Southwest · DESTINATION GUIDE

Sichuan 四川

Sichuan changes sharply from the eastern basin and Chengdu Plain to high plateaus and deeply cut mountain valleys in the west. Chengdu is the capital and a rewarding city base, but it represents only one part of the province. Southern food cities, Buddhist mountain landscapes and northern and western highlands involve different travel scales and cultural settings. Choose a basin-based journey or a carefully planned mountain extension before assembling the route. A short provincial visit need not collect every famous sight to reveal how much changes beyond the capital.

Location of Sichuan in China

About Sichuan

Sichuan at a glance

Population
83,180,000Year-end resident population, entire provincial-level administrative area · 2025Source ↗
Income per person
36,120Mean annual disposable income per person, all residents · 2025 · CNYSource ↗
Languages & dialects
Mandarin and Sichuan varieties of Southwestern Mandarin; Tibetan (藏语), Yi (彝语) and other community languages.Source ↗
Geography
Eastern Sichuan Basin, northwestern plateau and southwestern mountains and deep river valleys.Source ↗
Elevation
Northwestern plateau generally 3,000–5,000 m; the eastern basin is much lower.Regional terrain comparison, not a single altitude for Sichuan.Source ↗
Main gateway
ChengduProvince
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · 成都大熊猫繁育研究基地
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · Sichuan · Kreisverkehrsampel · CC BY-SA 3.0

Discover Sichuan

Build a first chapter around the basin

Chengdu offers neighbourhood meals, teahouses and contemporary urban life alongside its major sights. Nearby Guanghan introduces ancient Shu archaeology at Sanxingdui, while Dujiangyan explains the relationship between water management and the productive plain. These provide contrasting cultural subjects within a basin-focused journey. Keep their geographic identities clear: Guanghan is a separate city, and a provincial museum excursion is different from a walk through central Chengdu. Allow time for the city itself between outward visits.

Choose a southern food and heritage route

Leshan and Mount Emei share a heritage listing but are different visits, with separate scenic approaches and accommodation choices. Leshan also rewards staying for boboji, sweet-skin duck and qiaojiao beef. Farther south, Yibin's ranmian and Zigong's salt-history setting open other culinary chapters, including the distinct kitchens around Fushun. Select the cities that interest you and give each a meal and an evening, rather than using them only as short stops between major monuments.

Treat highland journeys as a different commitment

Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong introduce northern mountain waters, while routes toward Kangding and Xinduqiao reach another western landscape and cultural setting. These destinations are not repeated day trips from a Chengdu hotel. Elevation, road connections and local conditions change the planning, and rail access to a gateway does not remove the final valley transfer. Choose a limited mountain route with suitable overnight bases and current access information, leaving the rest of western Sichuan for another journey.

Explore Sichuan

Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.

Sichuan local specialties

四川特色美食 · 275 specialties to discover

Photograph of Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐).Mapo tofu 麻婆豆腐

The tofu remains tender and slippery beneath an assertive spicy, savory sauce. Meat and fermented beans create texture and depth between the soft cubes.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: ZhengZhou · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Twice-cooked pork (回锅肉).Twice-cooked pork 回锅肉

The slices develop browned edges while retaining soft fat, with a savory fermented-bean aroma and gentle-to-strong heat.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Dandan noodles (担担面).Dandan noodles 担担面

The noodles combine springy chew with spicy, aromatic and deeply savory seasoning. Sauce can collect underneath, so the first unmixed bite may be misleading.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Leshan bobo chicken (乐山钵钵鸡).Leshan bobo chicken 乐山钵钵鸡

The food is cool or room-temperature, with tender meat, crisp vegetables and a savory, often numbing-spicy coating. It is a prepared skewer dish rather than raw ingredients cooked at the table.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Zheng Zhou · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Leshan qiaojiao beef (乐山跷脚牛肉).Leshan qiaojiao beef 乐山跷脚牛肉

Tender beef, firmer organs and a clear savory liquid provide varied textures, with the dip supplying much of the sharp heat.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Leshan sweet-skin duck (乐山甜皮鸭).Leshan sweet-skin duck 乐山甜皮鸭

The skin balances sweetness with savory duck flavor, while the meat remains firm and juicy. It offers a different seasoning profile from chili-heavy Sichuan dishes.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: ZhengZhou · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Yibin ranmian (宜宾燃面).Yibin ranmian 宜宾燃面

The noodles are firm, oily and savory, with nutty crunch and a concentrated seasoning that clings to each strand. Chili is part of many versions.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Fushun douhua · 富顺豆花 · AI dish illustrationFushun douhua 富顺豆花AI dish illustration · AI 菜品示意图

The curd is fragile and mild, while chili, aromatics and fermented seasonings in the dip create a concentrated contrast.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
All dish names · 全部菜名 (275)

Top sights in Sichuan

Trip.Best · Best Things to DoChecked 2026-09-20

  1. Jiuzhaigou National Park · 九寨沟风景区TOP1

    Jiuzhaigou Valley九寨沟

    Show on map
    九寨沟县

    Jiuzhaigou is a protected mountain-valley landscape in northern Sichuan where clear lakes, waterfalls and limestone formations sit below forested slopes. Its appeal comes from the relationship between water, minerals, vegetation…

    View guide →
  2. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · 成都大熊猫繁育研究基地TOP2

    Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding成都大熊猫繁育研究基地

    Show on map
    成都

    Chengdu Panda Base combines giant-panda habitats with conservation interpretation across a large landscaped site. The Moon and Star nursery buildings have indoor viewing areas, while the Panda Museum explains the animals’…

    View guide →
  3. Dujiangyan Scenic Area · 都江堰景区TOP3

    Dujiangyan Irrigation System都江堰水利工程

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    都江堰市

    Dujiangyan is an operating water-management landscape, not simply an ancient monument. The Fish Mouth divides the Min River, while Feishayan and Baopingkou help regulate water and sediment entering the Chengdu Plain. Seeing the…

    View guide →
  4. Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum · 杜甫草堂TOP4

    Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum杜甫草堂

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    成都

    Du Fu Thatched Cottage is a garden and memorial museum dedicated to the Tang poet’s Chengdu years.

    View guide →
  5. Mount Qingcheng · 青城山TOP5

    Mount Qingcheng青城山

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    成都

    Mount Qingcheng’s front mountain combines a wooded climb with a sequence of Taoist temples. Jianfu Palace marks the lower approach, while higher halls connect the walk with the mountain’s long religious history. The experience…

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  6. Sanxingdui Museum · 三星堆博物馆TOP6

    Sanxingdui Museum三星堆博物馆

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    德阳

    Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan introduces the material culture of ancient Shu through unusually expressive bronze figures, masks and ritual objects. Its museum setting is distinct from the archaeological excavation area, although…

    View guide →
  7. Mount Emei · 峨眉山TOP7

    Mount Emei峨眉山

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    乐山

    Mount Emei combines Buddhist pilgrimage places with a large, varied mountain landscape. Temples occur at different elevations, so a visit can concentrate on religious architecture, forest walking or the high mountain, each with…

    View guide →
  8. Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum · 武侯祠TOP8

    Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum武侯祠

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    成都

    Wuhou Shrine commemorates Zhuge Liang and the Shu figures associated with the Three Kingdoms period.

    View guide →
  9. Leshan Giant Buddha · 乐山大佛TOP9

    Leshan Giant Buddha乐山大佛

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    乐山

    The Leshan Giant Buddha is a monumental seated figure carved into a riverside cliff, best understood through both its scale and its relationship to the water below. The carving belongs to the Tang-period Buddhist landscape…

    View guide →
  10. Bipeng Valley · 毕棚沟TOP10

    Bipeng Valley毕棚沟

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    阿坝州

    Bipenggou is a developed mountain valley in Li County, where lakes, forest and high rocky peaks make a varied alpine excursion.

    View guide →
View more on Trip.com →

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Ranking source & photo credits

The first ten entries of Trip.Best Best Things to Do. Rankings reflect platform recommendations, not counts of international visitors. Read on 20 September 2026; platform pages may use cached snapshots.

  • Jiuzhaigou Valley: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Dujiangyan Irrigation System: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Mount Qingcheng: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Sanxingdui Museum: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Mount Emei: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Chengdu Wuhou Shrine Museum: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Leshan Giant Buddha: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Bipeng Valley: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.

Our place guide directory →

EXPLORE THE NEXT LEVEL

Cities, counties & districts in Sichuan

21 areas belong directly to Sichuan.

21 areas

Prefecture-level city

Chengdu成都市

Chengdu is the capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan. With a population of 20,937,757 at the 2020 census, it is the country's fourth most populous city and the only city with a population of over 20…

20 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Zigong自贡市

Zigong, formed by the merger of the two former towns of Ziliujing (Tzuliuching, literally "self-flow well") and Gongjing (Kungching, literally "offering well"), is a prefecture-level city in Sichuan…

6 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Panzhihua攀枝花市

Panzhihua, formerly Dukou (渡口), is a prefecture-level city located in the far south of Sichuan province, China, at the confluence of the Jinsha and Yalong Rivers.

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Luzhou泸州市

Luzhou is a prefecture-level city located in the southeast of Sichuan Province, China. It is also known as the "Liquor City" (酒城).

7 local areas →
View all 21 areasShow fewer areas
Prefecture-level city

Deyang德阳市

Deyang is a prefecture-level city of Sichuan province, China. Deyang is a largely industrial city, with companies such as China National Erzhong Group and Dongfang Electric having major operations there.

6 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Mianyang绵阳市

Mianyang (simplified Chinese: 绵阳; traditional Chinese: 綿陽; pinyin: Miányáng; Wade–Giles: Mien2-yang2; Sichuanese romanization: Mien2-iang2; formerly known as Mienchow, Chinese: 綿州; pinyin: Mianzhou…

9 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Guangyuan广元市

Guangyuan (simplified Chinese: 广元; traditional Chinese: 廣元; pinyin: Guǎngyuán; Wade–Giles: Kuang-yüan) is a prefecture-level city in Sichuan Province, China, bordering the provinces of Shaanxi to the…

7 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Suining遂宁市

Suining (simplified Chinese: 遂宁; traditional Chinese: 遂寧; Sichuanese Pinyin: Xu4nin2; Sichuanese pronunciation: [ɕy˨˦nin˨˩]; pinyin: Sùiníng; Wade–Giles: Sui-ning) is a prefecture-level city of eastern…

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Neijiang内江市

Neijiang (simplified Chinese: 内江; traditional Chinese: 內江; Sichuanese Pinyin: Nui4jiang1; Sichuanese pronunciation: [nuei˨˩˧tɕiaŋ˥]; pinyin: Nèijiāng; Wade–Giles: Nei-chiang) is a prefecture-level city in the…

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Leshan乐山市

Leshan, formerly known as Jiading and Jiazhou, is a prefecture-level city located at the confluence of the Dadu, Min and Qingyi rivers in Sichuan province, China.

11 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Nanchong南充市

Nanchong is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of Sichuan province, China, with an area of 12,479.96 km² (4,818.54 sq mi).

9 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Meishan眉山市

Meishan, formerly known as Meizhou (眉州) or Qingzhou (青州), is a prefecture-level city of Sichuan with 2,955,219 inhabitants as of the 2020 census, of whom 1,232,648 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made…

6 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Yibin宜宾市

Yibin (simplified Chinese: 宜宾; traditional Chinese: 宜賓; pinyin: Yíbīn; Wade–Giles: I-pin; Sichuanese Pinyin: ȵi2bin1; Sichuanese pronunciation: [ɲi˨˩pin˥]) is a prefecture-level city in the southeastern part…

10 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Guang'an广安市

Guang'an is a prefecture-level city in eastern Sichuan province. It is most famous as the birthplace of China's former paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.

6 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Dazhou达州市

Dazhou (simplified Chinese: 达州; traditional Chinese: 達州; pinyin: Dázhōu; Wade–Giles: Ta-chou) is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of Sichuan province, China, bordering Shaanxi to the north and…

7 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Ya'an雅安市

Ya'an is a prefecture-level city in the western part of Sichuan province, China, located just below the Tibetan Plateau.

8 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Bazhong巴中市

Bazhong is a prefecture-level city in north-eastern Sichuan province, China. Its population was 2,712,894 at the 2020 census whom 1,064,766 lived in Bazhou and Enyang urban districts.

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Ziyang资阳市

Ziyang (simplified Chinese: 资阳; traditional Chinese: 資陽; pinyin: Zīyáng; Wade–Giles: Tzu-yang) is a prefecture-level city in eastern Sichuan province, China.

3 local areas →Autonomous prefecture

Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture阿坝藏族羌族自治州

Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, also known as Aba (Tibetan: རྔ་བ་བོད་རིགས་དང་ཆང་རིགས་རང་སྐྱོང་ཁུལ།, Wylie: rnga ba bod rigs cha'ang rigs rang skyong khul; Qiang: Rrmeabba Shbea Rrmea Nyujwju…

13 local areas →Autonomous prefecture

Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture甘孜藏族自治州

Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, often shortened to Ganzi Prefecture, is an autonomous prefecture in the western arm of Sichuan province, China bordering Yunnan to the south, the Tibet Autonomous Region…

18 local areas →Autonomous prefecture

Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture凉山彝族自治州

Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Northern Yi: /nɛ˨˩ʂa˧/) is an autonomous prefecture occupying much of the southern extremity of Sichuan province, People's Republic of China. Its seat is Xichang.

17 local areas →

Arrive, stay & get around Sichuan

交通枢纽、住宿与天气

YOUR ARRIVAL GATEWAY

Chengdu成都

This Sichuan entry uses Chengdu as its selected gateway city. It does not describe transport coverage across the entire region.

Airports

Railway stations

Metro & city transport

GET AROUND BY METRO · 地铁出行

Chengdu Metro Network 成都轨道交通线路图

Zoomable map · 可放大

The urban rail network connects central sights, separate railway gateways and both airport corridors. Use the exact airport and station names in the official planner.

  1. 1Find your stations确认起点与终点站
  2. 2Check interchanges查看换乘线路与站点
  3. 3Follow exit signs到站后按站内标识出站
Chengdu rail network diagram · 成都轨道交通线路图Explore the full network查看站名、线路与换乘Enlarge map点击放大线路图

Check the legend for closed, reserved or future sections. 停运、预留与规划区间，请按图例辨识。

Map edition: 2025-12-19 · Diagram reviewed 2026-09-06

Map: Alan_Fan_Pei · CC BY-SA 4.0

Map coverage & sources 图示范围与来源说明

16 metro lines plus S3 Ziyang line. Full metro station network; Rong Tram 2 is outside this diagram. Includes Lines 13 and 30 opened 2025-12-16. Line 2 temporary closure east of Chengdu Academy of Governance (Damianpu–Longquanyi) is marked in the map; preserve this notice. Unopened stations use the source legend. Diagram revision date is 2025-12-19, checked 2026-09-06.

Rasterized or resized to supplied image; white background where necessary; lossless WebP conversion. Network content unchanged.

Official information ↗
Amap · 高德地图Apple Maps · 苹果地图

Coaches, ferries & onward travel

Transport reference review: 2026-09-06. Consult the operator for current services and timetables.

More about getting around

Chengdu's Tianfu and Shuangliu airports are separate gateways, so check the airport code before arranging transfers. Rail is useful for basin journeys. For Jiuzhaigou and other mountain valleys, verify the station-to-sight connection as carefully as the train; roads complete many journeys.

Stay in Sichuan

A metro-connected Chengdu base around Tianfu Square, Chunxi Road or Wenshu suits different city priorities. For Emei, choose between a town base and mountain accommodation before planning your walking route. At Jiuzhaigou, confirm how your lodging connects with the visitor entrance.

Find hotels on Trip.com →

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Chengdu weather

The current-hour forecast loads when this section is visible. It uses MET Norway model data for the named city, not station observations.

Seasons & when to go

Chengdu and the basin have humid summers and cool, often cloudy winters. Mountain destinations can be much colder, even during a warm city break. Carry layers and rain protection; leave room to adjust outdoor plans when clouds obscure summits or heavy rain affects roads.

Local life & communication

Sichuan is a province of changing pace and terrain. Chengdu's social ease belongs to a large contemporary city; Leshan has its own food-centered daily life; the northern and western mountains involve different distances, settings and cultural contexts. Regional specificity matters more than a single spicy-food label.

Tea gardens, Sichuan opera and elaborate regional cooking reward time in Chengdu. Sanxingdui adds bronze masks and ritual sculpture from ancient Shu. At Leshan and Emei, Buddhist art belongs to a landscape of living temples; follow local guidance around worship and photography.

Language & communication

Mandarin is the main practical language in Chengdu and transport hubs; local speech belongs largely to Southwestern Mandarin. Tibetan languages become more prominent in western and northern highland communities. Keep both the Chinese destination name and the specific hotel address available offline.

Useful local tips

  • Leshan's Giant Buddha and Mount Emei are separate visits even though they belong to one UNESCO property.
  • Ask about minced meat, broth and toppings in tofu and noodle dishes; a vegetable-looking dish is not automatically vegetarian.
  • Mountain extensions need current access and transport checks; this page does not certify any trekking route or high-altitude itinerary.
  • Use Chengdu as a base for the plain, then change bases for distant mountain regions instead of repeating long returns.
  • For Zigong noodle orders, say whether you want soup or dry-mixed noodles and discuss chilli level explicitly; traveller accounts show how much the chosen preparation can change the meal.

Written by China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-09-07

Sources & useful links