4-Day Chengdu Itinerary: Check In 6 Trendy Photo Spots (With Guide)

Due to the pandemic this year, I was forced to stay home for nearly half a year, and every day I couldn't wait to travel. I stumbled upon a photo of Chengdu's trendy Wuchazi Bridge, so I immediately booked a flight for a spontaneous trip. The last time I was in Chengdu was five years ago. When I did my research, I realized Chengdu had changed dramatically—brand-new commercial districts and trendy photo spots made me eager to explore. This time I stayed in Chengdu for four days. For convenience, I rented a HAVAL Big Dog for a self-drive trip and checked in many new photo spots. If you also want to take some unique photos, read on! ?? Wuchazi Bridge for sci-fi shots

?? Jianshe Road Tunnel for a time-travel vibe

?? Daoming Bamboo Li for a pastoral dream life

?? Taikoo Li for trendy street snaps

?? Rooftop overlooking the city at night

Chengdu self-driving vlog:

1. Wuchazi Bridge – A Real-Life Möbius Strip

This was the most anticipated spot in Chengdu. Once it opened this year, it instantly became the hottest check-in spot.

Although the bridge's name sounds very down-to-earth, once the lights come on at night, the unique lighting design instantly reveals the beauty of its streamlined shape, full of futuristic sci-fi vibes. The designer drew inspiration from the Möbius strip; if you shoot from above with a drone, it looks like the infinity symbol ∞.

It's a pedestrian bridge, so vehicles can't cross. It's perfect for an after-dinner stroll to enjoy the night view. The bridge is a bit far from downtown. We drove the Big Dog from Chunxi Road and it took about 40 minutes. Perhaps because it's so popular, it was packed at 8 PM, with many street vendors on the bridge, making it hard to get a people-free shot. If you have enough time, I suggest going around midnight—fewer people, and the lights stay on. The yellow and white lights give a built-in beauty filter effect, and raw photos look cool straight out of the camera.

A few classic angles to share: First, at the pier on the west side, you can capture most of the bridge in a fantastical way. Second, at the entrance from the upper level to the lower level, you can also catch distant buildings. Third, the central staircase is also a hot spot, so get there early to secure a spot.

?? Outfit suggestion: The bridge is futuristic, so try wearing techwear-style clothes or simple black and white outfits for great shots. ?? How to get there: Search for Wuchazi Bridge. It's not convenient by subway or bus, so self-driving or taking a taxi is recommended. There's a free parking lot underneath the bridge.

2. Jianshe Road Tunnel – Stepping into a Time Tunnel

After visiting Wuchazi Bridge, it was already midnight. The roads were empty, making driving a breeze. On the way back, we decided to check out the tunnel known as the time-travel tunnel before too many people showed up.

Netizens call it a time tunnel, but it's actually just an inconspicuous bridge tunnel. However, under the lighting, it really feels like walking through a tunnel through time, and every shot turns into a masterpiece of light and shadow!

As more people have come to check in, it's become increasingly popular, often crowded with visitors. To get a people-free photo, we recommend coming after 11 PM. It's easy to get a clear shot. By the way, there are two tunnels. If one side is occupied, check the opposite side. The tunnel has warm yellow lights. Make sure to find good light and shadows, set your camera straight, and let your face and body contours appear best in the frame to get the perfect photo.

?? Outfit suggestion: Wear black or white clothes, or something cool. The light reflecting off the clothes creates a great effect. ?? Address: Under the bridge in front of Fuli Drugstore on Jianshe Road. The pedestrian tunnels are at both ends of the bridge.

3. Eastern Suburb Memory – Industrial Style Photo Paradise

I've always been interested in industrial-style architecture. At the hotel, I searched for nearby attractions and found Eastern Suburb Memory, so I drove over immediately. This is the former site of the state-owned Chengdu Hongguang Electronic Tube Factory. The old factory is hardly known to young people these days. It once produced China's first black-and-white picture tube and the first projection tube, making it historically significant. Now it has been transformed into a music park.

Strolling through the park, you see Soviet-aided office buildings, red-brick factories, train engines, and rails, all filled with a strong nostalgic vibe. Every shot is an industrial-style masterpiece.

Old buildings and graffiti are everywhere, turning the area into a popular check-in spot. Walking around, you often see streamers, singers, and Hanfu photography enthusiasts taking photos.

The Memory Corridor is also a great spot for photos. If you want to find traces of the old industrial era and feel the atmosphere of the past, don't miss it. The creative street's display cabinets feature cute panda figures with design flair.

Both sides have various creative and trendy shops, perfect for cool shots.

Seeing it was still early, we spontaneously decided to visit the nearby IBOX Container Base. From online photos, the colorful containers looked promising. I really liked the Big Dog's 360° panoramic camera—it's a lifesaver for someone like me who struggles with parking.

4. IBOX – Colorful Container Base

The two places are very close. To be honest, maybe due to time, the containers had faded a bit and weren't as spectacular as when they first appeared. When IBOX first opened in 2014, it was a huge hit. Designed by the same team as London's BOXPARK, it's a creative base made of 22 shipping containers.

But after six years, the colorful exteriors aren't as vibrant. Still, some shops remain, and there are almost no tourists, so you can take your time with photos.

There's a pet shop in the park, and the owner was walking a dog. I couldn't resist playing with the dog for a while.

5. Taikoo Li – Trendy Street Photography Mecca

Speaking of the trendiest district in Chengdu, Taikoo Li definitely comes to mind. If you want to see good-looking guys and girls, this is the place, especially on weekends. Everywhere you turn, you see fashion-forward people—like someone in Hanfu riding a skateboard or men walking in high heels... Every street snap here is extremely popular, even going viral abroad.

What I love about Taikoo Li is how it perfectly blends ancient and modern. It features fashion, trends, and international brands alongside Daci Temple, which has a history of over 1,600 years. The two coexist harmoniously. When you get tired, you can find a teahouse to rest.

The evening light at Taikoo Li is beautiful. I snapped a quick photo.

6. Bamboo Art Village – A Paradise in Bamboo Sea

On the last day in Chengdu, I decided to drive the Big Dog to the outskirts. The Bamboo Art Village in Daoming Town, Chongzhou City, is the home of Chinese intangible cultural heritage: bamboo weaving. As Chengdu is notorious for traffic jams, we got up early to avoid the morning rush and even caught a beautiful sunrise.

It takes about an hour to drive from downtown Chengdu. With flexible time, we stopped whenever we saw a nice view. The area around Chengdu has high vegetation coverage. Walking on the mountain paths, the air was fresh and fragrant. In the afternoon forest, cicadas chirped everywhere, taking me back to childhood.

The road was mostly mountain roads. Luckily, the Big Dog drove well. When climbing hills and overtaking, acceleration was smooth; even on continuous curves, body roll was not obvious, giving a sense of security from the chassis.

Soon we arrived at Daoming Bamboo Li, which I was most looking forward to. The gray tile roof is circular, inspired by the Tai Chi symbol and the infinity ∞ emblem, representing fusion and infinity. I came for aerial shots, but after exploring, I found it's actually great for a weekend getaway. Parking the Big Dog on the winding road made for a nice shot.

Daoming Bamboo Li usually operates as a restaurant. You can have meals or afternoon tea there, with an average bill of around 100 RMB per person. According to staff, it closes to the public after 5 PM, so go during the day. On weekends, make a reservation in advance. Inside the lobby, the building extensively uses raw wood, bamboo, and floor-to-ceiling windows… Even indoors, the outdoor scenery is fully visible. The central circular opening creates a Chinese-style landscape.

If your budget allows, consider staying at the Linli Homestay behind the restaurant. Each room is a standalone villa scattered on the back hill, embodying the saying "Deep in the bamboo grove, a small path leads to a cottage." The room design echoes the bamboo culture of the village. The exterior walls are handcrafted from bamboo, full of texture. Room rates start at 2280 RMB per night.

Besides this beautiful architecture, the village offers outdoor pastoral scenery, and you can visit Dingzhi Bamboo, Zunsheng Small Courtyard, the Art Museum, and Sanjing Academy at your leisure. After leaving Bamboo Art Village, we decided to drive the Big Dog around the area to explore. In September, it's the rice harvest season, and the fields were golden. The melody of Jay Chou's "Rice Fragrance" drifted through my mind, and we immediately stopped to take a short break.

Having lived in the city for so long, seeing endless rice fields, with the wind carrying the fragrance of grain, felt like the life I've always dreamed of.

The Big Dog's orange metallic paint looked great and became a perfect prop for my photos, haha.

Leaving Bamboo Art Village and returning to downtown Chengdu to return the car, my Chengdu trip came to an end. Chengdu is truly a city for experiencing a slow pace of life while eating and having fun. Over these few days, I drove my trendy travel companion, the HAVAL Big Dog, to many popular spots in Chengdu. Even before leaving, I felt like staying a bit longer. Next time if you come to Chengdu and don't want to be limited by public transport, you might consider self-driving like I did!