must-Stay Hotel - Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch)

Chengdu, you have all the looks I love.

Long time no see, Chengdu, I'm here again.

The city where I took my first solo trip,

and one of my favorite cities.

Every visit doubles my sense of happiness.

This is truly a city of cuisine.

From the moment I step off the plane,

I can smell the aromas wafting through the air.

The air is filled with a spicy scent.

Hotpot, skewers, mao cai, Sichuan cuisine...

The skewer shop holds memories of delicious flavors, while new-style Sichuan cuisine opens up new taste experiences.

Local river fish is served with great ceremony, and the trendy Thai-style seafood hotpot is full of sincerity.

All-you-can-eat grilled oysters give you ultimate satisfaction; braised barbecue skewers bring poetic boldness.

Chengdu, you look delicious.

As I walk through the city,

memories from the past appear before me as if they were yesterday.

The bustling Kuanzhai Alley and the vibrant nightlife of Jiuyan Bridge

have become icons of Chengdu, must-visits for first-timers.

The essence of intangible cultural heritage—face-changing—and the trendy Eastern Suburb Memory

show the collision of old and new cultures in Chengdu.

And there are the adorable national treasures, the giant pandas, so charming...

First-time visitors absolutely cannot miss these places.

Chengdu, you have all the looks I love.

D1: Arrive in Chengdu — Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch) — Yufuyuzai — SPA

D2: Kuanzhai Alley — Jiyu Thai Hotpot — Taikoo Li — Jiuyan Bridge

D3: Giant Panda Base — Chengdu Chike

D4: Hao Yingxiong — Eastern Suburb Memory — Dejin'er Braised Barbecue Skewers — National Essence Face-Changing

D5: Sleep till natural wake-up — Mabianbian — Leave Chengdu

Chengdu, in fact, whether it's food, attractions, activities, or accommodations, there is much more than this.

These are the classic food spots and attractions I've visited multiple times over several trips.

For attractions, they suit first-time visitors to Chengdu. If you've come a second or third time, you might mainly come for the food—Chengdu truly is an irresistible city for foodies.

As for accommodation, it's very central—within walking distance to Zhimin Road and Taikoo Li, and surrounded by many attractions like Lan Kwai Fong, Shuijingfang Museum, and City Park.

Here, you can have something different every day, every meal, every dish.

Here, all kinds of food are everywhere; look around, and you'll find food streets all over the city.

Here, you can eat from dawn to dusk, from spring to winter, always feeling like you can't get enough, can't finish, and constantly craving more. Almost all restaurants have flexible operating hours.

Chengdu, I can only say it's just too delicious. Whether it's hole-in-the-wall eateries, private kitchens, or trendy restaurants, I've tried no fewer than 20-30. It's all spicy, and you'll gain three pounds, but I still love eating...

Whenever you go to Chengdu, everyone knows you must eat hotpot, but it's not only hotpot. Let me recommend a few places that even locals queue up for (recommended by Didi drivers too)—Mabianbian, Chengdu Chike, and Yufuyuzai. They are all on Zhimin Road, lined up together, and reportedly owned by the same person (a young handsome guy).

Some of the food on Zhimin Road, I've eaten three or four times; some were first-time experiences. My favorite is Chengdu Chike, which always has new items.

The driver said that in Chengdu, even if a restaurant is incredibly popular and crowded for two or three months, if it doesn't introduce new items, it will close within a month. Chengdu people are very picky about food.

FYI: Zhimin Road caters to locals, while Jinli and Kuanzhai serve tourists. If it's your first visit, do the tourist spots, but for food, go where locals eat—authentic, distinctive, and recommended by locals—you can't go wrong.

For a second visit to Mabianbian, take Chengdu Metro Line 3 to Xin'nanmen Station Exit B, then walk. The overall price is not expensive, about 80 RMB per person. Open from 11:00 AM to midnight, with no break in the afternoon.

Walking into Mabianbian, childhood memories come flooding back. The retro, nostalgic decoration instantly takes you back to childhood. Simple tables and chairs are set up outside the roadside shop, and the mottled walls bear the marks of time. Fearing the queue, I arrived early, but there were already many people inside. The lively, bustling atmosphere combined with the aroma of food made me drool.

The ingredients are fresh and abundant, both meat and vegetables. Use a small bamboo basket to pick whatever you want from the large freezer—it's like the freedom of the old streets. Put the cleaned skewers into the boiling pot, and they're ready quickly. The broth base is mostly spicy. For the dipping sauce, I recommend the original soup dip: mix chili powder and crushed peanuts in a small bowl, then add some soup from the pot—it's especially fragrant.

At Mabianbian, don't forget to order the mao cai (boiled vegetables), which is also a Chengdu specialty. Spicy pig brain, spicy clams—each dish will satisfy and delight you. And the traditional snack, tangyuan guozi (sugar oil fruit), is crispy on the outside and sticky inside, very tasty.

This restaurant's business in Chengdu is absolutely booming. I've been to the Kuixinglou branch before, and the queue was really long. I chose Zhimin Road this time because the driver recommended it, and the staff at Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch) also love to eat here. Opening hours are mainly 11:30 AM–2:00 PM and 5:00 PM–10:00 PM. The decoration is fresh and comfortable; the store is quite spacious, and the bamboo-woven utensils on the ceiling feel very down-to-earth.

The 'Naked Prawn Balls' (Luoben Tuotuo Xia) are a must-order specialty here. The prepared fresh prawns are soaked in the broth, then drizzled with hot oil, making them very flavorful. The prawn meat is tender and sweet, and the sweet-spicy taste is very popular.

Chengdu Chike's 'Paper-Wrapped Abalone' is known as the most luxurious instant noodles in history, with abalone meat and crab meat added. Although it's Sichuan pepper flavored, its deliciousness is still irresistible—a creative dish from the restaurant. Also, order a sweet and sour osmanthus tomato to relieve greasiness and refresh your palate—a perfect pairing.

This Sichuan-style green pepper grilled fish slices dish has beautiful colors. The colors alone have already won over the appetite. I slowly look forward to tasting it. This dish has generous ingredients: the fish is deboned and sliced, then threaded on skewers, making it convenient to eat and flavorful. The fresh, spicy, and numbing taste showcases the essence of Sichuan cuisine, and the vegetables underneath are also very rich.

In addition to various new-style Sichuan dishes, Chengdu Chike's drinks are also a surprising highlight. Who would have thought that this old-fashioned thermos contains sweet and refreshing pear soup?

For foodies in Chengdu, Zhimin Road is a paradise. Yufuyuzai is also one of the local-recommended food spots. The unassuming storefront hides a culinary secret. The shop, full of fisherman elements, gives a feeling of abundant harvest—joyful to see, with a nostalgic style that feels very warm. (I'm even more convinced that these three shops are owned by the same person, since each has its own decoration style but all share a retro feel.)

Yufuyuzai's main ingredients are fresh fish and bullfrog, both freshly killed upon order. There are over 10 types of fish to choose from, offering plenty of variety.

The hotpot at Yufuyuzai has an incredible sense of ceremony: three or four staff members put the ingredients into an iron pot lined with river stones heated to over 300°C, quickly pour in the boiling broth, and immediately cover it with a large iron lid. The sound and aroma together come at you, arousing cravings. The frog meat is tender, the fish meat is fresh, paired with the specially prepared dipping oil—absolutely superb.

Chengdu cuisine is not only about spicy. Yufuyuzai's farm-style cold bean jelly and purple rice glutinous rice cake are must-order snacks here, with a soft, sticky texture and unique flavor.

The unassuming house-pickled radish brings a crisp texture, relieving spiciness and oiliness. I loved it so much that I ate the whole portion myself. There are also cute orange-shaped steamed buns with sweet and sour filling.

Every dish here is satisfying, and the per-person cost is not expensive, around 80 RMB. Opening hours are 11:00 AM–11:00 PM. You can arrive early to avoid queuing. There will be many people during evening dinner time, so pay attention to the timing.

Chengdu hotpot restaurants emerge endlessly, everywhere. It's quite difficult to choose a unique hotpot place. I once read a public account article that covered various categories of hotpot. Among them, one with high visual appeal is this Jiyu Thai Seafood Hotpot at Taikoo Li, which I had been longing for.

Now this restaurant is a famous trendy spot in Chengdu. The store is filled with greenery, a familiar Southeast Asian style decoration. The stylish and artistic decoration is exquisite enough to dominate your social media feed. Photography enthusiasts will love it here.

Jiyu hotpot's biggest feature is its seafood. It offers a rich variety of seafood: fresh prawns, crabs, seafood platters, and precious six-head abalone, all very fresh. You can enjoy them to your heart's content.

Jiyu's signature tom yum soup base, perfectly matching the 'Thai' name, is sour and spicy appetizing. The added coconut water brings back a sweet aftertaste, enriching the flavor and being beneficial to health. There are also various specially made dipping sauces to meet different needs.

Thai curry is also famous. The curry prawns highly recommended here are a must-order and must-eat. The flavor is rich, the prawn meat is firm and very flavorful. Special praise goes to Jiyu's service: the staff will help peel prawns and dismantle crabs, making eating seafood very convenient. They even help with lighting when you take photos.

It must be said that Jiyu's desserts are both delicious and beautiful. The trendy sea salt lava cake has a sweet flavor without being greasy. The feeling of fresh cream pouring down after removing the transparent paper is wonderful. There are also many beautiful and tasty drinks and free unlimited refills of desserts. It's a shop with great value, about 120 RMB per person. Opening hours: 11:30 AM–3:00 PM, 4:30 PM–11:30 PM.

In Chengdu, if you want to experience the satisfaction of eating oysters until you're full, you must visit Hao Yingxiong at Taikoo Li. Oyster buffet attracts countless people. The simply decorated shop has an open self-service area, and the ventilation system uses Korean-style exhaust pipes, keeping it clean.

A foodie friend once said that if oysters aren't grilled with minced garlic, it's a disservice to the oyster. The fresh oysters are already opened under the influence of temperature, paired with Hao Yingxiong's special minced garlic. The aroma is tantalizing. It takes only 8 to 10 minutes to enjoy them—large, fresh, and of good quality.

Besides grilled oysters, there are also pressure-cooker steamed oysters, and the staff will help open the shells. There are other ingredients suitable for grilling, such as shrimp, beef, scallops, pork belly, ribs, etc., which are also popular. However, I recommend eating these last, since eating oysters is the main event. (About 100 RMB per person. Opening hours: 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, 4:30 PM–12:00 AM.)

Usually, the skewers I eat are charcoal-grilled. This time, I tried the Dejin'er Braised Barbecue Skewers at the Hongwasi direct-sale store. Arriving early saved me the trouble of queuing and allowed for a quiet chat.

The braised skewers are fragrant, tender, and flavorful, without being burnt. The taste is indeed different. Paired with the exclusive dry dip, it tastes wonderful. The must-order steamed bun slices should be dipped in the provided condensed milk—you'll feel like you've opened a new door to deliciousness.

Eating raw garlic, I usually refuse, but Dejin'er's grilled garlic is not spicy at all; it's soft and mushy, very nice. Bell peppers, corn segments, lamb chops, etc., can all get full marks. The recommended drink is Shanzhuyue (hawthorn drink), sweet and sour, relieving spiciness and greasiness. The recipe is healthy, and the taste differs with temperature—it's basically a must-order drink here.

Many of Dejin'er's small dishes are also worth trying. This is the first time I've seen such a creatively shaped potato shreds. The 'air-dried potato shreds' as a cold dish have both appearance and taste.

Address: Shop 8, Ground Floor, Xuefu Garden, No.12, Section 1, Yihuan Road, Wuhou District

Average cost: 90 RMB

Opening hours: 5:00 PM–1:00 AM

Kuanzhai's status in Chengdu is like Guanqian Street in Suzhou—it's the most representative place of Chengdu. If you come to Chengdu and haven't been to Kuanzhai Alley, you haven't truly come to Chengdu, especially for first-time visitors.

Strolling along the street, folk customs, culture, architecture, food—Chengdu's essence is condensed here. Day and night each have their charm. Countless people fall deeply in love with Chengdu just because of this place.

Walking through Kuanzhai through all seasons, you see all of Chengdu's charm, taste a special local dish, feel the ambience, find a tea house to drink a cup of tea, sit and watch the crowds in the alley, and experience Chengdu's slow life.

Address: Kuanzhai Alley, Jinhe Road Entrance, Qingyang District, Chengdu

Transportation: Metro Line 2 to Renmin Park Station, Metro Line 4 to Kuanzhai Alley Station.

Built in 1593, Jiuyan Bridge transforms into a representative of Chengdu's night culture at night. Hundreds of bars open along the bank, with brilliant lights. It's a must-see night view in Chengdu.

The bars here have varying prices. You can choose a suitable one to have a small drink, enjoy the breeze while admiring the riverside scenery—a truly pleasant thing.

Address: Jiuyan Bridge, Wuhou District, Chengdu

Transportation: Multiple bus routes to Jiuyan Bridge South Station.

Jinjiang Theater: Watch Sichuan opera, one of the traditional Chinese opera genres. The most wonderful show here is 'Furong Guocui Legendary Face-Changing Show', where the face-changing stunt amazes everyone.

With a gentle wave of the flag in hand, the actor changes makeup, representing the character's emotions and psychology within the masks. It's completely impossible to guess the trick, receiving thunderous applause from the audience. There are also stunts like spitting fire. After one performance, it's definitely worth your while and the ticket price.

Address: Jinjiang Theater, No.54 Huaxing Zheng Street, Jinjiang District, Chengdu (near Wangfujing)

Ticket prices for Furong Guocui: 280 RMB, 200 RMB, 150 RMB

Opening hours: 9:00 AM–11:00 PM

Originally transformed from the 'Eastern Music Park', leftover items from the former Soviet Union in the park create visually impactful objects. Photography enthusiasts will definitely come to check in.

During the day, it's a cool, trendy place; at night, music makes it lively. Sporadic musical performances keep Eastern Suburb Memory bustling at night, and various cafes, bookstores, and bars remain popular in the evening.

Address: No.1 Jianshe South Branch Road, Chenghua District, Chengdu

No one can resist the cuteness of giant pandas. Although the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base is far from the city center, you still need to come early in the morning. It creates a complete wild living environment with lakes, streams, bamboo forests, lawns, etc., housing over 100 giant pandas.

When entering the base, strictly follow the rules and don't disturb the pandas' lives. The most adorable spot is going to the Moon Delivery Room to see panda cubs—it melts your heart. Besides giant pandas, you can also see black-necked cranes, peacocks, herons, and other animals.

I originally wanted to see newborn panda cubs, but the queue was too long, so you must go very early!

Near the entrance, there is a Giant Panda Museum where you can send postcards stamped with panda postmarks from the Panda National Post Office, and watch documentaries about pandas in the cinema.

● Opening hours: 07:30–18:00, open year-round, ticket sales stop at 17:00.

● Ticket price: 55 RMB/person.

● Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base has its own parking lot located on the north side of Panda Avenue, to the right of the base, covering an area of 16,000 square meters.

【Panda Base Tips】

Public transportation guide:

Shuangliu International Airport → Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base: Take Airport Bus 303 to Provincial Sports Stadium Station, transfer to Bus 99 to Zoo Station, then transfer to Bus 87 or 198 to reach. About 2 hours 20 minutes.

Chengdu North Railway Station → Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base: Take Bus 9 to Zoo Station, then transfer to Bus 87 or 198. About 1 hour.

Chengdu city center → Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base: Take bus to Zoo Station, then transfer to Bus 87 or 198. About 1 hour 30 minutes.

Chengdu Metro Line 3, Panda Avenue Station (need to take bus after getting off metro). Most convenient to get off at Zoo Station and transfer to bus to reach.

About Accommodation - Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel [Tianfu Square/Yanshikou Commercial Area, near Kuanzhai Alley/Traditional Chinese Medicine College area]

Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel is located at No.130 Shaanxi Street, southwest corner of Tianfu Square, the city center. It is about 930 meters from Metro Lines 1 and 2, about 327 meters from People's Park, about 350 meters from the trendy Heming Old Teahouse (inside People's Park), about 290 meters from the pig trotter food street, about 1.3 km from Kuanzhai Alley, about 1.8 km from Wuhou Shrine and Jinli, about 1.6 km from Chunxi Road, and about 2.5 km from Taikoo Li. It has an excellent location and convenient transportation. Around the hotel, there are educational institutions, key schools, high-end businesses, office buildings, the Education Department, Human Resources and Social Security Department, Public Security Department, Shishi Middle School, City Heart, Renhe Spring, etc., all within walking distance. The hotel has 94 guest rooms. Inside the hotel is a provincial-level key cultural relic—the Shaanxi Guild Hall, built during the Kangxi reign, with its plaque handwritten by Mr. Yu Youren. The over 300-year-old simple architectural style contrasts with modern fashion, imbued with the charm of ancient Shu culture, allowing you to sleep in a classical Chinese garden courtyard, peaceful amidst the noise, elegant and refined.

For this trip to Chengdu, after comprehensive comparison, I chose Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch). The main reasons:

1. Good location: about 40 minutes by taxi from the airport, truly in the city center. Although in the city, it is quiet without being noisy, as if in two different worlds.

2. Nearby attractions are mostly must-visits in Chengdu, reachable on foot, such as Kuanzhai Alley, Taikoo Li, People's Park, Wuhou Shrine, Jinli, etc.

3. The hotel's ginkgo garden room is excellent, with a garden balcony, perfect for drinking tea and chatting with friends.

4. Chengdu Ximu Shanju Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch) has hosted many internet celebrities and stars.

The most famous label here is food,

Irresistible aromas are everywhere in the air.

Chengdu's scenery cannot be ignored either,

Cultural surprises in every street and alley.

Truly a city you don't want to leave,

A city full of happiness,

A city you can't take away,

So I'll come many more times!