As someone who often uses his phone to browse the internet, I'm with you wrt ctu; save characters!

In the context of China, "pvg" is the only airport code usage that irks me in the slightest. "Sh" requires less typing time, and "sha" covers the entire shanghai municipality.

Back to topic we stayed in Chengdu on our way to Lhasa several years ago. Did the panda reserve, hot pot, and found the city to be very nice, and we did a lot of walking and exploring on our own.

Great to come across a thread on Chengdu.

I moved to the states (NC) around 10 and have been here since. However, I was born in Chengdu and spent the my 1st 10 years in between Chengdu and Chongqing in Sichuan.

I love the city and its food. You get the city feel without feeling as if you've over dosed on caffeine pills. However, it has always lacked great hotels until recently.

So, I've just booked 6 nights in between the Ritz Carlton and the Temple House for this Christmas/New Years week. Super excited to show my wife Chengdu and pandas.

Waldorf Astoria Chengdu (situated in the Tianfu New Area, opposite Chengdu Tianfu International Financial Center) is scheduled to open in 2016/2017: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilto...-chain-69.html

(2016 according to the Hilton China calendar, and 2016/2017 according to the Waldorf Astoria website: http://waldorfastoria3.hilton.com/en...ngs/index.html)

Some photos of the hotel design: http://champalimauddesign.com/projec...a-chengdu.aspx

The owner is Chengdu Yincheng Property Co., Ltd (http://news.hiltonworldwide.com/inde...om/detail/6330)

Grand Hyatt Chengdu is now accepting reservations for stays from 1 March 2016: http://chengdu.grand.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

I am heading to Chengdu in June so I am starting to plan things out. So far, my main thing is to hold a panda.

Then you better do some more research or prepared to be disappointed. The Giant Panda Breeding/Research Centre on the outskirts of Chengdu discontinued their panda holding/photo program about a year ago, and there's no word on when (or if) that will be reinstated. Similar in nearly all panda-public locations including Bifengxia in Ya'an. The only place currently offering contact opportunities--and likely to still be that way in June--is the Dujiangyan Panda Base--which isn't far from Chengdu city. It needs to be arranged in advance and costs about RMB 2000. They also have a one-day volunteer program. Note that there are two places in Dujiangyan: Panda Base and Panda Vallley which are run by different groups. I'm pretty sure the Base is the one that offers the photo contact, but you'll need to nose around for additional fresh information and phone/email number to set something up.

Yes going rate 325USD.

If you are an NBA star...probably free.
Pandas love basketball

Yes, I've been doing my research and have already been in direct contact with the Dujiangyan Panda Base. My girlfriend is from Chengdu, so she's going to help me with the communication and transportation while I am visiting.

Any restaurant recommendations?

PVG code origin 1999

PUDONG

substituted "V" latin alphabet character for "U"

On May 11,Wolong Giant Panda Reserve Shenshuping panda base the opening ceremony
After efforts,, the Wolong Giant Panda Reserve - Shenshuping base has been open. Wolong Base that was destroyed by 2008 earthquake. The new Wolong base is located in Gengda. The CCRCGP built two new centers to replace the original Wolong base that was destroyed by the earthquake of 2008. The new centers are located in Dujiangyan and Gengda. Dujiangyan was completed in 2013. Arrangements must be made with the Dujiangyan base for volunteering or visiting the pandas. The Gengda center was completed late 2012. Opening to the public was delayed due to the roads being impassable due several catastrophes (washout, rock slides). It is now ready for visitors, ergo the re-opening. The old Wolong center is used by the CCRCGP for its wild training release program.

Closed for several years due to the earthquake, wolong giant panda reserve is expected to be opened for tourist again from May 12th. There are more than 32 giant pandas in this reserve.Base is giant panda breeding areas, wild training areas, wildlife public education area, there are 59 set of giant pandas housing, tourist center, office building scientific research, popular science education center, the vet, giant panda transition, wild training and other supporting hardware facilities.

The Shenshuping panda base, away from the Chengdu 105 km,ticket 90 Yuan/per.

The zoo in Chengdu does have that depressing animals-in-steel-cages feel, but it's fairly large, with pandas and an interesting selection of some other animals. Besides, zoos are great places for people watching.

As for food, I'm really fond of the 四川小吃 Sichuan Xiaochi banquet, where you get up to a dozen small plates of various Sichuan snacks, like Dandan Mian and Long Chao Shou. But food quality has become much less dependable in China over the past decade -- corners are being cut everywhere -- so I'm reluctant to offer a name or two. Perhaps someone else will.

I've long resigned from expecting transcendental food experiences in China. IMO, inconsistency is a primary characteristic of Chinese food in China (and followed closely by indifference). Better Chinese food experiences, quality-wise but also in general, are found in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

In Chendgu, to try the city's street snacks, I would recommend Long Chaoshou (龍抄手/龙抄手) on Chunxi Road in the heart of the commercial district. I'm not sure if it's still state-owned, but it originated in the socialized era when individual street vendors were forced to give up ownership and consolidated into massive eateries like this. I don't mind the food hall atmosphere and curt service. The food isn't all that spectacular, either. But it's a relic, which gives it some meaning.

Below is the 12-dish sampler (RMB 38 as of 2015 Nov):

Yep, that's it, from the kitchen for the masses. At one time at least, Long Chao Shou had an upper floor dining experience, with a separate kitchen and much better xiao chi at much higher prices. I assume they still do, but haven't tried it.

There's at least one other place like Long Chao Shou in that area, about 5-10 minutes away. Like Long Chao Shou, not everything is good -- you need to order the banquet to discover what you like, then order a la carte -- but overall the quality is better. Their Zhong Shuijiao, the dish at 7 o'clock, have a great sauce, and their Dan Dan Mian are boiled right and not gummy.