Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, and China’s fifth largest city has a wealth of tantalizing tourist sites and many awe-inspiring places to visit. Sichuan Province is home to a handful of UNESCO World Heritage sites, wild Giant Pandas in Jiuzhaigou, and many historic old towns, still preserving the traditional Chinese way of life, which revolves around the dinner table and the teahouse.
Best Places to Visit in Chengdu
In the city there are a number of famous old temples like QingYang Gong (Green Ram Temple), one of the oldest Daoist Temples in southwest China. Here, travelers can study Tai Chi Chuan, learn traditional Chinese guqin, visit Daoist and Qigong doctors, sip tea in quiet solitude beneath the evergreens, enjoy a healthy meal from the vegetarian restaurant, or just wander for hours enjoying all the ancient buildings and statues.
There is also WuHou Ci Temple, a famous Buddhist Memorial temple for Zhuge Liang that has an excellent vegetarian restaurant, a tranquil teahouse, and an array of Buddhist art, statues, and grottoes. Next door to WuHou Ci is the famous tourist walking street Jinli.
Jinli Street has a long and colorful history in Chengdu as an early market along the Southern Silk Road. Today, travelers will still find a vibrant open-air market geared towards tourists; find everything from classic tea sets, hand-painted umbrellas, and the classic itinerant ear-cleaners here. Jinli Street is a great place to find souvenirs, enjoy a traditional dinner, or spend the day people-watching, a Chengdu pastime, people-watching.
Wenshu Monastery, perhaps the largest and best preserved temple in Chengdu, is well worth a visit. It's well known for the Peace Tower, an 11 story iron pagoda, the largest in China. The temple also houses a number of well-preserved statues in bronze, iron, wood, and stone.
Near to QingYang Gong is the rolling river park surrounding the thatched hut of the legendary poet-sage Dufu, known as the greatest poet in Chinese history. His works have long influenced many other famous Chinese poets and the site set up in his honor is an excellent place to learn about Chinese poetry and the artful mastery of Chinese Calligraphy and silk painting.
Chengdu is the birthplace of tea culture and it’s easy to see why strolling through any park. Locals are scattered throughout enjoying a game of mahjong, playing cards, or chatting with friends. To sample the easy pace of Sichuan life try heading to Renmin Park and visit one of the many teahouses inside the park. Baihuatan Park, near to QingYang Gong, is also another great park to check out, or the park connected to Dufu’s cottage is another great option.
Chengdu is also home to the famous Sichuan Opera, which is known for its face-painting and face-changing artists.
Tourist Sites Around Sichuan Province
Panda Research Breeding center--A short 30-minute drive outside the city center travelers will find the Panda Research Breeding center, where tourists can get up-close to the cozy Giant Pandas. It is recommended to sign up for a tour with a hotel because their ticket prices include entrance fees and transportation to and from, and are often cheaper than the 80 RMB entrance fee at the park.
QingCheng Mountain and Dujiangyan Irrigation project--Located about 90 minutes northwest of the city are QingCheng Mountain and Dujiangyan Irrigation project; both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The former is credited as one of the birthplaces for Daoism and the latter as the beginning of modern irrigation and damming techniques.
Emei Shan and the Leishan Buddha--Another two hours farther north are Emei Shan and the Leishan Buddha. Emei Shan is legendary due to the optical effects, like halos and the “green lantern effect,” which a viewer can perceive at the summit. Leishan is a giant sitting Buddha carved into the mountainside at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu, and Qinyi Rivers. Both sites are also listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Jiuzhaigou and the Wolong Nature Reserve--In the more remote northwest corner of Sichuan are Jiuzhaigou and the Wolong Nature Reserve. Jiuzhaigou is situated along the stunning eastern flank of the Tibetan plateau and is home to a sizeable Tibetan population. From staggering 4000m+ mountains, to a palate of wildflowers and wildlife, the area in the national park is massive and much of it untrammeled by humans.
Lo Dai and Shiqiao Ancient Towns--Sichuan Province is also home to many traditional ancient towns like Lo Dai and Shiqiao, where a traveler can slip back to the sleepy past, and forget about the pressures of modern life.
Chengdu and Sichuan Province are filled with a wealth of exciting places to visit and tourist sites. Sampling the local teahouse life is also a great way to immerse in this laid-back culture. Travelers are recommended to spend at least 3-5 days in Chengdu and up to two weeks in the Sichuan area to see all these exciting tourist destinations. For more information on Sichuan check out this Travel Guide or try delicious Sichuan food
