Chengdu Travel Safety Guide — China

Safety Score: 8.5/10 · Value: 8.2/10 · Beauty: 7.3/10

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan province and one of China’s most relaxed and likeable megacities, a place famous for giant pandas, tongue-numbing hotpot, and an unhurried teahouse culture that locals are proud to protect. Despite a population in the tens of millions, the city moves at a gentler pace than Beijing or Shanghai, and travellers consistently rate it as one of the easiest big Chinese cities to enjoy. The headline attraction is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can watch dozens of pandas at close range, especially the adorable cubs. Beyond the pandas, Chengdu is a paradise for food lovers: this is the heartland of Sichuan cuisine, where mala (numbing-spicy) hotpot, dan dan noodles and mapo tofu were born. The old streets of Jinli and Kuanzhai Xiangzi blend snack stalls, tea houses and craft shops in restored historic lanes. Chengdu is also the gateway to western China’s mountains and the Tibetan plateau, and a launch point for trips to nearby Leshan’s Giant Buddha and Mount Emei. The city is modern, safe and well-connected by a huge metro network, making it an easy base for exploring Sichuan.

Tripvey Score — estimated from travel advisories and publicly available data. Not official safety advice.