Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province and the best place to start your trip to Sichuan. Visitors to Chengdu should be sure to try Sichuan hotpot. This dish consists of a boiling broth, usually incredibly spicy. The broth is placed in the center of the table and diners each place various meats and vegetables into the pot to cook, taking them out when they’re cooked.
Chengdu is home to various tea houses, often housed within Buddhist temples. The Great Mercy Temple is one of the most famous temple-tea houses in the city. Visitors can relax at any time of day, sipping tea, snacking on nuts and other foods, and playing cards, mahjiang or just chatting.
One of the must-see places in Chengdu is the Panda Research Base. This is home to dozens of pandas. Both giant pandas and red pandas can be found in simulations of their natural environments here. There is enough in Chengdu to keep visitors occupied for up to a week.
Jiuzhaigou Nature Preserve
A grueling 8 hour bus ride north of Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou Nature Preserve is worth the trip. Any trip to Sichuan should include this site. Jiuzhaigou is home to beautiful lakes, rivers and streams high in the northern Sichuan mountains, as high as 3000 meters above sea level.
Jiuzhaigou is also home to several Tibetan villages. Visitors can see live dance performances and get a glimpse of Tibetan culture in Sichuan. Jiuzhaigou requires two days to see and two days of travel total from Chengdu.
Leshan Buddha Statue
Leshan is a town about three-hours from Chengdu by bus. This sleepy town is home to one of the world’s largest Buddha statues.
The Leshan Buddha, or Leshan Dafo, is over 70 meters (230 feet) tall. It is carved into the stone cliff and overlooks the Min River that runs north and south through Sichuan province. According to legend, the Buddha watches over boats and fishermen that use the waters around it.
Visitors can walk up to the statue. Alternatively they can take a short ferry to a sand bank. The best perspective is from a boat crossing the river in front of the statue. Leshan requires a single day to see fully.
Emei Mountain
Emei Mountain, or Emei Shan, is one of the holiest Buddhist mountains in all of China. Over 30 Buddhist temples have been constructed on the path leading up to the mountain. In additional, the mountain includes breathtaking natural scenery and wildlife.
It is possible to take a bus or cable car up the mountain, but visitors miss most of the temples. If possible, it is best to walk up the mountain to see all the temples along the way. Emei Mountain can take anywhere from two to four days to walk up and down, depending on your fitness level and pace.
Read more about Emei Mountain here.
