Start at Wuhou Shrine when it opens, ideally around 8:30–9:00 AM; allow about two hours for the Three Kingdoms halls, red-wall paths, and cypress-shaded garden. Admission is usually around ¥50, though check the official booking page nearer your visit because timed entry or ID registration may apply. The shrine is in the south-central city, and a taxi or ride-hailing car is simplest; Metro Line 3 to Gaoshengqiao followed by a short walk is the economical option. Exit toward Jinli Ancient Street afterward—it is directly beside the shrine, so there is no need to arrange transport.
Spend roughly 1–1½ hours wandering Jinli Ancient Street around late morning, when it is lively but less crowded than the evening. Look for local snacks such as sweet fermented rice, beef noodles, and glutinous rice cakes, but treat this mainly as a tasting stop rather than your full meal. For lunch, take a taxi or ride-hailing car to Chen Mapo Tofu; allow 15–25 minutes depending on traffic and expect roughly ¥40–80 per person. Order the signature mapo tofu with rice and one or two shared dishes—Sichuan portions can be generous, and the standard version is properly spicy.
After lunch, continue to People’s Park in Qingyang District, around 10–20 minutes by car or roughly 25 minutes by Metro depending on your Chen Mapo Tofu branch. Allow about 1½ hours to sit in a teahouse, watch mahjong games, and stroll around the lake and gardens. Heming Teahouse is the classic place for the local experience; tea prices vary by seating and service, and a busy afternoon may mean waiting for a table. Keep some cash or mobile payment ready for tea, snacks, and small extras. From the park, Kuanzhai Alley is a pleasant 15–20-minute walk, or a short taxi ride if your feet need a break.
Finish in Kuanzhai Alley for about two hours, moving beyond the busiest central lanes into the quieter parallel courtyards and side passages. It is tourist-oriented, but the restored Qing-era architecture is attractive after dark, with boutiques, teahouses, and Sichuan snacks. Prices are higher than in ordinary neighborhood eateries, so browse first and choose smaller portions if you want to keep sampling. The lanes are close to People’s Park Metro Station and Tonghuimen Station; for a hotel elsewhere, ride-hailing is usually easiest after 7:30 PM, when traffic can slow considerably.
Start early at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, ideally arriving around 7:30–8:00 AM, when the pandas are most active and keepers often bring out their morning food. From central Chengdu, a taxi or ride-hailing car usually takes 45–60 minutes depending on traffic; metro Line 3 to Panda Avenue followed by the base shuttle is cheaper but slower. Allow about four hours, including entry queues and the walk between enclosures. Advance real-name booking may be required, so secure the official timed ticket before setting out; admission is commonly around ¥55, with transport inside the grounds extra. January mornings can be cold and damp, so wear shoes with good grip and bring a warm layer.
Before leaving, stop at Panda Post inside the base for a short break and a panda-themed postcard—around 30 minutes is enough, though mailing services and souvenir availability can vary. Continue by taxi toward Chengdu Zoo in Xindu District, budgeting roughly 25–40 minutes depending on traffic and allowing time for the transfer between attractions. Spend about two hours there with the regional wildlife exhibits; check the day’s closing time before visiting, as winter hours can be shorter and some animal areas may close ahead of the gates.
Take a taxi or metro back toward central Chengdu for Wenshu Monastery, allowing approximately 45–60 minutes from the zoo. The quiet temple courtyards and incense-filled halls are best enjoyed at an unhurried pace, followed by a wander through the nearby lanes and tea shops; keep voices low and dress respectfully, as this remains an active Buddhist site. Entry is generally free, though donations are welcome, and opening hours can change with religious observances. Finish at Wenshu Monastery Vegetarian Restaurant nearby for a relaxed meat-free Sichuan-style dinner—budget roughly ¥50–100 per person. Arrive before the evening rush or be prepared to wait, and ask staff about daily specials if you want something beyond the familiar mock-meat dishes.
Take the planned early intercity train from Chengdu and allow roughly 1.5–2 hours door-to-door, including reaching the station, waiting, and the local transfer after arrival. From Dujiangyan Railway Station, a taxi or ride-hailing car to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System takes about 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic. Spend around three hours following the paths around Yuzui, Feishayan, and Baopingkou, crossing Anlan Suspension Bridge if open, and pausing at the viewpoints for a clear sense of how the Min River is controlled. Admission is commonly around ¥80, but check the official booking channel for the January 2027 price and any ID-based reservation requirement; wear shoes with good grip, as the stone paths can be damp.
Have lunch in Dujiangyan before transferring to Qingcheng Mountain Front Mountain Scenic Area—allow about 35–45 minutes by taxi from the irrigation project. Give the mountain four to five hours: the forested route to Jianfu Palace, Tianshi Cave, and Shangqing Palace is atmospheric and shaded, but includes plenty of steps. If you want to conserve energy, use the cable car for one leg where operating and walk the other way; confirm cable-car hours, weather restrictions, and the last downhill service before entering. The scenic area is usually best handled with an early start and a firm turnaround time, as winter daylight fades quickly; scenic-area and cable-car tickets should be checked or booked in advance.
Return to Dujiangyan for a relaxed meal at Old Mother Rabbit Head, where the local specialty is rabbit head seasoned with fragrant Sichuan spices—ask staff to split the order or choose less spicy preparation if you are unsure. Budget approximately ¥50–100 per person. Keep dinner to about an hour, then leave for Dujiangyan Railway Station around 6:00 PM; from the mountain area, allow 45–60 minutes for the transfer plus station waiting time. The return train and final city transfer will take roughly 1.5–2 hours door-to-door, so keep your onward Chengdu evening deliberately light.
Take the planned early train connection via Chengdu and aim to reach Leshan around 9:00–9:30 AM, allowing roughly 2.5–3.5 hours door-to-door from Dujiangyan. From Leshan Station, a taxi or ride-hailing car to Leshan Giant Buddha at Lingyun Mountain usually takes 30–45 minutes; buses are cheaper but slower and less convenient with a full day ahead. Reserve the Buddha scenic-area admission in advance if the official system requires timed entry, and keep your passport or ID ready for ticket checks. Allow about three hours for the cliff paths, temple courtyards, and river viewpoints—wear shoes with good grip, as the stairways can be steep and slippery in January.
After exploring the statue from land, take the Leshan Giant Buddha river cruise, usually about an hour. This is the best complementary view: rather than repeating the crowded stair descent, you see the entire seated Buddha framed by the cliffs and confluence of the rivers. Boat operations can be affected by water conditions or weather, so treat the sailing as a flexible part of the visit and confirm the boarding point and last departure locally. A taxi back toward central Leshan should take around 20–30 minutes, depending on traffic.
Spend the late afternoon and early evening at Leshan Zhanggongqiao Food Street, a lively local eating area where small restaurants and stalls are ideal for grazing rather than ordering one large meal. Try Leshan specialties such as sweet-skinned duck and bobo chicken; expect roughly ¥60–120 per person for a generous tasting meal. The area is informal, and menus may be mostly Chinese, so pointing at displayed dishes or using a translation app is useful. Keep an eye on the time: leave central Leshan around 5:00–5:15 PM for Leshan Station, allowing at least 45–60 minutes for the taxi ride, station security, and finding your platform.
Take the planned evening intercity train back to Chengdu, targeting a departure around 6:00 PM. Allow about two hours door-to-door from Leshan to your Chengdu accommodation, including the transfer from Chengdu East and possible evening traffic. Keep the return ticket booked before the day begins, since later trains can fill up and the final local transfer may be tiring after the Buddha’s stairs.
After returning from Leshan, head first to the Sichuan Museum in Qingyang District. Aim to arrive around 9:30–10:00 AM, allowing roughly 1.5 hours door-to-door from Chengdu East Railway Station by metro, taxi, or ride-hailing car. Give yourself about two hours for the archaeology galleries, Sichuan art, and regional-history displays. Admission is generally free, but advance real-name reservation and an ID check may be required; confirm the booking rules and opening hours shortly before your visit, as museums can close on a weekday or limit entry during exhibitions.
Walk straight across to Huanhuaxi Park after the museum—this is an easy, pleasant transition rather than another car ride. Spend about 1–1.5 hours following the waterways, bamboo paths, and landscaped gardens; January can be cool and damp, so comfortable shoes and a light layer are useful. Continue on foot to Du Fu Thatched Cottage, where the gardens, tiled pavilions, and reconstructed residence make a calm two-hour visit. Allow extra time for the entrance queue and ticket check; admission is typically around ¥50, with current opening hours and reservation requirements worth checking before you go.
For the later part of the day, take a taxi or ride-hailing car from Du Fu Thatched Cottage to Yulin Road, usually around 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Explore slowly rather than following a strict route: browse the small shops and cafés, look for the neighborhood’s music-related murals and venues, and settle into the relaxed residential atmosphere that makes Yulin feel more lived-in than Chengdu’s major sightseeing streets. Around 6:00–7:00 PM, have your final Sichuan meal at Shu Jiu Xiang on Yulin South Road, a well-regarded local-style option; order one or two shared dishes such as mapo tofu, fish-fragrant eggplant, or twice-cooked pork, and expect roughly ¥60–120 per person. Yulin is well connected by ride-hailing and metro, though restaurant seating can fill quickly at dinner, so reserve or arrive slightly before peak time.
No packing list attached yet.