HI All..I have been inspired to do a run to Chengdu. I am new to FT and have spent quite a bit of time reading (what a time sink but I love it!) but I still have a couple of questions. 1. My first layover is 2 hr in PEK - should I try to exchange some money there or wait until I get to CTU? What's your advice? 2. I'll be getting to CTU at 10pm at night so I think that it's probably best to take a taxi to the hotel (hence the need to get money Q1). Is it fairly easy to get a legit taxi and how do I recognize one? Expected cost? I have seen a range of prices. 3. I have a full day in Chengdu and would love to see the Pandas and get in as much exploring as I can but the cost for tours for solo travelers is a little high. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help!!

There are many ATMs in the arrival hall (main hall after customs). You may as well get currency in PEK.
For a taxi, just follow the signs that say "taxi" and join the queue. You pay whatever the meter says. Cost obviously depends on where you are going so we can't help on this.
No need to join a tour to see the panda. Just take a taxi or the subway. Go early before the tours arrive. The pandas are most active early in the day.

At Chengdu Airport, there is Bank of China. You can change money.But the business hours of Bank of China are 0900-1900.
There are many taxis at Chengdu Airport in the evening.Green.from airport to city center ,60yuan.
Around Chengdu, there are four panda bases with different numbers of pandas.Chengdu Panda Base is very close, taxi from the city center,to chengdu panda base,about 35yuan.
But if you want to be a panda volunteer / hold a panda,take a picture of a panda, it's expensive.

There are also plenty of physical banks at PEK, but ATMs are the best way to get CNY (no need to fill out any forms, and most airport bank branches tack on a Y50 service fee).

I've found that sometimes there are long lines for the ATMs...but rarely for the forex counters...which are open 24hrs a day. Rates are worse than the banks, but for a short trip, probably makes little difference. If you have time in your transfer at PEK, go ahead and change there, but I think 2hrs is a fairly tight transfer window: I would prioritise getting to my flight on time! I can't recall if there is a forex window on the domestic departures airside at PEK: I don't think there is at T3, can't recall from T2.

tb

CTU has no place to exchange foreign currency in the domestic terminal. None. You would have to walk or take the shuttle bus to the international terminal which is 1 km away and I am sure it will not be open at 10 pm when the OP lands. If you arrive on a domestic flight without local currency exit baggage claim and head to the left. You will find some ATMs there and they have English as an option. As moondog said ATMs will be cheaper than using an airport foreign exchange counter anyway.

There is a large taxi ramp in the middle of the domestic terminal. Just head outside and go to the middle. The signage inside the terminal is not exactly precise because it has not been updated since they closed off half of the exits for security reasons. Just find an exit that is open, head outside to the sidewalk are and walk to the middle, you will find the taxis.

You can take public transportation to the Panda Research Center but it will require substantially more time than taxis. The tradeoff between time and cost is really up to you, depends on what else you want to do.

Thank you..this is very helpful

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.

1. 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?
2. I see that there are like 4 different panda centers near Chengdu. Which one is best?
3. 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.
4. 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?
5. 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?
6. 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!

I'm with you on your hotpot assessment:
-2 nights in a row is not my style unless we're talking about a late night snack on a bar street
-other places in China also have nice hotpot