The Perfect 5-Day Chengdu Itinerary: Pandas, Hotpot & Ancient Wonders

For travelers seeking the ultimate blend of spicy cuisine, cultural treasures, and adorable pandas

Day 1: Tea Houses & Time Travel in Old Chengdu

Morning: Kuanzhai Alley + People’s Park
Start at Kuanzhai Alley, a restored Qing Dynasty neighborhood where narrow lanes hide artisan shops and hidden teahouses. Arrive by 8:30am to beat the crowds. Pro tip: Try chuanzhu (bamboo weaving) at a craft stall.

A short walk leads to People’s Park, where retirees practice tai chi under cypress trees. At Heming Teahouse, join locals sipping jasmine tea (¥20) while “ear cleaners” perform their clattering ritual.

Lunch: Jinli Snack Street
This Three Kingdoms-themed food alley serves Chengdu’s greatest hits:

• Dandan noodles (peanut-chili sauce)
• “Three Cannons” sticky rice balls (watch the theatrical preparation)
• Chuanchuan (skewers dipped in chili oil)

Afternoon: Wuhou Shrine + Sichuan Museum
The Wuhou Shrine (¥60) honors Zhuge Liang, China’s legendary strategist. Nearby, the free Sichuan Museum displays 3,000-year-old Sanxingdui bronze masks – surreal artifacts that inspired Star Wars designs.

Evening: Hotpot Initiation in Chunxi Road
At Shu Jiuxiang Hotpot, foreigners appreciate the split pot (half spicy, half mild). Must-order:

• Feather-thin beef slices
• Crispy duck intestine
• Tingly Sichuan peppercorns

Day 2: Panda Cuddles & Mountain Air

Morning: Chengdu Panda Base
7:30am arrival is crucial – pandas nap by noon! The nursery area lets you see cubs tumbling like fuzzy black-and-white marshmallows. Insider move: Bribe staff with ¥50 to (briefly) hold a red panda.

Lunch: Sichuan Flavor Bomb
Chen Mapo Tofu delivers the classics:

• Mapo tofu (numbing chili-bean curd)
• Kung Pao chicken (authentic version has no veggies!)

Afternoon: Qingcheng Mountain
This Taoist sanctuary offers misty trails past 1,800-year-old temples. Take the cable car (¥60) to save knees, then hike to Shangqing Palace for calligraphy-covered cliffs.

Dinner: DIY Skewer Feast
At Yuan Ji Chuanchuan, locals dunk skewers in communal chili pots. Try beef wrapped in perilla leaves – a Chengdu specialty.

Day 3: Ancient Engineering & Poetry

Morning: Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Marvel at this 2,300-year-old water project still functioning today. The Fish Mouth Levee splits rivers with Stone Age precision.

Lunch: Brave the Rabbit Heads
Roadside joints serve spicy rabbit heads (¥15) – suck the cheeks for tender meat. Less adventurous? Zhong dumplings are foolproof.

Afternoon: Du Fu’s Cottage + Wenshu Monastery
Wander the bamboo groves where China’s “Shakespeare” wrote masterpieces. Nearby, Wenshu Monastery offers free vegetarian meals at noon.

Evening: Jiuyanqiao Bar Street
Sip baijiu cocktails overlooking neon-lit canals. For late-night munchies, “Sweet Water Noodles” balance chili with black vinegar.

Day 4: Pilgrimage to Emei Mountain**

Full-Day Trip Highlights:

• Golden Summit (3,077m): Ride the ¥120 cable car above sea of clouds
• Wild monkeys – hold your snacks tightly!
• Baoguo Temple’s giant Buddha carved from nanmu wood

Pack warm layers – summit temps drop to 5°C (41°F) even in spring.

Day 5: Souvenirs & Slow Goodbyes

Morning: Jinsha Site Museum
See the 3,000-year-old “Sun Bird” gold foil – now Chengdu’s emblem.

Lunch: Final Feast
“Mother’s Trotter Soup” at Lao Ma Tian Yuan soothes spice-weary stomachs.

Afternoon: Riverfront Stroll
Along Jinjiang River, teahouses serve eight-treasure tea with goji berries. Buy last-minute Sichuan peppercorns (legally exportable if sealed).

Essential Chengdu Travel Guide Tips

Transport Hacks:

• Metro Line 3 reaches Panda Base
• Didi (Chinese Uber) works with international cards

Spice Management:

• Request wei la (“mild spicy”)
• Yogurt drinks neutralize capsaicin

Unique Souvenirs:

• Chuan embroidery silk scarves
• Panda-shaped chili paste jars

Budget: ¥3,500 ($500) covers mid-range hotels, meals, and entry fees