Chengdu Tours & Travel Guide

Chengdu is the city where China relaxes. Teahouses in People's Park, mahjong in the shade, and a food culture so good that UNESCO named it a City of Gastronomy — the first in Asia.

It is also the only place on earth where you can spend a morning with giant pandas. The Chengdu Research Base is a breeding centre rather than a zoo, and the pandas are most active before 10:00, which is exactly when we get you there.

Beyond the city: the 71-metre Leshan Giant Buddha carved into a river cliff in the 8th century, the 2,200-year-old Dujiangyan irrigation system still in use, and the gateway to the Yangtze cruise at Chongqing.

Sichuan food is spicy rather than pork-based, which makes Chengdu easier for halal travellers than its reputation suggests. Several halal Sichuan restaurants operate in the city, including a number run by Hui families, and we confirm each one before booking it. There are also mosques in the old town area, and we note prayer times on your itinerary. The classic dishes — mapo tofu, twice-cooked beef, dan dan noodles — all have halal versions, and halal hotpot exists if you want the full Sichuan experience.