Things to do in Chengdu
Chengdu is awash with history. West Chengdu is home to important sights like the Qingyang Gong monastery, where the Daoist god Laozi achieved immortality. Thatched Du Fu's Cottage is where this famous poet wrote over 900 works. In north Chengdu, the Wenshu Yuan monastery is the city's biggest and best-preserved Buddhist temple. Further north is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where endangered species are bred.
Sanxing Dui Bowuguan
Ancient Chinese artefacts
Spiral-shaped modern museum, Sanxing Dui Bowuguan, 40 kilometres north of
Chengdu, houses one of China's best collections of ancient sculpture, masks
and bronzes, some dating back to 14BC. Highlights include a 2.4-metre bronze
figure, thought to be an ancient sorcerer.
E-mail this item
Cost
RMB50
Opening Hours
Phone to check
Address
Central Guanghan, Chengdu 618300
Telephone
+86 (0) 28 541 2313
Transport
Bus to Guanghan
Sichuan Daxue Bowuguan
Buddhist statues and carvings
City-centre Sichuan Daxue Bowuguan museum houses a diverse collection of
ancient Buddhist carvings, bronzes, a shadow puppet theatre and clothing
worn by shamans from 25AD. Look out for the two-metre carved figure of an
enlightened bodhisattva figure draped in jewels.
E-mail this item
Cost
RMB10
Opening Hours
Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm (closed at lunch time)
Address
Wangjiang Lu East Gate, Chengdu 610065
Telephone
+86 (0) 28 8541 2449
Transport
Taxi
Wang Anting Xiaoxiao Zhanlanguan
Mao memorabilia
The owner of the bizarre city-centre museum Wang Anting Xiaoxiao Zhanlanguan
says Mao appeared in a dream, telling him to share his memorabilia
collection. 57,000 Mao badges and pins, as well as busts, posters, magazines
and photographs are on show.
E-mail this item
Cost
Free (donations encouraged)
Opening Hours
Variable - check local magazines
Address
23, Wufu Jie, Chengdu
Transport
Taxi
Wenshu Yuan
Tang Dynasty monastery
Active Buddhist monastery Wenshu Yuan, founded during the Tang Dynasty, draws
a stream of locals coming to worship and burn incense. Aside from gilded
statues and a famous scripture written in human blood, there's a relaxing
teahouse and vegetarian restaurant.
E-mail this item
Cost
RMB1
Opening Hours
Daily 6am-8.30pm
Address
Wenshu Yuan Jie, just off Renmin Zhong Lu, Chengdu
Transport
Taxi
Wangjianglou Gongyuan
Lush bamboo forests
The Wangjianglou Gongyuan park, in the south-east of Chengdu, is famous for
its lush forests which boast over 150 varieties of bamboo. The beautiful
wooden four-storey Wangjianglou pavilion was built in memory of Tang dynasty
poet Xue Tao.
E-mail this item
Cost
RMB2
Opening Hours
Daily 6am-9pm
Address
Wangjiang Lu, between the 1st and 2nd ringroads, Chengdu
Transport
Taxi
Tomb of Wang Jian
Homage to Shu founder
Wang Jian (AD847-918) was the general who founded the Shu kingdom after the
collapse of the Tang dynasty. The Tomb of Wang Jian, in the northwest of
Chengdu, is surrounded by statues of 24 musicians representing a Tang
musical troupe.
E-mail this item
Cost
RMB30
Opening Hours
Daily 8am-6pm
Address
Fuqin Dong Lu, near Xian Lu, Chengdu
Transport
Taxi/Bus 25
Qingyang Gong
Daoist monastery
The hugely important Daoist monastery, Qingyang Gong, in west Chengdu is
where the Daoist god Laozi is said to have gained immortality. The working
monastery features spectacular pavilions, 81 carved dragons, and printing
plates of rare and important Daoist scriptures.
E-mail this item
Cost
RMB5
Opening Hours
Daily 8am-6pm
Address
2, Duan, Yi Huan Lu Xi, Chengdu 610041
Transport
Taxi
Du Fu's Cottage
Home of Chinese poetry
One of China's most famous and revered classical poets lived in thatched Du
Fu's Cottage from 760 to 764AD. Du Fu wrote more than 240 poems there. The
surrounding area, including gardens and the Flower Bathing Brook, feels
suitably pastoral.
E-mail this item
Cost
RMB15
Opening Hours
Daily 8am-6pm
Address
Close to Qingyang Gong and Yi Huan Lu Xi, Chengdu
Transport
Taxi
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Endangered species
The aim of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is to increase
the population of endangered pandas. Located in the northern suburb, it is
also home to red pandas, black-necked cranes, white storks and 14 species of
bamboo.
E-mail this item
Cost
RMB30
Opening Hours
8am-6pm
Address
Xiongmao Da Dao (north-east of the zoo), Chengdu
Telephone
+86 (0) 28 8351 6748
