Quỳnh Nguyễn · reviewed on
Short answer: Chengdu (成都), the capital of Sichuan in south-west China, is best visited in March-May or September-November. Plan 4 to 5 days: pandas at opening time (tickets 55 yuan), tea in People's Park, hotpot at night, and a day trip to the Leshan Giant Buddha, about an hour away by high-speed train. Updated October 2026.
Chengdu at a glance
| Topic | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Ideal stay | 4-5 days (6-7 with Chongqing) |
| Panda base | 55 yuan adult, 27 student, shuttle 30 (panda.org.cn) |
| Leshan Giant Buddha | 71 m, entry about 80 yuan, train 46-65 min |
| Mount Emei | 160 yuan high season, 110 low season, summit 3,077 m |
| Visa | depends on passport: visa-free, 240-hour transit or L visa |
| Best time | March-May and September-November, avoid 1-7 October |
How do I book Chengdu panda base tickets?
Book a real-name ticket up to 14 days ahead with your passport: 55 yuan for adults at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (成都大熊猫繁育研究基地), north of the city centre. According to the official ticket page:
- Adults 55 yuan, students 27; shuttle 30. Free for ages 60+ and children under 6 or under 1.3 m.
- Real-name booking up to 14 days ahead with your passport; without a Chinese number, use Trip.com.
- Entry from 7:30 (March-October) and 8:00 (November-February).
My tip: book the morning slot and arrive at opening. After 10am many pandas are asleep.
What is there to do in Chengdu?
Besides the pandas, the three classic city sights are Kuanzhai Xiangzi, Jinli and Wenshu Monastery; all three are near the centre and fit in one day.
- Kuanzhai Xiangzi (宽窄巷子): old courtyard lanes and teahouses; go around 9am.
- Jinli (锦里): lantern-lit street next to Wuhou Shrine, best after dark.
- Wenshu Monastery (文殊院): peaceful temple with a vegetarian restaurant.
Add tea at People's Park and a face-changing opera show (变脸) in the evening.
How do you eat Sichuan hotpot if you can't handle spice?
Order a split pot and ask for mild heat with no numbing: chilli heat is one thing, but the numbing Sichuan pepper (花椒) is another. My tips:
- Order a yuanyang pot (鸳鸯锅): half spicy, half mild.
- Say 微辣 (wēi là, mildly spicy) or 不要麻 (bú yào má, no numbing).
- Dip in sesame oil and garlic (油碟); cool down with bingfen (冰粉), a brown-sugar jelly.
A mid-range hotpot meal runs about 80 to 150 yuan per person (my estimate).
How do you visit Leshan and Mount Emei from Chengdu?
The Leshan Giant Buddha is an easy day trip: 46 to 65 minutes by high-speed train from Chengdu East, then a 30 to 40 minute taxi. Mount Emei deserves one or two days, with a night near the mountain.
The Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛) is carved into a riverside cliff and stands 71 metres tall:
- High-speed train Chengdu East to Leshan: about 27-54 yuan in second class; book on 12306.cn or Trip.com with your passport.
- Entry: about 80 yuan per adult (hi-leshan.com).
Mount Emei (峨眉山), one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of China, rises to 3,077 m at the Golden Summit. Per the Leshan government notice: entry 160 yuan in high season, 110 in low season; Golden Summit cable car 120 yuan return (high season) or 50 (low season); park buses are extra.
⚠️ Since 23 May 2026, the Golden Summit is capped at 8,000 visitors per day, and cable car works are planned until 2027 (official notice). Check the cable car status and book before you go.
Stay a night near the mountain; the summit can be icy from November to March. Alternative: Dujiangyan (都江堰), a 2,000-year-old irrigation system, with Mount Qingcheng (check prices when booking).
Where is Chengdu, and how do you get there?
Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province in south-west China, with two airports: Shuangliu (CTU), closer to the centre, and Tianfu (TFU). Direct flights from Vietnam and Europe vary by season, so check schedules.
- Visa: China's 240-hour visa-free transit covers nationals of 57 countries travelling on to a third country or region (en.nia.gov.cn). Vietnamese passport holders were added on 20 August 2026 (NIA notice); a Hanoi-China-Hanoi return does not qualify. French ordinary passports are visa-free for up to 30 days until 31/12/2026 (France Diplomatie). See our China visa guide and 240-hour transit guide.
- Getting around: the metro reaches both airports, and DiDi is cheap for groups. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your Visa or Mastercard before you fly; a 3% fee may apply above 200 yuan (nsd.mofcom.gov.cn). More in our Alipay and WeChat Pay guide. Carry 500-1,000 yuan in cash; amounts of 20,000 yuan or more must be declared (en.thnet.gov.cn).
Combine with Chongqing: roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by train (estimate); see our Chongqing guide.
How much does a trip to Chengdu cost?
My estimate: about 1,600 to 2,300 yuan per person for 5 days on a budget, or 3,000 to 5,000 yuan in comfort, sharing a double room and excluding international flights.
| Item | Budget | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel per night (your share) | 120-200 yuan | 250-450 yuan |
| Food per day | 100-150 yuan | 200-350 yuan |
| Local transport per day | 20-40 yuan | 60-120 yuan |
| Sights (pandas, Leshan, Emei) | 400-550 yuan | 400-550 yuan |
| Total, 5 days | ≈1,600-2,300 yuan | ≈3,000-5,000 yuan |
Compare with other cities in our China trip cost guide.
When is the best time to visit Chengdu?
March-May and September-November are the most pleasant months in Chengdu. Skies are often overcast; summers are hot and humid, winters damp and chilly. Avoid Golden Week, 1-7 October, when panda tickets and hotels are hard to get. See best time to visit China.
Sources
- Chengdu panda base tickets: panda.org.cn
- Leshan Giant Buddha: hi-leshan.com
- Mount Emei: leshan.gov.cn (prices), leshan.gov.cn (visitor cap)
- 240-hour visa-free transit: en.nia.gov.cn, Vietnam added
- French passport holders: diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Foreign card fees: nsd.mofcom.gov.cn
- Cash declaration: en.thnet.gov.cn
- Train tickets: 12306.cn
Frequently asked questions
Where is Chengdu, what is there to do, and when should I go?
Chengdu (成都) is the capital of Sichuan province in south-west China, about 1 to 1.5 hours by high-speed train from Chongqing (estimate). The highlights are the pandas in the morning (55 yuan), the old lanes of Kuanzhai Xiangzi and Jinli, Sichuan hotpot and the Leshan Giant Buddha, about an hour away by train. Go in March-May or September-November and avoid October 1-7.
How many days do you need in Chengdu?
I recommend 4 to 5 days: two days in the city for the panda base, Kuanzhai Xiangzi, Jinli and Wenshu Monastery, one day for the Leshan Giant Buddha about an hour away by high-speed train, and one or two days for Mount Emei or Dujiangyan. Add two days if you combine Chengdu with Chongqing.
How do I book tickets for the Chengdu panda base?
According to the official site panda.org.cn, adult tickets for the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding cost 55 yuan, students 27 yuan, plus 30 yuan for the internal shuttle. Booking is real-name, opens up to 14 days ahead, and accepts passports. Without a Chinese phone number, use Trip.com. Go at opening time.
How do I get from Chengdu to the Leshan Giant Buddha?
Take a high-speed train from Chengdu East to Leshan: 46 to 65 minutes, roughly 27 to 54 yuan in second class. Then a 30 to 40 minute taxi to the scenic area. Entry is about 80 yuan per adult. The Buddha is 71 metres tall; arrive at opening because the cliffside stairway queues get long.
Do I need a visa to visit Chengdu?
It depends on your passport. French ordinary passports are visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026. Nationals of 57 countries, Vietnam included since 20 August 2026, can use the 240-hour visa-free transit if they fly on to a third country or region. Everyone else needs a tourist L visa. Check official sources before booking.
How much does a trip to Chengdu cost?
My estimate for five days, excluding international flights: about 1,600 to 2,300 yuan per person on a budget, or 3,000 to 5,000 yuan with comfortable hotels and good restaurants, sharing a double room. Avoid Golden Week, 1 to 7 October, when panda tickets and hotels are hard to get.
