Chengdu

• 🌍 Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU  ^IATA, 成都双流国际机场) (20 km (12 mi) southwest of Chengdu center). Formerly Chengdu's main airport. It is planned to serve mostly domestic routes, with International services increasingly being transferred to Tianfu International Airport. (updated Mar 2023)
• 🌍 Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU  ^IATA, 成都天府国际机场). A new airport built to accommodate rising passenger flow for Southwest China. It is planned to take over most of Shuangliu International Airport's international services, such as to Amsterdam Schiphol, Bangkok (BKK), Hong Kong, Osaka, Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, New York City (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), Seoul (Incheon), Melbourne and Singapore. (updated Mar 2023)

Ground transportation options include:

• Chengdu Metro line  10  runs from Shuangliu Airport (separate stations at Terminals 1 and 2) to Taipingyuan, where you can transfer to Metro line  3  and Metro line  7 , and from there to other Metro lines.
• Chengdu Metro line  18  runs from Tianfu Airport to South Railway Station, where you can transfer to Metro Line 1 and 7, and from there to other Metro lines.
• Chengdu Metro line  19  runs from Tianfu Airport to Shuangliu Airport. The Express train takes you about 30 minutes to another airport.
• Airport Shuttle buses operate between the airport and the city center, costing ¥10-15 (Shuangliu Airport) or ¥40 (Tianfu Airport). The main line #1 stops at the Air China airline office in a side street just off Renmin Nanlu opposite to the entrance of the Minshan Hotel. There are three other routes but the service is not as regular or frequent, ask at the ticket desk outside the Arrivals lounge. The last bus leaves the airport around 1AM.
• Taxi fare from the airport to the city center averages ¥45. There is no extra charge for luggage or additional passengers. When going from the city to the airport, add an additional ¥10 to cover the toll on the Airport Expressway. If you intend to take a taxi from the airport, head for the domestic arrival area and exit the terminal where you should see the official taxi stand where you can queue for marked, green-and-yellow or blue-and-yellow taxis. Usual advice applies when distinguishing between official and fake taxis; if a person is too enthusiastic about getting you into their vehicle, you may have to pay more. Use your common sense.

Train connections are available from Kunming in Yunnan, Chongqing and Xi'an.

• 🌍 Chengdu Station (成都站 Chéngdū Zhàn or 火车北站 Huǒchē Běizhàn (which means "North Railway Station")) (Metro Line 1, 7, North Railway Station). Officially called simply Chengdu Station, however, locals call it "Chengdu North Station" when Chengdu East was opened, and even the metro system do so. Handles most long distance services and most high speed trains to Chongqing, also intercity services from/to Dujiangyan and Pengzhou. The station is closed since 11 October 2022 for high-speed railway expansion and is expected to reopen in 2026. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Chengdu East Station (成都东站 Chéngdū Dōngzhàn) (Metro Line 2, 7, East Chengdu Railway Station). New station serving local Sichuan destinations (like Leshan and Shuangliu Airport) and some services east to Chongqing, Nanjing and Shanghai or north to Xi'an and Beijing. (Not to be confused with old freight station, slightly east of Chengdu North Station as marked on some older maps.) (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Chengdu South Station (成都南站 Chéngdū Nánzhàn) (Metro Line 1, 7, South Railway Station). For short distance trains to Leshan, E'meishan, Jiangyou, Dujiangyan and Shuangliu Airport. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Chengdu West Station (成都西站 Chéngdū Xīzhàn) (Metro Line 4, 9, West Railway Station). For distance trains to Dujiangyan, Pujiang, Ya'an. The station will handle the future Sichuan–Tibet railway. (updated Sep 2021)

The Chengdu–Dujiangyan intercity railway connects Chengdu station and Chengdu's suburbans, namely Dujiangyan and Pengzhou. The service operates in a way similar to metro, and provides cheap ticket price (the highest ticket price is ¥15).

There are three bus stations in Chengdu, serving different destinations.

🌍 Chádiànzi (茶店子汽车站), ☏ +86 28 8750 6610. 

🌍 Xīnnánmén (新南门汽车站), ☏ +86 28 8543 3609. There is a tourist information center nearby, where you can get a free map of the city and ask for the bus to your hotel. 

🌍 Wǔguìqiáo (五桂桥汽车站), ☏ +86 28 8471 1692. 

The Chengdu Metro for a single ride tickets from ticket vending machines (English available) with ¥1 coins or ¥5 and ¥10 notes. Ticket booths are also available if you don't have suitable notes. A contactless metro card is available (card or panda keyring) which gives you a 10% saving on all journeys.

When entering the metro you need to put your bags through an x-ray machine. The ticket is flashed by the gates on the reader on your right side. You need the ticket to get out as well so keep it safe. When exiting the ticket is placed into a slot on the right side of the gate.

The system contains seven lines:

• Line 1 runs north–south through the city center along Renmin Rd and Tianfu Ave, from Weijianian to Science City or Wugensong, connecting the North and South railway stations.
• Line 2 runs northwest–southeast, from Xipu to Longquanyi, serving Chengdu East Railway Station.
• Line 3 runs southwest–northeast, from Chengdu Medical College to Shuangliu West Station, serving to those hot touristic sites in Chengdu.
• Line 4 runs east–west, from Xihe to Wansheng. It serves Chengdu West Railway Station.
• Line 5 runs north–southwest, parallel to Line 1, from Huagui Road to Huilong. It diminuing the population on Line 1,
• Line 6 runs northwest–east–southwest, from Wangcongci to Lanjiagou; this line has the longest subway tunnel sections.
• Line 7 runs in a circle around the city. It has interchanges with all other lines, as well as the North, South, and East railway stations.
• Line 8 runs northeast–southwest, parallel to Line 3, from Shilidian to Lianhua, serves to Chengdu's musical area.
• Line 9 runs south–west, parallel to Line 7, from Financial City East to Huangtianba, it serves Chengdu West Railway Station. The planification shows that Line 9 will be a circle form line.
• Line 10 runs south–southwest, from Xinping to Taipingyuan, where you can transfer to Lines 3 and 7. It serves mostly to people go to Shuangliu International Airport.
• Line 17 runs west–northwest, from Jitouqiao to Jinxing, only transfer to Line 9. The future plan is to become a city fast line.
• Line 18 runs south–southeast, from South Railway Station to Tianfu International Airport North Station, it serves for members go to Tianfu Interntional Airport.

Lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 18 all have interchanges with each other in the city center region.

Chengdu has an extensive bus system, including a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in a loop. At each bus stop, there is a list of the bus lines coming through on this road, and on some city maps the whole network is displayed. However, the bus lines and maps only use Chinese characters, and even if the bus announces the station, it will usually only be in Chinese. Tickets are ¥1 for non-aircon (now very rare) and ¥2 for air-conditioned buses. The fare is paid by putting the exact amount to a metal box next to the driver. No change is given, so make sure you have exact change. Normally, you enter via the front door, and alight by the rear door. On the new articulated buses, you can enter at either the front or rear door, with the middle door designated for alighting only.

aMaps (Chinese only) is helpful for planning routes by public transport. A separate smartphone app is available. Click on Chengdu on the map, then select the middle tab from (公交) from the search field. To show the route of a particular line, click 高级搜索 and type the line number to the search field that appeared on the right side. You can also select from and to destinations from the map via a context menu (the two topmost options) and the service shows the route with bus line numbers and also where to change the bus if needed. Classical bus useful for tourists are 1 and 99 (inside city), 300 (link between south airport to north railway station).

If you will be in Chengdu a while, you may want to purchase the contactless transit card (公交卡) - it's advisable to get the version which works for both metro and buses. They are sold at all Hong Qi markets and at some pharmacies. Not only do you no longer have to worry about carrying correct change, but you get free transfers for two hours plus some discounts. The card costs ¥20 and can be loaded with three types of credit. The first is cash. You will receive a 10% discount off the cash fare when using your card's cash. So a regular bus ride will cost ¥1.80 instead of ¥2. You can also load credits (次) for this month and credits for next month. Each credit costs ¥0.50, and most bus rides use two credits (the increasingly rare non-aircon buses cost one credit). So most rides then cost you only ¥1. Credits expire at the end of the month for which they were designated, so it can take a little effort to not buy too many or too few. Note that some bus lines (usually higher numbered ones, or those going way out to the suburbs) and the subway only accept your cash balance (not credits), which does not expire. When you board the bus and tap your card, the display will show the number of this month's credits remaining (if you used credits) or the cash balance (if you used your card's stored cash value).

The Hi Panda Shuttle Bus (成都景区直通车), also known as the Scenic Shuttle Bus, conveys passengers to many of Chengdu's key attractions and also travels to some attractions outside the city. Destinations include the Wuhou Temple, Jinli Street, Kuanzhaixiangzi, Du Fu's Thatched Cottage, Chunxi Road, the 339 TV Tower, Jinsha Archaeological Site, Panda Research Base, Happy Valley, Haichang Ocean Park, Jinjiang Theatre, the Museum of Sichuan Cuisine, Manhua Manor, Anren Town, Dujiangyan, Qingcheng Mountain, Sanxingdui, Leshan, Emeishan, Taoping Qiang Village, Bipenggou and Bifengxia. Most routes originate from the company's main hubs at Kuanzhaixiangzi and the Wuhou Temple. The company also operates from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, Chengdu East Railway Station, and Tianfu Square. Fares range from just ¥2 for a short trip to ¥68 for a 3-hour journey to Bipenggou. You can also purchase a combo set, which includes both the bus tickets and the entrance tickets for the attractions you intend to visit.

Official taxis are either green or blue and are equipped with meters. An available taxi will display an illuminated sign with Chinese characters in its dashboard. The meter is turned on by tilting the sign, make sure the driver does that and if not, you can try to do it yourself and the driver usually gets your point. Some taxi drivers may try to offer you a fixed price but don't take it unless you know it's cheaper than with the meter on. Taxi drivers don't speak English nor do they understand the map, so have an address written in Chinese with you. Drivers don't know many street names so it's best to have the address to some well known place close to your destination. Collect taxi cards from hotels and restaurants and show them to the drivers, and when close to your destination start instructing by pointing with your hand. This method usually gets you there - some drivers however will not follow your instructions or get angry for you traveling a longer distance than what they expected.

Taxi fare is ¥8 on flagfall for the older taxis ¥9 for the new ones, and increase at ¥1.9 per km after the first 2 kilometers. For rides from 10 to 60 km the km fare is increased by 50% to compensate the taxi returning empty. During night time the starting price is ¥1 more and per km price is ¥2.20. Waiting price for the taxi is one km fare per every five minutes, and the meter counts traveling with speed less than 12 km/h as waiting time. Taxis often refuse to accept ¥100 bills so try to have some change on hand.

Taxis can be difficult to find depending on the area. There are also unlicensed taxis in the city but they're quite hard to notice. If you use one, know your destination and expected price and negotiate the fare beforehand.

Most guest houses have bicycles for hire. Check for technical problems before starting out unless you want to be held responsible for it later. If you leave your bicycle, do so in one of the designated "bicycle parks", where it will be guarded over for a small fee. If you can not find such a place, be sure to lock it securely against some structure. Be careful as the bike traffic flow can be intense.

In 2016, Mobike and other companies introduced city-bikes which can be used and paid for via a smartphone app.

• 🌍 Jinli Ancient Street (锦里古街 (jǐn lǐ gǔ jiē)) (Line 3 Metro, Gaoshengqiao Station). This neighborhood is part of the old city of Chengdu; it features hotels and small stores built in an old-fashioned style. Antiques are 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. You will find a lot of famous local snack food over there, prices ¥1-10. Restaurants and bars in Jin Li are more expensive than outside. There are also antique hotels in there. Some consider Jin Li is to be tourist trap, which is partly true. However, this 'new old street' offers regional and fairly affordable street food specialties as well and can be combined with a visit to the Wuhouci Temple (entry fee ¥60, unless you are the holder of a Panda Card). Don't forget to take your camera. 
• 🌍 Kuanzhaixiangzi (宽窄巷子) (Line 4 Metro, Kuanzhaixiangzi Alley Station). Very nice place with lots of (expensive) tea houses, restaurants and local snacks. Great for relaxing. Streets date from late Qing-dynasty style but have been rebuilt. Free government Wi-Fi in this place. 
• 🌍 Tianfu Square (天府广场 (tiān fǔ guǎng chǎng)) (Line 1/2 Metro, in the city center). This square, overlooked by an enormous Chairman Mao statue in the center 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. In the subway entrance plaza, a small shopping mall has been built, almost literally under Mao's nose. 

• 🌍 A Thousand Plateaus Art Space (千高原艺术空间; Qian Gaoyuan Yishu Kongjian), 87 Fangqin St 芳沁街87号 (In Yulin Community, next to Little Bar and K Gallery.), ☏ +86 28-85126358, fax: +86 28-8512635, 1000plateaus.cn@gmail.com. Tu-Su 11:00-18:00. A contemporary art gallery in Chengdu exhibiting Chinese and international artists. Exhibit openings generally happen once a month, and other events also take place. Free entry. 
• 🌍 Sichuan Art Museum (四川美术馆 (sì chuān měi shù guǎn)), 6 Renmin Road West, Qingyang District (青羊区人民西路6号) (300 metres west of Tianfu Square Station at the intersection of Lines 1 and 2), ☏ +86 28 86636199, scmxyqxx@163.com. 09ː00-20ː00, no entry after 19ː00, closed on Mondays. Free. (updated Dec 2018)

• 🌍 Chengdu Museum (成都博物馆 (chéng dū bó wù guǎn)), 1 Xiaohe Street, Qingyang District (青羊区小河街1号) (Metro lines 1 and 2, Tianfu Square Station. The museum is on the west side of the square), ☏ +86 28 62915593. May to October: 09:00-20:30, November to April: 09:00-20:00, no entry in last 30 minutes, closed on Mondays. A 6 floors museum containing different interesting things about Chengdu civilization from ancient times to modern times. Recommended to start the visit from the second floor upwards. The visit should take 2.5 hours. Free, Foreigner needs to register from the opposite side of the entrance to get ticket. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Chengdu Natural History Museum (成都自然博物馆), 88 Shilidian Road, Chenghua Avenue, Chenghua District (成华区成华大道十里店路88号) (Exit B, Shilidian Station, Metro Line 8), ☏ +86 28 87288991, +86 28 60828500, gugong@rbwg.org.cn. 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays. One of the largest natural history museums in western China. The museum has around 70,000 items, of which around 10,000 are on display, including many fossils. As of November, visitor numbers are limited to 5000 people per day and bookings are essential. Bookings can be made on the museum's public WeChat account. The WeChat account name is "成都自然博物馆 成都理工博物馆". Free. (updated Nov 2022)
• 🌍 Sichuan Museum (四川博物院 (sì chuān bó wù yuàn)), 251 Huanhua Road South, Qingyang District (青羊区浣花南路251号) (Take a train to Chengdu University of TCM and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital Station at the intersection of Metro lines 2 and 4, then either walk or catch bus no. 58 and get off at Songxian Bridge (送仙桥)), ☏ +86 28 65521888, +86 28 65521569. Summer: 09:00-21:00, Winter: 09:00-20:00, no entry in last 30 minutes, closed on Mondays. 3 floors museum containing artifacts (bronze, pottery, carving, etc.), including coverage of different tribes in Sichuan. Visit can be completed in about 2 hours. Free, foreigner needs to go through the 'Foreigner' entrance and register. (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Sichuan Science and Technology Museum (四川科技馆 (sì chuān kē jì guǎn)), 16 Renmin Middle Road Section One, Qingyang District (青羊区人民中路一段16号) (Metro lines 1 and 2, Tianfu Square Station. The museum is on the north side of Tianfu Square), ☏ +86 28 86609999. 09:00-17:00, closed on Mondays (except during the summer holiday period). This huge four-storey museum is 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. Adults will appreciate the descriptions in both English and Chinese. Everyone will love the crowd-pleasers like the robotic orchestra and walk-through maps of Sichuan's waterways. During weekdays this museum can either be overrun by local school groups or be so deserted it's almost creepy. Overall, quite good value for money, especially on a rainy day. Free. 
• 🌍 Sichuan University Museum (四川大学博物馆; Sichuan Daxue Bowuguan), 19 Wangjiang Rd, Wuhou District (武侯区望江路19号) (about a 15-min ride or a 40 minute walk from Xinnanmen bus station; you may also catch buses 19, 256, or 1107), ☏ +86 28 85412451. 09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on weekends. Excellent display of local artifacts and is worth while way of spending an hour or two. The museum is one of the better in China and there are four floors of well lit, air conditioned displays with decent English translations. Starting in the basement, enter the first room where dozens of stone carvings dating from the Han dynasty to the Tang are on display. The room next door has a moderately interesting display on the museum's history and numerous examples of ancient bronzes and stone age artifacts. The first floor is mostly artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasty, including furniture, silk clothing, and an interesting display of leather puppets. The second floor has the perhaps the most engaging display: artifacts and daily use items from ethnic minority groups in China's southwest, including Tibetans, Miao, Yi, Qiang, Jianpo and Naxi. The third floor has a decent display of calligraphy scrolls, paintings, and ceramics. ¥30 (students ¥10). 
• 🌍 Southwest Minzu University Museum of Nationalities (西南民族大学民族博物馆), 16 South 4th Section, 1st Ring Road, Wuhou District (武侯区一环路南四段16号) (take a metro train to Yiguanmiao Station on Line 3, then enter the university campus via the south gate; the museum building is roughly in the center of the campus), ☏ +86 28 85522057. 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. This was one of the first ethnographic museums to be established in China following the founding of the People's Republic. It has one of the richest collections of ethnic minority artefacts in southwestern China. There are artefacts from 35 different ethnic groups and specialized exhibitions on the Tibetans, the Qiang, the Miao, the Yi, the Bai, the Tujia, the Dai and the Naxi. Free. (updated Jan 2023)

• 🌍 Anshun Bridge (安顺廊桥; ān shùn láng qiáo), 66 Binjiang Road East, Jinjiang District (锦江区滨江东路66号) (The nearest bus stop is Hejiang Pavilion (合江亭), which is served by bus nos. 343 and 1093). A scenic, historic bridge crossing the Jin River in the middle of Chengdu. A bridge at this location was mentioned in the writings of Marco Polo. However, in the 1980s the bridge was destroyed by flooding, and was rebuilt in 2003. There is a restaurant on top of the bridge. (updated Mar 2017)
• 🌍 Du Fu's Thatched Cottage (杜甫草堂; dù fǔ cǎo táng), 37 Qinghua Road, Qingyang District (青羊区青华路37号) (Take a train to Chengdu University of TCM and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital Station at the intersection of Metro lines 2 and 4, then either walk or catch bus no. 58 and get off at the Du Fu's Thatched Cottage bus stop. Alternatively take a train to Caotang Road North Station on Metro Line 4 and walk south for about 900m), ☏ +86 28 68921800. May to September: 08:00-20:00, October to April: 08:00-18:30. Du Fu was a renowned poet during the Tang Dynasty. The thatched cottage was where he lived from 760 to 765 and wrote many of his best works. The cottage eventually fell into ruin and had to be rebuilt. The current buildings date mostly from the Ming and Qing dynasties. ¥60. (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Jinsha Archaeological Site (金沙遗址; jīn shā yí zhǐ), 2 Jinsha Site Road, Qingyang District (青羊区金沙遗址路2号) (Metro Line 7, Jinsha Museum Station), ☏ +86 28 87303522, cdjsbwg@jinshasitemuseum.com. May to October: 08:30-20:00, November to April: 08:30-18:30, no tickets sold in last 60 minutes, closed on Mondays. Site featuring various tools and art pieces from around 3,000 years ago. The amount of unearthed items is just massive. They include pottery, blades, jade items, building foundations and various golden art pieces. There are two main buildings: the hall constructed over the centre of the excavation site and the modern exhibition hall with various artifacts on display. ¥80. 
• 🌍 Ming Prince Tombs (明蜀王陵; míng shǔ wáng líng), Longquanyi District, in Qinglonghu wetland park (Take Line 4 of the Metro to Chengdu University station). Five tombs of the princes of the Ming Dynasty, who were given estates in the area by the emperor, and subsequently buried here. Their burial chambers have been excavated, two of which are open to the public; the tomb of Prince Xi (僖王陵) and the tomb of Prince Zhao (昭王陵). The former is lined with beautiful carvings, and is often said to be the grandest burial chamber to have been excavated to date in China. Adults: ¥12 Youth/Students: ¥6. (updated Mar 2020)
• 🌍 Shuijingfang Museum (水井坊博物馆), 19 Shuijing Street, Jinjiang District (锦江区水井街19号) (approximately 400 meters south of Dongmen Bridge Station on Line 2), ☏ +86 28 84436999, +86 28 84430666, museum@swellfun.com. 09:00-17:30, no entry after 17:00. Shuijingfang is a liquor company that specializes in the production of high-quality baijiu (distilled rice wine). The company has been operating continuously in Chengdu for over 600 years, albeit under many different names. Around the turn of the last century, archaeologists uncovered the remains of the original distillery that was in use 600 years ago. As the oldest distillery site yet discovered in China, the site was declared a national heritage site and nominated for world heritage status. The site is now part of the Shujingfang Museum. Entrance to the museum's exhibition hall is free but you will need to pay for a tour guide if you wish to visit the archaeological site. English guides are ¥100 and Mandarin guides are ¥40. After visiting the exhibition hall and archaeological site, the tour guide will lead you to a modern distillery, which may or may not be operating at the time of your visit. The final stop on the tour is a tasting room where you can sample some of the baijiu produced here. Of course, there is also a shop where you can buy bottles of baijiu. (updated Sep 2023)
• 🌍 Yongling Mausoleum (永陵, 王建墓; yǒng líng, wáng jiàn mù / Wang Jian's Tomb), 10 Yongling Road, Jinniu District (金牛区永陵路10号) (Take metro to Fuqin Station at the intersection of Metro lines 5, exit the station via Exit C1, then walk through your left for about 7 minuts OR Take metro to Chengdu University of TCM and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital Station at the intersection of Metro lines 2, 4 and 5, then catch bus no. 42 and get off at the Yongling Intersection (永陵路口) bus stop), ☏ +86 28 87789003. Tomb and museum: 08:30-18:00, Gardens: 06:30-22:00. Yongling is the tomb of Wang Jian, the founding emperor of the Shu Kingdom, also known as Great Shu or Former Shu, which ruled over much of Sichuan during the early 10th century during a period known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. The burial chamber has been excavated and is open to the public. An on-site museum displays artefacts that have been excavated from the tomb. ¥20. (updated Jul 2018)

• 🌍 Qingyang Temple (青羊宫; Qingyanggong; lit. Palace of the Black, Green or Blue Ram), 9 Xierduan, Ring Rd One, Qingyang District (青羊区一环路西二段9号) (Take metro to Qingyang Taoist Temple Station of Metro lines 5, exit the station via Exit C, the destination is in your sight.), ☏ +86 28 87710035. 08:00-18:00. This Taoist temple is the oldest and biggest of its kind in the area, located in the west of downtown. A large and still-active temple that takes into consideration Taoist philosophy in its construction, and with both a park next door and a number of relaxed courtyards inside. While it has a long history, the buildings are modern, cheaply-made concrete constructions, and it quite frequently shows. The statues inside are also cheap modern constructions of no real interest. A teahouse and a vegetarian restaurant can be found within the temple complex. ¥10. (updated Sep 2021)
• 🌍 Wenshu Temple (Wenshu Monastery, 文殊院; wén shū yuàn), 66 Wenshu Temple St, Qingyang District (青羊区文殊院街66号) (Metro Line 1, Wenshu Temple Station), ☏ +86 28 86930623, +86 28 86952273. 09:00-17:00. This Tang Dynasty Buddhist temple is the most impressive, and perhaps also the most used, temple in Chengdu. It is dedicated to the Buddhist representation of Wisdom, Wenshu Pusa (Manjusri Bodhisatva), and contains more than 450 Buddha statues and other precious relics. In addition to the halls and gardens, the temple also has a charming tea house that offers an insightful window of Chengdu life as it is frequented by locals who engage in games of chess, reading, knitting and just chatting with family and friends. The temple also has a delightful vegetarian restaurant with seats offering views over the gardens. There are many shops around the temple, including some of the best street food in the city, such as a sweetwater noodle shop. Free. (updated Jan 2020)
• 🌍 Wuhouci Temple (Wuhou Temple, 武侯祠; wǔ hóu cí), 231 Wuhouci Main Street, Wuihou District (武侯区武侯祠大街231号) (Near Jinli Street, south-west of Tianfu Square and 750m from Gaoshengqiao Station on Metro Line 3. You may also take bus routes 1, 57, 82, 334, 335, 1126 and Night 11), ☏ +86 28 85552397, cdwuhouci@163.com. May to October: 08:00-20:00, November to April: 08:00-19:00, no tickets sold in last 60 minutes. This temple is built to commemorate Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮), who was the minister of Shu (蜀) in the Three Kingdoms Period. He is famous through the Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There are dozens of dust covered statues of obscure historical figures behind glass and not much else. The gardens are attractive, but not extensive. ¥60. 

• 🌍 Chengdu Panda Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (成都大熊猫繁育研究基地; chéng dū dà xióng māo fán yù yán jiū jī dì) (From Panda Avenue metro station (Line 3), take Exit B which will lead you the HiPanda counter (staff are wearing yellow uniform), where you can buy entry tickets with return shuttle bus for (¥54). After the bus ride, follow the signage and pawprints on pavement to go to he Panda Base. Alternatively, you can take public bus 198 or a taxi, and pay for entrance fee at the ticket booth for ¥55.), ☏ +86 28 83510033, pandabase@panda.org.cn. This is the biggest facility of this kind in the world. Due to habitat destruction and other reasons, the giant panda is maybe the most famous endangered animal. It is home to some 60 giant pandas, but also has some red pandas and a colony of black-necked cranes. The pandas are basically on display for tourists but views are much closer than is possible at most Western zoos. (If you want to get even closer and hold a panda or volunteer all day to feed them bamboo and clean the panda cage, visit the Dujiangyan Panda Base, about an hour's drive outside Chengdu.) A small museum and a cinema screening related documentaries is also available. A restaurant and souvenir-stalls top off the tourist installations. The best time to visit is in the morning, when pandas are most active. Pandas sleep during the hottest time of the day. Feeding time is around 09:30-10:00. Expect some crowd. It is recommended to arrive as early as you can to avoid the hordes of school and tour groups that arrive every morning. Entry fee is ¥53. English-speaking tour guide ¥100. (updated Apr 2019)
• 🌍 Chengdu Zoo (成都动物园; chéng dū dòng wù yuán), 234 Zhaojue Temple Road South, Chenghua District (成华区昭觉寺南路234号) (Line 3 Metro, Chengdu Zoo station), ☏ +86 28 25479611, chengduzoo@aliyun.com. April–November: 08:00-17:00, December–March: 08:30-17:00. Offers all the typical animals that one might expect in a zoo (elephant, tigers, giraffes, monkeys, as well as panda bears). While the zoo itself is large and spread out, some of the cages are woefully small and the facility seems understaffed. Might be good for a family to visit. The zoo has vendors selling Chinese snacks as well as some carnival type rides. ¥20. 
• 🌍 People's Park (人民公园; rén mín gōng yuán) (Two blocks west of Tianfu Square). This park is a rare island of tranquility amid the noise and hustle of central Chengdu. It contains beautifully landscaped walking paths, lakes with paddle boats for rent, tea shops and restaurants, children's amusement rides, small sports facilities, and other attractions. Some old people use the park to sing and dance in separate groups. Some people practice calligraphy with water on the floor around a monument in the northwestern corner of this park. Some parents take their unmarried children's information here to find potential candidates. The park is a great place to take a child or a date, and it is always full of locals relaxing and enjoying themselves. For laughs, there is an information display which lists the city's current air quality, claiming there is about 4 times less pollution than the US Embassy reports. No entry fee. 

• 🌍 Anren Ancient Town (安仁古镇; ān rén gǔ zhèn), Dayi County (大邑县) (about 45 km southwest of Chengdu. Buses depart every 30 minutes between 07:30 and 19:10 from Chadianzi Bus Station. The journey time is about one hour), ☏ +86 28 88319116. Also called China's Museum Town (中国博物馆小镇) due to the large number of museums, including the Jianchuan Museum Cluster (see below).The entire scenic area west to Liu Xiang riding statue, east to the Convention and Exhibition Road, north to the road around the town, south to the Xiejiang River, the core scenic area of 3 square kilometers, including the old street of the Gongguan, Liu's Manor Museum, Jianchuan Museum, three core resources. Anren Ancient Town is 39 kilometers away from Chengdu downtown, 36 kilometers away from Shuangliu International Airport, 10 kilometers away from Dayi Station of Chengya High-speed Railway, 8 kilometers away from Dayi South Exit of Chengya High-speed Railway, and 8.5 kilometers away from Dayi County. Free (Tickets are required for the museums). (updated Sep 2017)
• 🌍 Jiezi ancient town (街子古镇). 25 km northwest of Chengdu, in Chongzhou, the Fengqi mountain, the mountain connected with Qingcheng. 
• 🌍 Liujiang Old Town (柳江古镇, 柳江镇). Liujiang town, located 25 km southwest of the county to spend Hongya River tributary of Liujiang sides. Town was founded in the Southern Song Dynasty, and modern architecture across the water from the Ming and Qing era buildings. 
• 🌍 Luodai Ancient Town (洛带古镇), Luodai Town, Longquanyi District (About 25km east of downtown Chengdu. Chengluo (成洛) Road goes directly there. There is also a bus that goes directly there. Catch it at a small building behind the Xinnanmen bus station, right where Shiqi road bends. Cost is ¥7. There appears to be no regular schedule, just show up, and when the bus is full (enough), it departs. No bus number, just look for signs to '洛带'. In Luodai, once you exit the train station, turn right on Bajiaojing street, then left at Huaishui Middle Street, and the entrance is on your left.). Billed as an ancient village inhabited by the Hakka minority.. Over 1 km long streets with older building (in various states of disrepair) lined with stores. The primary attraction is the many different types of food and snacks available, especially Hakka food, that are hard to find in other places (along with some number of stores selling standard tourist crap and costumes to rent for photos). The buildings that line the street are of some, but not great, interest; more interesting are a number of older buildings and halls that give one a feel for older China. Signage and shops appear to be Chinese-language only. Most of it is a recreation but still somewhat charming. It's a pleasant day-trip from Chengdu. Buses start form Wuguiqiao bus station (新南门车站 - south Chengdu, next to Tazishan Park) and take about an hour. Alternatively, take a taxi out (about ¥75) and come back by bus as return taxis can be hard to find. Entrance: free. 

• 🌍 Jianchuan Museum Cluster (建川博物馆聚落), 550 Yingbin Road Section Two, Anren Town, Dayi County (大邑县安仁镇迎宾路二段550) (Buses depart every 30 minutes between 07:30 and 19:10 from Chadianzi Bus Station. The journey time is about one hour. Anren Bus Station is 3km from the museum cluster. If you don't want to walk that distance, you may catch bus no. 11), ☏ +86 28 88318000. 09:00-17:30. Industrialist Fan Jianchuan built this campus of museums to explain the history of 20th century China. This is the first privately owned museum in Sichuan (privately operated museums in China have only been permitted since the year 2001). The Museum campus contains four buildings about World War II in China - one explaining the Communist Party role, one about the Kuomintang, one about the American volunteer group "Flying Tigers", and one about Sichuan volunteers. There is also the modestly named "New China Porcelain Museum", which actually tells the story of the Cultural Revolution through porcelain of that era. A museum that more directly addresses that era is under construction. You will also see buildings explaining the practice of foot-binding and one about prisoners of war. Nearby, you can also walk through a landlord's manor. Make a day trip out of it; the Museum is in the historic town of Anren about an hour's drive from downtown Chengdu. Get around the museum cluster by walking, renting a bicycle or paying ¥10 to ride the sightseeing car; a tea-house and restaurant is located on site. ¥60 for a one-day pass to visit all museums, ¥100 for a three-day pass, ¥20 to visit just one museum. (updated Jul 2018)
• 🌍 Museum of Sichuan Cuisine (川菜博物馆), 8 Ronghua Lane North, Gucheng Town, Pidu District (郫都区古城镇荣华北巷8号) (Catch a train to Xipu Station on Metro Line 2, exit via Exit B, then cross the road and catch bus no. P22. Get off at Gucheng (古城) where the bus terminates. You will find the museum just opposite the bus stop), ☏ +86 28 87918008. 09:00-18:00. ¥60 for general admission, ¥360 to take part in a cooking experience. (updated Jul 2018)

• 🌍 Sanxingdui (三星堆), 133 Xi'an Road, Guanghan, Deyang (德阳市广汉市西安路133号) (about 40 kilometers northeast of Chengdu and 10 kilometers east of the city of Guanghan; the most direct way to get here is to take the Hi Panda shuttle bus, which departs from Chunxi Road and Kuanzhaixiangzi; alternatively, you could catch a high-speed train to Guanghan North, then use public bus no. 13 to reach the museum), ☏ +86 838 5533333. 08:30-18:00, no entry after 17:00. The ruins of an ancient Chinese city where archaeologists discovered remarkable artifacts that radiocarbon dated circa 12th-11th centuries BCE. Sanxingdui (Three star mound) is the name given to this previously unknown Bronze Age culture. First excavated in the 1930s, the site continues to yield surprises to the present day. Between 2020 and 2022, archaeologists working on the site discovered six sacrificial pits containing a treasure trove of artefacts. So numerous were the artefacts that a new museum had to be constructed. The new museum is now open. Be warned that the museum is extremely popular and often booked out, so it's best not to come here without first making a booking. Bookings can be done online (in Chinese only) on the museum's WeChat account. If you come here on an empty stomach, you should get something to eat at one of the food stalls outside the gate. The museum cafe does not serve food. After entering the gate, you can head straight to the new museum, as the two exhibition halls that made up the old museum have been closed. However, if you have time, you can still visit the Restoration Hall (修复馆) and see the archaeologists working to restore the artefacts. The restoration hall closes at 17:00, which is one hour earlier than the museum. ¥72 (¥36 for students). (updated Sep 2023)

• 🌍 Stone Elephant Lake Ecological Resort (石象湖生态风景区), 86km Exit, Chengdu-Ya'an Expressway, Pujiang County (蒲江县成雅高速公路86公里出口处) (Arrange a car to take you there or catch a bus from Xinnanmen Bus Station. The bus fare is ¥33), ☏ +86 28 88591888, shixianghu2011@sina.com. March–April: 08:30-18:00, May–October: 08:30-17:30, November–February: 09:00-17:00. A fantastic park with acres upon acres of live tulips and tiger lily flowers as well as nature walks and boat rides, and stone carved animals. The best time to go is during the Tulip Festival in early Spring and when the Tiger Lillies bloom in late summer, however, various flowers are usually in bloom from March through August and the nature walks are open year round. Bring your camera. Also bring a picnic lunch or eat in one of the several Chinese restaurants and noodle shops there. The park is about an hour and 15 minutes drive of pure highway driving south of Chengdu. ¥100. (updated Sep 2017)

Most golf courses in the metropolis of Chengdu are semi-private, but open for public play. The green fee varies between US$50–300 per person per round, depending on course, weekdays or weekend play. Cart and caddie fees are included. The usual gratuity for caddie is about RMB$100–150

• Grand Hill International Golf Club (观嶺高爾夫球場), 1188 Qiling Road, Jintang District. 18-hole championship golf course completed in 2009. Somewhat generic but pleasant. (updated Nov 2016)
• Luxehills Golf and Country Club (麓山國際乡村俱乐部). Completed in 2007 by American architect firm JMP, Luxehills is ranked one of the top 10 courses in China. (updated Nov 2016)
• Wolong Valley The Tradition Golf Club (臥龍谷傳統高爾夫球埸), No.1 Wolong Avenue, Longquanyi District. 18-hole championship course with many bunkers and well protected greens. On three sides of the course, tall high-rise condominium buildings are easily visible. (updated Nov 2016)

• Chengdu Mandarin Club. A language school offers different types of Mandarin Chinese courses with flexible schedules. Students year-round for a one-on-one class or a group class with 5 students. All the teachers are master's degree holders in TCFL (teaching Chinese as a foreign language). They also offer various kinds of Chinese culture activities.
• Hutong School Chengdu. A Chinese language school offering a range of Chinese courses to suit different levels and aims. Students can choose between private and group classes focused on preparing for the HSK, learning business Chinese or basic phrases. All teachers have at least 2 years professional teaching experience and a teaching related degree. Students can also join in with regular cultural activities and networking events organised by the school.

Private Chinese language lessons are available for ¥40-85 per hour. Ask for a referral at one of the universities, or from another student. Textbooks for learning Chinese are available at many local bookshops.

Bear in mind that the Mandarin spoken by the locals amongst themselves is South-Western Mandarin. This is substantially different from Putonghua or Beijing Mandarin, Taiwan Mandarin or Singapore Mandarin that foreigners and overseas Chinese typically learn. However most locals will speak Putonghua with you if you speak it.

• Kungfu Family. A Chinese martial arts / kung fu school that focuses on teaching authentic traditional Kungfu to students from all over the world. Teaching takes place in English language. Located in the southeastern part of Chengdu in San Sheng Flower Village.

You will find no shortage of delicious Sichuan food in Chengdu. Most of the food is spicy, but not necessarily as hot as you expect. If you are obviously foreign and don't specify whenever you order (i.e. non-spicy (不要辣 búyàolà), a little spicy (微辣 wēilà) or 'old' (very) spicy (老辣 lǎolà)), the staff will assume that you can't take the heat. At best they will ask you whether you want chili (你想要辣椒?; Nǐ xiǎng yào làjiāo?), at worst they give you a severely toned down version of the food! If you want it how the locals have it, reassure the staff with "I like chili" (我喜欢辣椒 wǒ xǐhuan làjiāo), followed with "I like all the chili" (我都喜欢辣椒 Wǒ dū xǐhuan làjiāo) to really reassure the staff that it's OK.

If you are not accustomed to it yet, a bottle of sweetened soy, almond, peanut, or cow milk, or something else sweet will work much better than water to quell the fire. If you are used to the hottest of authentic Indian or Thai food, the level of spiciness in Sichuan food should be no problem at all.

Sichuan food also makes heavy use of Sichuan peppercorn (花椒 huājiāo), which looks like but is not a true peppercorn, and causes your mouth to water and to be somewhat numb (málà)––the effects are unique and very dissimilar to capsaicin. Sichuan peppercorn is added in most spicy dishes. If you can eat spicy food but do not like Sichuan pepper, you need to order so (不要花椒 bú yào huājiāo). However, Sichuan peppercorn (in addition to causing numbing) has an important citrus taste that it adds to foods. Sichuan cuisine banks on the interplay between the flavours of both Sichuan peppercorn and chili peppers, and it is strongly recommend you try the authentic versions with the Sichuan peppercorn.

The spiciest food in Chengdu is hotpot (also called steampot or steamboat), although the tradition originated in Chongqing, so it is not really Chengdu food. Sichuan hotpots are basically a big pot of soup and spices simmering in a hole in the middle of your table. Patrons choose from a large selection of meats, vegetables and other add-ins. Most popular include: lamb, mushrooms, beef, tofu, quail eggs, potatoes and various others (pork, green vegetables, fish balls, carrots, and even pig's brain!) You can choose spicy pot or non spicy pot. With spicy hot pots, unlike eastern hot pots, the soup is NOT for drinking; instead, fish out your cooked items with chopsticks (do not fish the liquid out with a spoon, it is too spicy even for locals to drink; the fished out vegetables will be spicy enough), dip them in the small bowl of oil provided to each person, and enjoy.

You may also find the local food too oily or too salty for your taste, and may want to advise your server accordingly.

There are also a lot of weird local snack type of food, such as spicy dragon prawns (look like very small crayfish; 麻辣龙虾), spicy snails (香辣田螺), Chongqing duck neck (久久鸭脖子), Bangbang chicken (棒棒鸡), spicy rabbit meat (二姐兔丁). These ones are so delicious and you must try them. But you need to ask a local to take you to the right place. Quite often you will find that the small restaurants and shops offer the most delicious and cheapest food. If you want to find even cheaper food options, street vendors are the way to go (though the Chengdu police have been doing their best to extinguish this long tradition and you may have trouble finding them these days). Serving everything from barbeque (烧烤) to steamed breadrolls (馒头), they are a cheap and offer a great option for a quick bite to eat.

If you are less adventurous but still like Chinese food, or just tired of Sichuan food, there are a number of Cantonese and Hong Kong restaurants, including Lei Garden near Shangri-la Hotel.

There are a number of stalls and hole in the wall type places all over town. Food here is dirt cheap, expect to pay no more than ¥8 for a meal, and the quality is good. Things to be on the lookout for are spicy bowls of breakfast noodles, (担担面 dandanmian), double cooked pork (回锅肉 húigūoròu), and dozens of dishes coated in "málà" the Sichuan chili spice famous the world over.

• Yulinchuanchuanxiang (玉林串串香), Various locations throughout the city. Cheap and fast hotpot variety. This is a help-yourself style meal, go to a backroom and choose your own kabobs. Stick the kabobs into a hotpot soup, and have them boil. Pull them out and enjoy. Large kabobs are ¥1, and small ones are ¥0.1 each. Expect to be full for less than ¥25. There are both spicy and non-spicy variations. There is a large selection of meats, vegetables, and other add-ins. Beer is available in large bottles and sweet soymilk (Dounai) is also served. 
• Lanzhou beef noodles (兰州拉面 Lánzhōu lāmiàn), Located everywhere. A bowl of noodles starts for about ¥4, and reach a maximum of ¥7. Varieties include egg, lamb and beef. Other dishes are reasonable in price as well. Breads for 1 kuai a piece, and Mutton Kabobs (羊肉串) go for 1 kuai per stick. Da Pan Ji (大盘鸡) is a great choice if eating with a group. Usually offered in small or large sizes, a small size will cost about ¥40 and feed 3 or 4 people. A large order might cost about ¥60. This dish includes chicken, potatoes, onions and other vegetables in a moderately spicy sauce. Can eat with bread or noodles to make a great meal. 
• Steamed buns (包子; baozi). Sold for breakfast or lunch from street vendors throughout the city. Yagcai bao (芽菜包) is a local Sichuan special variety you are unlikely to find elsewhere and typically contains some mixture of Yacai (芽菜), a type of preserved vegetable, and potentially some meat. Other typical fillings include beef, red bean paste, mushrooms, green vegetables or pork. Three buns cost around ¥1 or larger buns cost ¥1 each as well. A container of soy milk (豆浆 dou jiang) is about the same price. 

• Mike's Pizza Kitchen (Chengdu Pizza Delivery), Tongzilin, Europe City (In the south of Chengdu), ☏ +86 28 8522-6453. 11AM-10PM. Freshly made to order pizza. Authentic New York style pizza pie, stone-baked. Delivery only. ¥30-150. 

• Wenshu Temple Vegetarian Restaurant (文殊院素餐馆), 15 Wenshu St (文殊院街15号), ☏ +86 28 693-870. In the grounds of a monastery and run by monks. Offers a huge selection of traditional vegetarian dishes, including some containing imitated meat. 
• Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant (北海道日本料理), Various locations throughout the city (Locations include Chunxi Rd (春熙路), Yulin S Rd (玉林南路), outside of Sichuan University (Near Cafe Paname), and more). Authentic Japanese food. Serves curry, tonkatsu, unagi-don, fried rices, sushi, ramen noodles, and various other selections. Serves Chinese and Japanese beers, as well as a selection of plum wine and sake. Food quality varies. Meals range from ¥20 upwards, expect a plate of sushi to be quite a bit more expensive, but sides are generally decent priced. 
• Chen Mapo (陈麻婆), 208 Shuanglin Rd (成都市双林路208号新华公园正门对面). Supposedly opened by the Mapo herself in 1862. The place to eat Mapo Doufu, it does not get any more authentic than this. Spicy food eaters will love this, those who do not like spicy food should probably skip it altogether. 
• Namaste/Afila (亚非拉-娜玛什蒂印度餐吧), 20 Remin Nan Rd, Section 4, Wuhou District (武侯区人民南路四段20号), ☏ +86 28-85569118. Specializes in Indian and Nepalese cuisine, particularly tandoori and curries. Great for vegetarians and omnivores alike. 
• Fiesta Thai, Linjiang Zhong Lu 6, Right beside Traffic Hotel and the 902 Panda Base Bus Stop, ☏ +86 28-85454530. Specializes in Thai cuisine. Great food and exceptional service when you need a break from oily and spicy Sichuan food. 
• Mingting Restaurant (明婷饭店), Waicaojia Alley No. 26, Jinniu District (成都市金牛区外曹家巷26号附14) A very popular Sichuan restaurant with outdoor seating. Typically ¥60-80 per person. Expect to wait 10–20 minutes at peak hours. Try the 呛香鱼 or 麻婆豆腐!
• 🌍 Hibiscus Phoenix Garden Restaurant (成都芙蓉凰花园酒楼), Annex 7, No.66 Guanghua Village Street, Qingyang District, ☏ +86 28 87346868. Monday to Sunday 10:00–21:00. The transportation here is very convenient. There are many bus lines. After getting off at Guanghua West Station, it only takes a few minutes to walk to the restaurant. Furonghuang Garden Restaurant is one of the restaurants that friends like to choose for gatherings, because the prices here are more suitable for friends with mass consumption, so it is suitable for friends to gather for dinner. The food tastes very good. Hibiscus Peach Blossom is one of their signature dishes. It is a must-order dish for every table. Many diners like it very much. The environment is good and the service is not bad. Around ¥100 per capita. (updated Sep 2023)

• 🌍 Veranda Bridge Restaurant. This restaurant is actually a historic bridge over Funan River. Sichuan food. Very good reputation within Chengdu. 
• Huang Cheng Lao Ma (On 3rd section of south part of the 2nd Ring Rd), ☏ +86 28 85139999. Elaborate restaurant featuring hot pot followed by live entertainment, including Sichuan face-changing. Don't miss the diorama scene of ancient Chengdu built into the restaurant lobby's floor. A separate section on the ground floor of the restaurant also features a pan-Asian buffet with contemporary entertainment. Child care is available on premises. Prices are in the range of ¥100 per person for dinner and one drink. 

Chengdu has a few local Western restaurants. Service is always friendly, although you should expect occasional mistakes, such as appetizers served at the same time as your meal. Chengdu is just starting to get accustomed to Western tastes.

• Chengdu Bookworm, 28 Renmin S Rd. Has something for everyone. It is an English language lending library, a Western restaurant, a bar, as well as an occasional venue for local singing and musical talent. Expats might want to join the membership library or take kids to the children's morning story hours. Evenings, you might find a travel author reading from and signing books, poetry reading, or singing. Great place for to connect with others, catch up on some reading, or just relax. 
• Grandma's Kitchen. Western restaurant with four locations around Chengdu, including one next door to Peter's on Zhong Hua Yuan. 
• Peter's Tex-Mex, ☏ +86 28 85180903. Actually an American restaurant with some Mexican dishes. Peter's has good food. The Zhong Hua Yuan location also has homemade ice cream, the best ice cream you will find in Chengdu. If you are coming from out of town, the Zhong Hua Yuan location is right in a major expat area with lots of other restaurants and shopping surrounding it. ¥12–150+ for a meal. 
• Paul and Dave's Oasis (Directly opposite the Travel Hotel and main bus station (other side of river)). A place for volunteers, ex-pats, and all manner of foreigners, a place where you can go and just chill. Though he does serve Chinese food, you're better off going elsewhere for this, it is however a place where you can sit and lose yourself for a day or so. Usually occupied by the local foreigners, usually playing Western music. 
• All of the hotels in the "Splurge" category have Western restaurants or buffets. Call ahead for more information.

• Chengdu Dreams Travel International Youth Hostel (梦之旅国际青年旅舍), 242 Wuhouci Rd (成都市武侯祠大街242号) (Opposite Wuhou Temple, reachable by bus 57 from near the train station to Wuhouci Station (武侯祠站), cross the street and walk slightly further), ☏ +86 28 85570315, +86 28 85570322, dreams-travel-yh1@hotmail.com. Dorm beds and private rooms of various sorts available. Travel office and English help, 24 hour large volume hot shower, a roof-top bar, garden and tea house. Tends to be frequented by Chinese tourists more than foreigners, but the hostel staff have at least 2-3 people who speak perfect English. Dorms 45. 
• Chengdu Jason's Nest Guest House (成都旅行天下青年旅舍), 26 west way of south railway station, ☏ +86 28 85125498. Fully-equipped hostel with spacious bright rooms, clean bunks, the Tibetan-style dining room and bar. Located in the leisure, entertainment, dining center of Chengdu, with most attractions within a ¥10 taxi ride. It is a ¥30 taxi ride from the airport or north rail station, a 10-minute walk from the south station, or call for a free pick-up. Helpful, very knowledgeable staff. 
• Chengdu Mix Hostel (成都驴友记青年旅舍), 23 Xinghui W Rd, Renjiawan, Wanfu Bridge (In downtown near Wenshu Temple), mixhostel@hotmail.com. With cheap beds, and lots of people. Wi-Fi for laptops, free Internet. Atmospheric building with a lot of Tibetan knick-knacks. The staff all seem somewhere around twenty. If you call ahead and book they will pick you up from the train or bus station. 
• Holly's Hostel, 246 Wuhouci St, ☏ +86 28 85548131, hollyhostelco@yahoo.com. Check-in: noon. Though not as trendy or cool as other hostels in Chengdu, Holly's has a better location than most other hostels in the city. Situated across the Jinli Street, a good starting point for traveling through Chengdu, Wuhouci Dajie also has lots of Tibetan restaurants, hot pot restaurants, noodle joints, massage parlors, and camping/climbing stores. Staff speaks excellent English and will help you with your traveling needs. Dorm rooms are nothing fancy but are clean and serve their purpose. Western cafe on the roof, internet access, DVDs, etc. Social atmosphere. Perfect for those who want a good hostel and do not care about being hip. ¥35 for 8-bed dorm. 
• The Loft, 4 Xiaotong Xiang (3 blocks N of Dragon Town Hostel and Kuan Zhai Alleys), reception@lofthostel.com. Very modern hostel. Chill atmosphere with a large common area makes it great to mingle and meet others. Used to be a printing factory but now converted to a contemporary style hostel. Has free pool table, free Internet access, free umbrellas, free lockers and more, even TV and DVD room. Rooms are clean. Twins and doubles cost ¥110, dorms ¥45. 
• Mr. Panda Hostel (熊猫先生青年旅舍), 107 Zhengfujie (正府街107号) (Close to Wenshu Monastery metro station exit E), ☏ +86 28 86628336, yhachengdu@hotmail.com. Check-in: 24 hr, check-out: 13:30. Hostel in central Chengdu that caters to foreigners and Chinese alike with excellent English spoken by all staff. Amenities include: DVD room, kitchen, fussball table, suhu board and laundry machines. Knowledgeable tour desk with information available for surrounding regions including trips to Tibet and discovering Sichuan. Restaurant with fantastic food which Mr. Panda cooks himself. Free Wi-Fi on all floors. Hostel is clean and well frequented. Six-bed dorms rooms ¥30 per bed, four-bed dorms ¥35, singles and doubles ¥120-160. 
• Sam's Guest house, 130 Shanxi St (10-min walk from the Chairman Mao Statue at Renmin S St, look for Rongcheng Hotel, Sam's Guest house office is next to the entrance to Rongcheng Hotel), ☏ +86 28 86118322, samtour@yahoo.com. From ¥80, doubles ¥138. *
• Traffic Hotel/Traffic Inn (交通饭店/交通青年旅舍), 6 Linjian St (成都市临江路6号) (Near Renmin S St, directly bordering Xinnanmen Bus Station), ☏ +86 28 85451017. Check-out: 12:00. One hundred percent geared towards foreign backpackers and is a good place to organize a tour or buy tickets. The adjacent Traffic Inn Hostel has a nice common area with a large collection of DVDs and western food. The rooms and shared bathrooms are very clean and come with a reliable air conditioner. The matrasses in the hotel are harder and in the hostel are softer. Washing machines are available for ¥10 per load, bring your own detergent. Free Wi-Fi on the premises (though it is painfully slow) and good English-speaking staff at the hostel. Four-bed dorms rooms ¥50 per bed, six-bed dorms ¥45, singles and doubles ¥110-200.. 
• Xishan Youth Hostel (栖山青年旅舍), 34 Yinghuasi Rd, Qingyang District (青羊区莹华寺街34) (7 minute walk southwest from the 红星桥 subway stop). Has laundry, rooftop drying, arcade cabinet, and bar. Receptionist didn't speak English and very few foreigners stay here. Very friendly staff that showed off some local restaurants and food stalls. Dorms ¥40-50.

The vast majority of Chengdu's mid-range hotels are not affiliated with a national or international brand and generally charge ¥300-700. The hotels in this category can generally put up the facade of the more luxurious hotels, but often suffer noticeably from deferred maintenance or haphazard customer service. Many are geared mostly towards Chinese and Asian tour groups. The hotels listed below are the best of the bunch with lobby staff who speak at least a basic level of English and usually offer a free Chinese breakfast.

• Barsby Hotel, 208 Fuqin W Rd, ☏ +86 28 6615 7979, fax: +86 28 66106999, res@innbarsby.com. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 13:00. In addition to being happily underpriced for the value provided, fans of Fawlty Towers will find themselves confronted by Basil Fawlty's good twin in the person of Mr. Robert Barsby, a true John Cleese lookalike, this hotel's proprietor and veteran of the administrations at a number of the city's finer hotels. Over a free breakfast which can include western style eggs and toast, he will be happy to share with you his experiences and his reason for having created one of the better "boutique" hotels in China. Rooms are spacious, scrupulously clean and well heated, although you need to be careful when showering that the drain is functioning properly, otherwise you're likely to flood the toilet enclosure. The annexed restaurant is a moderately priced decent traditional Chinese establishment, but will not accept the credit card you may have used at the hotel. Certainly one of the best values in any market. ¥180. 
• Chengdu Garden City Hotel, 8 Daye Rd, Jinjiang District, ☏ +86 28-86663388, fax: +86 28-86655672, reservations@directwithhotels.com. A four-star hotels that offers air-conditioned accommodation rooms, all of which have television, private bathroom, and telephone. Some of its amenities include night club, fitness center and sauna, and a swimming pool. ¥290+. 
• Chengdu Wenjun Mansion Hotel, 180 Qintai St, ☏ +86 28 86138785. The hotel offers a wide range of rooms from single to family. This attractive courtyard-style hotel is situated on one of the more tourist-friendly streets in the city, surrounded by buildings in a similar Han and Tang Dynasty style. The courtyard is a perfect place for tired travelers to relax with a drink and play a borrowed game of mahjong or just chat. ¥180-260. 
• Jin Jiang Inn. Part of a China-wide hotel chain; 3 locations in Chengdu; the South Chengdu Yulin location is near Renmin Nan Rd and the U.S. Consulate. Good value for money. Rooms are small but clean and well apportioned. Breakfast and free internet provided. Secure lobby area and friendly staff. ¥129-179. 
• Mareka City Hotel (New Times Maruika Hotel), Block B, Wen Wu Rd, New Times Sq, Qingyang District (Within 2 km from the Chengdu Railway Station, Pacific Department, and city center), ☏ +86 28 86530188, fax: +86 28 86617982. Three-star hotel featuring air-conditioned guestrooms that has cable TV, a private toilet and bath, safe, hair dryer, and a free broadband Internet connection. ¥197.79. 
• 🌍 Somerset Riverview Chengdu, No 1 Section 3, Renmin South Road, Wuhou District, ☏ +86 28 6181 6888, enquiry.chengdu@the-ascott.com. The residence is in the city central. The 200 apartments, which range from studio to penthouse, each has a kitchen, washing machine, home entertainment system and modern furnishings. There is a gym, boxing ring, swimming pool and sauna. (updated Sep 2017)
• Super 8 Hotel, Soho Bldg, 60 Kehua N Rd (above an enclosed shopping arcade, near the western gate of Sichuan University), ☏ +86 28 85250058. Free internet. No breakfast. Rooms are small and poorly designed. ¥139-188. 
• Tibet Hotel Chengdu (成都西藏饭店), 10 N Renmin Rd, ☏ +86 28 83183388. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 12:00. ¥300. 

Chengdu's luxury hotels provide world class service at very reasonable prices. Business and leisure travelers can expect, at a minimum, to find fluent English speaking staff, Western and Chinese restaurants, full conference facilities, business center, sauna and concierge service at all of these hotels. Room rates are US$115–200 per night for a standard or deluxe room. The Kempinski and the Jin Jiang Hotel are generally the lowest price within this category.

• 🌍 Crowne Plaza Hotel, 31 Zong Fu St (opposite Chunxi Rd shopping area downtown), ☏ +86 28 86786666. 
• JAHO Forstar Hotel, No.152 Wenwu Road, ☏ +86 2886615333. Business hotel offering upscale meeting room facilities, convention center, and business center. It is also a four-star quality accommodation in Chengdu that offers luxurious amenities to vacationing tourists. It has elegant guestrooms, posh restaurant, full service spa, and recreational rooms. Online reservations are now available. 
• Jin Jiang Hotel. Chengdu's first international luxury hotel, the Jin Jiang still offers good service. While it has been eclipsed in luxury by the newer hotels listed in this section, it offers reasonable room rates and great service, with good facilities for conferences of all sizes. 
• Jinyu Sunshine Hotel. Four-star hotel offering over 150 guestrooms, all elegantly furnished. Other hotel facilities include banquet halls, restaurants, gift shop, spa, and KTV. Online reservations are now available. 
• Kempinski Hotel. German managed hotel offers hospitality and luxury. Great German events, including Ocktoberfest, Christmas and New Year's parties. Excellent gym, pool and workout facilities. Close to the United States Consulate. 
• Shangri La Hotel. Chengdu's newest luxury hotel, opened 2007. Very creative buffet restaurant. 
• 🌍 Sheraton Chengdu Lido Hotel, No. 15, Section 1, Ren Min Zhong Rd, ☏ +86 28 8676 8999. Modern, American managed hotel conveniently located in the center of Chengdu near Tian Fu Square and the sports stadium, but a few blocks away from shopping districts. This hotel can accommodate the most discriminating of guests in luxury and world class service. 
• Sofitel Chengdu. French managed, overlooks Fulan River, similar to but more expensive than the Sheraton. 

China's country code is 86. Chengdu's area code is 28. Coin-operated pay phones are located throughout Chengdu, and calling cards can be purchased from many vendors. Local landline phone numbers are eight digits long; cellular phone numbers in Sichuan are eleven digits long and start with 13, 15, or 18.

Internet access can be found in most guesthouses and through cheap internet cafes all over town. Look out for Web-character 网 and the Bar-character 吧 in the Chinese name for internet bar: 网吧.

A large Internet cafe is on the second floor of the Xinnanmen Bus Station (新南门汽车站), 100 meters from the Traffic Hotel (交通饭店). The connection is fast and access is ¥2/hour.

Note that foreigners are usually not able to use the public internet cafés because one must register using one's Chinese ID card (身份证), which foreigners do not possess. This is not a problem at hotels and guesthouses.

• Germany (德意志联邦共和国驻成都总领事馆), 25F of Western Tower, No 19, 4th Section Renmin Nan Rd, ☏ +86 28 8528 0800, fax: +86 28 8526 8308. 
• Republic of Korea (韩国驻成都总领事馆), No 2, Wangfu Oasis Hotel, Xianan Main St, ☏ +86 28 8616 5800. 
• Pakistan, Tongwei International Center, High Tech Zone, No. 588, Middle Section of Tianfu Avenue, 8th Floor, Room No.2. 
• Singapore (新加坡驻成都总领事馆), 31F East Guan Cheng Sq, No 308, Shun Cheng Main St, ☏ +86 28 8652 7222. 
• Thailand (泰国驻昆明总领事馆驻成都办事处), Kempinski Hotel, 42 Renmin Nan Rd. 4th Section C210-212. 

If you need to make a visa extension, You can visit Chengdu Public Security Bureau but be warn of the 7 days delay. Most people in a hurry will try to do their renew in Leshan or Songpan where it seems delay is about 1h to 1d, if the (only) officer is here.

• Chengdu PSB, No.391, Shuncheng Street / 顺城大街391号 (near wenshu monastery metro and bus 1/99 stop at Luoguo alley, just after crossing with McDo), ☏ +86 28-86407067. M-F 09:00-13:00 and 13:00-17:00. For visa extension/renew, you need to fill a form, 1 picture, passport+visa copy. You can pay either at nearby ICBC bank in cash (get a ticket, but if wait is too long, ask the security guy. it seems after some time, he makes people with PSB receipt cut the queue), either by Chinese (only) bank card at downstairs counter 16. Delay is 5 opened days which makes a week, so could be better to ask in smaller cities like Leshan where there is only 1 day delay. ¥160 for one month visa renewal.