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Pandas, tea and a city that rewards a pause

Chengdu, one good day
at a time.

Give the pandas their own morning, then slow down in the city over tea and Sichuan food. The Chengdu Panda Base and Panda Valley are different places with different bookings; choose the panda visit that fits your trip before you build the rest of the day.

Red lanterns hanging over a street in Chengdu's Jinli area at night
Jinli after dark.

Before you land

Chengdu at a glance

The Chengdu, China basics you should know in seconds.

Currency
Chinese yuan CNY / RMB
Paying
Alipay · Weixin Pay Keep a cash or card backup. Payment guide ↗
Language
Mandarin Chinese Save your hotel’s Chinese address.
Power
Type A / C / I 220 V · bring a universal adapter.
Tipping
Not routine Usually no need to add a tip.
Metro
City rail network Check the station closest to your hotel.
Your arrival airport
Tianfu · TFU or Shuangliu · CTU They use different rail routes. Compare arrivals ↓
Entry rulesCheck your passport hereShort visits and conditional transit are different.

Airport names and metro routes: GoChengdu’s 2026 transport guidance and the Shuangliu Airport rail guide. Recheck your flight airport and current service before travel.

A question to settle before booking

Entry is a China-wide rule, but you can check your starting options here. Transit eligibility depends on your route as well as your passport.

Before you book

Check your mainland China entry options

Choose the country on your ordinary passport. The result appears here—no extra page or account needed.

Select the passport you will actually use, not your country of residence.

Planning a later trip? Some current waivers have end dates.

Important: This mainland China planning aid is not an entry approval. It covers the 50-country unilateral waiver, three commonly used mutual agreements and the 57-country 240-hour transit programme. Other bilateral, regional and special-passport rules may apply. Airline and border authorities make the final decision.

Policy data last checked . Always reconfirm before booking or flying. See other mutual visa-waiver agreements ↗

Land with a plan

From the airport, then around town

TFU and CTU are different airports. Choose the airport printed on your ticket before deciding how to reach your hotel.

Tianfu is outside the central city. Allow for the rail ride and your onward transfer when you plan an arrival day.

Rail into the city

Metro Line 18

Airport to South Railway Station and other transfers

Follow signs to the airport metro station, then use a live route planner for the final transfer to your hotel.

Door-to-door

Taxi / DiDi

Compare the live fare for your hotel

Use the signed pickup area and save your hotel’s Chinese address. Road travel can take much longer when traffic is heavy.

Once you are in the city

Metro for long hops. Give the panda visit a morning.

Keep tea houses and neighbourhood walks for a separate, slower part of the day. If Panda Valley is your choice, allow a dedicated trip toward Dujiangyan.

Compare the panda sites ↗

Airport rail routes: GoChengdu for Tianfu Line 18 and Shuangliu Airport for Line 10. Check current metro times and terminal signs before departure.

Editor's starting point

Start here

A closer look at the places and decisions that shape a visit to Chengdu.

Check the season

When to go, what to wear

Choose a season to see a simple packing look and how the weather may shape your day.

Autumn · Sep–Nov

Layers for a cooler finish

One simple outfit idea, not a packing rule.

Light jacket
Long-sleeve top
Long trousers
Walking shoes

What this means for your daySeptember can still feel warm. A layer helps as days shorten and November cools.

September to NovemberAverage daytime highs fall from about 25°C to 16°C.

Temperature ranges are monthly average daytime highs from the World Meteorological Organization’s Chengdu climate table, not a forecast. Rain and packing context: GoChengdu’s city guide. Check the latest forecast before travel.

Read before you go

All Chengdu guides

Browse everything in one place. Choose an interest to narrow the list without leaving the page.

5 guides

Beyond the guidebook

Explore the China
most visitors miss.

Neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood guides to the bathhouses, tea houses and everyday rituals that rarely make the itinerary — with the practical detail that makes them easy to do yourself.

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