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Chengdu Travel Guide

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Chengdu (成都 Chéngdū; [1]) is the capital of Sichuan Province in south-west China.

Contents

Understand

Chengdu is located in the fertile plainlands of western Sichuan province. Due to its agricultural wealth Chengdu is sometimes called "Land of Milk and Honey". The greater city area is divided into five districts and 12 counties, altogether serving home to 9.2 million people.

Get in

By plane

The airport is located outside of Chengdu and a 40 minutes taxi ride to the city center will cost around ¥60.

(Information as of 28 June 2005)

There is also bus no. 303, which will take you to the China Airlines office on Renmin Nanlu, right in the center of the city. It costs ¥10.

By train

The Chengdu railway station (成都火车北站) is located in the north of the city, a ¥15 taxi ride from the city center.

By bus

For bus stations, there are three bus stations in Chengdu, and they serve different destinations:

From Chadianzi Bus Station
To Departure Price (Yuan) Duration (h) Last update
Dan Ba 7:00 ¥71 12 29 June 2005
Jiuzhaigou 7:20 8:00 8:40 14:00 ¥97.00-103.00 10 July 2006
Rilong 6:30 7:00 12:00 ¥43.00 5 29 June 2005
Ruo Ergai 7:00 7:20 ¥88.50 10 29 June 2005
Songpan 6:30 7:00 7:30 ¥74.00 8 July 2006
Wolong 11:40 ¥23.50 4 29 June 2005
From Xinnanmen Bus Station
To Departure Price (Yuan) Duration (h) Last update
Daocheng 10:00 ¥217.00 2 days 29 June 2005
Emei Shan 7:00-19:00 (every 20 min) ¥35.00 2-3 10 September 2006
Jiuzhaigou 8:00 ¥92.00 13 29 June 2005
Kangding 7:00-14:00 hourly ¥100.00 7 29 June 2005
Leshan 7:30-21:30 (every 20 min) ¥37.00 2-3 29 June 2005
Songpan 8:00 ¥74.00 9 29 June 2005

By boat

Get around

Chengdu has an extensive system of city buses plying the streets. At each bus stop, there is a list of the bus lines coming through on this road, and on some city maps the whole network is displayed. Tickets are ¥1 for common and ¥2 for air-conditioned buses respectively.

Taxis are equipped with taxameters, which should be used. A free taxi will display an iluminated sign with Chinese characters in its dashboard. Taxi fares at ¥5 on flagfall and increase at ¥1.4 per kilomater. The meter records fares in increments of ¥1. Try to have small change on hand for taxi rides.

There are bicycle-propelled two-seat rickshaw-thingofa-likes who will take you short distances. Fix a price (¥5-10) in advance.

Most guesthouses have bicycles for hire. Check for technical problems before starting out unless you want to be held responsible for it later. If you leave your bicycle, do so in one of the designated "parking lots", where it will be guarded over for a small fee. If you can't find such a place, be sure to lock it securely against some structure.

See

  • Panda Research Base is the biggest facility of this kind in the world. Due to habitat destruction and other reasons, the is maybe the most famous endangered animal. The Research Base is home to some 60 giant Pandas, but also has some and a colony of black-necked cranes. The Research Center affords views of the pandas from much closer than is possible at many Western zoos. Be sure to bring your camera. The Research Base also has a small museum and a cinema screening related documentaries. A restaurant and souvenir-stalls top off the tourist installations. To get there on your own, you can take a taxi for about ¥35 from downtown Chengdu. Or, catch a northbound bus Nr.1 (¥1) and stay with it until the local bus-terminal. Leave the local bus-terminal through the exit leading to the long distance-terminal (LDT), but do not enter the latter. Instead, wait for the suburbian public bus Nr.1 to come by and stop at the left corner of the LDT. For another ¥1 it will take you to the Panda research center within 20 min. Get off when you see a big white Panda-Statue in the middle of the street. Admission fee is ¥30. It is possible to take your picture while holding a Red Panda for a fee of ¥50; occasionally you can take a pictures alongside a giant panda for a fee of ¥400 per person.
(Information as of 14 March 2006)
  • Sichuan University Museum (四川大学博物馆 sichuan daxue bowuguan）[2] has an excellent display of local artifacts and is worth while way of spending an hour or two. The museum is one of the better in China and there are four floors of well lite, air conditioned displays with decent English translations. Starting in the basement, enter the first room where dozens of stone carvings dating from the Han dynasty to the Tang are on display. The room next door has a moderately interesting display on the museum's history and numerous examples of ancient bronzes and stone age artifacts. The first floor is mostly artifacts from the Ming and Qing dynasty, including furniture, silk clothing, and an interesting display of leather puppets. The second floor has the perhaps the most engaging display: artifacts and daily use items from ethnic minority groups in China's southwest, including Tibetans, Miao, Yi, Qiang, Jianpo and Naxi. The third floor has a decent display of calligraphy scrolls, paintings, and ceramics. The museum is located on Wangjiang Road (望江路), about a 15 minute ride from Xinnanmen bus station or a 40 minute walk. Admission is ¥10 and the museum is open from 9:00-5:00 seven days a week. It's telephone number is (028）5412313.
(Information as of 26 July 2006)
  • Sichuan Opera Most guesthouses and travel agencies offer to arrange visits to these traditional shows. It's more like a burlesque cabaret than an actual opera, sometimes including magicians, musicians and dancers besides the traditional pieces. Of course the most famous is never omitted: face-changing and firespitting performed by dancers clad in colourful traditional costumes. You will follow the story sitting at your table, sipping on your constantly refilled tea cup and nibbling some salted snacks.
    (Information as of 28 June 2005)

Do

For up-to-date information on activities, places and attractions you should check out the "GoWest"-magazine's listings. You'll find copies in most bars or guesthouses.

Learn

Work

Job postings for English teachers are located in many guest houses.

Buy

  • There is a big antiquities-market close to the Green Ram Taoist-temple in the western city. From the temple, walk straight west. It's on your right hand side after you crossed the bridge over the channel. You'll find communist relics, old porcelain dishes, jewellery, calligraphy equipment and also some tibetan stuff. Be warned that overpricing is excessive (10-20x the real price), so bargain hard.

Eat

Sichuan being the most known Chinese food style within China, you will find no shortage of delicious Sichuan food in Chengdu. Most of the food is quite spicy, be sure to order non spicy (不要辣 bú yào là) or little spicy (微辣 wēi là) food, at least if you are not accustomed to it yet, or have a bottle of peanut milk ready to quell the fire. The local king of kings is the Hotpot, basically a big pot of oil, water and spices simmering in a hole in the middle of your table. Patrons choose from a big variety of skewered food including veggies, sea-weed, fish, beef, chicken, and dog's meat and proceed to boil them in the oil. After the meal, your bill will be calculated by counting the skewer-sticks.

Budget

  • There are a number of stalls and hole in the wall type places all over town. Food here is dirt cheap -- expect to pay no more than ¥8 for a meal, and the quality is good. Things to be on the lookout for are spicy bowls of breakfast noodles, double cooked pork, and dozens of dishes coated in "ma" the Sichuan chili spice famous the world over.
  • There's an excellent place serving Uighur Food across the street from Sam's Guesthouse. Buns, noodles and more.
  • "McDonalds" is an old standby for a quick Western bite. There are plenty throughout the city, although the most noticeable is right in the middle of People's Square, on the second floor. Sample the usual stuff, but have a green bean pie for desert. This is China after all.

Mid-range

  • WenShu-Temple Vegetarian Restaurant is run by the monks of the monastery and offers a huge selection of vegetarian food, including dishes imitating meat-dishes. You can order special group courses if you can sum up about 10 people and check in advance. (86) 28-6938703

Splurge

Western Food

Chengdu has at least two local Western restaurants as well as several international chains.

Pizza Hut[3] is the best place to get a pizza in Chengdu. Pizza Huts in China are more luxurious and crowded than those in Western countries. On weekend nights you will likely have to wait 30 minutes for a table. The pizzas have great toppings, including only-in-China pizzas like eel pizza or corn pizza. Pizza Hut also features Chengdu's only salad bar. The restaurant allows one trip only to the bar and it is interesting to watch Chinese patrons artisitcally and creatively stack enormous amounts of food onto one salad plate. Four locations around Chengdu.

McDonald's The world famous fast food restuarant has several branches in Chengdu.

KFC Fried chicken lovers can find the best chicken at one of the many KFC restaurants, usually located within walking distance of a McDonald

Zoe's Barbeque & Restaurant The first restaruant which provide the real Southern American BBQ and more..... Location: No. 30 Renmin Nanlu 4th Section(人民南路四段30号) （028） 85593345

Peter's Tex-Mex Grandma's Kitchen

Drink

On the southern bank of the Jin Jiang there is a row of bars between Renmin Nanlu and Xinnan Lu.

  • Highfly Café, 18 LinJiang Rd, 028-85442820 is a relaxed place with a tiny outside sitting area. They serve beers and western food including pizza and breakfast. There is one computer for free internet access and a small bookexchange (2 for 1).
  • Feeling4Seasons Cafe [4], Orient Times Mall 2F, Xia dongda street (near Dongmen bridge), Chengdu. Phone 028-66208848. Good Italian coffee — espresso, cappuccino, especially latte. Also pasta and pizza. They also provide Internet service — wireless access for your laptop, loan of a wireless card if you don't have one, use of a PC if required. You can also burn CDs. It is also one famous China blog freelancer's cafe bar; he published a book named "Ten Years, Flying with one Dream".
  • Shamrock Pub [5], #15, 4th Section, Renmin Nan Lu, 028-8523-6158 ( located near Linshiguan Lu and the US Consulate), an Irish pub in Chengdu is currently the hub of Chengdu's small expatriate community (of approximately 3,000). Friendly pub atmosphere and live music some evenings. In addition to drinks the pub serves dishes including pizza and other snacks. The pub has also sponsored several nonprofit organizations, including holding events for moon bear rescue and for the disabled. Copies of the informative Chengdu Sichuan book are available at the Shamrock.

High Connections Coffee House [6] is located on the west side of Chengdu near Metro and the Southwest Financial University at Qingyang Qu Shuangqing Nanlu 6 Hao Fu A—20, 028-8732-5855. The coffeehouse provides a relaxing, comfortable, environment with soft lighting and easy-listening music. They have non-smoking and smoking sections. Bring your computer and hook up to the wireless internet. They also have large conference rooms available for meetings.

Sleep

Budget

  • Chengdu Jason's Nest Guest House (成都驴行天下青年旅舍), No.26 west way of south railway station, 0086-28-85125498, [7]. Fully-equipped hostel with spacious bright rooms, clean bunks, the Tibetan-style dining room and bar. Located in the leisure, entertainment, dining center of Chengdu, with most attractions within a ¥10 taxi ride. It's a ¥30 taxi ride from the airport or north rail station, a 10-minute walk from the south station, or call for a free pick-up. Helpful, very knowledgeable staff.
  • Traffic Hotel (交通饭店; No. 6 Linjian St, 成都市临江路6号; tel. 028-85451017; [8]), conveniently placed just near Renmin Nanlu directly bordering the Xinnanmen bus station. This hotel is one hundred percent geared towards foreign backpackers and is a good place to around a tour or buy tickets. Four-bed dorms rooms are 30 RMB per bed and three-bed dorms are ¥40. The rooms and shared bathrooms for ¥40 are very clean and come with a reliable air conditioner. Washing machines are available for ¥10 per load; bring your own detergent. Singles and doubles start at ¥200 and range up to ¥500.
  • Chengdu Mix Hostel (Backpackers' Accommodation, Guesthouse & Youth Hostel) 成都驴友记青年旅舍, No.23 Xing Hui Xi Lu, Ren Jia Wan, Wan Fu Bridge, Chengdu, Sichuan, P.R.China. [9] [10], E-mail:mixhostel@hotmail.com. In downtown, with cheap beds, good shower, nice food, lots of people! Wi-Fi for laptop, DVDs for you, Free Internet, 20GB of Music, Very friendly staff.
  • Dragon Town Youth Hostel 成都市宽巷子27号, 27 Kuanxiangzi St, tel. 028-86648408, fax 028-86245901, reception@dragontown.com.cn, [11]. A five minute walk north of the Renmin park. Serving younger people and families, catering mostly for young western budget tourists. Many travelling services available from within the hostel, such as tours to nearby attractions, Tibet travel tours. Facilities include internet access, restaurant and camp grounds. Cheapest accommodation is ¥15/bed with rooms starting from ¥100.
  • Sam's Guesthouse 130 Shanxi Jie, samtour@yahoo.com: tel.028-86099022, 10 minutes walk from the Chairman Mao Statue at Renmin Nanlu. Look for Rongcheng Fandian (Rongcheng hotel). Sams Guesthouse office is next to the entrance to the Rongcheng Fandian. Rooms start from ¥80. Doubles are ¥120.
  • Sim's Cozy Guesthouse 42 Xizhushi, tel :028-86288691, mobile: 8613980787075, simscozy@hotmail.com, [12] is close to Wenshu temple in the northern part of town. Opened in 2004 by two experienced travellers, it's located in a nice old house and has a fairly big seating area and a small garden. Care has been taken to avoid the typical pains of the traveller's everyday life, so for instance toilets are equipped with paper, there is a lockable security box at your bed, mosquito-coils adorn the rooms and corridors, the bar provides guitars and cold beers and so on. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful. They do arrange tours to several sights. There is internet access for ¥5 per hour. A dorm bed is ¥15, doubles and triples with/without air-con are from ¥70 to ¥120. If you don't want to stay in the dorm, is advisable to make a reservation some days in advance.
  • Xiaoguanyuan Hotel (小观园 xiǎoguānyuán), 成都市宽巷子40号, 40 Kuanxiangzi St, tel. 028-86640663, 028-86639883, 028-86640241. Beautiful garden and classical architectured hotel. Staff is Chinese speaking only though, but with a good location and rooms starting from ¥100, a very good offer. Just 50m from the Dragon Town Youth hostel.

Splurge

Chengdu's luxury hotels provide world class service at very reasonable prices. Business and leisure travelers can expect, at a minimum, to find English speaking staff, Western and Chinese restaurants, full conference facilities, business center, suana and concierge service at all of these hotels. Room rates range from US$100 - $US150 per night for a standard or delux room.

Chengdu Lido Sheraton: Modern, American managed hotel conveniently located in in the center of Chengdu near Tian Fu Square. This hotel can accomodate the most discriminating of guests in luxury and world class service.

Sofitel Chengdu: French managed, similar but more expensive then the Sheraton.

Jin Jiang Hotel: Chengdu's first international luxury hotel, the Jin Jiang still offers exceptional service. While it has been eclipsed in luxury by some of the newer hotels, it offers reasonable room rates and great service, with good facilities for conferences of all sizes.

Kempinski Hotel: German managed hotel offers hospitality and luxury. Great German events, including Ocktoberfest, Christmas and New Year's parties. Excellent gym, pool and workout facilities. Close to the United States Consulate.

Holiday Inn Hotel: The Holiday Inn goes all out to indulge its guests with the finest of service. Great service, very responsive management.

Contact

Internet-Access can be found in most guesthouses and through cheap internet cafes all over town. Look out for the Pacman-character 吧 in the Chinese name for internet bar: 网吧.

  • A large internet cafe is located on the second floor of the Xinnianmen bus station, just 100 meters from the Jiaotong Fandian hotel. The connection is fast and access is 2 rmb for per hour.

Stay safe

Thieves are prevalent around certain areas of Chengdu. Be careful around the Yanshikou markets and especially around the North train station. There are also many thieves on crowded buses who use razors to cut open pockets and bags. Also watch your bag at all times when riding bicycles around the city, thieves like to run alongside bicycles at traffic lights and reach into bags.

Cope

For such a big city, there's surprisingly little Western influence in Chengdu. It's definitely not Beijing or Shanghai. This might at first be a little trying, as the level of English is spoken is noticeably lower than other places, but it's really a blessing. Carry a phrasebook or get a guide, and enjoy a more authentic Chinese urban expierence!

Get out

Chengdu is the gateway to Sichuan. Daytrips and trek can be organized to any major attraction is the province. The most popular is probably the Giant Buddha in Leshan. A day trek to this natural wonder should be about ¥100-150. Two day tours are available which combine the Buddha with a visit to the nearby Buddhist holy mountain Emei Shan.

Mount Qincheng, Dujiangyan irrigation system (built 250 BC) about 40 km (25 miles) and the Wolong Natural Reserve (CCRCGP - Panda Base +/- 200km, ¥30 entrance fee) West of town are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 'Panda-lovers' can also visit the CCRCGP - Bi Feng Xia Panda Base located only 10 minutes from the 'rain-city' Ya'an or the Chengdu Panda Base just 10 minutes out north of the center of Chengdu (¥20 about for a taxi from the center).

Further afield, you can also trek out to the Tibetan areas of Sichuan. Buses leave everyday for Moxi and other towns. These long bus trips from Xinnanmen-busstation (it's about seven hours to Moxi, and the heating system on buses in the winter are painfully inadequate) pass through incredibly steep mountain valleys wanding through the Gongga Mountain range. This all terminates at the Hailuogo Glacier, a massive park nearly nine hours from Chengdu. A good two or three day trip.

To the north there are the Sichuan horse plains and the Jiezhaigou Valley.

Train connections are available to Kunming in Yunnan, Chongqing and Xi'an. Frequent buses also leave for Chongqing, which is the beginning of many cruises down the Yangtze. These tours are available around town in Chengdu, and include transport to Chongqing, about three ot four hours away.

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