Originally Posted by
hungarianhc
I was going to post a new thread on getting Chengdu advice, but this one is pretty recent so I'll just hijack this thread! I'll have 48 hours in Chengdu by myself next month. 8AM on Friday to 8AM on Sunday. Staying at the Renaissance.
- Pandas - I understand that it is important to get there right when it opens in order to see the pandas most active and to somewhat beat the crowds. I'm planning on going on a Saturday, as I don't get there early enough on Friday. Any issues with that?
- I see that there are like 4 different panda centers near Chengdu. Which one is best?
- It seems like taking photos w/ pandas is on / off based on health of pandas and other factors. Any advice on this? I'll go either way, but if there's one spot that will allow me a selfie with a panda, I'll take that option haha.
- Hotpot - I have two dinners in Chengdu (note: after Chengdu, I will have nearly two weeks in other Chinese cities)... Should I just go all-in and do two hot pot dinners in a row?
- Anyone familiar with Chengdu a runner? I'm an avid runner, and I'd love to get a daily run in. What are the best spots?
- Any other advice?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice! I know there's a lot on Tripadvisor, but I trust Flyertalk way more as a source...
I was in Chengdu for a few days in May - hopefully I can answer some of your questions!
- Pandas: I went on a Saturday morning too, and it was great. Arrived shortly after 8am, and it was busy, but not too busy. I'd recommend buying tickets in advance via Klook, which gives you a QR code on your phone you can use to go straight to the barrier and avoid the ticket office. I think it's marginally cheaper too, but the main advantage is convenience. (If you don't already use Klook, PM me for a referral that I think gets you a £3 credit.) We ended up staying at the Panda Base until about 2pm (one of my companions was very keen on pandas) and they were still awake and doing stuff (having lunch?) then, so might not be mandatory to get there for opening time. Might be different in summer though, so I'd still recommend going early.
- The panda base you want is called "Giant Panda Breeding Research Base" - to the north-east of the city centre, near the "Panda Avenue" tube station.
- I didn't see the option to get up-close to the pandas, but you can get a good view of them from the edge of the enclosures, so probably easy enough to get a selfie with a panda or two in the background, especially if you're a bit taller than the locals
- Food/hotpot: I'm sure any native Chengdu'ers would disagree, but to be honest, hotpot is hotpot, as far as I'm concerned. I had a good one in Xi'an too... 2 nights in a row might be a bit over the top, since Chengdu also has a lot of other good eating options.
- I am normally a runner, but didn't run in Chengdu. There is a good park in the centre of town (People's Park), but it was very busy at the weekend so you might be better off finding something near your hotel.
Hope you have a good trip!