Chengdu
Pandas, hotpot and teahouse life — the laid-back Sichuan capital that became a top-5 inbound city in 2025.
Best time
March–June and September–November
Suggested stay
3 days
Getting there
Fly into Tianfu (TFU) or Shuangliu (CTU); ~1–1.5 h bullet train to Chongqing.
Don't miss in Chengdu
The experiences Western travelers rate highest here.
Giant Panda Breeding Base
Dozens of giant pandas from sleepy cubs to full-grown — go at 7:30 am, when they actually move.
Jinli Ancient Street
A Qing-style lane of snack stalls, teahouses and lantern light beside the Wuhou Shrine.
Sichuan Hotpot
The numbing-spicy cauldron you'll either love forever or fear forever — communal, theatrical, unforgettable.
Sichuan Opera Face-Changing
Bian lian masters swap painted silk masks faster than the eye can track — a 300-year-old stage trick.
Leshan Giant Buddha
A 71-m Buddha carved into a river cliff in the 8th century — taller than five Statues of Liberty stacked; an easy day trip.
Keep exploring
More destinations at the same level of the journey.
Beijing
The capital and the single strongest draw for Western tourists — Great Wall, Forbidden City and 3,000 years of imperial history on one subway map.
Xi'an
Eastern terminus of the Silk Road and home of the Terracotta Army — the ancient capital every history-loving Westerner comes for.
Shanghai
China's gateway city and the #1 inbound destination for both American and European visitors — colonial waterfront meets Blade Runner skyline.
Guilin & Yangshuo
The karst landscape on the 20-yuan note — the scenery Westerners picture when they imagine 'China'.