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Chengdu Travel Guide

Chengdu Overview

Chengdu is the capital city of Sichuan Province, located in the west plain in the Sichuan Basin. Chengdu is a famous historic and highly cultural city with a history over 3,000 years. Chengdu is known as the land of abundance. Chengdu boasts plentiful local products, a pleasant climate, a large number of scenic spots and historical sites. And fine traditional handicrafts well known both at home and abroad.

Chengdu is a city with a population the size of New Zealand! Coffee culture is growing in Chengdu but not to the detriment of the amazing tea culture. Chengdu is known for its tea houses! There are hundreds, maybe thousands. A good tea to get in Sichuan province is the locally produced jasmine bamboo leaf green tea from Mt Emei.

Some great local delicacies include spicy chicken with peanuts (gongbao jiding), dry fried green beans (ganbian sijidou), mapo tofu, and boiled and stir fried pork with salty and hot sauce (huiguo rou). Kung pao chicken handmade sweets are called Dragon's whiskers.

It is advised that you make enough time in Chengdu to visit the Giant Pandas and the Giant Buddha. The Pandas are amazingly cute and China’s national animal. The Panda research centre is most impressive. It holds the largest number of captive red pandas, and most possibly also Giant pandas.

As well as the Leshan Buddha there is several beautiful temples, tombs, a fishing village, and a massive collection of different Buddhas.It’s also recommended to have a night at the Sichuan opera to watch the 'changing faces' Sichuan opera.

Chengdu Facts
Chengdu History
Chengdu Geography and Climate
Dressing Recommendations
Best Time for Chengdu Travel
Best Places for Chengdu Travel
Chengdu Transportation

Basis Information

• Chinese Name: 成都
• Location: located in the west plain in the Sichuan Basin
• Dialing code: (+86) 028
• Zip code: 610000
• Area: Chengdu has an area of 12,300 sq km
• Main attractions in Chengdu: Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Wuhou Temple, Thatched Cottage of Dufu, Kuan Zhai Alley, etc.

Administration Distribution

Administrative Division: Chengdu is a sub-provincial city. It has direct jurisdiction over 9 districts, 4 county-level cities and 6 counties

Population: According statistics, the total population in Chengdu is estimated around 12.21 million. Unlike the other parts of the Sichuan Province where many ethnic minorities like Tibetan, Qiang, Miao, Hui, Mongolian, Tujia and Manchu are living, Han Chinese is the vast majority nationality group in Chengdu. The fast growing of the population in the city thus makes Chengdu become a metropolitan.

According to the records and relics, there was human being living on this piece of land about 3,700 years ago. It is about 2,300 years ago the ninth king Kaiming of ancient Shu State moved his capital to the site and named it 'Chengdu'. Then the name has been kept until today. Due to its economic and military importance, more than seven local regimes appeared here in the history started from the end of Western Han Dynasty (8 A.D.-25 A.D.). Among them, the most famous one is the Shu State during the Three Kingdom Period 1,700 years ago. It is a miracle for a city to remain unchanged and prosperous through thousands of years and flames of wars, however, Chengdu is a miracle of this kind. During its development, the city has gain many reputations, such as the land of abundance, the city of Hibiscus, and the city of brocades.

Chengdu has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cwa) and is largely mild and humid. Chengdu is situated at the western edge of the Sichuan Basin and is therefore sheltered from northwest winds from Siberia in winter by the Qinling Mountains to the north; the short winter is milder than in the Lower Yangtze because of the sheltering effect of the Qinling.

Chengdu enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by an early spring, hot summer, cool autumn and warm winter. The average annual temperature for the year is 16 degree Celsius.

The best time to visit is between March and June or between September and November. The hottest season here is during July and August when temperatures can be almost unbearable although Chengdu does have a few nice spots (such as Qingchengshan Mountain) outside the city center where it is possible to get some shade and respite from the heat.

This is also the rainy season, however, it is awkwardly juggling the two types of weather at once! In summer the heat is wet with a high temperature of 35 degree Celsius and in winter, the average temperature is approximately 5 degree Celsius.

Spring (March to May): temperature is moderate, but it is a little cool with rains. A thin coat is enough.

Summer (June -August): Chengdu summer temperature is higher, hotter, short sleeves and short pants is suitable; People can put on trousers if you feel discomfort with mosquito, or carry a small bottle of floral water spray. About summer ultraviolet ray, do not have to worry too much, basic sunscreen protection is enough.

Autumn (September to October): autumn is quite cool. Temperature difference is a little large. So a thick coat is necessary.

Winter (November to February): The winter temperature is moderate, but relatively cold, people need to wear thick cotton-padded clothes and thick pants, wear a scarf, hat and gloves. If meet the rainy day, Chengdu will be colder, need to wear thick clothes. Wearing cotton-padded jacket is more than wearing down jacket, outdoor temperature won't be below zero, but the interior is very cold, so still need to prepare a cotton-padded jacket and long johns!

Spring (March to May): Spring temperature rise early which is good for growth of trees and crop. But the rise and fall is not stable, and it is easily occurring continuous low temperature that will influence planting crops in the spring.

Summer (June to August): Early summer temperature is moderate, daily temperature difference is bigger. In midsummer there are rainy and strong light.

Autumn (September to October): There are short autumn with shady and cool of continuous rainy weather and long autumn with clear and refreshing weather. The most hottest months appear in July and August, monthly average temperature of 25.0 and 25.4 ℃; Annual total rainfall of 918.2 millimeters, rainfall mainly concentrated in the July and August, monthly rainfall of 225 and 229 mm respectively, rainstorm period generally appear in May to September, perennial rainstorm always appear respectively in late July and August, and at the end of June.

Winter (November to next February): There is no severe cold in winter, which is good for crops and livestock growth. The continuous foggy weather has influence on shipping and traffic. And winter is very dry and has less sunshine. Winter temperatures average above 5 ℃, but it's cloudy, damp, so it is quite cold.

Dujiangyan Irrigation System: It is located in the Guankou town Dujiangyan city Chengdu city, Sichuan province, is large water conservancy project constructed since the ancient time and used so far, known as "the ancestor of the world water conservancy culture", and it is the national famous tourist resort. This irrigation system was designed and implemented first in the china in the middle of 200 B.C. This is one of the oldest irrigation systems and this is still in function these days.

Wuhou Temple: It is famous at home and abroad of The Three Kingdoms culture. The temple is built to memorize Zhuge Liang, the distinguished statesman and strategist during the Three Kingdom Period, meanwhile the symbol of wisdom in Chinese people's mind. For his accomplishments as the minister and great personality, he was gain the name of Martial Marquis after his death. Hence, the temple got the name. Wuhou temple was built in 223, is mainly composed of Hui Tomb, Han Zhaolie Temple and Wuhou temple. The temple is magnificent and quiet, is the first batch of national key cultural relics protection unit.

Thatched Cottage of Dufu: It is the Tang dynasty poet Dufu Chengdu house site, located in downtown Chengdu, is a poetic and bamboo forest landscape garden. Poet Dufu in 759 moved to Chengdu, and for 3 years and 9 months, poetized more than 240 poems here. The main building have big official residence, poetry history hall, wooden door, the Ministry of Works in feudal China, Shaoling thatched cottage, etc. Thatched cottage museum collected of various historical data of more than 30000 copies, 2000 pieces of cultural relics.

Kuan Zhai Alley: Kuan and Zhai alley is an ancient street left over from the scale of the Qing dynasty in Chengdu, known as the three major historical and cultural city protection blocks in Chengdu with Jamchen Lhakhang monastery and Wenshu Temple. The region on the basis of protection of old Chengdu original building forms complex cultural commercial street that is given priority to with travel, leisure, which has distinct regional characteristics and rich cultural atmosphere of Bashu.

Chengdu is the largest transportation junction in Sichuan and also in southwest of China. Now it is already form the transportation net of urban trunk road, national highway, railway and airlines.

Airport

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
♦ Address: In the middle part of Chuanxi Plain, at the north of Chengdu Shuangliu County

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, China's fourth largest aviation hub (only behind Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou), the world's top 50 busiest airports, the busiest hubs in the Midwest of China, and the most important in southwest airline passenger and cargo distribution center. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is the largest transit airport to Gonggar Airport in Lhasa, Qamdo Bangda Airport, and Nyingchi Milin Airport and other plateau airports, and it is the air base of Air China, Sichuan Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Tibet Airlines, and Lucky Airlines.

Approved by the state council, September 1, 2013, the policy of 72 hours transit visa-free policy implementation was carried out in Chengdu. Chengdu Shuangliu airport can ensure a visa free permit issue service for visitors in the world of 45 countries. Transit travelers who hold a visa to the third country (third country is not China) and a connecting air ticket of leaving above authorized airports to the third country (third country is not China) within 72 hours can apply for a 72-hour visa-free to entry and exit from Chengdu Shuangliu international airport, and stay within the administrative area of Chengdu for 72 hours.

Railway

Chengdu Railway Station
♦ Address: No. 151, Huangcheng North Road, Xincheng District, Xian City.
♦ Tel: (029)82130402
♦ How to get: there are many buses that can reach Xi’an Railway Station, like bus No.5, 9, 13, 14, 25, 30, 40, 41, 42, 602, 603, 607, 622, 103, 105, 500, and other buses.

Chengdu Railway Station is major station in Chengdu, is the largest railway passenger in southwest. Chengdu Railway Station, located in the No.1 First West Road, North of Lotus Pond Street, Jinniu District, on July 1, 1952 was formally put into operation, belonging to the Chengdu railway administration, is the largest railway hub in southwest China, and one of the six major railway hubs.

Chengdu East Railway Station
♦ Address: Qingyijiang Road, Chenghua District, Chengdu city, Sichuan province
♦ How to get: take bus No.2, 38, 40, 91, 101, 146, 147 to Chengdu East Railway Station

Chengdu East Station is located in Chenghua District, Chengdu, Sichuan province. As the largest scale and highest content of science and technology railway passenger station in Chengdu, Chengdu East Station is one of the six major passenger hub stations in China, is also one of the largest railway passenger Midwest and southwest of the largest integrated transport hub. It was put into construction on December 31, 2008, officially put into operation on May 8, 2011.Chengdu east station mainly deal with the passenger traffic of Dazhou-Chengdu, Suining-Chengdu, Chengdu-Mianyang-Leshan intercity railway line, Xian-Chengdu, Chengdu-Guiyang and other starting trains to destination direction.

Chengdu South Railway Station
♦ Address: No.1 Chengdu South Railway Station, Wuhou District, Chengdu city, Sichuan province
♦ How to get: There are many buses to Chengdu South Station, you can take bus No.16, 49, 112, 19 and other passby buses to therre and get off at Chengdu South Railway Station, or you can take No.1, 7, 18 Subway Line to Chengdu South Railway Station

Chengdu South Railway Station, on December 20, 2014, was put into operation formally. It is located in Wuhou district of Chengdu, Sichuan province, and it is under the jurisdiction of the Chengdu Railway Station under Chengdu Railway Bureau, 10 km to Chengdu Railway Station, 7 km to Chengdu East Station, and 13 km from the Chengdu Shuangliu Airport. New Chengdu South Railway Station is located diagonally across the former residence of Chengdu South Railway Station. Chengdu South Railway Station as an important regional comprehensive transportation center of Chengdu, 5.5 kilometers away from Chengdu Tianfu Square.

Bus

Chengdu city has 13 passenger transportation centers: Chengdu Shiling Passenger Transportation
Center, Chengdu East Station Passenger Transportation Center, Chengdu Airport Passenger Transportation Center, Chengdu City South Passenger Transportation Center, Chengdu City North Passenger Transportation Center, Chengdu North Gate Passenger Transportation Center, Chengdu Chadianzi Passenger Transportation Center, Chengdu Shiyangchang Passenger Transportation Center, Chengdu Zhaojiao Temple Passenger Transportation Center, Chengdu Wukuaishi Passenger Transportation Center, Chengdu Shopping Mall Passenger Transportation Center, and Chengdu New South Gate Passenger Transportation Center.