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Land of Abundance

Chengdu architecture

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province and home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where visitors can see giant and red pandas in near-natural habitats. Sichuan cuisine — famous for its mouth-numbing mala (spicy-numbing) flavors from Sichuan peppercorns — originated in Chengdu, and the city has more restaurants per capita than almost any other in China. The city was recently designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

  • 5Landmarks
  • 256 BCOldest · Dujiangyan
  • 71 mTallest · Leshan Giant Buddha
  • 2Architects

Before you go

  • Fly intoChengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU)

    Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, opened in 2021, is one of China's newest major airports and serves as a gateway to western China. It complements the older Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) which remains operational. Tianfu is one of the largest airports in China by area and is designed to eventually become a global hub connecting western China to the world.

  • CurrencyChinese Yuan (¥)
  • LanguageMandarin Chinese & Sichuanese

    Mandarin is the official language, but Sichuanese dialect (a branch of Southwestern Mandarin) is distinct enough that it's celebrated as part of the region's cultural identity. The dialect is famously associated with a laid-back, pleasure-loving lifestyle — Chengdu has a reputation as one of China's most relaxed major cities. Tea house culture is central to social life here, where locals spend hours playing mahjong and chatting over cups of Sichuan jasmine tea.

  • Getting aroundChengdu Metro & Didi

    Chengdu's metro has expanded rapidly to cover most of the city, with over a dozen lines connecting to key sights including the panda base. High-speed rail connects Chengdu to Xi'an, Chongqing (40 minutes), and Beijing. Didi (China's ride-hailing app) is the most practical transport for visitors. Bicycles and e-scooters are extremely common for short trips through the city's flat, bicycle-friendly streets.

5 landmarks in Chengdu

  1. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
    Photo: Kreisverkehrsampel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

    Xiongmao Dadao, Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan

    A 92-hectare research and breeding center established in 1987 that houses over 100 giant and red pandas in habitats modeled on their natural bamboo forest environment. It is the world's leading center for giant panda conservation and the most visited panda attraction in China.

    Built
    1987
    Style
    Modern conservation facility
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Panda research base & visitor attraction
  2. Leshan Giant Buddha
    Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Leshan Giant Buddha

    Leshan, Sichuan Province (90km from Chengdu)

    A 71-metre stone Buddha carved into a cliff face at the confluence of three rivers near Leshan, begun in 713 AD and taking 90 years to complete. It is the world's largest stone Buddha statue and its drainage system, carved into the robes and hair, has preserved the stone for over 1,300 years.

    Built
    803
    Architect
    Haitong (monk)
    Style
    Tang Dynasty Buddhist stone carving
    Height
    71 m (233 ft)
    Stories
    1
    Today
    UNESCO World Heritage Site & active site
  3. Jinli Ancient Street
    Photo: Unknown author, CC BY 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Jinli Ancient Street

    Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041

    A reconstructed Han Dynasty-style commercial street adjacent to the Wuhou Shrine, featuring wooden-fronted shops, teahouses, and street food stalls in traditional Sichuan architectural style. It is one of Chengdu's most popular evening destinations, particularly lively after dark when red lanterns illuminate the cobblestones.

    Built
    2004
    Style
    Han Dynasty reconstruction
    Stories
    2
    Today
    Tourism, food, and crafts street

  4. Wuhou Shrine

    Wuhou Ci Street, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan

    A temple complex built in 223 AD honoring Zhuge Liang, the legendary military strategist of the Three Kingdoms period, and Liu Bei, the founder of the Shu Han kingdom. The shrine is considered the most significant memorial to the Three Kingdoms era in China.

    Built
    223
    Style
    Classical Chinese
    Height
    12 m (39 ft)
    Stories
    1
    Today
    Museum & heritage site
  5. Dujiangyan
    Photo: 星星, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Dujiangyan

    Dujiangyan City, Sichuan Province (55km from Chengdu)

    An ancient irrigation system built in 256 BC during the Qin Dynasty that controls the Min River and has made the Chengdu Plain one of China's most fertile agricultural regions for over 2,200 years without a dam. It is considered one of the world's oldest and most sophisticated hydraulic engineering achievements.

    Built
    256 BC
    Architect
    Li Bing
    Style
    Ancient hydraulic engineering
    Stories
    1
    Today
    UNESCO World Heritage Site & operational irrigation

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