Stand on the west side of Tianfu Square at dusk and the fountains begin to move with the music, water rising and falling in time while the Chairman Mao statue looks on. That is Chengdu in one moment: a city that has kept its name for more than two thousand years, and still puts on a show in its main square every evening.
Chengdu suits travellers who want museums and street food in the same afternoon, who are happy to spend a morning with pandas and an evening in a teahouse. It is the capital of Sichuan and a hub of Western China, and its central sights cluster tightly enough that you can walk or ride the metro between them.
This guide covers the places in the city worth your time, with practical notes on when to go and what to pair with what.
Top things to do in Chengdu
1. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The giant panda is a Chinese national symbol, and the area of Sichuan is where it lives; the city is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. For most visitors this is the single reason Chengdu appears on an itinerary at all.
Plan it as a half day rather than a quick stop, and pair it with nothing else in the morning so you are not watching the clock.
2. Jinli Ancient Street
This neighbourhood is part of the old city of Chengdu, with hotels and small stores built in an old-fashioned style and antiques sold in a variety of different stores. It is very popular among both tourists and locals, especially at night, with many bars, restaurants and nightclubs, and you will find a lot of famous local snack food there.
Some consider Jinli to be a tourist trap, which is partly true, but the street food is regional and fairly affordable, and restaurants and bars in Jinli are more expensive than outside. Combine it with a visit to Wuhouci Temple, and take your camera.
3. Wuhouci Temple
Wuhouci Temple sits close enough to Jinli Ancient Street that the two make a natural pairing on the same outing. Entry is ¥60, unless you are the holder of a Panda Card.
Do Jinli first for the food and the crowds, then walk over to the temple while you still have daylight.
4. Chengdu Museum
A six-floor museum containing different interesting things about Chengdu civilisation from ancient times to modern times. It is free, and foreigners need to register from the opposite side of the entrance to get a ticket.
Start the visit from the second floor upwards, and allow about 2.5 hours. It sits on the west side of Tianfu Square, so it pairs easily with the square itself.
5. Tianfu Square
This square, overlooked by an enormous Chairman Mao statue in the centre of the city, has been spruced up. Every evening at dusk, as well as at noontime, an elaborate water show, synchronized to music, bursts out from the square's fountains.
Below the square is the hub of Chengdu's subway system, and in the subway entrance plaza a small shopping mall has been built, almost literally under Mao's nose. Come at dusk for the fountains.
6. Kuanzhaixiangzi
A very nice place with lots of tea houses, restaurants and local snacks, and great for relaxing. The streets date from late Qing-dynasty style but have been rebuilt, and there is free government Wi-Fi here.
Expect the tea houses and restaurants to be expensive. It is a good counterweight to a morning of museums.
7. Sichuan Museum
A three-floor museum containing artefacts — bronze, pottery, carving and more — including coverage of different tribes in Sichuan. The visit can be completed in about 2 hours, and entry is free, though foreigners must go through the 'Foreigner' entrance and register.
It is closed on Mondays, and there is no entry in the last 30 minutes.
8. Sichuan University Museum
An excellent display of local artefacts and a worthwhile way of spending an hour or two, with four floors of well lit, air conditioned displays and decent English translations. The basement holds dozens of stone carvings dating from the Han dynasty to the Tang, the first floor has Ming and Qing artefacts including furniture, silk clothing and leather puppets, the second floor covers ethnic minority groups of China's southwest, and the third floor has calligraphy scrolls, paintings and ceramics.
Entry is ¥30, or ¥10 for students. Note that it is closed on weekends and there is no entry after 16:30.
9. Sichuan Science and Technology Museum
A huge four-storey museum filled with interactive exhibits about science, aerodynamics, space, mathematics, robotics and physics. Children will love the interactive displays and indoor playground on the 4th floor, and adults will appreciate the descriptions in both English and Chinese.
It is free, closed on Mondays except during the summer holiday period, and sits on the north side of Tianfu Square. On weekdays it can either be overrun by local school groups or be so deserted it is almost creepy, so it makes a good rainy-day option.
10. Sichuan Art Museum
A major contemporary art institution in Qingyang District near Tianfu Square, with a modern six-storey building housing a large collection of Chinese paintings, prints and artworks, both traditional and modern. It also serves as the headquarters of the Sichuan Artists Association and is part of Chengdu's cultural zone alongside other museums and galleries.
Entry is free, and it is closed on Mondays, with no entry after 19:00. It sits about 300 metres west of Tianfu Square Station, so it slots neatly into a square-and-museums day.
11. Chengdu Art Museum
A major cultural landmark in the heart of Chengdu that opened in 2021, serving as a hub for contemporary art and cultural exchange in western China. The building has modern architecture and spacious exhibition halls hosting national and international art exhibitions, with programmes including exhibitions, workshops and public lectures.
It is free but you need to make an appointment, and it is closed on Mondays. From May to October it stays open until 21:30, and from November to April until 20:00.
12. A Thousand Plateaus Art Space
A contemporary art gallery in Chengdu exhibiting Chinese and international artists, located in the Yulin Community next to Little Bar and K Gallery. Exhibit openings generally happen once a month, and other events also take place.
Entry is free, and it is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 18:00.
13. Anshun Bridge
A scenic, historic bridge on Binjiang Road East in Jinjiang District. The nearest bus stop is Hejiang Pavilion, served by bus nos. 343 and 1093.
It is an easy addition to an evening out rather than a destination in itself.
14. Chengdu Natural History Museum
One of the largest natural history museums in western China, with around 70,000 items of which around 10,000 are on display, including many fossils. It is located on Shilidian Road in Chenghua District, at Exit B of Shilidian Station on Metro Line 8.
Entry is ¥20, it is closed on Mondays, and bookings are essential — made through the museum's public WeChat account, "成都自然博物馆 成都理工博物馆".
15. Southwest Minzu University Museum of Nationalities
One of the first ethnographic museums established in China following the founding of the People's Republic, with one of the richest collections of ethnic minority artefacts in southwestern China. There are artefacts from 35 different ethnic groups and specialised exhibitions on the Tibetans, the Qiang, the Miao, the Yi, the Bai, the Tujia, the Dai and the Naxi.
It is free and open to the general public every Tuesday from 13:30 to 16:30; visitors wishing to visit on a different day or time are required to make a booking. Take a metro train to Yiguanmiao Station on Line 3, then enter the university campus via the south gate.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and give it the whole morning rather than squeezing it against a museum booking.
Afternoon: Head to Tianfu Square, where you can see the Chairman Mao statue and, at noontime, the synchronized fountain show. From there, walk to the Chengdu Museum on the west side of the square — remember that foreigners register from the opposite side of the entrance to get a ticket — and start from the second floor upwards. If you have time left, the Sichuan Art Museum is about 300 metres west of Tianfu Square Station and is free.
Evening: Go to Jinli Ancient Street, which is at its most popular at night, with bars, restaurants and nightclubs alongside the local snack food. If you want the temple as well, visit Wuhouci Temple in the same outing, and note the ¥60 entry unless you hold a Panda Card.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the fountains at Tianfu Square?
Every evening at dusk, as well as at noontime, an elaborate water show synchronized to music bursts out from the square's fountains.
Which museums in Chengdu are free?
The Chengdu Museum, the Sichuan Museum, the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum, the Sichuan Art Museum and the Chengdu Art Museum are all free, as is the Southwest Minzu University Museum of Nationalities and A Thousand Plateaus Art Space. The Sichuan University Museum charges ¥30, and the Chengdu Natural History Museum charges ¥20.
Do I need to book ahead for any museums?
Yes. The Chengdu Art Museum is free but you need to make an appointment, and the Chengdu Natural History Museum requires essential bookings made through its public WeChat account. The Southwest Minzu University Museum of Nationalities is open to the general public every Tuesday from 13:30 to 16:30, and visitors wishing to visit on a different day or time are required to make a booking.
What should I combine with a visit to Jinli Ancient Street?
Combine it with a visit to Wuhouci Temple, which has an entry fee of ¥60 unless you are the holder of a Panda Card. Jinli itself is especially popular at night, with many bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
Pick your dates, check which museums close on Mondays, and start building the day around the pandas and the square.