2020 Latest Chengdu Travel Guide, Recommendations for National Day Getaways
Chengdu, one of China’s top ten ancient capitals, its long-standing food culture endows the city with unique charm and soul. Even just walking on the streets, you can catch the aroma of hotpot wafting by from time to time. Malatang, hotpot, grilled meat, skewers… all the Sichuan cuisine you can think of is here. For an authentic foodie who loves Sichuan food, it feels like entering a “gourmet paradise,” brimming with happiness.
In ancient times, Chengdu was hailed as the “Land of Abundance.” Today, Chengdu is dotted with high-rise buildings and gathering of top international brands, having transformed into an international fashion metropolis. Walking through the bustling streets, you can always see faces of various skin colors. Here, you will find beautiful natural scenery, rich cultural heritage, enticing Sichuan cuisine, and the beloved panda babies… There is always a reason to love this city.
Since this trip had a relaxed schedule, the itinerary was not too packed — just taking it slow, eating and playing to our hearts’ content.
D1: Kuanzhai Alley – Taikoo Li
D2: Jinli – Wuhou Shrine – Du Fu Thatched Cottage
D3: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
D4: Mount Qingcheng
D5: Dujiangyan
D1: Kuanzhai Alley – Taikoo Li
Activities: Kuanzhai Alley – Taikoo Li
Food: Ji Yu Thai Seafood Hotpot (Taikoo Li Branch), Oyster Hero (Taikoo Li Branch)
Accommodation: Chengdu Ximu Shanjü Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch)
Kuanzhai Alley is one of the must-visit spots in Chengdu. It consists of three parallel alleys: Kuan Alley, Zhai Alley, and Jing Alley, built in the style of Qing Dynasty quadrangle courtyards, exuding a unique charm. On both sides of the alleys stand various specialty shops — food, creative cultural products, traditional culture displays, and more. Even the panda graffiti on the walls is incredibly cute.
Address: Qingyang District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Opening hours: All day
Transport: Metro Line 4, Kuanzhai Alley Station
“Zhai Alley Huimou” — a representative attraction in Zhai Alley
Taikoo Li feels similar to Beijing’s Taikoo Li, so I didn’t take many photos — I came mainly for the food. Let me focus on food below.
Food Recommendation: Ji Yu Thai Seafood Hotpot (Taikoo Li Branch)
Ji Yu Thai Seafood Hotpot (Taikoo Li Branch)
Address: No. 169, Xiadong Street, Chengdu (Gate 1 of Yangzhan Gou, Phase 2, Jingrong Hui)
Transport: Metro Line 2/3, Chunxi Road Station, Exit B, walk 380m
This hotpot restaurant is incredibly popular at Taikoo Li. Originating from Phuket, Thailand, it boasts an eye-catching INS-style duplex restaurant with fresh, clean color schemes, surrounded by greenery, and an artistically designed space — every corner offers a pleasing visual comfort.
We ordered their signature Tom Yum Kung fresh pot, which involves cracking open a fresh coconut, pouring the whole coconut juice into the broth, adding a mix of fresh ingredients, and then boiling. The soup base is richly aromatic, with a delicate texture and layered flavors. The dipping sauces include classic Thai, signature lemon mint, and locally adapted flavors like secret Sichuan-style spicy millet pepper and dry-fried spicy powder.
All seafood and spices used here are air-freshed daily from Thailand. Shrimp paste, fish paste, and luncheon meat are all freshly handmade. They taste fresh, smooth, and unique. I especially loved the fresh crab, abalone, and shrimp — the crab and abalone were alive and tasted super fresh after being cooked.
The restaurant offers an unlimited complimentary area: if you order a set meal for the number of diners, desserts, snacks, and staple foods are provided free of charge. My personal favorites among the beautiful and delicious desserts and staples: lava cake, coconut bowl, mango sticky rice, and rabbit pudding.
Also, the service ladies are super attentive; they help peel shrimp and even hold a light for you when taking photos. I couldn’t love this place more.
Food Recommendation: Oyster Hero·Self-service Grilled Oyster Shop
Oyster Hero·Self-service Grilled Oyster Shop
Address: 2F, No. 25, Section 4, Hongxing Road, Chengdu (adjacent to No. 23)
Transport: Metro Line 2/3, Chunxi Road Station, Exit E2, walk 500m
If you love oysters, you must not miss Oyster Hero·Self-service Grilled Oyster Shop in Chengdu. It is very close to Taikoo Li, convenient for a visit after shopping. The group-buy price is only 98 yuan per person, and besides grilled oysters, other meats and seafood are also unlimited, including scallops, sea oysters, fresh shrimp, clams, pork ribs, squid, chicken wings — you will definitely have a feast. Also, the self-service snack and dessert area offers various fruits, desserts, and snacks for free.
All seafood is opened and cleaned right in the open kitchen, packed with layers of ice, so freshness is not a concern. Before grilling, you can order a pot of steamed oysters, pry open the shells, dip in sauce, and enjoy while waiting. Fresh raw oysters are large, thick, and generous; they are topped with a secret garlic sauce, and after grilling, the meat is tender and flavorful.
The restaurant style is fresh, simple, and artistic; green leather seats are comfortable. The staff are hardworking, helping with grilling and teaching methods, very friendly to customers, and quickly clean the table, keeping it tidy. The exhaust system is good, so no worries about smoke smell.
Accommodation: Chengdu Ximu Shanjü Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch)
Chengdu Ximu Shanjü Hotel is located in the city center — Shaanxi Street at the southwest corner of Tianfu Square. It is about 930 meters from Metro Line 1/2, about 327 meters from People’s Park, about 350 meters from the famous Heming Old Teahouse (inside People’s Park), about 290 meters from Trotter Street, about 1.3 km from Kuanzhai Alley, about 1.8 km from Wuhou Shrine and Jinli, about 1.6 km from Chunxi Road, about 2.5 km from Taikoo Li — excellent location with convenient transport. The hotel is surrounded by educational institutions, key schools, high-end commercial areas, office buildings, Provincial Education Department, Provincial Human Resources and Social Security Department, Provincial Public Security Department, Shishi Middle School, City Center, Renhe Spring, etc., all within walking distance.
The hotel has over 90 guest rooms. Inside the hotel grounds stands a provincial key cultural relic — the Shaanxi Guild Hall, built during the Kangxi reign, with a plaque inscribed by Yu Youren. The more than 300-year-old antique architectural style harmoniously blends with modern design, imbued with the charm of ancient Shu culture, allowing you to sleep embraced by a classic Chinese garden courtyard — a quiet haven amidst the bustle, elegant and refined.
Address: No. 130 Shaanxi Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu [near Tianfu Square/Yankou Commercial Area, Kuanzhai Alley/Traditional Chinese Medicine University area]
Transport: Metro Line 2, People’s Park Station, Exit E, walk 560m
D2: Jinli – Wuhou Shrine – Du Fu Thatched Cottage
Activities: Jinli – Wuhou Shrine – Du Fu Thatched Cottage
Food: Mabianbian (Zhimin Road Branch), Yufyuxi (Zhimin Road Branch)
Accommodation: Chengdu Ximu Shanjü Hotel (Shaanxi Street Branch)
Address: No. 231 Wuhou Shrine Street, Chengdu
Opening hours: All day
Transport: Bus routes 1, 57, 304, 306, 335 directly
Jinli is one of the oldest and most commercially vibrant streets in Western Shu history, famous since the Qin-Han and Three Kingdoms periods. It is a 550-meter-long street themed on folk life of Western Sichuan during the Ming and Qing dynasties, combining Three Kingdoms culture with Chengdu folk customs, showcasing the unique essence of Chengdu culture. Lotus ponds, study rooms, Sichuan Opera face-changing, creative cultural themed shops, inns, snacks, and dining attract a constant stream of tourists all year round.
Wuhou Shrine is the most famous memorial site for Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, and heroes of the Shu Han dynasty. It is the most influential Three Kingdoms relics museum in China and the only temple in China that enshrines both a sovereign and his minister. It stands as a historical monument recording the Three Kingdoms period over 1,700 years ago. Wuhou Shrine is adjacent to Jinli, so you can visit both on the same day.
Address: No. 231 Wuhou Shrine Street, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Opening hours: Summer 7:30~21:00, Winter 8:00~18:30
Admission: Adults 60 yuan, Students 30 yuan
Transport: Bus routes 1, 10, 57, 82, 301, 334, 335, 123, 521, 901, 904
Address: No. 37 Qinghua Road, Qingyang District, Chengdu
Opening hours: (May~Oct) 8:00~18:30, (Nov~Apr) 8:00~18:00
Transport: Bus routes 19, 35, 58, 82, 151, 165, 170, 309, 319
Du Fu Thatched Cottage is hailed as “the sacred site in Chinese literary history.” It was the residence of Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu after he fled to Sichuan to escape the An Lushan Rebellion. He lived here for four years and wrote more than 240 poems.
Despite his own hunger and cold, he harbored ambitions to save the world, linking his own suffering with the people’s hardship and the country’s safety, sublimating into noble sentiments of caring for the country and its people, and an inexhaustible source of poetic creation.
Thatched cottages, red walls, black tiles, green bamboos, Epic Hall… quiet and elegant, exuding an ancient literary aura. Walking around, rereading the poems from our school textbooks in the Epic Hall evokes a warm familiarity, as if memories are reawakened.
Food Recommendation: Yufuyuxi Cobblestone Fish Hotpot (Zhimin Road)
Yufuyuxi Cobblestone Fish Hotpot (Zhimin Road Direct Store)
Address: No. 48 Zhimin Road (adjacent to No. 2), Chengdu
Transport: Metro Line 3, Xin’nanmen Station, Exit B, walk 190m
Business hours: Mon-Sun 11:30-24:00
This place is famous for its unique cobblestone fish hotpot, attracting numerous customers. The restaurant is decorated in traditional Sichuan fishing village style, retro and dignified — old wooden doors and windows, hanging conical hats, straw raincoats, black-and-white frames — all elements exude a rustic and natural warmth, as if entering a fisherman’s home to enjoy a fresh fish feast.
At the entrance, a row of glass fish tanks display various fish species: bighead carp, triangular bream, naked carp, longsnout catfish, red sand fish, etc. You can choose according to preference. Live fish are freshly killed and sliced at the table, ensuring perfect freshness. The tables and chairs are made of bamboo, and the tables have a rotating tray for snacks — thoughtful details.
The most distinctive cobblestone pot base, symbolizing “good fortune.” There are three flavors: classic spicy pot, traditional sauerkraut pot, and lemon ginger pot (for non-spicy eaters). The waiter brings a pot of cobblestones heated to over 300°C, adds fresh fish slices, pours in broth, covers, and after a few minutes, the dish is ready. The fish slices cooked on cobblestones, paired with special dipping sauce, are tender, smooth, and delicious.
Besides fish, various snacks and cold dishes are highly recommended: honey-glazed cherry tomatoes, crispy fish, farm-style cold jelly, orange steamed buns, purple rice glutinous rice cakes, honey-pickled radish, and spicy chicken feet.
Food Recommendation: Mabianbian Malatang (Zhimin Road Branch)
Mabianbian Malatang (Zhimin Road Branch)
I had eaten at other branches before, but this was my first time tasting the authentic Chengdu flavor.
Address: No. 48 Zhimin Road, Chengdu (near Metro Line 3 Xin’nanmen Station Exit B)
Transport: Metro Line 3, Xin’nanmen Station, Exit B, walk 170m
Business hours: Mon-Sun 11:00-01:00 the next day
I knew this place was very popular, so to avoid the queue, my friend and I arrived at 4 PM. The shop design exudes a strong nostalgic feel — blue painted small wooden tables and chairs, gray cement walls, red slogans, a small store, old street lamps and bulbs… Amid the lively, bustling atmosphere, sitting around a small square table, chatting with a few friends while enjoying hot, spicy food — the red pot boiling, skewers fragrant… The scene felt like traveling back to a warm, happy childhood.
Countless skewers are displayed in refrigerated cabinets in the ingredients area, neatly arranged. Seafood, meatballs, meats, vegetables — plenty of options. You can choose according to preference (settle by weight of sticks after eating). Besides skewers, there are à la carte items on the menu. I strongly recommend their aromatic beef, braised brain, hotpot vermicelli, sliced potatoes, and ice jelly, plus a large bottle of soy milk to relieve the spiciness — truly satisfying.
D3: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Activities: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Food: Chengdu Chike (Zhimin Road Branch)
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Address: No. 1375 Panda Avenue, North Outer Ring, Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Opening hours: 07:30~18:00
Admission: Adults 52 yuan, Students 27 yuan
Transport: Take bus 1, 49, 53, 63, 64, 69, 71, 83 to Qinglongchang Bus Center, then transfer to bus 198 or 87
Hitting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in summer to see the long-awaited “national treasure” panda babies. They are the most adorable, clumsy animals, winning countless fans worldwide. Giant pandas naturally have eye makeup, looking round and chubby, but they are surprisingly agile when climbing trees. Red pandas look like cats but are bigger, with long, ring-patterned tails.
The base is 10 km from the city center, with convenient transport. Taking a taxi is easier. Tickets can be purchased in advance, scanned at the entrance.
Note: Must get up early. We arrived around 11 AM and many pandas were already asleep.
Food Recommendation: Chengdu Chike (Zhimin Road Branch)
Chengdu Chike (Zhimin Road Branch)
The dishes are very authentic and local, and new dishes are introduced regularly.
Address: No. 48 Zhimin Road, Chengdu
Transport: Metro Line 3, Xin’nanmen Station, Exit B, walk 180m
Business hours: Mon-Sun 11:30-14:00, 17:00-22:00
Mandarin duck boiled beef: two flavors — half spicy, half non-spicy. When served, hot oil is poured over, sizzling loudly, with fragrant spiciness; the beef is exceptionally tasty.
Special grilled fish slices: generous portion. Unlike traditional grilled fish, these are skewered and soaked in a sauce; they are tender, smooth, not too spicy. I was too busy eating to ask the specific method.
Sauerkraut fish soup: complementary soup with the grilled fish slices; sour and fresh, appetizing.
Leeks dipping duck intestines: cleaned thoroughly, served with a special leek dipping sauce; no fishy taste. Almost mistook it for cold skin noodles at first glance.
Kong Gan Rice: derived from Sichuan dialect, a regional food memory with over 2,000 years of history. Cooked rice mixed with diced potatoes, cowpea, carrots, and cured meat, very aromatic; I ate two bowls myself.
Pickled pepper slippery chicken feet: soft and tender, melt in your mouth.
Soft duck head: super spicy, addictive; if you can’t handle spicy, order with caution.
Brown sugar tofu pudding: topped with soft-cooked red beans, with sweet tofu pudding, exceptionally good.
D4: Mount Qingcheng
Activities: Mount Qingcheng
Food: Mount Qingcheng Town
Accommodation: Dujiangyan Mount Qingcheng Zitong Xiaoyuan
Mount Qingcheng, the birthplace of Chinese Taoism, one of the top ten scenic spots of Chengdu. Peaks surround each other, dense forests are lush green. “Moist without rain, cool without wind,” it enjoys the reputation of “Mount Qingcheng’s secluded beauty,” and is one of Chengdu’s popular summer retreats.
Address: Dujiangyan City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Opening hours: 08:00~19:00
Admission: Adults 80 yuan
Transport: Take a train from Xipu Station directly to Mount Qingcheng Station
On a rainy day at Mount Qingcheng,
I deliberately chose the “Front Mountain” route, which takes less time.
Walking through the misty mountains,
The dim light on a cloudy rainy day made it darker,
Climbing up the slippery narrow stone steps,
With a sense of “winding path leading to seclusion,”
After reaching the highest peak, Laojun Pavilion (1,260 m),
The wind blew away the clouds, and the mountains gradually revealed beautiful contours.
I love the magical nature,
Not only its innate beauty,
But also the little surprises it bestows upon you unexpectedly.
Dujiangyan Mount Qingcheng Zitong Xiaoyuan
This inn is in the town. Book online and contact the owner in advance; they will pick you up at Mount Qingcheng High-Speed Rail Station and also drop you at Mount Qingcheng for free. The inn is cozy, clean, and comfortable. One great thing about staying here is being able to stroll through the town’s night market.
D5: Dujiangyan
Activities: Dujiangyan
Food: De’er Er Grilled Meat (Xiangshulin Branch)
Address: Dujiangyan City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province
Opening hours: Winter 8:00-17:30, Other seasons 8:00-18:00
Admission: Adults 80 yuan
Transport: Taxi from Mount Qingcheng to Dujiangyan (cost 34 yuan)
The Dujiangyan ecological water control project, built in 256 BC, is the oldest large-scale water conservancy project in the world. For more than 2,000 years, it has continuously served flood control and irrigation. Its completion turned the ancient Sichuan Basin from flood-ridden, barren hills and wilderness into the later Land of Abundance.
Marco Polo once said in his travels: “The Dujiang River system flows rapidly; there are many fish in the river, many boats coming and going, carrying goods, going up and down the stream,” vividly depicting the prosperity along the ancient Dujiangyan banks.
Food Recommendation: De’er Er Braised Grilled Skewers (Xiangshulin Branch)
De’er Er Braised Grilled Skewers (Xiangshulin Branch)
Address: Shop 75, Xiangguoli Food Plaza, B1 Floor, No. 23 Xiangshulin East Road, Chengdu
Elegant decoration, quiet atmosphere, large glass windows, spacious and comfortable dining area, novel dishes, and a wide variety of alcoholic drinks.
Different from traditional barbecue, all skewers here are hung inside a large earthen jar and covered for braising. Charcoal at the bottom ensures even heat, locking in moisture and aroma, environmentally friendly, and the grilled skewers taste especially good.
Pickled chicken feet: top recommended appetizer, well marinated, chewy, addictive.
Clothesline shredded potatoes: very long shredded potatoes, placed on a special wooden rack, crispy, sour and sweet with a hint of spiciness.
Black pepper beef short ribs: braised, locking in moisture, excellent texture.
Finger-licking lamb ribs: carefully selected lamb, precise heat control, memorable taste.
February melon: tender, crisp, with a hint of sweetness.
Mushroom: thick, tender, delicious.
Also, three dipping sauces are provided for different grilled items.
I love this feeling — sipping beer, eating small skewers, feeling the passage of time in a slow-paced atmosphere.
Chengdu is truly a city you don’t want to leave once you arrive.
