Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, is where bamboo forests meet boulevards and ancient temples sit beside designer arcades. Once a stop on the Southern Silk Road, it grew into a hub of poetry, tea, and trade—home to Du Fu and gateway to the Taoist peaks of Mount Qingcheng.

Today, Chengdu is synonymous with giant pandas and the tongue-tingling glory of Sichuan cuisine: numbing peppercorn, chili heat, and deep, fermented complexity. Between street snacks in Jinli, tea at People’s Park, and evening operas with face-changing theatrics, every day unspools like a well-seasoned story.

Practical notes: spring and fall are ideal (mild, less rain). Go early to see the pandas active. The metro is clean, cheap, and expansive; cash and cards work, though mobile pay is common. Save room for hotpot, dandan noodles, Zhong dumplings, and mapo tofu—this itinerary steers you to the best.

Chengdu

Chengdu is laid-back yet layered: Taoist mountains to the west, bamboo-filled parks within the ring roads, and neon along the Jin River. Start with the Wide & Narrow Alleys (Kuan-Zhai), Wuhou Shrine, and Daci Temple, then dive into the culinary capital of China in night markets and tiny noodle shops.

• Top sights: Chengdu Giant Panda Base, Wuhou Shrine, Jinli Street, People’s Park, Daci Temple & Taikoo Li, Anshun Bridge, Wenshu Monastery.
• Day trips: Mount Qingcheng (birthplace of Taoism), Dujiangyan Irrigation System (UNESCO), Leshan Giant Buddha (world’s largest pre-modern stone Buddha).
• Food to try: dandan noodles, Zhong dumplings, mapo tofu, chuan chuan (skewer hotpot), bobo chicken, sweet-water noodles, rabbit head for the adventurous.

Where to stay: For designer boutiques and nightlife, base in Jinjiang/Chunxi–Taikoo Li; for history and tea houses, pick Qingyang (near Kuan-Zhai and People’s Park); for temple strolls, Wuhou (near Jinli and Wuhou Shrine). Browse stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting to Chengdu: Fly into Tianfu (TFU, newer and farther) or Shuangliu (CTU, closer). Typical nonstops: Beijing–Chengdu ~3h (USD 80–160), Shanghai–Chengdu ~3h20m (USD 100–200), Guangzhou–Chengdu ~2h30m (USD 80–160). Search flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re already in China, high-speed rail is smooth and scenic: Beijing–Chengdu ~7–8.5h; Chongqing–Chengdu ~1–1.5h; Xi’an–Chengdu ~3–4h. Check times and fares on Trip.com Trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Kuan‑Zhai Alleys, and a Night of Street Eats

Afternoon: Land and settle in. If at TFU, the airport express/metro combo takes ~45–60 minutes into town; taxi ~60–80 minutes. If at CTU, Metro Line 10 plus transfers is ~45 minutes; taxi ~30–40 minutes. Drop bags, then stretch your legs in the Wide & Narrow Alleys: Qing-era courtyards, artisan shops, and shaded lanes perfect for a gentle first wander.

Evening: Join a lively food safari: Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats for off-the-beaten-path stalls, unlimited soft drinks/beer, and an English-speaking guide.

Late options: If you still have energy, detour to the Jin River near Anshun Bridge for photos of the lit pavilion reflected on the water, then sip herbal jelly or mung-bean desserts at a street stall to cool the Sichuan heat.

Day 2: Pandas at Dawn, Tea Houses, and Opera After Dark

Morning: Go early to see pandas active and playful with a small-group experience: Chengdu Giant Panda Base: Small Group Tours & Official Tickets (early pickup minimizes crowds and heat).

Afternoon: Return to town for a classic lunch: Chen Mapo Tofu for the original numbing-spicy tofu (ask for “less spicy” if needed) or Long Chao Shou for silky wontons and dandan noodles. Then unwind at Heming Tea House in People’s Park—choose jasmine or pu’er, watch locals play mahjong, and, if curious, try the traditional ear-cleaning service (often CNY 30–80).

Evening: Experience the Sichuan opera at Shufeng Yayun or a similar theater—shadow puppetry, rolling lights, and the famous face-changing act. Cap it with riverfront drinks near Jiuyanqiao or sample Belgian ales and local snacks at The Beer Nest craft bar.

Day 3: UNESCO Day Trip — Dujiangyan Irrigation System and Mount Qingcheng

Join a full-day excursion that pairs ancient engineering with Taoist tranquility: Mt Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation 1 Day Tour. You’ll explore the 2,300-year-old flood-control marvel still in use, then ride up Mount Qingcheng to mossy temples and cedar-scented trails—where Taoism prized harmony with nature long before the concept was fashionable.

If DIY: Take a high-speed train from Chengdu Xipu to Dujiangyan (~40–50 minutes, ~CNY 15–25), taxi or bus to the site, then transfer to Mount Qingcheng (20–30 minutes). Cable cars save time; plan 6–8 hours door-to-door plus meals.

Food tips nearby: Try earthenware-braised rabbit, crispy duck, and bamboo-shoot stir-fries at local countryside eateries; grab brown-sugar rice cakes for the ride back.

Day 4: Temples, Vegetarian Feasts, and Mahjong in a Tea House

Morning: Explore Wenshu Monastery, Chengdu’s serene Buddhist complex. Wander incense-wreathed halls, then eat at the on-site Wenshu Vegetarian Restaurant—order the mapo tofu (meat-free but deeply savory), wild-mushroom stir-fries, and sesame “chicken” skewers.

Afternoon: Learn China’s favorite social game in an authentic setting: Half-day Private Mahjong course in Local Tea House. You’ll visit a spice market first and then settle in with a tutor who demystifies tiles, strategies, and table etiquette.

Evening: Head to the Yulin neighborhood for chuan chuan xiang (skewer hotpot). Locals love Shu Daxia Hotpot (rich beef-tallow broth, great offal and prime beef) or Da Miao Hotpot (often with live opera snippets). Balance the heat with mango shaved ice or tofu pudding from a dessert shop nearby.

Day 5: Leshan Giant Buddha Day Trip and Taikoo Li by Night

Morning: Take a high-speed train from Chengdu East to Leshan (1–1.25 hours, ~CNY 55–70). A short taxi brings you to the UNESCO-listed Leshan Giant Buddha, a 71-meter marvel carved into a cliff c. 713 CE. Choose the riverside boat (30 minutes, grand full-figure view) or the cliffside path (2–3 hours, up-close details and steep stairs).

Afternoon: Eat like a local: Leshan bobo chicken (cold skewers in nutty chili sauce), sweet-skin duck, and douhua (soft tofu with chili oil). Return to Chengdu by rail.

Evening: Stroll Taikoo Li around Daci Temple—mingling temple eaves, bamboo, and contemporary design. Sip a cortado at Manner Coffee or %Arabica, then dine at Yu Zhi Lan (reserve; tasting-menu Sichuan showcasing rare peppers and seasonal produce) or keep it classic at Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot for a celebratory final feast.

Day 6: Last Sips, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Circle back to favorites. For breakfast, try Zhong dumplings (sweet-spicy vinegar sauce) and sweet-water noodles at a neighborhood shop, or go light with Lai Tangyuan (black sesame rice balls in broth). Browse Chunxi Road and snap the giant rooftop panda at IFS.

Afternoon (departure): Grab a final tea at Wenshu or Heming, then head to the airport or station. From central Chengdu to TFU, budget 60–80 minutes by taxi or ~45–60 minutes by rail/metro; to CTU, 30–45 minutes. Compare last-minute flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com; trains within China on Trip.com Trains.

Where to Eat & Drink (Handy List)

• Hotpot: Shu Daxia; Da Miao; Shu Jiu Xiang—choose split broth (yuan yang) if sharing spicy/non-spicy.
• Classic dishes: Chen Mapo Tofu (flagship for the namesake dish); Long Chao Shou (wontons, noodles); Zhong Dumplings (sweet-spicy perfection).
• Tea houses: Heming (People’s Park); Wenshu Monastery’s garden pavilions.
• Coffee: Manner Coffee; %Arabica; Seesaw Coffee around Taikoo Li.
• Craft beer & cocktails: The Beer Nest; riverside bars near Jiuyanqiao for views.

Bookable Experiences in This Itinerary (Viator)

• Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats

  

• Chengdu Giant Panda Base: Small Group Tours & Official Tickets

  

• Mt Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation 1 Day Tour

  

• Half-day Private Mahjong course in Local Tea House

  

Practical Getting-Around Tips

• Metro: Fast, English signage, QR tickets at gates; most rides CNY 2–7. Lines 1/2/3/7/10 cover core sights.
• Taxis & ride-hailing: Plentiful; show destinations in Chinese or use the map pin. Downtown–Panda Base ~CNY 50–80 off-peak.
• When to go: March–May and Sept–Nov for mild weather. Summer is hot and humid; winters are cool and gray but uncrowded.

Where to book stays: VRBO Chengdu • Hotels.com Chengdu

In six days, you’ll meet pandas at sunrise, sip tea where poets wrote, taste the spectrum of Sichuan spice, and step across two UNESCO sites older than most nations. Chengdu moves at a human pace—unfurling flavors, stories, and mountain air one day at a time. You’ll leave with a full camera roll and a craving for one more bowl of noodles.