EXPLORE THE PANDA BASE AND OTHER CHENGDU ATTRACTIONS FROM A STYLISH HOTEL IN THE HEART OF IT ALL
Known as the "Land of Abundance" for its fertile plains and picturesque mountainsides, Chenghu has nurtured humanity for over 4,000 years. This lively metropolis is home to many noteworthy attractions, among them the Wuhou Memorial Temple and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The hotel provides unparalleled access to these famous landmarks as well as the traditional tea houses and winding streets for which Chengdu is so famous.
Blue Roof Museum
Established as a non-profit organization in 2009 The Blue Roof facilities are ideally situated adjacent to approximately 3600 acres of Egret Wetland. The Blue Roof site comprising of 2000 square meters, features 4 Main Gallery Halls, a Video Hall, a Multi Functions Hall, an Appreciation Lounge, and an Art Bar, all of which are supplemented by additional street, and in-grounds display areas.
Along with providing an accessible gateway to the sometimes confusing world of art, The Blue Roof Museum of Chengdu is dedicated to the research and presentation of contemporary art and related cultural ideas, public and interdisciplinary artistic practices. Consciously integrating research, exhibition, exchange and education of arts with the Southwestern Chinese art community and cultivating emerging collectors The Blue Roof wishes to emphasize indigenous talents, and artistic concepts. Address1: (A) Lotus Pond Moonlight, Sansheng Town, Jinjiang District, Chengdu. Address 2: New Blue Roof Art Village, Xinxing Town, Tianfu New District, Chengdu.
Contact: +86 (028) 8560 6896 | Distance: 10 Kilometers/30 minutes | Website
Jinsha Site Museum
Only recently excavated after having been buried for nearly 3,000 years, the discovery of the Jinsha archeological site caused a sea change in historians’ understanding of ancient China. Since its accidental discovery in 2001, thousands of Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BCE) artifacts have been unearthed from the site, including the now-iconic “Golden Sun Bird”, a 0.2-millimeter-thick decorative foil which depicts four birds in nearly pure gold. A museum dedicated to the site’s finds is located conveniently within 15 minutes of The Ritz-Carlton, Chengdu by taxi.
Distance: 8.5 kilometers/30 minutes
Wenshu Monastery
The Wenshu Monastery was originally constructed in the Tang Dynasty (618–907) and known as the Xinxiang Temple. In 1681, during the reign of the Qing Dynasty’s Kangxi Emperor, a monk named Cidu constructed a hut on the temple grounds and took up residence there; upon Cidu’s death, witnesses claimed to discover the figure of Wensu (Bodhisattva Manjusri) in the flames as the monk was cremated and the temple was rechristened the Wenshu Monastery.
Today the monastery is home to an extensive collection of Tang and Qing Dynasty artworks, including paintings, calligraphy and statues, in addition to Buddhist relics.
Distance: 1.5 kilometers/5 minutes
Wuhou Temple
Wuhou Shrine (Temple of Marquis Wu) is the most influential museum of Three-kingdom relics in China. It was built in the Western Jin period (265–316) in the honor of Zhuge Liang, the famous military and political strategist who was Prime Minister of the Shu Han State during the Three Kingdoms period (220–280). The Shrine highlights the Zhuge Liang Memorial Temple and the Hall of Liu Bei (founder of the Shu Han state), along with statues of other historical figures of Shu Han, as well as cultural relics like stone inscriptions and tablets. The Hui Mausoleum of Liu Bei represents a unique pattern of enshrining both the king and his subjects in the same temple, a rarity in China.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is a must-visit place in Chengdu. Over 80 giant pandas, red pandas and black-necked cranes live here and are well taken care of. Surrounded by verdant bamboos and chirping birds, you can watch the cute pandas sleeping on trees or playing in their luxury villas. Tourists can even make a reservation to hold a baby panda for picture-taking-for a small donation.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding was established in March 1987, with a mission to rescue and protect the endangered giant panda species. Over the course of 20 years, the Chengdu Panda Base has become well-known for the preservation of endangered wildlife, scientific research, breeding of giant pandas, conservation education, educational tours and panda cultural events. Address: 1375 Xiongmao Avenue, Chenghua Distict, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, 610081. Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., all year round.
Contact: Tel: (86 28) 8351 0033 / Booking Hotline:(86 28) 8351 0119 | Distance: 12.5 kilometers/25 minutes | Website
Jinli Ancient Street
Right next to the Wuhou Shrine is Jinli Promenade, a rebuilt trading and folk-art street inspired by the ancient-style buildings in West Sichuan. "Jinli" came from the name of an old street in Han-Dynasty Chengdu, meaning "make perfection still more perfect and hide the universe in the universe". The ancient Jinli street was one of the oldest and most commercialized streets in the history of West Shu, and was well-known throughout the country during the Qin, Han and Three Kingdoms periods.
With Qin, Han and Three Kingdoms cultures as its soul, the social styles of Ming and Qing dynasties as its appearance, and the West Sichuan folkways and customs as its body, the new Jinli Promenade, complemented by Wuhou Shrine, has unified the elements of the vibrant Chengdu life: teahouses, inns, restaurants, bars, handicrafts, local snacks and specialties. Mysterious red lanterns embellish the narrow street. Free-standing wooden stages host regular shadow puppet and opera performances, rekindling memories of the good old times. The street’s music bars are famous for live music performances. Try the most famous Sichuan snacks you’ve always wanted to taste, sit on the side of the road and indulge in a gastronomic experience under the moonlight. All these are the best sketches of the most romantic night in the city. Address: No. 231 Wuhouci Street, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. Hours of Operation: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m., all year round.
Contact Number: +86 28-6631-1313 | Distance: 3.6 kilometers/15 minutes
Mount Qingcheng
A 1,600-meter peak covered by lush vegetation, Mount Qingcheng is home to numerous sites of religious significance to Taoism, including the Fujian Temple, Tianshi Cave and Shizu Hall. It was named as World Culture Heritage by UNESCO together with The Dujiangyan Irrigation System in 2000.
Distance: 68 kilometers/60 minutes
Qing Yang Palace
Located in the southwest of the city, the Qing Yang Palace was originally constructed during the Tang Dynasty (618–907) and was later rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912) after the original structures were lost. Deriving its name from a pair of bronze statues depicting a goat and a cryptozoological amalgam of no less than twelve creatures, the Palace is one of the most significant Taoist sites in China and remains occupied by monks to this day.
Distance: 4.7 kilometers/15 minutes
The Du Fu Thatched Cottage
During the An Lushan Rebellion (755–763), celebrated Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu fled present-day Xi’an for Chengdu, where he took up residence in a modest thatched cottage on the banks of the Huanhua Stream in the western suburbs of the city. Although Du Fu’s stay in Chengdu only lasted four years, he wrote more than 240 poems in that time and inspired the construction of memorial gardens and structures on the site where his cottage once stood.
Distance: 6.7 kilometers/25 minutes
The Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Located on the nearby Min River, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System was built in 256 BCE by Governor Li Bing of the Qin Kingdom. Originally intended to guard against annual flooding, this system of artificial levees, weirs and channels had the side effect of significantly improving agricultural productivity in the surrounding areas. Still in use today, it continues to irrigate more than 5,000 square kilometers of farmland.
Distance: 56 kilometers/40 minutes
Wide and Narrow Alley
Wide and Narrow Alley is an idiosyncratic intersection of historic alleyways which today lives on as a bustling pedestrian area. Due to the area’s original occupants being soldiers from northern China, It features many courtyard homes called hutong which were atypical of the indigenous architectural style but popular in Beijing. Originally built in the Qing Dynasty, most of the Alley’s remaining hutong were renovated between 2005 and 2008 and now house boutiques, restaurants and other businesses catering to tourists.
Distance: 2.6 kilometers/10 minutes
Chunxi Road
With a history of 90 years, Chunxi Road is the most famous commercial pedestrian street in Chengdu. It was named Chunxi Road in 1924, and is also nicknamed the "Hundred Year Gold Street". More than 700 shops can be found here including large shopping malls, department stores, supermarkets, street stalls, and boutiques, as well as modern cafes, and a public square.
Distance: 1.4 kilometers/15 minutes
Global Center
New Century Global Center is a multipurpose building in the Tianfu New Area of Chengdu. The 100-metre-tall structure is 500 by 400 meters in size with 1,700,000 square meters of floor space, making it the world's largest building measured by floor space. This building houses two shopping malls, offices, conference rooms, hotels, an IMAX cinema, and a water park - “Paradise Island Water Park".
Distance: 10 Kilometers/30 minutes
IFS Mall – International Finance Centre
Opened in January, 2013, the 760,000 sqm IFS Mall provides a one-stop shopping experience with over three hundred shopping outlets, office buildings, hospitality, and commercial entities accommodated within. It also offers great distractions for non-shoppers alike. Indoor Ice skating rink, a global food court, book stores, IMAX theater etc. All the varieties expected to be found in an up-scale venue are available to shoppers. Address: Chunxi Road Pedestrian Street. Located at Hongxing Road and Dasisi Road cross-roads.
Distance: 1.6 kilometers/15 minutes
Renmin Park & Teahouse
Renmin Park, also known as People's Park is one of the oldest and most famous parks located in the heart of Chengdu. It is s a recognized historical site that amongst other things happens to host the oldest teahouse in Chengdu. Like a great many visitors, you may want to mix it up with the locals, get involved, and experience Chengdu with a native eye. Park activities begin at the crack of dawn (6 a.m.) when the park opens, and continue until its close at 2 a.m.. To better understand Chengdu one needs to sit down with local people in traditional teahouse with featured bamboo chairs and wooden tables. Usually offering jasmine, longjing and biluochun tea, teahouse is in the center place of Chengdu people’s social life.
Distance: 1.5 kilometers/10 minutes
Wangjianglou Park
Built along the banks of the Jinjiang River on Chengdu’s eastern outskirts, Wangjianglou Park takes its name from the 39-meter-tall pagoda at its center. Constructed during the Qing Dynasty, each of the structure’s four stories is decorated from floor to ceiling with detailed carvings and its bronze roof shines in the sunlight. Also of interest is the Well of Xuetao, where the eponymous Tang Dynasty poetess is said to have created inks from flower petals with which to write her poetry.
Known for its tranquil ponds and enchanting bamboo groves, Wangjianglou Park is also popular among Chengdu’s pensioners as gathering place for early-morning calisthenics and games of Mahjong.
Distance: 5.2 kilometers/20 minutes