Chengdu is the vibrant and beautiful capital of Sichuan and is known for its relaxed vibe and amazing food. It’s also home to the only research center in the world that focuses on the endangered giant panda. Giant pandas call the mountain ranges surrounding Chengdu home, and the city is known as the “Panda Capital of China”. We decided to spend 3 days in Chengdu with our kids to explore the city on our multi-city trip to China with kids. We found some spicy Sichuan food and visited with red and giant pandas. In fact, a visit to Chengdu with kids means “pandas!”
Here are our four favorite things to do in Chengdu!
1. Visit Chengdu Panda Research Base
This facility is the only research center that focuses entirely on the critically endangered giant panda.
We arrived early in the morning, around 8:30 am, with our boys to catch the pandas eating their breakfast. Getting there early was important as we learned that the pandas sleep most of the day, and we wanted to see them in action.
The center is well organized, and there are many pandas to see, from babies to adults. It helps that the description of the pandas is in Chinese and English.
Watching pandas playing and munching bamboo was amazing, and the maternity wards with the babies were so fun to visit. We saw these pandas who were just 3 days old!
There are also much smaller red pandas in the sanctuary, which are quite different and entertaining. They do not seem bothered by people at all – it’s their home.
There is a huge area where the red pandas can roam free, and they ended up running across the walkways ahead of us and hanging out really close to the paths.
2. Appreciate Delicious Sichuan Food
In the capital city of Sichuan, its notable cuisine is everywhere… in restaurants and small hot pot shops, and market stalls scattered all around the town.
Since it’s located in Sichuan Province, Chengdu’s local specialties are famous for their delicious spiciness, and our favorites were the dumplings and the spicy noodle dishes!
3. Visit People’s Park with Kids
People’s Park is a beautiful Chinese park in the center of Chengdu, where people of all ages enjoy the space. We entered from a busy road and immediately felt relaxed and calm in these tranquil settings. We spent a couple of hours wandering along the pathways and exploring traditional Chinese culture.
We found the bonsai section, the amusement park for kids, buildings with Chinese architecture, and also a group of people practicing Tai Chi. The boys had a great time trying to perfect this.
In China, ear cleaning is not just a part of daily grooming; the process is considered by many as an enjoyment – thanks to the country’s professional ear cleaners. Having your ears cleaned in the park is a popular pastime… these guys will walk around and clean wax out of ears all day long for just $2 a person…. Julian was the only taker in our group, and said it ‘felt good!’
There are many places to stop, sit, and enjoy the views and local delights.
4. Wenzhou Temple and Teahouse
The Wenzhou Monastery is a quiet refuge within the bustling city of Chengdu. The monastery is free to enter, and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a traditional monastery.
It’s a popular place for locals to pray in the quiet and calm. surroundings. The scent of burning incense fills the air, and you feel the sense of peace envelop you just by being on the grounds.
The entire place is beautiful. The buildings, shrines, and temples are obviously very old but very well cared for. The grounds are wonderfully landscaped and manicured to perfection.
Did we miss anything in Chengdu that we need to catch the next time?
We visited Chengdu on a whirlwind 2-week tour of China. We traveled with our kids to Bejing, Xian, and Chengdu, then to Lhasa Tibet, and ended our adventure in Shanghai.
Thank you!
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