Trip Overview
When: Early June 2021 (best weather in Sichuan)
Duration: 8 days
Travelers: Couple
Budget: ~3,000 RMB (~$470 USD) per person
Starting Point: Hohhot, Inner Mongolia
Essential Foreigner Info
Getting There: Fly into Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. High-speed trains connect Chengdu to Leshan and Chongqing. Download the Metro Daddy app for Chengdu subway navigation—essential for getting around.
Money Matters: WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate everywhere. Bring 200 RMB cash for small vendors who might not accept mobile payment. Most restaurants, hotels, and attractions fully support digital payments.
Language: Basic English works in tourist areas, but menu translations are often... creative. Learn these key phrases: 买单一 mǎidān (bill please), 辣 là (spicy), 不辣 bù là (not spicy).
Transportation: Chengdu metro is excellent and cheap. In Chongqing, forget about bikes—the city is built on mountains. Walking and Didi (China's Uber) are your best friends. Avoid taxis—drivers often don't know English addresses.
Day 1: Arriving in Chengdu
We landed at Chengdu airport around 10 AM and took the metro to our hotel, Jinjiang Inn (锦江之星) near Dufu Thatched Cottage. Pro tip: This was hands down the best Jinjiang Inn we've ever stayed at—clean, quiet, near the metro, with a convenience store and fruit shop nearby. Worth the booking.
For lunch, our local friend took us to Baba Chaoliao Steak Hotpot (爸爸炒料牛排老火锅)—the BEST hotpot of our entire trip. The dishes were incredibly fresh, and the desserts were absolute perfection. Best part? No waiting in line!
After lunch, we walked to Dufu Thatched Cottage (杜甫草堂)—50 RMB (~$7) entry. This place is magic: red walls, bamboo groves, and poetry carved into stone everywhere. Don't miss the famous red wall in Huajing Alley—it's hidden, so ask staff if needed. Perfect for photos in black, white, or floral prints.
Right next door is Huanhuaxi Park (浣花溪公园)—free entry. The Poetry Avenue is a must for literature lovers, with verses etched into the ground.
For dinner, we hit Kuanzhai Alley (宽窄巷子)—Reality check: Overrated. Tourist trap with overpriced, mediocre food. The ice jelly (冰粉) here was inedible. Skip it and head to Jinli Ancient Street (锦里) instead—much better for atmosphere, food, and souvenirs.
Day 2: Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Breakfast at a local noodle shop near our hotel—Chengdu chaoshou (dumplings) and pupian (pancake noodles) are everywhere and delicious. Random shops deliver.
High-speed train to Dujiangyan (都江堰)—buy tickets for Lidui Park Station (离堆公园站), closest to the景区. It's a short walk or shared bike to the entrance. Ignore black taxi drivers—it's genuinely that close.
Foreigner tip: Hire a guide at Dujiangyan, otherwise you'll wander for hours without understanding the engineering marvel. The Fish Mouth and Pearl Shoal make sense with explanation. We walked the whole景区 (about 3 hours)—the bamboo forests and landscape are stunning for photos.
Back in Chengdu, dinner at Taolin Restaurant (饕林)—popular online but we found it just okay. Heavy on oil and chili. If you prefer light flavors, this might overwhelm you.
Evening stroll at Taikoo Li (太古里)—Chengdu's luxury shopping district. It's the city's influencer hub, but honestly, we weren't impressed. Fine for people-watching if you're into that.
Day 3: Panda Base & Wuhou Shrine
Wake up call: 6 AM sharp. We're heading to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (成都大熊猫繁育研究基地).
CRITICAL TIPS:
1. Book tickets on Ctrip the night before—scan your ID to enter, no ticket pickup needed.
2. Arrive EARLY. Like, 7:30 AM when the park opens. By 10 AM, pandas are asleep.
3. Check weather—rain or extreme heat means baby pandas stay indoors.
4. Head straight to Moon Delivery Room (月亮产房) for baby pandas. They come out around 8 AM to play, climb trees, and eat bamboo. After that, they're put away.
We also saw red pandas (小熊猫)—some roam freely! Don't miss them.
Lunch: Returned to hotpot heaven at Houtang Old Hotpot (吼堂老火锅)—their sour cabbage and tofu锅底 (soup base) is excellent for non-spicy eaters. Fewer dishes and desserts than Baba Chaoliao, but still good.
Afternoon at Wuhou Shrine (武侯祠)—I'm not into Three Kingdoms history, but the LONG red walls outside are chef's kiss for photos. Went there just for the aesthetics.
Evening at Jinli (锦里)—way better than Kuanzhai. Perfect for experiencing Chengdu's night life.
Day 4: Wenshu Monastery & Leshan
Morning in light rain (refreshing, not cold) at Wenshu Monastery (文殊院). The surrounding commercial street has that classic southern Chinese feel—clean lanes, green trees, local vibe.
Must-eats on the street:
1. Dongzikou Zhang La'er Liangfen (洞子口张老二凉粉)—their tianshui mian (sweet noodle) is delicious. Might not suit those who dislike sweet-savory combos.
2. Imperial Court Pastry Shop (宫廷糕点铺)—this is the main branch. Amazing pastries at incredible prices. We mailed boxes home. Top picks: butterfly crisp (蝴蝶酥) and egg yolk rice crackers (蛋黄锅巴).
The red walls at Wenshu are Instagram gold. Foreigner tip: If Three Kingdoms doesn't interest you, skip Wuhou Shrine and come here instead—the red walls are equally beautiful with added "fortune" blessings.
Afternoon: Chengdu to Leshan by high-speed train. Tip: Stay near Jiaxiang Road (嘉祥路)—food paradise. Our hotel was here.
Dinner: Fangfang跷脚牛肉 (芳芳跷脚牛肉)—famous for clear, incredibly flavorful soup. The beef is tender. Blood tofu was just okay—hotpot version is better. Next door is Chuanmei Bingfen (川妹冰粉)—the BEST ice jelly of the trip, especially the sanxuan (three-sweet) version. Light, refreshing, perfection.
Day 5: Leshan Giant Buddha
Early morning Didi to Leshan. Pro strategy: Buy boat票 first to see the Buddha from afar, then enter the景区. The standard route is North Gate in, East Gate out.
Reality check: The Oriental Buddha Country (东方佛都) near East Gate requires separate ticket. It houses the world's largest reclining Buddha and Guanyin caves—but you'd need a guide to appreciate it. Budget about half a day for the full景区.
After exiting East Gate, our Didi driver (bless him) took us to Wang YaZi Sweet Skin Duck (王鸭子·甜皮鸭)—the most authentic in Leshan. Slightly sweet, crispy skin, absolutely delicious.
Then tried Li Laosan Oil-Fried Skewers (李老三油炸串串香)—seasonal wait can be 2+ hours. Corn kernels, beef, and pork cartilage (掌中宝) are the must-order items. Pair with egg fried rice—warning: dangerously addictive.
Afternoon: Leshan to Chongqing by high-speed train. Evening arrival, stayed near Jiefangbei (解放碑)—central business district with easy metro access and endless food options.
Day 6: Chongqing Highlights
Morning: Light rail to Zhongshuge (钟书阁)—the "Harry Potter bookstore." Crowded with photo-seekers. Worth a quick visit if you're in the area.
Lunch: Zhenji Black & White Tofu Flower Hotpot (甄记黑白荤豆花)—the "ribs hotpot" is light and flavorful. Add your own vegetables and rice from the buffet (6 RMB extra per person). The tofu soup over rice is heavenly.
Afternoon: Liziba Station (李子坝)—watch the light rail pass through the building. The viewing platform offers the best photo op.
Then to Dayang Department Store (大洋百货)—the food court has all the famous street snacks in one place. Must-tries:
1. Sweet potato skin with dried tofu (苕皮豆干)—huge, stuffed with various fillings
2. One Cup Yogurt (一只酸奶牛)—the Fruit Yogurt Multi series is excellent. The Passionfruit Pineapple is addictive. The Purple Rice line is overrated.
3. Wu Chaoshou (吴抄手)—all varieties are delicious
Evening: Hongya Cave (洪崖洞)—FREE entry, just scan to enter. Any "paid" activities are scams. The view from across the street is stunning. Inside: overpriced food (skip the snacks), shops, and restaurants. The real magic is the night view outside.
Day 7: Sichuan Fine Arts Academy & Fairy Tale Park
Morning: Subway to Sichuan Fine Arts Academy (川美) Graffiti Wall. Must-see: "Le Shi Wu Du" (勒是雾都) and "I Love Chongqing" murals.
Lunch: Hu Ji Trotter Soup (胡记蹄花汤)—extremely popular. Arrive before rush hour or prepare to queue. One bowl contains a whole pig's trotter with soft-braised peas. The soup is incredibly flavorful. Pro tip: Skip the rice—it's not great. Focus on the soup.
Afternoon: Hua Sheng Yuan Golden Cake Kingdom (华生园金色蛋糕王国)—the most WORTHWHILE attraction in Chongqing. Fairytale castles everywhere.
CRITICAL TIPS:
1. Rent a princess dress at the entrance (about 50 RMB, unlimited time)—this is ESSENTIAL for the full experience. There's a shop 100m in with the best selection.
2. Dress rental includes matching headpiece but NOT makeup or photography.
3. There are photo services inside, but they're overpriced—better to have a friend snap your pics.
4. This is EVERY little girl's dream. If you're traveling with someone who loves fantasy, this is non-negotiable.