8 Recommended Things to See in Chengdu, Chengdu, China

China is an utterly fascinating travel destination, with so much to offer in terms of history, culture, landscapes.. the list goes on. If you’ve considered visiting (or have visited) in the past, the first ports of call will likely be Shanghai and Beijing, the country’s flagship cities. And understandably so. They were mine too.

But if you’re looking to go beyond these two megapolises, they have an equally worthwhile counterpart nestled deep in Sichuan province, in central/western China, bordering Tibet.

That city is Chengdu, the fourth largest in the country. A leafy city of warm people and spicy food, where cutting-edge futurism meets ancient Buddhism. Where the vibe is a little more chilled, despite its population of ~22 million. And, perhaps most famously, where some of the world’s best work is being done to protect the precious, endangered giant panda and red panda. A veritable treasure trove of diverse experiences.

Read on to find out what my recommendations and suggestions are for things to see in Chengdu, based on my own trip there in 2025. And if you’re serious about planning a trip to this part of the world, also consider checking out my general tips for visiting China, as well as downloading my free one-page quick guide to Chengdu. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).