Things to do in Chengdu

Absolute highlight of my trip to China. It was an absolute joy to observe these wonderful animals, eating, playing, walking around, tumbling, sitting on a pool of water chilling out and then the Red Pandas walking all around and even above me as they cross over the pathways! I enjoyed it so much, I looped back around the giant panda section. Brilliantly laid out peaceful walk surrounded by trees. My tip, be there when it opens. I'd happily return to visit again.

Great big park which is quite modern. Walkable by foot in about 3-4 hours from one end to the other. lots of different panda to see, and a selection of food options. just scan passport at gate and walk in

A thoroughly successful excursion that was definitely worth getting up early for. The transfer to the Grand Buddha was very relaxing due to the comfortable XXL lounge seats on the bus, allowing us to get some more sleep during the ride. After an impressive boat tour with views of the Buddha, we continued to Mount Emei. There, an excellent lunch awaited us with a variety of about 10 different dishes. The subsequent ascent by bus and cable car to the temple complex above the clouds was simply breathtaking. An unforgettable experience and a clear recommendation!

The scenery in Jiuzhaigou is truly magnificent, with both snow and green forests. It feels like experiencing two seasons in one day, which is an amazing feeling! The water in Jiuzhaigou is crystal clear, almost transparent. The boardwalks, snowscapes, and 'haizi' (lakes) are all beautiful. Before I signed up, I saw a comment saying it wasn't very good, but after chatting with customer service, I decided to give it a try myself. It turned out to be quite good, and the travel agency's arrangements were very clear.

Magnificent view on the peak. The tour guide is kind and helpful. Love the details she gave about the natives and repeated reminders on possible high altitude sickness. The driver is careful while driving throughout the journey.

My friend and I went to Mount Siguniang with Guide Yang, and she was absolutely wonderful to us! She took such great and special care of us, especially since we were the only female Muslim passengers on board. The bus ride took around 3 hours or more. The journey was a little scary at times because the driver drove quite fast, but overall, everything was convenient. The meeting point and drop-off point were both very easy to access. Thank you, Guide Yang, for taking such good care of us throughout the trip!

I have to give a special shout-out to our Chinese tour guide, A Jia! We were scheduled to depart at 5 AM, and she was already waiting at the meeting point more than ten minutes early. On the bus, she had prepared oxygen, and the "travel essentials" (neck pillow, eye mask, earplugs), and she went around asking if anyone suffered from motion sickness. During the three-hour drive, she didn't stop talking, sharing legends about the four peaks of Mount Siguniang, the Jiarong Tibetan culture, the geological formation of Shuangqiao Valley, and even the principles behind the Dujiangyan irrigation system. It was ten times more engaging than anything I could have found researching online myself. The most thoughtful gesture was that she helped everyone pre-purchase their sightseeing bus tickets (70 RMB, self-paid), saving us from waiting in line. Before entering the scenic area, she even drew a tour route map, marking the best photo spots at each stop and suggesting time allocations. Although group tour guides don't enter the scenic area with us, her pre-trip explanation was more than enough for us to fully enjoy our visit.

I brought my parents here. Traveling by high-speed rail is much less strenuous for seniors! In the past, it took a whole day just to get to Jiuzhaigou, but now we can leave Chengdu in the morning and arrive at the scenic area by noon. At Huanglong Scenic Area, we took the ropeway up the mountain (80 yuan/person for the ascent) and then slowly walked down to see the Five-Color Ponds. Four hours was plenty of time for the visit. On the second day, the sightseeing bus in Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area went directly to the core attractions, covering Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, and Zechawa Valley. We walked about seven to eight thousand steps daily, and my parents weren't tired. Jiuzhaigou in July is lush green, the waterfalls are spectacularly full, and the air is fresh with the scent of plants and streams. Staying two nights at a hotel at the gully entrance meant we didn't have to move our luggage, which was very convenient. My parents enjoyed the Tibetan dinner and even watched a Guozhuang dance. The tour guide didn't enter the scenic area with us, but they explained all the important tips for visiting beforehand, which made the trip quite hassle-free.

must see for fans of 三国 history. need to exchange for tickets using your ID or passport at the ticketing counter. very crowded during the May Day holidays