A 6-day relaxing discovery of Chengdu

Transit passengers from 53 countries, including the US, Canada and all members of the EU, can spend up to 144 hours in Chengdu without a visa. This visa-free policy allows visitors with visas and plane tickets to a third country to transit through Chengdu and enjoy a visa-free stay. The following is a suggested itinerary for a 6-day trip.

With a population of 16.58 million (2019), Chengdu is among the top 10 largest cities in China. It's a place to experience countless interesting things at almost every moment. Chengdu is not only a cosmopolitan city, but also the birthplace of jiaozi, the world's first paper currency. It sits at the foot of the Tibetan plateau and is encircled by the Sichuan Mountains. If you want to explore places of historic interest and the scenic beauty of Sichuan, Chengdu is a perfect starting point due to its being surrounded by world heritage sites and full of numerous bars and tea houses.

Chengdu has a complete tourist transportation system so that tourists can travel around the city in an easy and comfortable way. The scenic express buses connect the bustling downtown to famous scenic spots in the city.

Day 1 Chengdu Wuhou Shrine & Jinli Ancient Street

After a tiring flight, you may want to take it easy on the first day. The Wuhou Shrine is therefore a good place to start and learn a little about Chengdu's history. You can easily get there by express bus from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The ticket is about 8 yuan and the journey lasts fifty minutes.

The Wuhou Shrine, located in the south of Chengdu, covers an area of about 150,000 square meters. It has always been reputed as "the sacred land of the Three Kingdoms (220-280)". Chengdu Wuhou Shrine is the only place in China built as one temple in honor of both an emperor and his minister. It is divided into an area for cultural relics that includes the Zhaolie Temple, the Wuhou Temple and the Sworn Brotherhood Shrine, and a park with ponds, rock sculptures and willow trees. Brocade Street, an arts, crafts and snacks street, is adjacent to the temple.

The Brocade Street, or Jinli Ancient Street, is a charming block containing the culture of the Three Kingdoms and the folk customs of Chengdu. It covers an area of 30,000 square meters, with a construction area of 14,000 square meters and a total length of 550 meters.

Tea houses, theaters, wine cellars, handicraft workshops, handicraft stalls and food stalls are all over the street, with folk performances such as traditional weddings, folk music, dramas, folk costume shows, and special theme activities on Chinese festivals such as the Lantern Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Chinese New Year, and the Mid-Autumn Festival, regularly being held. Here you can enjoy leisure and entertainment in an original Sichuan folk culture atmosphere.