Chengdu · City Snapshot
Last verified 30 Jun 2025
Giant-panda hometown meets hot-pot tech boom—Chengdu balances slow-life teahouses with China’s fastest-growing metro lines.
Morning haze lifts over Jinli’s lantern alleys; by night, rainbow LEDs race along Tianfu Twin Towers.
1 Heritage Pulse
Timeline in a Nutshell
316 BC — Qin conquers Shu ▶ 256 BC — Dujiangyan irrigation built ▶ 618–907 — Tang “Silk-Road gateway” ▶ 1949 — Capital of Sichuan ▶ 2023 — Hosts World University Games
Cultural Icons
Giant pandas · Shu embroidery · Sichuan opera face-changing · Hot-pot & má-lá snacks
Modern Tags
“Software Valley” · New-energy-vehicle hub · World-University-Games host · Asia’s largest satellite factory
Keyword Cloud
Tianfu Airport • Kuanzhai Alleys • Jinsha Site • IFS Panda Climb • 633 km Metro
2 Fast-Facts
👥 Population / Tier
20.94 M permanent (2020 census) · Tier 1
Fourth-largest city proper in China
💰 Cost index
Street meal ≈ ¥25 • 4★ hotel ≈ US $120
Mid-range pricing; wallet-friendly eats
🚇 Transit access
15 metro lines · 633.6 km network
Fastest expansion in western China
🌿 Air quality
2024 avg PM₂.₅ ≈ 25 µg/m³
Meets nat’l Grade II most months
🎯 Tourist density
2024 inbound +71 k net residents; holiday queues 1 h+
Crowds at pandas & Kuanzhai Alleys
⚠️ Safety / scams
Low violent crime; check gadget authenticity
Beware fake-brand phones in Huaqiangbei-style stalls
📱 Digital convenience
5 G coverage ≈ 98 % • WeChat-Pay ubiquity
Seamless QR life
💳 GDP / income
GDP ¥2.35 tn (2024)
Western China’s top economy
🗣️ English availability
Limited beyond hotels & tech parks
Use offline translator apps
3 Why Visit ↔ Why Skip
✅ Why Visit
🐼
Giant-panda research base—see cubs at feeding time
🍲
Szechuan flavour capital—hot-pot, chuanchuan & mapo tofu
🏞️
UNESCO Dujiangyan & Qingcheng day-trips
🍵
Relaxed “slow-life” teahouse culture
💻
Rising tech scene—visit Tianfu Software Park
❌ Why Skip
🌫️
Winter haze—December PM spikes despite progress
🌶️
Chili overload—sensitive stomachs beware
☀️
Summer damp heat—July feels 38 °C with humidity
🗣️
Language gap—English rare in markets
🚗
Traffic snarls—ring-road jams at rush hour
4 Traveler-Fit Tags
🐼 Family Travelers
★★★
Panda Base + science museums & child-friendly hot-pot broth options.
🍜 Food Hunters
★★★
Street stalls in Jinli serve bobo-ji, rabbit heads; Michelin hot-pot spins chili into art.
👨💻 Digital Nomads
★★☆
Cafés in Hi-Tech Zone, 5 G & e-visa desks—housing cheaper than Shenzhen.
🏺 History Buffs
★★☆
Jinsha Site & Wuhou Shrine trace Shu kingdom glory; museum labels now trilingual.
🥾 Nature Escapists
★★☆
Day-hike Qingcheng Mountain & photograph Dujiangyan’s 2 - BC aqueduct.
💰 Budget Backpackers
★★☆
Dorm beds ¥70; hot-pot split pots feed four for ¥200 incl. beer.
🍹 Nightlife Chasers
★★☆
9-Bar Street & Taikoo Li rooftops—craft baijiu cocktails till 2 am.
★★★ = highly recommended · ★★☆ = good with caveats · ★☆☆ = not ideal
5 Neighborhood Snapshot
Jinjiang / Taikoo Li
Luxury malls, panda statue, nightlife
✨
Luxury malls, panda statue, nightlife
⚠️
Higher costs, weekend crowding
💰
¥100 / ¥180 US / ¥350 US
Qingyang / Kuanzhai
Teahouses, alleys, temples
✨
Teahouses, alleys, temples
⚠️
Narrow lanes, pick-pockets
💰
¥70 / ¥140 US / ¥300 US
Wuhou / Tibetan Quarter
Hot-pot clusters, Wuhou Shrine
✨
Hot-pot clusters, Wuhou Shrine
⚠️
Spicy food overload
💰
¥60 / ¥120 US / ¥260 US
Hi-Tech Zone
Start-up parks, cafés, metro line 18
✨
Start-up parks, cafés, metro line 18
⚠️
Quiet after 20:00
💰
¥80 / ¥130 US / ¥280 US
6 Season & Quirks
🌸
Spring (Mar–May)
12–24 °C
Light
Improving
Flower fairs & Qingming kite flying
☀️
Summer (Jun–Aug)
23–33 °C
Heavy
Moderate
Thunder-storm bursts; ice-jelly relief
🍂
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
15–25 °C
Light
Best
Clear skies for City-Wall half-marathon
❄️
Winter (Dec–Feb)
3–10 °C
Dry
Smog spikes
Hot-pot & mahjong hearths, wear mask
🎭 Local quirks & tips
🌶️
“加麻加辣?” servers ask “extra numbing & spicy?”—answer clearly.
🀄
Mahjong in parks—bring earplugs if your hostel overlooks a square.
💸
No tipping—smiles or WeChat stickers suffice.
🛂
Face-scan metro gates—set up in WeChat Metro mini-program.
🦺
Hot-pot bibs—free plastic aprons, ask “要围裙吗?”.
⚠️ Etiquette & Pitfalls
🧑🤝🧑
Queue politely
Locals line up at panda enclosures & bus stops.
💵
Cash for street snacks
¥10–¥20 notes beat e-wallet lag.
🐼
Beware fake pandas
Avoid sidewalk photo ops with drugged cubs.
🌶️
Spicy courtesy
Ask for mild (“微辣”) if unsure.
📘
Carry passport
Checkpoints at Chunxi Road after 22:00.