When planning a trip to Sichuan, one of the first questions travelers ask is simple: which cities are actually worth visiting besides Chengdu? The answer isn’t just a list—it depends on what kind of trip you want. Some places are easy to reach and ideal for short stays, while others require more time but offer completely different landscapes and experiences. Without a clear overview, it’s easy to build an itinerary that looks efficient on paper but feels rushed in reality. This guide brings together some of the most popular cities in Sichuan to help you compare and decide what fits your time and budget.
Sichuan Tourist City: Chengdu (Land of Abundance)
How to Get There
- By Plane: Chengdu Shuangliu Airport mainly operates domestic business and high-altitude routes in China, while Tianfu Airport runs international and some domestic routes. Air China, Sichuan Airlines and other airlines operate direct flights from Chengdu to Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Travelers can transfer in Chengdu from Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and other cities to Vancouver, Melbourne, Rome, Moscow and other destinations.
- By High-Speed Rail: High-speed trains run at Chengdu East, South and West Stations. It takes about 1 to 3 hours to reach Chengdu from Chongqing, Xi’an, Guiyang and other cities.
- Urban Transportation: Subways cover most attractions; buses and shared bikes are convenient. The starting fare of taxis is low.
Where to Stay
- Near Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li: Ordinary hotels cost 300 to 600 CNY per night.
- Youth hostels or budget hotels along subway lines: 100 to 250 CNY per night.
- Homestays around Jinli or Kuanzhai Alleys: 400 to 800 CNY per night.
What to Eat
Hot pot, chuanchuan, dandan noodles, long chaoshou, three big cannons and more. Dine at small restaurants in residential areas instead of scenic spots; prices are about one-third lower.
Key Attractions
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding: Ticket 55 CNY. Pandas are most active in the morning.
- Kuanzhai Alleys: Free entry.
- Jinli Ancient Street: Beautiful lanterns at night, adjacent to Wuhou Shrine (ticket 50 CNY).
- People’s Park: A cup of tea at Heming Tea House costs about 20 CNY.
- Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng: Over one hour’s drive from the urban area, day trips are available. Dujiangyan ticket 80 CNY, front mountain of Mount Qingcheng 80 CNY.
Best Time to Visit
Suitable all year round. Choose spring or autumn to avoid heat.
Per Capita Cost (excluding transportation to and from Sichuan): About 600 to 1,200 CNY.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Sichuan Tourist City: Jiuzhaigou (Fairy Tale World)
Transportation to the Scenic Area
- By Plane: Direct flight from Chengdu to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport takes about 1 hour; take the airport bus to the scenic area for 1.5 hours after landing.
- By Bus: Buses depart from Chengdu Xinnanmen or Chadianzi Bus Station, 8 to 10 hours, fare 150 to 200 CNY.
- By Chartered Car: Round-trip SUV charter costs 2,000 to 3,000 CNY, suitable for 4 people to share.
Tickets and Visitor Limits
- Peak Season (April 1 to November 15): Ticket 190 CNY + sightseeing bus 90 CNY, total 280 CNY. Daily visitor limit 41,000. Entry time: 8:00 to 14:00.
- Off-Season (November 16 to March 31 next year): Ticket 80 CNY + sightseeing bus 80 CNY, total 160 CNY. Daily visitor limit 23,000. Entry time: 8:30 to 14:00.
- Closing time: 18:00. No entry after 14:00. Real-name online reservation is required 3 to 7 days in advance. Tickets often sell out in peak season; waitlist is available via official mini-programs.
Accommodation Options
- Near the Scenic Gate (Pengfeng Village to Zhangzha Town): Walk to the main gate. Ordinary hotels cost 400 to 800 CNY per night in peak season.
- Chuanzhusi Town: Lower prices, but one extra hour’s drive each day.
Tour Tips
Take the sightseeing bus to the highest point first, then walk downhill stop by stop. Must-see spots: Five Flower Lake, Mirror Lake, Long Lake, Nuorilang Waterfall, Pearl Shoal Waterfall, Colorful Pond. No overnight accommodation is provided in the scenic area.
Best Time to Visit
Late September to late October for the best autumn scenery. Off-season from December to March next year with low tickets and few visitors.
Per Capita Cost (departing from Chengdu): About 1,500 to 2,500 CNY.
Five Flower Lake in Jiuzhaigou in Autumn
Sichuan Tourist City: Leshan (Giant Buddha and Cuisine)
Transportation
- By High-Speed Rail: Less than one hour from Chengdu East Station to Leshan Station, fare 54 CNY. Take a bus or taxi to the Giant Buddha Scenic Area in about 20 minutes after exiting the station.
- By Self-Driving: Less than 2 hours.
Accommodation
Ordinary hotels in urban Leshan cost 200 to 400 CNY per night.
Must-Try Cuisine
Boboji, sweet-skinned duck, qiaojiao beef, tofu pudding, three fresh ice jelly. Recommended food streets: Zhanggongqiao or East Street, per capita cost 30 to 50 CNY.
Attraction Information
- Leshan Giant Buddha: Ticket 80 CNY, boat ticket 70 CNY (view from the river). Foreign group tours enjoy 50% off on daytime mountain tickets and Lingyun Mountain night tour tickets, 15% off on daytime river cruise tickets.
- Mount Emei: About 30 kilometers from Leshan, connected by buses. One of China’s four famous Buddhist mountains, with Golden Summit at 3,099 meters above sea level.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and autumn (April to May, September to October).
Per Capita Cost: 1 to 2 days of tour, day trip or one night stay, about 300 to 600 CNY.
Night View of Leshan Giant Buddha
Sichuan Tourist City: Dujiangyan (Ancient Water Conservancy Project)
Transportation
- By Intercity Train: 20 minutes from Xipu Station to Dujiangyan Station, fare 10 CNY.
- By Self-Driving: About 1 hour via Chengguan Expressway.
Accommodation
Ordinary hotels in urban Dujiangyan cost 150 to 400 CNY per night. Stay near Nanqiao Bridge for night views. There are hot spring hotels at the foot of Mount Qingcheng.
Key Highlights
- Dujiangyan Water Conservancy Project: Including Fish Mouth Levee, Feishayan Spillway, Baopingkou Intake, ticket 80 CNY. Recommended route – South Gate-Baopingkou-Feishayan-Fish Mouth-Anlan Suspension Bridge-Qinyan Tower for a panoramic view.
- Guanxian Ancient City: Free entry. Beautiful lights at Nanqiao Bridge at night.
- Mount Qingcheng: Front mountain ticket 80 CNY (Taoist culture), back mountain 20 CNY (natural scenery).
Best Time to Visit
Spring and summer. Flower seas in spring, and abundant water in the Minjiang River in summer.
Per Capita Cost: About 150 to 250 CNY for day trip; about 300 to 500 CNY for one night stay.
Dujiangyan
Sichuan Tourist City: Mount Emei (Famous Buddhist Mountain)
Transportation and Tickets
- By High-Speed Rail: Go to “Mount Emei Station” (not “Emei Station”). It takes over 1 hour from Chengdu, fare about 60 CNY.
- By Self-Driving: About 2 hours.
Tickets
Peak season 160 CNY, off-season (December 15 to January 15 next year) 110 CNY. Round-trip sightseeing bus for the whole mountain 90 CNY. Golden Summit cableway: upward 65 CNY, downward 55 CNY. Foreign group tours enjoy 50% off on adult full-price tickets.
Accommodation Tips
- Near Baoguosi Temple at the foot of the mountain: Hotels or homestays cost 150 to 400 CNY per night.
- On the mountain (Golden Summit or Leidongping): Convenient for sunrise viewing, but hotels at Golden Summit cost 800 to 1,500 CNY per night in peak season, booking one month in advance is required.
Tour Tips
Golden Summit is about 3,077 meters above sea level, where you can see the Ten-sided Samantabhadra Statue and the sea of clouds. Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion and First Line Sky are also worth visiting. Monkeys may snatch food; do not hold food or plastic bags in your hands.
Best Time to Visit
Good weather in April to May and September to October. Foggy in summer, snow on the mountain top in winter. Large temperature difference between the mountain top and foot; bring a thin coat even in summer.
Per Capita Cost: Tickets + sightseeing bus + round-trip cableway about 370 CNY, plus accommodation and catering at the foot of the mountain about 600 to 900 CNY. Cost doubles or more if staying at the mountain top.
Mount Emei Golden Summit
Sichuan Tourist City: Daocheng Yading (High-Altitude Snow Mountains and Lakes)
Altitude Sickness Prevention Tips
- Stop intense exercises 1 week to half a month in advance.
- Stay one night in Shangri-La Town (2,900 meters above sea level) to acclimatize after arrival; do not wash hair, take a bath or drink alcohol for the first two days.
- Bring a thermos cup for hot water, prepare chocolate and glucose.
- Cancel long-distance hiking if you feel unwell.
Transportation
- By Plane: Direct flight from Chengdu to Daocheng Yading Airport takes about 1 hour. Round-trip fare 1,000 to 2,500 CNY in off-season. The airport is 4,411 meters above sea level; take the airport bus to Shangri-La Town for about 2 hours after landing.
- By Bus: Direct bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen Station, journey about 14 to 15 hours.
- By Chartered Car: Drive along National Highway 318. A car costs 3,000 to 5,000 CNY, 800 to 1,300 CNY per person for 4 people to share. Need to cross multiple mountains over 4,000 meters above sea level.
Tickets and Accommodation
- Ticket + sightseeing bus: 266 CNY in total.
- Shangri-La Town (2,900 meters above sea level): Accommodation 200 to 500 CNY per night, recommended.
- Daocheng County (3,700 meters above sea level): Lower prices but prone to altitude sickness.
- Yading Village (inside the scenic area, 4,000 meters above sea level): Convenient but expensive, poor sleep quality, not suitable for first-time visitors.
Tour Suggestions
Two days. Day 1 (short route): Chonggu Temple to Pearl Sea, about 3 km of flat road. Day 2 (long route): Luorong Pasture to Milk Sea, 10 to 12 km round trip. Horse riding is available for those with limited physical strength (about 300 CNY), but walking is still required on the steepest sections.
Best Time to Visit
Late September to late October for the best autumn scenery. Azaleas bloom in May to June. Unstable road conditions in rainy season from July to August. Most inns close after November due to low temperatures.
Per Capita Cost (departing from Chengdu): About 2,500 to 4,500 CNY. Higher cost for round-trip flights.
Milk Sea in Daocheng Yading
Sichuan Tourist City: Kangding (Gateway to the Sichuan-Tibet Line)
Transportation
- By Bus: Depart from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station, fare about 120 CNY, journey 4 to 5 hours.
- By Self-Driving: About 3.5 hours via Yakang Expressway, 330 kilometers.
- No railway station or mature civil airport in Kangding with very few flights.
Accommodation
Ordinary urban hotels cost 200 to 400 CNY per night, youth hostel beds 50 to 80 CNY. Prices double in peak season (July to August and National Day).
Attraction Information
- Mugecuo Scenic Area: 17 kilometers from the urban area, ticket + sightseeing bus 195 CNY.
- Zheduo Mountain: 4,298 meters above sea level, free viewing platform.
- Xinduqiao: 70 kilometers from Kangding, a classic highway photography spot, best in autumn, free.
- Tagong Grassland: 100 kilometers from Kangding, overlooking Yala Snow Mountain.
Cuisine
Butter tea, yak meat, zanba are Tibetan specialties. Sichuan restaurants are also available; a bowl of yak beef noodles costs about 25 CNY.
Best Time to Visit
June to September for the best grassland scenery. Beautiful autumn scenery in late October but possible early cooling and snowfall. Roads are icy in winter, not recommended for visiting.
Per Capita Cost: 2 to 3 days of tour, round trip from Chengdu including accommodation, food and tickets, about 800 to 1,500 CNY.
Sichuan Tourist City: Langzhong (Ancient City)
Transportation
- By High-Speed Rail: About 2.5 hours from Chengdu East Station to Langzhong Station, fare about 100 CNY. Take a bus to the ancient city in 10 minutes after exiting the station.
- By Self-Driving: About 3 hours.
Accommodation
- Inside the Ancient City: Old house converted homestays cost 200 to 500 CNY per night.
- Outside the Ancient City: Ordinary hotels 150 to 300 CNY per night.
Key Highlights
- No entrance fee for the ancient city. Combined ticket for small attractions inside 120 CNY (including Zhangfei Temple, Imperial Examination Hall, Zhongtian Tower, Huaguang Tower, etc.).
- Jialing River cruise 50 CNY.
- Tengwang Pavilion outside the city is free, Jinping Mountain ticket 25 CNY, climb to overlook the whole city.
Cuisine
Zhangfei beef, Baoning vinegar, Langzhong steamed buns, beef noodles, cold jelly. There are shops selling freshly cut Zhangfei beef in the ancient city; you can buy after tasting.
Best Time to Visit
Comfortable temperature in spring and autumn. A bit hot and stuffy in summer but few visitors.
Per Capita Cost: One night stay departing from Chengdu, including round-trip high-speed rail, accommodation, food and tickets, about 600 to 1,000 CNY.
How to Choose Tourist Cities in Sichuan?
Chengdu, Leshan, and Dujiangyan work well for shorter trips, while places like Jiuzhaigou or Mount Emei need a bit more time. Destinations such as Daocheng Yading or Kangding are less about convenience and more about the experience itself. Trying to fit too many into one trip often makes the journey more tiring than enjoyable.
In most cases, choosing fewer destinations and planning them properly leads to a much better experience. If you’re unsure how to connect these places into a realistic route, working with a team like China Dragon Travel can help simplify the planning and make the itinerary feel much more manageable.
