For many, the image of a panda is intrinsically linked with that of China. The Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Chéngdū Dà Xióngmāo Fányù Yánjiū Jīdì, 成都大熊猫繁育研究基地) is hard at work keeping that image alive, by doing all they can to keep the outrageously cute species reproducing. 10 km (6 mi) from downtown Chengdu, the base is the best way to see and learn about these gentle and endangered creatures. Almost 100 pandas live there, with some red pandas sharing accomdations with the more famous giant variety. The animals are pampered by a staff whose primary goal is to get the notoriously low-libido animals to reproduce. Enticed procreation may not be enough to keep pandas alive out in the hills of Sichuan,  but wild panda reserves have recently reported boosts in overall populations. To see the panda's working towards generationa... more >>

Chengdu's oldest and largest temple is the Wenshu Monastery (Wénshū Yuàn, 文殊院). The temple that stands today is a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD) reconstruction of a Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) temple from centuries earlier. Dedicated to the incarnation of Wenshu, you'll see his image associated with a lion throughout the grounds—these are representations of his symbolic animal. The soaring, red-walled halls are beautiful examples of classic architecture with their inverted eaves and sky-high ceilings. The space buzzes with life as worshipers, monks and tourists mix amidst the courtyards, four halls and eleven-story pagoda. There's also a museum exhibiting traditional calligraphy, painting and other artifacts. The museum offers a brief history of the temple, and provides a framework for understanding today's temple. The on-site vegetarian restaurant is accompanie... more >>

Of the many famous China's classical poets, Du Fu (712-70 AD) is up there with Tang Dynasty master Li Bai as the best known and one of the most well loved. After travels around eastern China and his home province of Henan, Du Fu arrived in the conflict-torn Tang capital of Chang'an (today's Xi'an) where he worked to establish himself as a civil servant at the behest of the Tang emperor. But the emperor was much too busy clashing with the forces of rebellious general An Lushan. And so Du Fu's official career never was. The An Lushan rebellion, which started in 755 AD, lasted for eight years and, in 760, Du Fu departed and struck out for Chengdu. Despite the politically difficult times, Du Fu's five-year residence in Chengdu was a prolific time, during which he created some of his most enduring works. As it was a time of war and upheaval, his famed writing sanctuary gave him intel... more >>

The main shrine to Sichuan's ancient Shu Kingdom and the heroes that made it legendary during the Three Kingdoms period, Wuhou Temple (Wǔhóu Cí, 武侯祠) was first built to house Shu Emperor Liu Bei's remains in 221. During the Ming Dynasty, Liu Bei's subjects' remains were also housed here, most notably those of Zhuge Liang (Zhūgě Liàng, 诸葛亮). Zhuge Liang (181–234 AD) lived during the Three Kingdoms period, when China's Han Dynasty was torn between competing kingdoms, and a fictionalized version of the strategist plays a major role in the famous late Ming Dynasty epic novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sānguó Yǎnyì, 三国演义). As Liu Bei's advisor during the wars of the Three Kingdoms period, he is a legendary figure in Sichuan and is, in some respects, venerated more than the esteemed emperor. The name of the temple comes from Zhuge Liang's... more >>

Xiling Mountain (Xilǐng Xuěshān, 西岭雪山)—also referred to as "Xiling Snow Mountain," "Xiling Snow capped Mountain" or just "Xiling Xueshan"—is a pleasant get-away just about two hours by car from downtown Chengdu.  In spring, summer and fall, it offers hikers alpine wildflowers, waterfalls and colorful autumn foliage. By mid-November, the upper slopes see substantial snowfall, and aided by snow machines are ski-able until around February. The ski area—not quite a "resort" in an Alps or Rockies sense of the word—is served by three nearby hotels, chairlifts and a decent ski rental service. At present, snowboards are not available for rental, and the ski experience isn't likely to wow serious skiers, though it's perfectly fine for beginners or just a day or two of laid-back fun.   Sichuan guide | Chengdu ... more >>

Replicas of Qing Dynasty mansions line Jinli Old Street (Jǐnlǐ Gǔjiē, 锦里古街) selling local souvenirs as well as tea, books, musical instruments and caricatures. While several large restaurants can be found here, the real charm lies in the small snack alley between Wuhou Temple and Jinli. Here the overpowering odor of stinky tofu is softened by sweet caramel, spicy beef, rice cakes, noodles and sesame buns—made to order amidst the din of hawkers and touts shouting their products. Locals fill the street nightly—especially on weekends—so if you want to catch a slice of real Chengdu life, this tourist-street-cum-snack-Mecca is a great starting point. Nightly Sichuan Opera performances start at 8:30pm in the theater at the far end of the street. Highlights include fire-breathing, face-changing, comedy theater and Sichuan tea ceremony performances. Seating is almost a... more >>

The large, serene River View Pavilion Park (Wàngjiānglóu Gōngyuán, 望江楼公园) overlooks the Jin River. Dedicated to Xue Tao, a famous female Tang Dynasty poet known to have an affinity for bamboo, the park features some 150 varieties of the plant. The elaborately decorated pavilion that gives the park its name is the focal point, however. The 39 m (128 ft), four-story structure dates back to 1889, and is sometimes referred to as the Chongli Pavilion (Chónglì Gé, 崇丽阁) by the locals. The park is dotted with other graceful halls and pavilions worth exploring. Elsewhere in the park you'll find a teahouse serving drinks made with water from the on-site Xue Tao Well (Xuē Tāo Jǐng, 薛涛井). The well and eponymous pavilion are both located in the park's cultural preservation area (wénwù bǎohùqū, 文物保护区) Sichuan guide | Chengdu guide... more >>

The Sanxingdui Museum (Sānxīngduī Bówùguǎn, 三星堆博物馆) is near the city of Guanghan, just 40 km (25 mi) north of Chengdu. The museum sits on an archaeological site now recognized as among the most important in the world. A farmer who dug a large piece of jade from the earth in 1929 first discovered the site, and subsequent excavations have revealed a wealth of relics from the Neolithic, Shang and Zhou periods; evidence that the site has been in use for more than five millenia. The site made headlines in 1986 when two large Shang-period sacrificial pits were unearthed that contained more than 1,000 gold, bronze, and jade objects from a previously-unknown Bronze Age culture. A scholar at the British Museum considered the bronze ritual masks in particular to be more impressive than the Terracotta Warriors, and the find upended the oft-repeated theory that the sole cradle ... more >>

The Jinsha archaeological site is one of the most important finds of the last 30 years and yielded extraordinary jade, gold and ivory figurines closely linked with the Sanxingdui site. The Jinsha Museum (Jīnshā Bówùgun, 金沙博物馆) houses artifacts pulled from pits on the west side of Chengdu. As seen in the many ceremonial artifacts found on site, most notably the Golden Phoenix which is now on display in the museum, the society traded with other cultures as far away as Southeast Asia and had a very sophisticated religion. The Jinsha-Sanxingdui civilization flourished roughly 4,500 years ago, before suddenly vanishing never to be seen again. The museum is modern and beautiful, and the displays are breathtaking in their scope, elegance and craftsmanship. If learning about ancient culture interests you, the plethora of jade and gold artifacts make this museum a good p... more >>

People's Park (Rénmín Gōngyuán, 人民公园) is the most popular park in Sichuan's capital city and is host to a colorful mix of Chengdu residents who are always out enjoying themselves in the open air. The park is not only an enjoyable place to relax and mingle; it also has great historical significance. It was the site of the 1911 protests against the Qing government's policy of handing over railway construction to foreigners. These Chengdu protests and strikes set off a chain reaction that helped topple the Qing dynasty. Today, People's Park provides a great public outlet for grandparents with their grandchildren in tow, joggers and tai qi enthusiasts, gamers and musicians and even tea drinkers in need of a good ear cleaning. The crowds tend to gather in a few parts of the park: the chess players are in the southeast corner, the musicians hold court in the middl... more >>