48 Hours of Relaxation in Chengdu with Kids (Including Free Transportation Guide)
When a baby grows from an infant into a curious older child, parents can't wait to introduce this wonderful world to them, reading with them, taking them on trips, building their worldview little by little. I remember Harvard University's current president, Drew Faust, once said: 'The breadth of a person's life determines their excellence, and the journey that starts from childhood is the starting point to expand the breadth of life.' I think the words of the most outstanding educator from the most prestigious school in the world must have a reason, so a child's growth experience must not lack exploration of the world. A good family travel destination must have three essential elements: well-equipped urban infrastructure, a comfortable and slow pace, and colorful family-friendly elements. Looking across the country, the Land of Abundance, Chengdu, has an innate leisurely charm that attracts tourists, with the Panda Base, laid-back city life, Sichuan cuisine, shopping trends, Jinsha culture... There's so much to do. If you're tempted, here's a complete weekend 48-hour Chengdu family travel guide.
Arriving in Chengdu, Where to Stay?
When visiting a city, how can you miss its dazzling nighttime scenery? The fashion focus and visual center of all Chengdu is undoubtedly the [Chengdu IFS], known as the center of the universe. Located at the intersection of Hongxing Road and Daci Temple Road in Jinjiang District, it is an urban complex integrating shopping, culture and entertainment, office buildings, serviced apartments, and hotels. Next to it are Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li. It truly embodies the prosperity of the city, and staying here allows you to truly appreciate the charm of 'At dawn she sees red wet and flowered, the heavy blooms in the City of Brocade.' Moreover, due to convenient transportation, it's easy to get anywhere.
Around [Chengdu IFS], there are many beautiful designer hotels and boutique apartments. You can open Ctrip to search for accommodations in Chengdu, enter keywords 'Chengdu IFS', and many options will come up, from cost-effective apartments priced between 200-500 RMB, where a family can enjoy a spacious two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment, or you can choose a luxury hotel like the Niccolo in Chengdu IFS, which costs over 1000 RMB.
How to Get from the Airport to Chengdu IFS
Chengdu IFS is great, but how to get there after landing? The most convenient way is to take the 'Chengdu Scenic Area Direct Bus', which goes directly from the airport. During the day (08:30–18:00) it costs 13 RMB per person one way, and at night (18:15–23:00) it costs 20 RMB per person one way. The boarding point is at the T1 International Arrival exit and T2 Terminal exits 4 and 5.
If you want to save money, you can also take Metro Line 10 and transfer to Line 3, get off at Chunxi Road Station, and walk 200 meters to Chengdu IFS.
Get This Special Benefit: Free Transportation to Explore Chengdu
Choosing to stay near [Chengdu IFS] not only offers prosperity and convenience but also great deals to take advantage of. From now until December 31, travelers can receive a ONE-DAY PASS visitor gift package by presenting their travel ticket/order for Chengdu within the past 7 days, enjoying the 'One-Day VIP Leisure Card' exclusive shopping benefits plan at Chengdu IFS. This gift package includes free direct access to popular attractions, exclusive discounts at 40 brands, discounts on popular dining, exclusive shopping vouchers, and tax refund services for foreign and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan compatriots. Not only do you get shopping discounts and meal discounts, but most importantly, free scenic area direct buses are available.
The redemption point for the ONE-DAY PASS visitor gift package at Chengdu IFS—I personally verified it works.
Covering dining, shopping, and entertainment, the gift package is full of sincerity. Seeing all the various discount coupons is heartwarming. You absolutely cannot miss this opportunity to take advantage of the deals; you must fully enjoy eating, drinking, and having fun at Chengdu IFS. With the 'Free Bus Ticket' from the visitor gift package, you can take the 'Scenic Area Direct Bus' for free within 2 days of the selected date to multiple popular attractions in Chengdu. The boarding point is near the Chengdu IFS Heritage Square.
Scenic Area Direct Bus Boarding Point
A 48-Hour Family Itinerary in Chengdu
After checking into the hotel and having free transportation, let's start our 48-hour vacation in Chengdu. Here is the itinerary:
DAY 1: Morning at Panda Base – Midday at Kuanzhai Alley – Afternoon back to Chengdu IFS, take the child to Yan Ji You to read, enjoy authentic Chengdu cuisine, and in the evening go up to the Sculpture Courtyard for the night sky market. Notably, with the 'Free Bus Ticket' from the visitor gift package, you can take the scenic area direct bus for free from Chengdu IFS to the Panda Base, and then from the Panda Base to Kuanzhai Alley at noon.
DAY 2: Morning at Haichang Polar Ocean World – Midday at Paradise Island Ocean Park – Afternoon back to Chengdu IFS for shopping, enjoy food, then head to the airport or high-speed rail station.
First Stop: Panda Base
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding homepage: www.panda.org.cn
Ticket: 58 RMB; Online price: 53 RMB (adult). Discounted ticket: 29 RMB (children), 29 RMB (ages 60-69). Children under 1.3m and seniors over 70 are free. Opening hours: 07:30–18:00. TIPS: The earlier you go to the Panda Base in hot summer weather, the better. The earlier it is, the cooler, and the more pandas you can see outdoors. The most essential spots are the Young Panda Villa and the Moon and Sun Delivery Rooms. Suggested visiting time: 2-3 hours. Address: 1375 Panda Avenue, North Outer, Chenghua District, Chengdu.
Every big city has a zoo, and every zoo has one or two pandas. So why travel all the way to Chengdu to see them? First, this is the hometown of giant pandas, with added sentimental value. Second, a standing population of about 80 pandas here allows you to see very different scenes, like this:
But when the weather is hot, they are like people, wanting to stay in air-conditioned rooms. So when visiting in summer, you must go early...
The easiest place to see pandas outdoors is the Young Panda Villa. Follow the signs after entering, about a ten-minute walk.
We went in summer with the whole family; the child was naughty and we had a hard time. By the time we arrived, most of the pandas had gone into air-conditioned rooms, leaving only two mischievous ones who weren't afraid of the heat.
It twisted its chubby body, laboriously climbed onto the wooden platform, and got closer to the crowd. The crowd couldn't help but cheer. Another little rascal also climbed onto the platform, and the crowd was fully excited.
The Young Panda Villa is the most popular spot, so volunteers are arranged nearby to do educational work. The pink baby in Dian Dian's hand is a model of a newborn giant panda, all pink, about the size of a mouse. It's hard to imagine such a tiny body growing up to 300 kilograms.
Next to it is a giant panda skull model. Look at those sharp canine teeth. Don't think this animal is just cute; its combat ability is not low. The bite force of an adult giant panda is on par with a brown bear. They can climb trees, swim, and if serious, they can beat a human with one hand tied behind their back.
Those missing friends are hiding in air-conditioned rooms, behind foggy glass... These foodies eat for 14 hours a day, consuming over 20 jin of bamboo, but only digesting 17% of it. National Day is approaching, and Chengdu is also cooling down. The national treasures are starting to go outdoors. At that time, it's not too cold or hot, making it a good time to see the pandas.
Kuanzhai Alley: Enjoy a Cup of Covered Tea
Original residents, Dragon Hall Inn, beautiful door heads, plane trees, old teahouses under the eaves... Old folks sit peacefully at the entrance of old teahouses drinking tea and chatting, cats lazily curl up at their feet dozing off, plane trees cast mottled shadows, a pair of thrushes hang in the trees in the courtyard... All this constitutes the unique Chengdu vocabulary of Kuanzhai Alley.
Kuanzhai Alley is a relatively well-preserved Qing dynasty ancient street in Chengdu. Together with Daci Temple and Wenshu Temple, it is known as one of the three major historical and cultural districts of Chengdu. Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley are the epitome of Chengdu's past as an ancient yet young city, a symbol deeply ingrained in memory.
When the warm sunlight quietly envelops Kuanzhai Alley, gently spilling over the ancient street and courtyards, the entire alley exudes an old yet bright atmosphere. Basking in this unique sunshine, stepping on the bluestone slabs that bear the marks of time, accompanied by the beautiful melodies flowing from the courtyards, walking in Kuanzhai Alley feels like wandering in the river of time. Ancient and modern, classical and fashionable, alternate dreamily, surprising and moving you.
Every street is a scene, with scenes within scenes. The long alley exudes tranquility, the ancient buildings on both sides, towering old trees paint historical scrolls and tell stories of history; the various half-closed doors, the stone carvings in front of the doors, the little green sprites climbing the walls, the exquisite patterns on the wooden lattice windows, the carved beams and painted pillars, the various shaped water tanks with relief carvings, and the bamboo chairs and rattan chairs on the street... all are old photos with a strong nostalgic flavor.
When you get tired, you can sit by the street and have a cup of kung fu tea. The exquisite Kung Fu tea performance is soft yet strong, combining rigidity and flexibility. Various poses and movements, free and controlled, like high mountain flowing water, all in one go!
The casual life of citizens and the elegance of literati blend very harmoniously in Kuanzhai Alley. Everyone can find their place here and have their own world. 'The negative of old Chengdu, the living room of new Chengdu'! Kuanzhai Alley truly lives up to its name!
Back to Chengdu IFS: Enjoy One-Stop Dining, Shopping, and Entertainment
Chengdu IFS is called the center of the universe in Chengdu for good reason. Not only does it occupy the most prosperous area of Chengdu, but it also has a broad-minded inclusiveness. First-time visitors can easily get lost inside. It has many online-famous restaurants with both appearance and taste, concentration of all luxury brand stores, the most humane bookstore in Chengdu—Yan Ji You, and an artistic sculpture courtyard. Dining, shopping, and entertainment are easily done in one stop, saving you from running around with your wife and kids. This is also an important reason why I recommend choosing a hotel near Chengdu IFS. I must especially commend the considerate service of Chengdu IFS for families with children. For example, at the concierge desk of Chengdu IFS, you can rent a stroller for free, making the child safer and more comfortable during the trip, while mothers can free their hands for fun and shopping.
At Yan Ji You: Cultivating Children's Reading Habits
Yan Ji You is derived from the disassembly of the character '設'. People often can't help but read it as 'Yan You Ji'. '設' is not hard to understand, but when broken into 'Yan', 'Ji', and 'You', each character is understandable, but the meaning together is unclear. The official explanation is: 'Yan' means language and communication, 'Ji' means difference and uniqueness, and 'You' means diversity and progression. Thus, Yan Ji You is a place full of imagination and creativity, a place to express oneself and personality in a creative life.
In the basement level 2 of Chengdu IFS, rows of bookshelves filled with books stand like a forest, and Yan Ji You seems like a castle hidden within. The black entrance is full of mystery. Inside, you feel as if you are surrounded and embraced by books.
In the center of the first floor is a circular area, surrounded by bookshelves. It seems Chinese people have an almost obsessive love for circles.
If Fangsuo is like a straight rushing river, then Yan Ji You is like a magnificent castle. This is a bookstore that emphasizes interaction with customers more strongly. It uses more space for customers to read. Here, customers have a greater sense of participation and desire to think.
I have some history with Yan Ji You. In 2019, I was invited by the bookstore to give a sharing session about travel here, and I still remember it well.
There are also many children's books here. I think every parent who hopes their child will succeed should want their child to love such a bookstore. Of course, interest needs to be cultivated from a young age.
If he develops a reading habit, he will have better learning abilities to adapt to school life. Here, it's easy to find some high-quality and rare bilingual enlightenment books.
Enjoying Cuisine at Chengdu IFS
As one of the 'World Capitals of Gastronomy' selected by the United Nations, when in Chengdu, you have to open your stomach and eat several meals to be satisfied. But with children, hygiene and the freshness of ingredients must be especially considered; you cannot be careless.
If you want to find a family-friendly food center in Chengdu, Chengdu IFS is the best choice. It has many online-famous restaurants, with both appearance and taste online, allowing the public to enjoy not only local but also world unique flavors, while experiencing superior dining environment and attentive service.
First, I recommend a hotpot restaurant called 'Bang Zhong'. In the 'One-Day VIP Leisure Card' we collected, there is a voucher for 'Bang Zhong' with a discount of 100 RMB off a 200 RMB purchase, equivalent to a half-price discount, more powerful than any group buying. Moreover, from September 17 to September 20, and September 24 to September 27, you can also enjoy 'Must Buy Thursday' promotions at Bang Zhong, such as stuffed tofu buy one get one free, and iced bean curd buy one get one free! 'Bang Zhong' is located on the 7th floor sculpture courtyard of Chengdu IFS. The environment is very elegant, dominated by dark wood tones, partitioned by screens into two areas: one side is simple and bright, with giant floor-to-ceiling windows offering a beautiful view of the sculpture courtyard.
One side is elegant and quiet, suitable for couples wanting privacy or business people.
When eating hotpot, you must not miss the 'Four Heavenly Kings': tripe, duck intestine, yellow throat, and arteriole kidney flower. Any hotpot restaurant that does one of these well will have no shortage of customers; some even specialize in one. Bang Zhong has perfected tripe.
The tripe is freshly slaughtered and delivered to the store every morning, maintaining extreme freshness within 8 hours. When served, the tripe is spread out in large pieces, with distinct surface grains and erect barbs. Dipped in the pot for fifteen seconds, it is extremely crispy.
The soup base is made with authentic beef tallow, very flavorful. If bringing children, you can choose a yuanyang (divided) pot, with the other half being tomato broth, fresh and not spicy.
'Kao Jiang' is a grilled fish brand most popular among locals in Chengdu. It has many flavor profiles, seven in total. Sichuan spicy is the basic flavor, while spicy is generally acceptable to most. For the fish, if with children, you can choose longsnout catfish or the Qian fish, with fewer bones and tender meat. After finishing the fish, you can also boil vegetables and noodles. The Thai-style lime spicy and sour flavor is the most innovative among all flavors! The fragrance of lemon matches perfectly with the spiciness of chili, giving a heavy-taste fresh feeling. The fish is also very flavorful. Those who can accept Thai flavors must try this. Besides grilled fish, the spicy stir-fried clams and spicy stir-fried squid tentacles are also very tasty. But as a meat lover, I prefer squid tentacles, as the clams have too little meat.
In addition to these local foods, Chengdu IFS also features world cuisine. For example, children will love 'Pizza Express', a pizza brand from the United Kingdom, specializing in crispy thin crust pizza with molten cheese. There are also Italian pasta and risotto and various delicious snacks, suitable for children's tastes. In our 'One-Day VIP Leisure Card', there is also a voucher for 'Pizza Express' with a discount of 100 RMB off a 200 RMB purchase. Don't miss it.
Another Western restaurant I recommend is 'Grandma's Kitchen', also a restaurant with a story. In 1999, a photographer who had been drifting overseas for years created 'Grandma's Kitchen' out of longing for home and family. The name comes from a kind American grandmother named 'MARY' who once worked here. Colleagues affectionately called her 'GRANDMA'. Thus came the warm name 'GRANDMA'S KITCHEN'.
'Grandma's Kitchen' is a restaurant that serves 'borderless' cuisine, blending the essence of different countries' food to form a unique 'Grandma style'. After 16 years of development, 'Grandma's Kitchen' has become one of the well-known Western food brands in China.
The Not-to-Be-Missed Sculpture Courtyard
After eating, don't rush away. Take the elevator up two more floors to the seventh floor of Chengdu IFS. There is a different world here. Not only can you see the front of the climbing panda, but also a large sky sculpture courtyard.
In 2013, Chengdu IFS specially invited 10 well-known domestic and international artists to add 12 sculptures to the courtyard. While enjoying shopping, you can also appreciate master-level sculptures in the beautiful courtyard and feel a strong artistic atmosphere.
Stepping inside feels like entering an artistic courtyard from the 22nd century. My fondness for Chengdu reached its peak at that moment.
It's not only about art but also about human touch. This summer, it transformed into a night sky market, gathering specialty booths, creative handmade markets, concerts, and customized high-altitude camping tents, offering visitors a more diverse experience.
It is said that during this National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, the courtyard will undergo a big transformation at night, with many surprise interactive activities. So friends coming to Chengdu IFS during the National Day holiday can also come here at night to stroll around.
Haichang Polar Ocean World
Homepage: www.haichang.com
Ticket: 240 RMB; Online price: 165 RMB (adult). Discounted ticket: 170 RMB (children), 70 RMB (over 70). Children under 1.2m are free. Opening hours: 09:00–17:00 (Monday to Friday), 09:00–18:00 (Saturday and Sunday). Suggested visit time: 4-6 hours. The highlights are various shows: Whale and Dolphin Show: 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:10; Happy Theater (Sea Lion Show): 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30; Shark Show: 12:30, 16:30; Wave Pool Dance: 12:00, 16:00; Parade Dance Performance: 14:00. Address: 2037 South Extension of Tianfu Avenue, Huayang Town, Shuangliu District, Chengdu.
Haichang is a leader in the domestic marine industry. While running parks for profit, they also actively participate in environmental protection, safeguarding our country's fragile marine ecology. Though the road is long and arduous, the people will remember you. At the park entrance, there are many original cartoon marine creature figures; many people take photos with them.
Entering the park, the first must-see place is the Whale and Dolphin Performance Venue. The dolphin show here is the most worthwhile project. If you miss it, you will definitely want a refund from the boss.
The performance venue is large, with food stalls and many indoor play facilities. If the child is under 4 years old, you must carry them through; they can't distinguish between a 1-yuan toy ride and a dolphin show. Otherwise, you'll waste time and not get good seats. Because of the attraction, every show is packed.
The first to appear is the cute beluga whale. Of course, it doesn't just rely on cuteness; you know, these days, without some talent, who dares to come to an ocean park to entertain kids?
When happy, it listens to commands and plays circle games with humans.
Just after the beluga whale left, the performance venue reached its climax. Four ocean spirits excitedly leaped out of the water with pleasant dolphin sounds, drawing cheers from the audience. These animals with a natural 'cute buff' are the favorite of children!
This is the so-called dolphin rider. It was my boyhood dream: cool, stylish, and dazzling. In many midsummer night dreams, I had imagined such a scene, but now as the male lead, the dolphin can no longer carry me.
The warmest reward moment: the dolphins chirped like children, craving more fresh fish. At that moment, the dolphin trainers were happy, and I was envious as an audience.
At the end of the show, lucky kids are invited to interact with the dolphins. If I didn't look older, I would have raised my hand too.
Haichang's Whale and Dolphin Performance Venue also has a unique design: one side of the pool is a full glass panel. Standing at the entrance on the first floor, you can see the animal stars underwater from all 360 degrees, grand and magnificent. I couldn't bear to move after watching for twenty minutes.
Among marine creatures, the dolphin has the best appearance, the best figure, and is the most endearing. Its image has entered every child's dreams.
After seeing the whale and dolphin show, it's decision time: to the right is the polar animal area with polar bears, sea lions, seals, and penguins; to the left is the tropical ocean area with turtles, sharks, and various colorful fish.
Next to the viewing area is the sea lion show area. I believe many people cannot distinguish between sea lions and seals. Let me give a quick lesson to avoid embarrassment when children ask. First, the animals performing cute tricks are sea lions because they have a good temper. As long as they get fish, they will perform without selling their bodies. Second, sea lions have longer necks; they can raise their heads and balance balls, creating an illusion of standing up, while seals can only lie on the ground and roll. Additionally, a distinguishing feature is on the head: sea lions have complete ear flaps, while seals only have an ear hole.
Singing, doing math, balancing balls—a sea lion with a full skill set is also an animal star in the marine world.
However, the most popular venue in the polar animal area is the Penguin Hall. In the hot summer, it is the coolest place.
Most penguins are soaking in the water, swimming back and forth looking for a route 'back to Antarctica,' while only a few wise ones stand on the shore, watching the clouds and wind calmly.
After visiting the polar animal area and returning, there is also a wave pool near the Whale and Dolphin Performance Hall. This is children's paradise for playing in the water, with free floating toys for kids to choose from.
Dian Dian chose to be a dolphin rider—truly my own son; we share the same hobby.
Next to the wave pool is a stage where blond-haired, blue-eyed girls dance samba, creating some of the feverish atmosphere of Ipanema Beach and bringing a hint of coolness to fathers accompanying their children.
Samba alone is not enough to electrify the audience. To reflect Haichang's international and diverse nature, African friends were also invited.
After watching the shows and playing in the water, we headed to another part of the ocean park—the tropical ocean area. First, we met an old friend, Mr. Turtle.
Continuing inward, we reached the crowded underwater tunnel. The fantastic scene made people stop, making it slightly difficult to move forward. Colorful fish schools bustled, and occasionally large sharks and manta rays glided by, causing exclamations.
Night-light jellyfish with fluorescent protease.
Passing through the underwater tunnel, we arrived at the core shark show area. The most exciting part is the underwater ballet and human-shark dance.
Enjoying International Shopping Paradise at Chengdu IFS
Numerous international brand flagship stores stand side by side along Hongxing Road, forming a spectacular 530-meter 'International Famous Street.' Top luxury brands gather, comparable to the prosperity of Canton Road and Harbour City, becoming the most dazzling scenery on Chunxi Road.
Familiar brands such as Chanel, Dior Beauty, Dior Homme, Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Celine, Balenciaga, Berluti, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, and other first-tier brands have all settled here, most as flagship stores or first stores in the Southwest region. Truly the undisputed center of the universe in Chengdu.
Not only are there many brands, but the shopping experience here will also not disappoint you. Patient shopping guides and comprehensive after-sales service double the pleasure of shopping.
In addition to luxury goods for mothers, there are also many baby luxury stores such as Bonpoint, Burberry Kids, Dolce & Gabbana Junior, Givenchy Kids, and Moncler children's wear. You can pick clothes for your baby to wear on formal occasions.
Over the weekend two days, using the 'ONE-DAY PASS Visitor Gift Package' obtained at Chengdu IFS, we took the free scenic area direct bus to visit the 'Panda Base,' 'Kuanzhai Alley,' and 'Haichang Polar Ocean World.' We didn't waste the remaining fragmented time either; we enjoyed the food feast at Chengdu IFS, accompanied our child to read at Yan Ji You bookstore, appreciated art in the Sculpture Courtyard, and before leaving, bought the white dress my wife had wanted. Our 48-hour trip to Chengdu, centered on the 'center of the universe,' broadened the child's horizons, made my wife happy, and provided a comfortable, enjoyable, and quality experience.
