Chengdu

Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, is best known for two things: giant pandas and food. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, on the north-eastern edge of the city, is the best-known place to see them up close, and they’re most active in the cool early morning. Chengdu was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2010 as the home of Sichuan cooking, from bubbling hotpot to mapo tofu and dan dan noodles, with the numbing tingle of Sichuan pepper running through all of it. In the center, Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li handle the shopping, while Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli Street by the Wuhou Shrine and the lanes around Wenshu Monastery keep the older city’s courtyard houses and teahouses, where an afternoon over a bowl of tea is a local habit. Day trips reach the Giant Buddha at Leshan and the mountains of Qingcheng and Emei.

Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, are the most comfortable times to visit, according to Travel China Guide. July and August are hot and humid, often above 35°C, with the heaviest rain, and January and February are cold and frequently foggy, since Chengdu is famous for its overcast skies. Avoid the national Golden Week holidays around Chinese New Year, the start of May and the first week of October, when trains, flights and attractions are packed.

The metro is the easiest way around: Chunxi Road and Tianfu Square stations sit on the main lines through the center, and signs and announcements are in English as well as Chinese. DiDi, China’s ride-hailing app, has an English version and works for taxis, and shared bikes are everywhere for short hops. Most payments run through Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, so set one up before you arrive. Check which airport you land at: Tianfu International, which handles most international flights, is linked to the city by metro Line 18, while the older Shuangliu Airport is much closer to the center and is on Line 10.