Chengdu Itinerary Guide for First-Timers: 48h, 72h & 96h Plans That Actually Work (2025 Local’s Edit)
- DolphinUnion
- Oct 6
- 5 min read
“How many days do I really need in Chengdu?”I hear this every week. One Brazilian friend showed up with no plan. He spent 3 days wandering malls… and missed pandas, tea houses, and real Sichuan food. Don’t be like him.
Whether you have 2 days or 4, this guide gives you three clear, tested itineraries—all built around what matters most: seeing pandas, tasting local life, and avoiding tourist traps.And yes, I’ve walked every street, booked every ticket, and sat in every bar listed here. This isn’t theory—it’s what works. (Chengdu itinerary guide for first-time foreign travelers)
48-Hour Chengdu: Hit the Highlights Without Rushing (Chengdu itinerary guide for first-time foreign travelers)
Perfect if you’re on a weekend trip or connecting through Chengdu. Focus: pandas + city icons + one great night out.
Start at Chengdu Panda Base (Chengdu Da Xiongmao Fan Zhi Ji Di, 成都大熊猫繁育研究基地). Take Metro Line 3 to Panda Avenue Station, then a ¥5 shuttle. Go at 7:30 AM—pandas eat breakfast between 8–9 AM and are super active. Skip the crowds by heading straight to the Baby Panda Villa. Entry is ¥55. Book online 1 day ahead via WeChat.
After, grab lunch at Tao Lin Restaurant (Chunxi Road branch). Try their tomato beef stew (¥68)—zero spice, full flavor. Then walk through Chunxi Road (Chunxi Lu, 春熙路) and
Taikoo Li (Tai Gu Li, 太古里). Don’t miss the climbing panda sculpture on IFS rooftop.
In the evening, take the Jin River Night Cruise (Jin Jiang Ye You, 锦江夜游) from Dongmen Pier. The 8 PM slot shows 3D projections of ancient Chengdu markets on the water. It costs ¥98—book via WeChat 1 day early. After, head to Jiuyan Bridge (Jiu Yan Qiao, 九眼桥). Skip loud clubs. Go to Er Ma Bar (Er Ma Jiu Guan, 贰麻酒馆) for a ¥28 “Yun Cha” (mild rice wine) by the river.
A UK couple told me: “We thought 2 days wasn’t enough. But this plan let us see pandas, eat well, and still relax.”
Pro tip: If you must skip the city, swap Day 2 for a Mount Emei day trip (¥398/person, leaves at 5:30 AM). But you’ll miss pandas unless you shift Day 1.
72-Hour Chengdu: Add Culture, Flavor & Night Views
Now you’ve got time to breathe. Keep the 48h core, then add Du Fu Thatched Cottage, East Suburb Memory, and modern skyline views.
Day 3 starts at Du Fu Thatched Cottage (Du Fu Cao Tang, 杜甫草堂)—a peaceful poet’s garden. Entry: ¥50. From there, walk or taxi to Qingyang Palace (Qing Yang Gong, 青羊宫), a 1,200-year-old Taoist temple. Rub the bronze goat’s ears for good luck (¥10 entry).
Lunch at Kui Xing Lou Street (Kui Xing Lou Jie, 魁星楼街): Sha Dan Biao Beef Hotpot (¥55/person) serves mild Guangdong-style stew.
Then explore East Suburb Memory (Dong Jiao Ji Yi, 东郊记忆)—a cool industrial park with murals and vintage trains.
Don’t miss Yulin Road (Yu Lin Lu, 玉林路). Yes, it’s the street from the song “Chengdu” by Zhao Lei. Snap a photo at Xiao Jiu Guan (Little Bar)—but don’t stay long. The real charm is the alley murals and Lao Huang Ji roast rabbit (¥68, vacuum-packed).
End with Twin Towers (Shuang Zi Ta, 双子塔) light show at 8 PM. Then stroll around Global Center (Huan Qiu Zhong Xin, 环球中心)—the world’s largest building by floor area.
A Canadian traveler said: “Day 3 felt like the ‘real’ Chengdu—quiet temples, street art, and no crowds.”
Optional: Swap Day 3 for Jiuzhaigou Valley via high-speed train (C5746, departs 6:14 AM). But only if you’re okay with a 14-hour day.
96-Hour Chengdu: Deep Dive with Panda + Mountains
This is the full Chengdu experience: city, culture, pandas, AND a mountain escape.
Days 1–2 mirror the 72h plan—but with richer details. On Day 2 night, watch Sichuan Opera at Shufeng Ayun Theater (Shu Feng Ya Yun, 蜀风雅韵). Book the ¥180 seat—it includes free tea and photo ops with performers.
Day 3 morning: Choose Chengdu Panda Base OR Sanxingdui Museum (San Xing Dui Bo Wu Guan, 三星堆博物馆).
Panda Base: Best for cute, active pandas.
Sanxingdui: Go if you love ancient history. See the 3,000-year-old bronze masks. Take Metro Line 18 to Xinglong Lake, then a ¥30 shuttle (1 hour). Entry: ¥72.
Day 4 is the crown jewel: Dujiangyan Irrigation System + Mount Qingcheng + Panda Valley.
Take the Chengdu–Dujiangyan high-speed train (¥10, 30 mins) from Xipu Station. At Dujiangyan Scenic Area (Du Jiang Yan, 都江堰), hire a guide (¥50) to understand how this 2,200-year-old system still works. Walk the Anlan Suspension Bridge—hold the ropes tight!
Then visit Guanxian Ancient Town (Guan Xian Gu Cheng, 灌县古城).
Try Zhang Lao Zao sweet rice balls (¥8). Don’t miss the giant panda statue at Yangtianwo Square (Yang Tian Wo Guang Chang, 仰天窝广场)—perfect for photos.
Now choose your mountain:
Qingcheng Front Mountain (Qing Cheng Shan Qian Shan, 青城山前山): Taoist temples, cable car, easier hike.
Back Mountain (Hou Shan, 后山): Wild trails, waterfalls, fewer people.
After, visit Panda Valley (Xiong Mao Gu, 熊猫谷)—a quieter panda base where young pandas train for the wild. They’re playful at 4:30 PM during dinner time. Entry: ¥55.
End your trip at Zhongshuge Bookstore (Zhong Shu Ge, 钟书阁)—a mirror-walled “infinite library.” Buy a Chengdu food map (¥35) as a souvenir.
Finally, return to Chengdu for Jianshe Road Night Market (Jian She Lu Xiao Chi Jie, 建设路小吃街). Eat Fu Qiang Spare Ribs (¥20, garlic flavor, no spice) and Yi Zhi Suan Nai Niu yogurt drink (¥12).
A German family wrote: “We thought 4 days was too long. Now we wish we had 5!”
Why This Works: Real Testing, Real Results
I’ve lived in Chengdu for 10 years. I’ve walked these routes with over 300 foreign guests. I know which panda times are best, which bars feel authentic, and which “ancient towns” are just shopping traps.
This isn’t copied from a brochure. It’s refined through real mistakes and wins.
Real Travelers, Real Joy (Chengdu itinerary guide for first-time foreign travelers)
“I followed the 72h plan,” said Maria from Spain. “Saw pandas at sunrise, drank tea in People’s Park, and danced to live music at Jiuyan Bridge. Perfect balance.”
James from Australia added: “The Dujiangyan + Panda Valley combo on Day 4 was magical. My kids still talk about the baby pandas rolling down hills.”
Ready to build your perfect Chengdu trip?
Save this guide. Use the pinyin names in DiDi or Baidu Maps. And if you want my free Chengdu Itinerary PDF (with booking links, QR codes, and spice-level notes), just drop me a message.
Your Chengdu adventure starts now—not with stress, but with pandas, tea, and great food.
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