Three budgets, all easy for the city.
Where to stay in Chengdu
Chengdu is known for the pandas, but there's a lot more to it. It's cute and very chill. Stay central, so the panda base, the parks and the food are all easy.
The hotels I'd pick
Plan the pandas
Go to the Chengdu Research Base right when it opens, at 7:30 (8:00 in winter). Once it gets hot, the pandas go inside. Tickets →
How long to stay
Two nights is enough. Then it's about an hour to Chongqing.
Quick answers
How many nights do you need in Chengdu?
Two nights is enough for the pandas, the parks and the food.
What time should I go to see the pandas?
Right at opening, 7:30, or 8:00 in winter. Once it gets hot, they go inside.
What should I eat in Chengdu?
Street food, and a bowl at Yao Guai Mian, a noodle shop recommended by the Michelin guide where a bowl costs a few dollars.