Giant Buddha
A 71-metre Buddha carved into a river cliff over a thousand years ago — his toenail alone is bigger than you. Descend the cliff stairs to feel it.
Buddha of the Three Rivers · Leshan · Chengdu
Jinli Ancient Street
Chengdu4.52 hr2.8k saved
A reconstructed Qing-style lane beside the Wuhou Shrine, all red lanterns, tea houses and a tight gauntlet of Sichuan street snacks. Graze: sanda pao (bouncing rice-ball dumplings), dan dan noodles, rabbit-head if you're game, and brown-sugar ciba. It's touristy and packed at night when the lanterns glow, which is also when it looks best — come hungry, eat in small bites, and watch a shadow-puppet or face-changing show.
Good to know
- Best time — evening — Red-lantern glow from dusk (~17:00-18:00 atmospheric, full lighting + performances ~18:30-20:30) is the signature experi
- Street effectively all-day; shops ~08:30-22:00, bars later; lanterns lit ~19:00-23:30.
- Eat small plates, not one big meal
- Try sanda pao and brown-sugar ciba
- Combine with the Wuhou Shrine next door
Insider tip — Pair with adjacent Wuhou Shrine (shrine in daylight, Jinli at dusk); graze small snacks (sandapao rice balls, Zhang Fei beef, three-cannon cakes) rather than one big meal
More in Chengdu
Three Kingdoms Shrine
Red walls and bamboo shading a shrine to the Three Kingdoms heroes. Slip in early, before the tour flags, and let it stay quiet.
Shrine of the Sleeping Dragon · Wuhou · Chengdu
Teahouse
Bottomless covered-cup tea under the plane trees of People's Park, where the city naps, plays mahjong and gets its ears cleaned.
Tea by the Lake · Heming Teahouse · Chengdu
Ancient Waterworks
A 2,200-year-old irrigation system still watering the plain — no dam, just genius. Cross the swaying suspension bridge over the rushing Min.
Taming the River · Dujiangyan · Chengdu