Being the natural home of the adorable giant panda, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, China is a very popular tourist destination. The cuisine of Sichuan (Szechuan cuisine) is famous all over the world, which is another reason for the city’s popularity. For nature lovers, the city of Chengdu is the easiest access point to reach the spectacular Jiuzhaigou National Park, Huanglong National Park, and other irresistibly beautiful natural landscapes.
In fact, the stunning scenery surrounding the city and other parts of the province has brought the city on the world tourist map in the last few years. The city itself is blessed with a superlative landscape and has lush green areas despite its apparent urbanization. This is because two major tributaries of the Yangtze River, the Min and Tuo Rivers pass through the city limits rendering the land with breathtaking greenery. The city of Chengdu has a long history of prosperity and grandeur. Historical findings have shown that the city was the capital of the Shu Kingdom in the 4th century BC. These relics can be seen at the Jinsha Site Museum and they showcase how the ancient civilization was highly evolved and cultured. Chengdu City also has the well-known Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a protected bamboo forest area where the endangered species of giant pandas are reared in their natural habitat.
Besides sightseeing in the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes, there are other tourist activities that make the city a fun-filled destination. Walking along the Jinli Street is a popular tourist activity. The street is lined with old-style shops selling artistic souvenirs like accessories made with Shu embroidery, antiques, lacquer showpieces, folk art, calligraphic works, Chinese paintings of local celebrities, etc. Other enjoyable activities one can indulge in include KTV bars, reading libraries, massage parlors, and teahouses.
| Rank | Booking Site | Price Compared to Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Cheapest | Trip.com | -9% | |
| 2. Cheap | Agoda | -7% | |
| 3. Average | Booking.com | -2% | |
| 4. More Expensive | Expedia | 4% | |
| 5. Most Expensive | Hotels.com | 8% |
Chengdu City is a hotspot of tourism and hospitality due to its picturesque landscapes, flora, fauna, ancient culture, and entertainment facilities. With so much to offer, the city has a wide choice of accommodation from luxury resorts and star hotels to low-priced hotels, inns, guesthouses, service-apartments, and youth hostels. The rooms are generally clean but the ambience, room sizes, and amenities are different depending on the star-rating.
Besides being the nearest airport to world-famous nature parks and giant panda breeding grounds, the city of Chengdu also has its own popular tourist attractions. The city has several places where families with kids can spend an entire day filled with enjoyable activities.
The Kuanzhaixiangzi is a promenade that is a favorite of locals and tourists. The street is dotted with Qing-style teahouses, restaurants, and modern snack bars where people like to hang-out especially in the evenings. Another attraction that is popularly visited in the evenings is the Tianfu Square. After sunset, the square comes alive with a synchronized sound and light fountain show. The People's Park is another place where the locals and tourists enjoy a relaxing day.
The Chengdu Zoo has several tropical animals, mammals, birds, and other species. It is very close to the Panda Research Base and is usually visited at the same time. The zoo doubles as an amusement park and even has a food court.
The museums in Chengdu City are a treat for those who are interested in history and the culture of a city. The Sichuan University Museum consists of exquisite examples of ancient stone carvings, bronze artifacts, furniture, silk, puppets and other folk art, and more. The Jinsha Archaeological Site has relics that date back to 3,000 years. Some of the items on display are pottery, jade items, blades, artworks of gold, building foundations, etc.
Chengdu City also has new-wave entertainment facilities like Nu Space. It is a concert hall where one can see live shows of rock, punk, experimental, classical, folk, electronic, and other forms of music. This site also has shops selling records and souvenirs. For those who prefer more traditional art forms, the Sichuan Opera will be a real treat. The operatic style is very beautiful with shadow play, comedy, and strongly emotive dancing accompanied by traditional music.
Just as the tourist attraction in and near Chengdu are of different varieties and very interesting, the cuisine is spicy and interesting too. Known as Su Cuisine, their dishes are usually spicy with generous use of red chilies and bell peppers. Some of the popular dishes are Hot and Sour noodle soup, fish steamed with pickled mustard greens, Bon Bon chicken, braised pork ribs, Sichuan Hotpot, Kung Pao chicken, Shredded Chicken in garlic sauce, Mapo Doufu (tofu), sliced beef in chili sauce, Chili Oil Wantons, Tea-smoked duck, spicy deep fried chicken, and many more.