Most of Chengdu’s visitors are here to see the pandas, although there’s a great deal more to explore after visiting the Panda Breeding Centre. Several temples, monuments and historical sites populate the city centre, while a rich and rugged hinterland holds treasures like the Grand Buddha of Le Shan for those who wish to plan daytrips or weekend excursions.
This religious site sits 12 miles north of Chengdu and dates to the Han Dynasty (3rd century BC). Emperor Xizong from the Tang Dynasty later sought sanctuary here in the 9th century, and he claimed to see a light shining from the holy relics buried beneath the temple’s wooden pagoda. In place of the wooden pagoda, the emperor commissioned the construction of a new stone pagoda which remains to this day. The temple is laid out with several gardens and a series of independent halls filled with relics and religious iconography. Website: http://www.baoguangsi.org/english/about1.asp
Chairman Mao Monument
While Mao Zedong’s image is a less common sight throughout this increasingly capitalistic country, Chengdu still embraces their patriarch. The popular statue overlooks the Jin River from his pedestal at Exhibition Hall. There was a time when every major Chinese city had such a statue residing over their centre, though many were pulled down or just faded into the background after Mao’s death and China’s economic paradigm shift. While the statue’s political prowess is somewhat deflated, the statue remains an important landmark in the city, and directions to virtually any destination across town seem to reference Mao’s statue.
Dafo Grand Buddha
Located in Le Shan (two hours by bus from Chengdu), the 230-ft Grand Buddha (Dafo) is the largest such sculpture in the entire world. Built in the 8th century to guard sailors passing through the confluence of the Dadu, Qingyi and Min rivers, the Grand Buddha must be perennially rehabilitated every decade to stave off the deteriorating effects of pollution and new plant growth. River boats regularly approach the Buddha from the waterways, while a network of foot paths connect this monument with numerous adjoining sites including the Mahao cave grottoes and the Haoshang covered bridge. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this is a must-see for all visitors to Chengdu.
Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage
This cottage on the periphery of Chengdu’s old quarter is dedicated to the life and work of the Tang Dynasty’s poet laureate, Du Fu. When he visited Chengdu in the 8th century, Du Fu stayed for several years living in self-imposed poverty and writing nearly 250 poems. Today, the grounds hold several Qing Dynasty structures (including a temple and recreation of the poet’s cottage) and a museum that holds a collection of Du Fu’s antique poems. The tradition of sculpting gardens at Du Fu’s cottage began in the 10th century, although the current layout was completed in the 1800s. Phone: +86 28 8734 1220.
Marquis of Wu Memorial
Locally known as Wuhou Ci, this shrine honours heroes of the Three Kingdoms Period. Originally, a temple was built here to entomb the remains of Emperor Liu Bei. However, in many ways this shrine places at its centre the brilliant military strategist (and Liu Bei’s chief advisor), Zhu Ge Liang. Three main structures here commemorate the emperor, his strategist and the Peach Garden Oath alliance, respectively. Every night, the Sichuan Orchestra presents a truly memorable opera performance, complete with fire-breathing dragons and a mobile massage troupe. Phone: +86 28 8555 2397.
Qingyang Palace
This Tang dynasty palace is Chengdu’s oldest Taoist temple. The on-site Two Immortals Monastery serves as an important training facility for nuns and monks from across southeast China. The temple grounds are laid out in a network of six interconnecting gardens that culminate in a sculpture of twin goats, an incarnation of Taoism’s founder, Lao Tzu. Given Qingyang Palace’s importance among Taoists, it is a highly active and often bustling place of worship. Tourists have the greatest opportunity to explore in the early morning hours when the light enters the gardens at fresh angles and traffic is relatively light. Phone: +86 28 8776 6584.
Remin Park
Chengdursquo's finest park displays a number of wisteria terraces, ponds and floral arrangements that bloom year-round. One of the key landmarks here is the Martyrs Monument which memorialises a rail dispute in 1911 which led to the opposition and ultimate defeat of the Qing Dynasty. The main hall in Remin Park hosts regular staged performances, the best of which is a weekend shadow puppet presentation.
Riverview Pavilion Park
Situated near the Sichuan University Museum, this riverside pavilion features a pagoda dedicated to the memory of Xue Tao, a poetess from the 9th century who enjoyed lingering here on the river’s edge and even used its water to pulp paper to use with her writings. In the gardens surrounding the pavilion are more than 120 species of Xue Tao’s favourite plant, bamboo. Aside from this prominent shrine, there are several other pavilions and viewing platforms throughout the park.
Savour the spices. Sichuan cuisine is world-renown for its intense heat of its fagara chilli peppers. Locals don’t expect visitors to share their palate for spicy foods so most restaurants offer toned-down dishes. Of course, the bravest and most resilient diners will want to sample the genuine article.
See the world’s largest Buddha sculpture. Carved from a cliff overlooking the nexus of three rivers in sleepy Le Shan village, the Dafo Grand Buddha is a marvellous site to behold. For a spectacular panorama, charter a river cruise and view the Buddha as it was intended—residing calmly over river commerce.
Stand in the shadow of Chairman Mao. China was once riddled with massive memorials to Mao Zedong, though the recent shift toward a freer market has seen many of these statues pulled down. Chengdu’s Mao Monument still looms as proudly as ever from its pedestal at Exhibition Hall.
Take in a Sichuan Opera. Nightly operatic performances are given at the Marquis of Wu Memorial. Performers breathe fire, perform illusions and relate some of Sichuan’s greatest legends and myths. There is even a complimentary massage troupe that helps spectators relax.
Visit the pandas. China’s favourite animal gets top billing in Chengdu, and a visit to the Chengdu Zoo and the Giant Panda Breeding Centre is on every tourist’s short list. These facilities have had great success working in tandem to breed pandas and bolster the population.
Beware of the reception telling you that they have no rooms at the rate you have reserved. They tried this with us and told us that a booking did not constitute a guarantee - even though we had paid ...
