Chengdu

The capital city of Sichuan region, Chengdu has dominated this area for almost 2500 years. A major trading and cultural centre in the past, it holds the status of being one of the major cities in Western China to this day. The city is set on the fertile Chengdu Plain, also known as the “Country of Heaven” or “Land of Abundance”.

Chengdu boasts a multitude of attractions including:
  • People’s Park – a favourite recreation place for locals.
  • Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage – a museum commemorating one of China’s most beloved poets.
  • The ancient Dujiangyan Irrigation project, which built in the 3rd century BC, is still in use to this day irrigating the nearby agricultural land.
  • The Giant Buddha of Leshan – a 71 meter high statue carved in the mountain and included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
However, the top attraction for Chengdu- that made it renowned all around the world - are the Giant Pandas. These big but very cute bears-who’ve been living in this area for some two million years - are the main reason tourists put Chengdu on their itineraries, and the place to see them is the Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base. The base is situated on the Futoushan Mountain, a short drive away from the centre of Chengdu and it offers visitors the unique opportunity to observe pandas, critically endangered species in their natural habitat. It is advisable to arrive early in the morning to observe feeding time, as most probably later on pandas will be busy with their favourite occupation – sleeping. There is also a museum on site dedicated solely to pandas, their history and habitat.

Chengdu is also the place to taste Sichuan cuisine, known to be flavoursome and quite spicy, because of the use of the Sichuan peppercorn, native to this area. Make sure to try the traditional Chengdu hotpot.

China Travel Map

Travel Destinations
Beijing
Beijing Beijing
Beijing is the capital of the most populous country in the world, the People's Republic of China, and it is also the second largest city after Shanghai. Beijing literally means... Read more
Chengdu
Chengdu Chengdu
The capital city of Sichuan region, Chengdu has dominated this area for almost 2500 years. A major trading and cultural centre in the past, it holds the status of being one of the ... Read more
Guilin
Guilin Guilin
Guilin is located in the north of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on the west bank of the Li River. It is one of the most popular travel destinations in China for its beautiful la... Read more
Shanghai
Shanghai Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city in China’s and it is an important economic, financial, international and cultural centre. It is a very modern city by Chinese standards - althoug... Read more
Suzhou
Suzhou Suzhou
Suzhou is mostly known for its refined garden design. Since nearly half of the city’s area is covered by water - including a vast number of ponds, streams and Taihu Lake one ... Read more
Tibet
Tibet Tibet
Situated in the south-western part of China, the Autonomous Region of Tibet is one of the largest provinces in China covering over 460,000 square miles, however due to the harsh cl... Read more
Xian
Xian Xian
Xian is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China and it has held that position under several of the most important dynasties in Chinese history. Xian is located in the no... Read more
Yangtze
Yangtze Yangtze
The Yangtze River, known as Chang Jiang or Yangzi in China, is the longest river in Asia. Springing from the glaciers of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Yangtze makes its way into the Ea... Read more

Relevant tours
Visa-free Beijing: Acquaintance in 3 Days (CN-01) Transiting through China? This is your opportunity to make the most of your holiday by taking a short stopover to explore the Chinese capital en-route to your final destination. No entry visa is required and we will take care of airport transfers, accommodation and will offer a guided programme.

3 days, from £395
Beijing Explorer - Discover the Chinese Capital in 6 Days (CN-02) This tour looks at the Chinese capital Beijing in-depth, exploring its varied and fascinating landmarks. There will also be free time to explore the city on your own – perhaps for shopping or to discover its various restaurants and districts - or to add on another city before or after your tour.

6 days, from £795

Golden Triangle of China: Discover Beijing, Xian, Shanghai - 8 Days (CN-03) China encapsulated – this tour is a ‘best of’ tour where you will experience the very finest sights in China’s most fascinating cities. A great introductory tour, or perfect for those who are interested in seeing how China’s race towards the future impacts on its past.

8 days, from £1,795
Golden Triangle & Gardens of China: Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Suzhou - 9 Days (CN-04) This fantastic tour is a great way to discover the highlights of China and to get under the skin of some of its finest cities. China is huge and its enormous cities offer the traveller a hub on which to focus - excellent museums, galleries & architecture. You will also visit famous gardens of Suzhou.

9 days, from £1,695

Best of China: Beijing, Xian, Guillin & Li River, Shanghai, Suzhou - 11 Days (CN-05) China’s cities dominate the eastern coast and are what most people think of when they think of China. But the country also excels in natural beauty. After the excitement and buzz of China’s mega-cities it is refreshing to see another, quieter side. This tour has all this, the best cities, a cruise on the majestic Li River & a visit to the garden city of Suzhou.

11 days, from £2,295
Great China Discovery with Majestic Yangtze River Cruise - 12 Days (CN-06) China's mega cities are just one side of this great land. The Yangtze River is also a highlight. One of the world’s largest waterways, it flows through China’s varied scenery from its source in Qinghai Province slicing the country neatly into north and south. This tour is a fun-filled and enlightening way to see many of China's highlights.

12 days, from £3,095