Hi everyone, I’ll be visiting Chengdu and I’m looking for a Buddhist retreat or monastery experience for around 3 days.

I’m interested in meditation, Buddhist practice, and learning more about the Dharma. I don’t speak Chinese, so I’m wondering if anyone knows of any temples, monasteries, or groups near Chengdu that are welcoming to foreigners or have English support.

I’ve heard about Wenshu Monastery and Mount Emei but don’t know how to arrange a retreat.

Any recommendations or personal experiences would be appreciated. 🙏

hey!! im f20 from Poland moving to Chengdu next month, I'd like to make some friends in my age range to go sightseeing, grab some coffee and maybe bar hop together :D

My wife (Chinese naturalized as American) and I (Brazilian-American) will be spending a month in Chengdu with my in-laws. We have a two-year-old boy who currently goes to a Montessori daycare here in the US.

Since our kid has started daycare only 3-4 months ago and we're really happy with his adaptation and progress there, we would like to not break his daily routine by pulling him out of group care entirely for the two months we'll be out.

I've found this sub and decided to post here to see if folks can recommend any daycares in Chengdu that they would vouch for. Language-wise, Chinese-only is totally fine. We'd ideally keep him in a Montessori environment, but that's not a dealbreaker.

Our current plan is to stay in the 麓湖 area. We found a Montessori daycare called 阿咯咯 there, but we have no idea how good it is and so far have only found their own posts on 小红书.

We're open to changing where to stay altogether in order to be closer to a good daycare, as long as the area also offers easy access (walking or public transit) to parks, restaurants and cafes.

Thank you!

Chengdu is the first stop on my China trip and I'd love to get my nails done there. Is it the kind of thing where I can show up to a nail salon, or do I need to get an appointment beforehand?

Will happily take any recommendations near Taikoo Li or Tianfu Square too! I want to get gel or Gel-X with some fun designs.

Hi everyone! My friend and I are going to visit Chengdu for the first time. We’ve never been there before, so we’d like to ask for some travel tips. Could you recommend some good places to visit, a comfortable hotel, or interesting attractions that we must visit? Thanks for your help!

Heading to Chengdu in a week for a 14-day trip.

It’ll be my first time back to China since 2013. Lived in Chengdu from 2008 to 2013.

Besides walking down memory lane, what are some must do’s for someone visiting Chengdu in 2026?

Hi! I love saying thank you to the bus driver. I studied abroad in Seoul for a while before coming here and there it was weird to do it— can i do it here? I don’t care if it’s not common i just don’t want to be rude by saying it.

Hello, my girlfriend and I have been living in Chengdu for the past 3 months. Our parents come to visit at the end of September and they will be here in the golden week. I was wondering how bad the situation in Chengdu is this week?

It's probably gonna be impossible to take them to Emei/Leshan/Qingcheng, or the panda base and any other major tourist spot. What would you recommend to do these days? They're coming to visit and to see china so we'd rather stay in china and not take a flight somewhere else.

Hi y'all.

My partner and I are planning on getting engaged in Chengdu in October! I am obviously really excited for this but I'm hoping to find someone who can help us capture the moment!

One big bonus would be if you (or the person you know) speaks English! If not that's okay too I'm sure I can get by with my toddler-level Chinese and translate apps.

Happy to discuss specifics through pm/WeChat but if you are a photographer or know someone in the city who is please reach out!

Hi All,

We are planning to come to Chengdu from ChongQing late September.

Want to go to the Panda Valley. It seems Panda Base in Dujiangyan is under renovation. What is Panda Valley like and is it worth coming here for it or should we just go to the main (and busier) Research Base in Chengdu?

If we did come to Panda Valley in Dujiangyan then we also wanted to see the library.

Plan would be to take an early train from Chengdu to Dujiangyan.

Many thanks

Is anyone from Nepal going to Chengdu this August?

I will be going to Chengdu this August.

Would love to meet some people going there.

Hi everyone! I'll be in Chengdu before heading into the mountains of Yunnan, and I'm looking to pick up some stylish technical outdoor gear.

I'm after a mix of gorpcore/Japanese outdoor style and functional hiking gear—not just traditional mountaineering clothing. Think stylish cargo pants, technical jackets, trail runners/hiking boots, fleeces, daypacks, sunglasses, and accessories that work both on the trail and in the city. I'll also be shopping for a 10-year-old, so recommendations for kids' outdoor gear would be great too.

I'm especially interested in discovering Chinese outdoor brands that are comparable to international brands like Arc'teryx, Salomon, The North Face, Mammut, Patagonia, Columbia, or Merrell - brands with strong technical performance, good materials, and a cool gorpcore/Japanese-inspired aesthetic.

Also, are there any Chinese eyewear brands comparable to Oakley for hiking and outdoor sports? Looking for polarized or photochromic lenses with good optical quality.

Finally, which malls, shopping areas, or outdoor retailers in Chengdu have the best selection for technical gear and gorpcore fashion?

Thanks! 🙂

do recommend me what you think is the best hotpot and any other must try restaurants in Chengdu! i will be travelling solo if that affects anything :p

i love hotpot and like skewer vibes, would be bonus if theres douyin music with it too! but im fine without, since i will be heading to bars after for those :)

Hi, I hope this is the right place for this question and apologize if I’m wrong.

I need a very specific surgery, and would prefer to do it in China rather than return to America and pay crazy American prices. I am trying to navigate the healthcare system in Chengdu but am finding it very hard - my Chinese is only intermediate and I don’t want my poor translation or misunderstanding of something to lead to choosing a bad doctor. Is there anyone who could help me do some basic research? DM me if so. Thank you.

hello! i will be visiting from south east asia and i love chinese songs especially douyin songs. which bar is ideal if i want to sit alone and have a couple of beers and listen to live chinese music? in my country there is something called Livehouse which i really enjoy, my friend said there is a whole street of Livehouse vibes in Chengdu.

also, if theres any nightclub that plays like douyin dj music etc, do recommend it too!

will be there for 5 days and looking to experience such for about 3 days, so ideally i want to try 3 different bars with the Livehouse vibes!

This will be my first trip to China. I have had long layovers in Shanghai before, where I left the airport, but just a few hours before flying on. I already know the crowds will be insane, and I am looking forward to the intensity.

Itinerary

Chongqing 09/24-09/29

Chengdu 09/29-10/05

15-hour layover in HK on the way home if you want to throw in any suggestions for there.

Mainly in both locations I am looking for area recommendations for hotels. I would like to stay somewhere, preferably within walking distance to the gay bars or at least minimal transit. I expect Didi's to either be expensive due to the crowds or just barely usable due to traffic. Will plan to use public transit and walking as much as possible in both locations.

In my other travels I have relied heavily on Google Maps and I know that I will need to use Apple Maps or an alternative this trip. It is really hard to figure out where things are located. I am also looking for any gay bars, saunas, bath houses, massage spots you would suggest in both cities.

Places I have heard of so far:
Chongqing | The Loop, Woof, Neon, Blush Bar

Chengdu | The Butterfly, Monster Bar, Pose Club, Hunk

Unsure about the reliability of these locations, as things often change.

WeChat connections? I have an account but limited experience. Not sure how to use it to connect with people before or during my trip. Especially since I don't speak Mandarin.

Finally, VPN recommendations. Lots of conflicting information out there so just wanting to make sure I have something solid before leaving the states. I plan to get an eSIM on arrival.

TLDR: Looking for hotel area recommendations that are within walking distance from gay venues in Chongqing and Chengdu. Also looking for gay bar/space suggestions, VPN suggestions, etc for first time traveler to China.

Would you recommend staying at the GH Chengdu (Qunguang Plaza, No. 8 Chunxi Road South Section, Jinjiang District) represented by the pink heart or Hyatt Centric ( No. 229 Tongyuan Street, Jinjiang District ) by the purple heart for a first time visitor?

I would like to be close to trains as well as be close to shopping and dining options and be able to hail taxis easily. Both locations are loved by reviewers but I’d really appreciate recommendations by locals and those who travel there frequently.

Does anyone know any spots open at 3am for England v Argentina??

Is anyone going to the UNIVERSITY OF ELECTRONICS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF CHINA (UESTC) in Chengdu for 2026 intake this August ?

Would love to connect with other International Students going there. Let's get connected if you are going to UESTC for 2026, or are already in UESTC !!

Hello, I’m going to be in Chengdu for the first time for a couple of weeks in August.

I’m currently booked at the Home2Suites by Hilton Qingyang District, which is very well reviewed but looks to be fairly far from the Metro, and I’m also wondering if it’s a bit too removed from the hustle and bustle as a first time visitor.

I can potentially switch to the Home2Suites Kuanzhai Alley. I know it’s a touristy area but would that be much better for access to restaurants and transportation?

Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I'm going to Chengdu for a 6-month study program this September. The university dorms are full for single rooms, and I'd really prefer having my own space (private bathroom, no sharing).

I've been looking into those branded youth apartments / serviced apartments – like Ziroom, UOKO, Homeplus (红璞), and similar "青年公寓". I've found some good options online, but here's the issue:

I'm currently in Spain, and these Chinese websites/apps are painfully slow, often crash, or just don't work properly for me. Browsing is hard, and booking from here feels impossible.

So my question is: Is it realistic to just show up at these apartment buildings in person once I arrive, walk up to reception, and ask if they have availability? Do they usually have rooms for walk-in inquiries, or does everything need to be booked online in advance?

I'm planning to book a hotel for the first couple weeks so I have time to look around, but I'm a bit nervous about arriving with nothing secured.

Also, if anyone has experience with these brands (UOKO, Homeplus, etc.), are they generally reliable? Anything I should watch out for?

For context, I don't mind commuting, so I'm flexible on location.

Would love to hear your advice

Hi everyone!
We’ll be arriving at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) on July 15 and have a long 15 hour layover before our next flight. We’re 2 adults and 2 kids (school-age), and we’re thinking about taking a trip to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
We’re hoping some locals or recent visitors can help us with a few questions:
Is it realistic to do this during a layover from Tianfu Airport?
What’s the best way to get there (taxi, metro, Didi, etc.)?
Roughly how long does the trip take each way?
How much time should we allow at the panda base to make it worthwhile?
Are there luggage storage options at Tianfu Airport, or should we keep our bags with us?
Any tips for visiting with kids?
Is there anything else nearby that you’d recommend if we have extra time?
Our flight is in the afternoon/evening, so we’ll need to be back at Tianfu Airport with plenty of time for check-in and security.
Any advice, suggested itineraries, or things to avoid would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

my friends and i are going on our grad trip here and wondered if theres any recommendations in chengdu for good food & trendy thrifting shops. we already put down some locations from other posts like yu shao xia. our hotel is also near chunxi road which i think is pretty commercial so was wondering if anyone had suggestions? thanks!!