Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province in southwestern China, a city of over 20 million people famous as the global home of giant panda conservation, the birthplace of fiery Sichuanese cuisine and mala hotpot, and a relaxed teahouse culture that stands in contrast to China's faster-paced coastal metropolises. Landmarks range from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to the historic Kuanzhai Alleys and Jinli Ancient Street beside the Wuhou Shrine.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The city's signature family attraction, a research and breeding facility at 1375 Panda Avenue, Chenghua District, where giant and red pandas can be watched in wooded enclosures. Pandas are most active during the morning feeding, so an entry slot between 7:30 and 9:00 AM is worth the early start.
Duration: Half day (3-4 hours)
Chengdu Zoo
Southwest China's largest zoo, at 234 Zhaojuesi South Road, Chenghua District, with more than 3,000 animals across 300 species, including big cats, elephants, and giraffes, on 17 hectares of grounds - a good add-on to a Panda Base morning since both sit in Chenghua District.
Duration: Half day
Sichuan Science and Technology Museum
A large hands-on science museum just north of Tianfu Square at 16 Section 1, Renmin Middle Road, Qingyang District, with 20 exhibition halls and 600-plus interactive exhibits covering physics, space, and technology - a reliable rainy-day option in the city center.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Tianfu Greenway Cycling
A vast greenway network radiating along Chengdu's rivers, with flat, car-free paths, artificial lakes, and wetland stretches suited to family cycling or scooting, including the Sino-French Ecopark and Xinglong Lake sections.
Duration: Half day
Jinli Ancient Street & Wuhou Shrine
A reconstructed Qing-dynasty-style pedestrian lane next to the Wuhou Shrine in Wuhou District, lined with snack stalls, sugar-painting demonstrations, and shadow-puppet vendors that hold children's attention between historical sights.
Duration: Half day
People's Park & Heming Teahouse
A relaxed central park in Qingyang District with a boating lake, open lawns for children to run, and the century-old lakeside Heming Teahouse, where families can sit, snack, and watch street performers and ear-cleaners at work.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
InterContinental Chengdu Global Center
Located inside the New Century Global Center in the Hi-Tech Zone, this hotel is attached to an indoor water park and hot spring bath, making it one of Chengdu's most self-contained options for families with young children on rainy or hot days
Family features: Indoor water park, two swimming pools, hot spring bath, fitness center, family-sized rooms
Hilton Garden Inn Chengdu Tianfu Panda Tower
A straightforward, well-reviewed mid-range hotel in Chenghua District close to the Panda Base, cutting down on early-morning travel time for families prioritizing a dawn panda visit
Family features: Proximity to the Panda Base, self-service laundry, free WiFi, restaurant on site
Shangri-La Hotel, Chengdu
A riverside 5-star hotel in Jinjiang District with a heated outdoor pool and spacious rooms, within reach of Chunxi Road, Jinli, and the Jinjiang riverside parks
Family features: Heated outdoor pool, four restaurants and bars, riverside location, spacious suites
Chengdu Courtyard Hotel
A traditional Sichuan courtyard-style boutique hotel next to Wenshu Temple in Qingyang District, giving families an authentic architectural setting within walking distance of a free monastery courtyard and nearby street food
Family features: Ground-floor courtyard rooms, on-site restaurant, walkable to Wenshu Monastery and its snack stalls
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Standard Sichuan hotpot (mala) is very spicy and numbing; ask for a yuanyang (mandarin duck) split pot so children can eat from a mild clear or tomato broth side while adults keep the spicy side
Dan dan noodles and other noodle dishes can usually be ordered 'bu la' (not spicy) or 'wei la' (mildly spicy) for children
Guokui (stuffed flatbread) and jiaozi (dumplings) at street stalls like Wangji Specialty Guokui near Wenshu Monastery are inexpensive, filling, and not spicy
Vegetarian restaurants near Wenshu Monastery, such as Xiangyuan Vegetarian Restaurant, offer milder mock-meat versions of classic dishes that are easier for younger palates
International options like Peter's Tex-Mex Grill in Wuhou District are a reliable fallback if a child needs a break from Sichuanese spice
Sweet street snacks such as tang yuan (glutinous rice balls) at Lai Tang Yuan on Jinli Ancient Street make an easy kid-friendly dessert stop
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Visit the Panda Base as early as the entry slot allows (7:30-8:00 AM in peak season) since pandas are most active during the morning feeding and the site gets crowded and hot by midday
The Chengdu Metro is clean, air-conditioned, and has elevators at most stations, making it an easy way to move a family around without relying on taxis
Public restrooms in major parks and metro stations are generally available but bring hand sanitizer and tissues, as they are not always stocked
Book Panda Base and museum tickets online in advance through official channels; family groups without a Chinese ID can use passport details for the reservation
Air quality and summer heat and humidity can be intense from June to August; plan outdoor activities like the Panda Base or Tianfu Greenway for the morning and save indoor sights like the Science and Technology Museum for the afternoon
Strollers work well on Chengdu's flat, wide sidewalks and metro stations, though the older lanes of Jinli and Kuanzhai Alleys can get crowded on weekends