Chengdu, Leshan & Chongqing
Three cities, one trip. Chengdu is known for its pandas, Leshan for the Giant Buddha, and Chongqing is something else entirely, a neon city that feels like a sci-fi movie set. Allow at least 5-6 days to see all three properly.
✈️ Getting There
Direct flights from Shanghai to Chengdu, about 2.5 hours. Chongqing is then 1h15 by high-speed train from Chengdu.
Chengdu
Pandas – Bifengxia
⏱ Full day or overnight – about 3 hours from Chengdu
Several panda sites exist in and around Chengdu but most feel more like zoos. That’s why we chose Bifengxia Panda Base, it is much further from the city but significantly less crowded and set inside a beautiful lush valley with hiking trails and waterfalls. The pandas almost feel secondary to the landscape.
We stayed one night nearby and on thing to know : in that area, only international hotels can register foreign guests with the local police, which is a legal requirement. You can’t just book any guesthouse. Options are limited and slightly more expensive, but we had no choice.
People’s Park
Beautiful park. On weekends, the park fills with locals dancing, playing instruments, drinking tea, and taking part in the famous matchmaking corner, where parents post their children’s dating profiles on boards.
Jinli Old Street & Wuhou Shrine
A traditional street lined with food stalls, craft shops, and teahouses. Wuhou Shrine is right next door, so it is worth combining in the same visit.
Chengdu city
Two spots worth combining in one evening:
- Anshun Bridge – fully illuminated at night with restaurants and lively bar street (Jiuyanqiao) right next to it.
- SKP Tower of Life – six bamboo-shaped water columns up to 39 metres high at the SKP mall in the financial district. Not a must see but fun to watch.
Leshan – Day Trip
⏱ Full day from Chengdu
About 1 hour by high-speed train from Chengdu East Station. The Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone-carved Buddha in the world, 71 metres tall, built into a cliff facing the river.
Don’t just go for the Buddha, the Ten Thousand Buddha Cave and Lingyun Temple at the top are worth the extra time.
Chongqing
Hongyadong & Qiansimen Bridge
⏱ Evening visit
Hongyadong is a multi-level stilt house complex built into the cliffs above the Jialing River. Lit up at night, it’s one of the most photographed spots in Chongqing.
Jiefangbei & Deyi World
⏱ Evening
Jiefangbei is Chongqing’s main commercial district, packed with shopping malls, giant LED screens, and neon lights. A few minutes away, Deyi World is a cluster of neon-lit streets, bars, and restaurants in the Jiaochangkou area.
Only in Chongqing
- Liziba Station – Chongqing’s famous metro station where Line 2 passes straight through a residential building. There’s a viewing platform across the street for photos, or you can ride the train through yourself by taking Line 2 to Liziba Station.
- Elevated Streets & Sky Bridges – Chongqing is built on steep hills, so the city is spread across multiple levels. It’s common to walk out of a building onto what looks like a street, only to realize you’re several floors above the ground. The Kuixing Building rooftop plaza is a good place to see it all.
If You Have More Time
- Wulong Karst – a UNESCO World Heritage site about 1.5 hours from Chongqing by high-speed train. The Three Natural Bridges and Longshuixia Gorge are the highlights.
- Ciqikou Ancient Town
- Sichuan Opera in Chengdu, face-changing performances, worth seeing once
Leave a Reply