Chengdu Chronicles: A Moderate Budget Adventure in Food, Photography, and Shopping

Day by day

Attractions

• People's Park

  

  A central park with tea houses, a lake, and the famous matchmaking corner. Free entry and great for people-watching. · 6:00-22:00

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  人民公园

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• Wide and Narrow Alleys

  

  Historic alleys with traditional architecture, shops, cafes, and street food. Free to enter and perfect for photography. · All day

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  宽窄巷子

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• Jinli Ancient Street

  

  A bustling street with traditional buildings, lanterns, snacks, and souvenirs. Free entry and especially beautiful at night. · All day

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  锦里古街

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• Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

  

  Home to dozens of giant pandas. Best visited in the morning when pandas are active. Entry fee applies. · 7:30-18:00

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  成都大熊猫繁育研究基地

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• Wenshu Monastery

  

  A serene Buddhist monastery with beautiful gardens and a vegetarian restaurant. Free entry. · 9:00-17:00

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  文殊院

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• Qinglong Lake Wetland Park

  

  A large wetland park with lakes, birds, and walking paths. Free entry and great for nature photography. · All day

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  青龙湖湿地公园

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• Sichuan Museum

  

  A comprehensive museum with artifacts from ancient Sichuan, including bronze, ceramics, and calligraphy. Free entry. · 9:00-17:00 (closed Mondays)

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  四川博物院

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• Du Fu Thatched Cottage

  

  A memorial to the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu, with gardens and reconstructions of his residence. Entry fee applies. · 8:00-18:00

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  杜甫草堂

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• Huanhuaxi Park

  

  A scenic park adjacent to Du Fu Cottage, with rivers, bridges, and poetry-themed sculptures. Free entry. · All day

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  浣花溪公园

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Restaurants

• Chen Mapo Tofu

  Sichuan

  

  Mapo tofu (spicy and numbing), Kung Pao chicken

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  陈麻婆豆腐

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• Huangcheng Laoma

  Hotpot

  

  Spicy beef hotpot, pork slices, vegetables

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  皇城老妈

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• Long Chao Shou

  Sichuan Snacks

  

  Wontons in red oil, dan dan noodles

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  龙抄手

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• Yu's Family Kitchen

  Sichuan

  Mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork, fish fragrant eggplant

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  喻家厨房

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• Wenshu Monastery Vegetarian Restaurant

  Vegetarian

  Vegetarian hotpot, mock meat dishes

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  文殊院素斋

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• Shu Jiu Xiang

  Hotpot

  

  Spicy hotpot with beef and tripe

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  蜀九香

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• Ming Ting Restaurant

  Sichuan

  

  Spicy chicken, stir-fried dishes

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  明婷饭店

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• Chengdu Taste

  Sichuan

  Innovative Sichuan dishes, tasting menu

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  成都味道

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• Chen Baobao

  Sichuan

  Baozi (steamed buns), noodles

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  陈包包

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Hotels

• Chengdu Flipflop Lounge Hostel

  成都拖板鞋青年旅舍 · No.98 Dongsheng Street, Jinjiang District

  $50
  

  A cozy hostel with private rooms and dorms, located near Chunxi Road. Great for budget travelers and solo adventurers. · WiFi / Bar / Common area / 24-hour front desk

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• Holiday Inn Express Chengdu Gulou

  成都鼓楼智选假日酒店 · No.72 North Section of First Ring Road, Qingyang District

  $70
  

  Modern hotel with comfortable rooms, free breakfast, and easy access to metro. Good value for moderate budgets. · WiFi / Breakfast / Gym / Business center

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• Dorsett Chengdu

  成都帝盛君豪酒店 · No.168 West Section of Second Ring Road, Qingyang District

  $90
  

  Upscale hotel with spacious rooms, indoor pool, and multiple dining options. Located near major attractions. · WiFi / Swimming Pool / Gym / Spa / Restaurant

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Getting around

• Use the Chengdu Metro for efficient travel; purchase a transit card or use mobile payment.
• Taxis and ride-hailing apps (DiDi) are convenient and affordable for shorter trips.
• Consider renting a bike for exploring central areas like Wide and Narrow Alleys and Jinli.
• Airport shuttle buses and metro line 10 connect the airport to the city center.

Budget

• Accommodation$350
• Food$200
• Transportation$50
• Attractions$30
• Shopping$100
• Miscellaneous$50

Good to know

• · November in Chengdu is cool and often foggy; pack layers and a light jacket.
• · Purchase a local SIM card or eSIM for data and use apps like DiDi and Baidu Maps.
• · Many attractions offer free entry on specific days; check schedules in advance.
• · Learn a few basic Chinese phrases; English is not widely spoken.
• · Carry cash for small vendors and some restaurants; mobile payment is common but requires a Chinese bank account.
• · Be prepared for spicy food; ask for 'bù là' (not spicy) if needed.

Emergency contacts

• Police110
• Ambulance120
• Fire119
• Tourist Hotline12301
• US Consulate General Chengdu+86-28-8558-3992