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Culture and nature

Shanghai — Chengdu

Shanghai → Chengdu

  • 6 days · 5 nights
  • 1 transfer
  • ≈ ¥3 895

A coastal megacity and laid-back Chengdu: two days in Shanghai, a flight west, pandas, teahouses and mountains.

When to go: March–June and September–November: Chengdu summers are hot and humid.

Times are approximate and update when you replace a stop.

Day 1

Shanghai: the Bund and Pudong

Overnight: Shanghai
  1. 10:0011:30
    The Bund
    Photo: Georgio · CC BY-SA 3.0

    The Bund

    Colonial facades and the Pudong skyline across the river.

    1 h 30 minFree
  2. ≈ 20 min · on foot
  3. 11:5013:50

    Yu Garden and the Old City

    A classic Ming-era garden ringed by a bazaar and teahouses.

    2 h¥40
  4. ≈ 30 min · metro
  5. 14:2016:20

    Shanghai Tower observation deck

    Floor 118, best at sunset. Online tickets beat the box office.

    2 h¥180
Day 2

Shanghai: canals and the Concession

Overnight: Shanghai
  1. 10:1014:10
    Zhujiajiao water town
    Photo: BrokenSphere · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Zhujiajiao water town

    Canals and stone bridges on metro line 17. The town itself is free.

    4 hFree
  2. ≈ 1 h · metro
  3. 15:1017:40

    The French Concession

    Plane trees, villas and cafés along Wukang and Anfu roads.

    2 h 30 minFree
Day 3

Fly to Chengdu

Overnight: Chengdu
  1. 09:0012:20

    Flight: Shanghai → Chengdu

    Hongqiao → Tianfu or Shuangliu. The train takes 11–12 hours and is rarely cheaper.

    3 h 20 min¥1 000
  2. ≈ 1 h · metro
  3. 13:2015:20

    Kuanzhai Alleys

    Old-town lanes, teahouses and street food.

    2 hFree
  4. ≈ 20 min · metro
  5. 15:4017:10

    Sichuan opera and face-changing

    An hour of masks, fire-breathing and shadow puppets.

    1 h 30 min¥180
Day 4

Chengdu: pandas and teahouses

Overnight: Chengdu
  1. 08:0012:00
    Giant Panda Base
    Photo: Kreisverkehrsampel · CC BY-SA 3.0

    Giant Panda Base

    Pandas are active in the morning and asleep by noon — go at opening.

    4 h¥55
  2. ≈ 30 min · metro
  3. 12:3014:00
    People’s Park and Heming Teahouse
    Photo: Kcx36 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    People’s Park and Heming Teahouse

    Tea in bamboo chairs and ear cleaning, the Chengdu way.

    1 h 30 min¥30
  4. ≈ 30 min · metro
  5. 14:3016:30
    Wuhou Shrine and Jinli Street
    Photo: 螺钉 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Wuhou Shrine and Jinli Street

    The Three Kingdoms era and a lantern-lit market street next door.

    2 h¥50
Day 5

A day in the mountains

Overnight: Chengdu
  1. 09:3014:30
    Mount Qingcheng
    Photo: JianEn Yu · CC BY 2.0

    Mount Qingcheng

    Taoist temples in the forest. About an hour by train from Xipu.

    5 h¥80
Day 6

A last morning and departure

Departure day
  1. 10:3012:30

    Taikoo Li and Daci Temple

    A shopping quarter wrapped around an old temple.

    2 hFree