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1 Day Wonders | Day Trips From Chengdu

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If you’ve been in Chengdu for a while, you may have already seen everything there is to see within the city limits (check out the top tourist spots here).

One of the best things about living in Chengdu is how easy it is to hop on a train, bus or a Didi, and in a few hours be somewhere beautiful. Western Sichuan has some stunning hikes, and scenic spots - and whilst some of them require long bus rides through hilly highways, here are some places to escape to, just for the day.

Remember: if you have the choice it’s vest to avoid Chinese Holidays, and weekends for most of these spots, as they can get VERY BUSY. Also some of these require you to bring your ID, so double check before you go.

Day trip to Leshan 乐山

Leshan is best known for its Giant Buddha, but it's also home to interesting temples and an epic local food scene. Set off from Chengdu as early as possible so you can explore the Giant Buddha scenic area at a leisurely pace and still have time to chow down on some local beef. By car, Leshan is about two hours away from Chengdu. Tickets to the Giant Buddha park are 80RMB, and 40RMB for kids.

Once you make it to the recently restored Giant Buddha, you will have to queue for a while to walk down the narrow path from the top to the bottom - on weekends this can take hours. If you want an unobstructed view, hop on one of the tourist boats over the river. After you've got your pictures with the big guy, spend some time exploring the temples and gardens inside the park.

Don't miss out on some of Sichuan's best snacks: 翘脚牛肉 - Leshan beef soup, 豆腐脑 - Soft tofu with crunchy toppings, 钵钵鸡 - similar to chuanchuan served cold in chili oil，and 甜皮鸭 sweet skin Leshan duck. Mmm!

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How to get there from Chengdu:

You can get a coach to Leshan fromXinnanmen Bus Station 新南门车站 (take Metro Line 3 to Xinnanmen Metro Station). The coach costs 52RMB each way and leaves every 30-60 minutes until the early evening. You'll arrive at Leshan Xiaoba Bus Station and from there take the number 13 bus (13路) to Leshan Giant Buddha stop (乐山大佛). The coach back to Chengdu leaves from Xiaoba Bus Station every 30-60 minutes and the last bus is at 7pm.

The most hassle-free way is to get the fast train from Chengdu East Railway Station to Leshan and back again, which costs 86RMB/ 54RMB (1st class/ 2nd class) each way. It's best to book ahead and make sure you bring your passport.

Emei Mountain 峨眉山

If hiking is your thing then you've probably already visited Emei Shan National Park for its stunning views and challenging climbs. The hike up to the Golden Summit is tough on the thighs and takes 2 days, but if you're looking for an Emei quick fix - you can do it in 1, with the help of busses and the cable car.

If you're on a tight schedule or want a leisurely hike, take the bus to Leidong Ping and start from there (the bus takes two hours from Baoguo Temple). If you want to stay in the park overnight and hike to the summit to watch the sunrise, you can stay overnight at one of the guesthouses at Leidong Ping and start hiking early the next morning (take a torch with you!).

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How to get there from Chengdu:

You can get a train from Chengdu East Railway Station to Emeishan for 64 and 99RMB/ 65RMB (1st class/2nd class). The new Emei Shan train station is about a 50-minute walk from the entrance of the park, and the station is also connected by bus to Baoguo temple, which is the departing point for buses going up Mount Emei and also the starting point for trekking.

Driving from the Sichuan capital to Mt. Emei will take roughly three hours (longer on holiday weekends). Hiring a private car and driver is the most expensive option but might be ideal for a group of up to seven people if comfort and convenience are a top priority.

You can also get a coach to Emei Town from Chengdu East Railway Station Bus Passenger Transport Station (take Metro Line 7 to Chengdu East Bus Station Stop). The coach costs 80RMB each way and leaves at 7:20 am, 10:00 am, 15:00 am, and 16:20 am every day, arriving at Emei Town Main Bus Station.

There are also many local and tourist buses that take travelers from Emeishan Station to the major tourist starting points. In 30 minutes, the number 12 bus will take you to Baoguo Temple at the eastern foot of the mountain. A taxi will make the same trip in ten minutes.

Ride the Chengdu Greenway 成都绿道

The next day out takes you around Chengdu, literally! At the beginning of the year, 99% of the full route of the 100 km-long greenway circling Chengdu opened to the public.

The greenway is a loop not accessible to cars running parallel with the fourth ring road (called Chengdu Ring Expressway 成都绕城高速), connecting 78 bridges and 121 eco-parks, they can be accessed from several points. The greenway crossing Tianfu Avenue next to Jincheng park at Global Center is probably the most known access point. It’s really flat - but has total uphill paths of about 20km, and downhills of about about 20km - and the remaining 60km very flat.

Since the greenway opened, it has become as top destination for Chengdu locals looking for leisure and exercise, and already gets quite crowded on weekends and holidays. Most people use shared bikes, but if you plan to do the full loop, they can be rented at several spots along the greenway like Feideng Station (must book in advance during busy period). Lots of people sell drinks and snacks along the trail, and now and then have a basic medic station. It is advisable to bring water with you though as sometimes the vending machines don’t work.

If you don’t plan to do the whole loop, we would recommend these routes:

-East to south (±25km): Qinglong Lake Wetland Park 青龙湖潮地 to Jincheng Lake 锦城湖 (near Global Center).

-Southwest to east (±40km): entering around Chengshuang Avenue 成双大道 to the Qinglong Lake Wetland Park 青龙湖潮地.

Ride safe!

Flower Town 三圣花乡

'Flower town' as it's known locally, is a group of villages that used to sell flowers, but has slowly become a mini-getaway for city dwellers looking to experience the countryside, but still sleep in the comfort of their own beds at the end of the day. The narrow, hilly roads make a welcome change from Chengdu's grey concrete highways and for a few hours you can get lost in the idea that you're outside of the third ring road.

There are plenty of little cafes, bars, and restaurants where you can relax and enjoy the relative calm of the town, or alternatively rent bikes. There are lots of BBQ restaurants, to invite big groups to, with free flow beer, so gather your friends! Close to the Modern Art Museum, you can also buy cheap flowers and plants at the market.

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How to get there from Chengdu:

Flower town is technically in Chengdu, so it's a doddle to get to. A DiDi or taxi is the easiest way (30-55RMB) - It's pronounced sān shèng huā xiāng 三圣花乡. There are also buses (the 899 from Chengdong Passenger Transport Center to Louwailou Stop) or Metro Line 2 to 红河地铁站 Honghe Station Exit A1.

Huanglongxi Ancient Town

黄龙溪古镇

Huanglongxi is an 'ancient town' with a history that dates back to the Han Dynasty. Located in nearby Shuangliu County to the southeast of Chengdu, Huanglongxi is known for its natural scenery and 'ancient architecture'. The town has seven ancient streets which were constructed during the Ming and Qing Dynasties... or so they say.

There are temples along the town's central street, or you can take a river cruise and admire the stilt houses and beautiful scenery. It has recently been used to as the backdrop in many historical dramas - so prepare to fend off teenagers in hanfu. You can also play mahjong along the river or go fishing.

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How to get there from Chengdu:

Take the bus from Chengdu East Railway Station Bus Passenger Transport Station. Buses leave every 30-60 minutes until around 6:30pm. The journey to Huanglongxi takes about ninety minutes and it costs 14RMB each way.

Qingcheng Mountain 青城山

Qingchengshan is one of the ancient 'cradles' of Taoism in China. The mountain area contains Taoist and Buddhist temples as you ascend to the peak, and it's a really nice day out. Skip the front mountain, and head to 后山 - the back mountain, which is much quieter. The entrance fee for Qingchengshan on its own is 78RMB (half price with a student card) and the combined ticket for both mountains and the Dujiangyan irrigation system is 168RMB.

It takes around 3 hours to get to Laojun temple at the summit of the mountain, with the cable car (80RMB) - but if you carry on walking, instead of taking the cable car back down, it's a lovely route and will take you back to where you started. If you stay in the area overnight be sure to check out the Dujiangyan irrigation system nearby.

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How to get there from Chengdu:

Take the fast train from Xipu Train Station (end stop of Metro Line 2) to Qingcheng Mountain Highspeed Station which takes roughly 35 minutes and costs 10RMB each way. Remember you will need your passport, both to book and to take the train. At Qingcheng Mountain train station, take bus number 101 or 102 to get to the start of the walking trails.

Alternatively, you can get a bus to Qingchengshan from the Wide and Narrow Alleys 宽窄巷子 which takes 1-2 hours, and also stops at Dujiangyan bus station. The buses leave at every hour, and especially frequently from 7 to 8am every day. Buses from Kuanzhaixiangzi will stop directly at the parking lot of Qingcheng Mountain ticket office.

Luodai Ancient Town 洛带古镇

Roughly 20km away from downtown Chengdu, this old town is home to the largest Hakka population in Sichuan (90% of the town's population is Hakka), and the town seeks to preserve this culture. Walking down the town's main street you can see some fantastic examples of traditional Chinese architecture.

Luodai has a Hakka museum and a spacious park dotted with teahouses. The four guild halls which date all the way back to the Qing Dynasty.

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How to get there from Chengdu:

You can take bus line 1024 from Xihe station 西河地铁站 (Metro Line 4 to Xihe Station) to Luodai or catch a bus from Xinnanmen Bus Station straight to Luodai Bus Passenger Transport Center Ancient Town. It will take roughly 1h 45 min to get the scenic spots.

Xiling Canyon Water Rafting

西岭峡谷漂流

Situated in a 4A graded tourist area (!!!!!), Xiling Canyon is famous for skiing in the winter and rafting in the summer. The course a few hours to navigate, with drops of up to 100 meters along the way, but it's mostly quite a tame affair. The rafts can fit 2 people, tickets cost 78-138RMB per adult (can find discount coupons online). Opening time: 9am - 6pm.

Address: Yunhua Village, Xiling Town, Dayi County 大邑县西岭镇云华村

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How to get there from Chengdu:

From Chadianzi Station 茶店子汽车站 take the bus to Dayi Station 大邑站 for 23RMB. Then take the bus for 8RMB to Yunhua Village 云华村.

The lost city of Sanxingdui 三星堆博物馆

Sanxingdui is one of the Southwest’s coolest recent discoveries, showcasing a major Bronze Age dig site in modern Guanghan, just 40 kilometres from Chengdu. The new museum was completed at the end of 2023, becoming the largest single museum building in Southwest China. Yay!

It has helped us understand a lot more about how people would have lived back then - displaying a rich collection from this lost civilization, including 1,000 artefacts featuring abundant bronze wares - like the Bronze green/gold alien-like mask, that has become very famous after its discovery in the last few years.

The museum lies in a quiet setting among the hill in Guanghan, but it is thought that several thousand years ago, these same hills were part of the city wall that surrounded a Bronze Age city. The discovery at Sanxingdui challenges the traditional narrative of Chinese civilization spreading from the central plain of the Yellow River, and Chinese archaeologists have begun to speak of “multiple centers of innovation jointly ancestral to Chinese civilization.