Chengdu attractions

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Huanglong Scenic Area offers some of Sichuan’s most stunning landscapes. The compact Huanglong Valley delivers waterfalls, forests, and terraced limestone “travertine” pools, all backed by mountains topped with year-round snow.

The former home of Du Fu, one of China’s most revered and influential poets, this 24-acre (10-hectare) park and museum is now dedicated to his life and legacy. Inside, you can see examples of his work, while the ground’s lush gardens and pretty streams provide a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of Chengdu.

Located inside Chengdu Cultural Park, Shufen Yayun Teahouse (Shufeng Yayun) has been hosting Sichuan Opera performances for over 100 years. It’s one of the city’s most popular venues for this art form, which involves an exciting mix of music, dancing, acrobatics, martial arts, hand shadows, puppet play, comedic theater, sword play, and costume changes (face changing).

Sichuan food (known in Chinese as Chuancai is one of China’s eight great cuisines. The Museum of Sichuan Cuisine (Chuancai Museum outside Chengdu pays tribute to its spicy delights. Enjoy a range of displays, hands-on activities, tastings, a shop, an enormous temple of the kitchen god, and (of course cooking classes.

Situated on Lingyun Mountain, Lingyun Temple is also called Great Buddha Temple because of its location at the head of the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest stone Buddha in the world. Four monuments flank the entrance to the temple, which contains the Heavenly King Hall, Precious Hall of the Great Hero, and Scripture Collection Hall. .

At the Chengdu Sichuan Opera Art Center, learn about the history of Sichuan opera, enjoy tea and local cuisine, and take in a performance. Located in downtown Chengdu, the comprehensive cultural center is made up of Jinjiang Theater, Yuelai Teahouse, Pansun Restaurant, and the Sichuan Opera Museum.

The picturesque Haoshang Bridge leads travelers visiting the Leshan Giant Buddha across a river to the steps of Wuyou Temple, situated on the slopes of the mountain of the same name. Built in the Tang Dynasty, the site consists of seven Buddhist palaces, including the Arhats Hall with its 500 clay figures of the Buddha’s disciples.

Wangjiang Tower Park fringes Chengdu’s Jinjiang River and is centered around the ornate Wangjiang Tower, which rises 130 feet (39 meters). The park honors the ninth-century female poet Xue Tao. You'll walk by 200 different types of bamboo, which create shady walkways and scenic avenues, and pass pavilions and a sculpture of Tao.

A historic town with a rich Hakka culture, Luodai Ancient Town sits on the outskirts of Chengdu. Attractions include four guildhalls built for Hakka people from other provinces of China, a Hakka Museum, gardens, parks, temples, and a wealth of food stalls. The town hosts dragon dance festivals twice a year.

By Qingyang Palace, Chengdu Culture Park (Wenhua Gongyuan is an oasis of green in downtown Chengdu. Lotus ponds, ginkgo trees, and shady teahouses create an old-time feel. Other attractions include mass exercise classes, a sculpture wall, rides for small children, the ancient Zhiji Rock, and a mausoleum of Communist martyrs.

Song Xian Qiao Antique Market is the country's second-largest antiques market and an excellent place to shop for souvenirs. With more than 500 separate stalls selling exquisite watercolor paintings, fake Buddha statues, and everything in between, it’s a treasure trove for shoppers and people watchers alike.

Located in northern Chengdu, Wenshu Monastery (Wenshu Yuan) is often regarded as the best-preserved Buddhist temple in the city. Originally known as Xinxiang Temple, the Buddhist center was later renamed after a 17th-century monk who famously inhabited the monastery. Wenshu Temple features an 11-story iron pagoda—the largest of its kind in China.

Mengding Mountain (Mengding Shan) is considered the birthplace of the world’s tea culture and home to some of the oldest plantations. Visitors to this verdant and historic locale can tour a tea plantation, soak up spectacular views, and purchase tea close to the source.

Considered one of the most important Zen Buddhist temples in western Sichuan, Zhaojue Temple dates back to the seventh century. While few traces of the original buildings remain, Zhaojue Temple is regarded as the ancestral temple for many Japanese and Southeast Asian Buddhist temples.

Part of the Happy Valley franchise of theme parks, Happy Valley Chengdu is the largest amusement park in western China. Located in the Jinniu District, the park features a variety of rides such as roller coasters, tilt-a-whirls, bumper cars, and water rides, as well as magic shows, concerts, and other performances.

The Tomb of Wang Jian was the last resting place of 10th-century Chinese leader Wang Jian. Carved murals of musicians and dancers surround the bed where his coffin once rested and a statue of the man himself awaits in an adjoining chamber. The attraction is also known as Yong Ling, Yongling Museum, or Yongling Mausoleum.