As I got off the subway in Chengdu and headed to my hotel for two nights (Sam Cozy Hotel), I was relieved that I was in a first world city after traveling through many third world places the past five months. It was the little things, like a nicely paved road with orderly traffic. Stoplights that people actually obey. Actual sidewalks without cracks and wide enough that can be shared by others passing. Motorbikes that were electric and not loud. Traffic was orderly and motorbikes had their own lane.
The only reason I came to Chengdu was because I was heading to Tibet, China. Tibet has some strict entry rules that must be followed. All tourists are required to have a special Tibet entry permit and you must enter the region with a guide. Since I have a ten-year multi-entry Chinese visa from my previous job, I thought it would be ok to fly from Kathmandu into Lhasa, Tibet. But if you arrive from any international city outside of China, you must apply for a special China-Tibet entry permit and it would void any existing visa. Since I didn’t want to void my Chinese visa with seven years before expiration, I was required to fly to a Chinese city first from Nepal before flying to Tibet. The Chengdu connection was the cheapest. And since I was flying through, I might as well see what Chengdu has to offer.
Chengdu isn’t one of the top tourist destinations in China but if you are passing through for a couple of days, these are the highlights you should see:
Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding. This attraction is very similar to a zoo but only for pandas. It is located about 10km north of downtown Chengdu. You can take a bus however I would recommend taking a taxi which would be about $5 USD. I would recommend going during a weekday when the crowds are limited. It is an interesting place to learn about how the research base is trying to protect this endangered species and help breed the giant pandas. The attraction is laid out over a beautiful area and worth a visit.
Leshan Giant Buddha. I would recommend seeing this Giant Buddha as part of a tour instead of trying to do it on your own, especially if you don’t speak Chinese. The Buddha is located about 70km south of Chengdu so the tour alone is worth the transportation. Once at the Buddha, there is an option to see the giant structure from the river as well as from land. I would recommend seeing it from the river as you can avoid the crowds on land pushing on the way to see the Buddha.
Anshun Bridge. This covered bridge in central Chengdu is iconic to the city. It is a must see when you make a visit to this Sichuan provincial capital.
Take a look at my experience trying to see the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding and the Leshan Giant Buddha all in one day without a tour. It sure was an adventure.
Have you been to Chengdu, China? What was your favorite part?
