ULTIMATE 7-DAY Chengdu and Chongqing Itinerary: Twin-City Guide (2026)
Hi! This itinerary is based on my personal experiences.
I’m a native Chinese and the creator of this website, Yenkid In China.
With my all-in-one guide, you will find it much easier to plan your trip!
My take 🐼
In this self-guided itinerary, you will discover China’s panda capital + the 8D cyberpunk city.
This itinerary is most suitable for those who want to explore Chengdu and Chongqing in depth (compared to the surface level visits by most tourists).
A great balance of historical sites, temples, cultural districts, neighbourhoods, futuristic skyscrapers, city life and more!
And of course many regional dishes from one of the world’s most delicious cuisines!
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I have provided a detailed day-by-day breakdown, my secret tips, and recommended links for you to book your trip.
You can make this itinerary shorter or longer, depending on how much time you have!
You don’t have to book with a tour agency to organise this.
I’m not an agency. I’ve shared this itinerary to help you organise it independently like I did.
That’s part of the fun!
You can still book tours for individual attractions + activities like food tours separately.
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🛏️ I book hotels on Trip because it gives me the best prices ($26 cheaper for one booking!) + has way more hotels for China. What made it even cheaper was getting exclusive discounts as a new user. Register here!
🚅 I recommend booking trains on Trip as it offers the best English language interface + you can reserve tickets further in advance.
📲 The Apps You Need 🛜 Internet Access + Data 🧳Before You Arrive Guide
Quick Summary
Chengdu (4 days) ➡️ Chongqing (3 days)
More cities to add at bottom of article.
💡SEE FULL ITINERARY BELOW
You’ll see the itinerary is split into two sections.
Use this as your template + modify + delete to suit your length of stay & preferences
If you’re looking for a longer itinerary that includes Chengdu and Chongqing, check out my:
BEST Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing Itinerary: 3 Days, 7 Days, 10+ Days
BEST Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Chongqing, Chengdu Itinerary: 2-14 Days
My suggested Chengdu itinerary 👣
In one line: Chengdu is the heart of Sichuan cuisine and the panda capital! I find it so heartwarming!
Day 1 - CHENGDU
Why I find this day special: relaxing in one of China’s most laid-back cities +tasting the best of Sichuan cuisine
🚅Morning - Arrive in Chengdu
⬇️(leave luggage at hotel)
PM - Wuhou Shrine ➡️ Tianfu Square ➡️ People’s Park ➡️ Jinli Ancient Street
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🛏️Sleep in Chengdu (4 nights)
👉🏻 Consider staying in a panda themed hotel (an example is this one)
➡️ For further details about best districts, check out my Ultimate Chengdu Travel Guide
Activities to consider
👉🏻 Food tour with a local guide
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Day 2 - CHENGDU
Why I find this day special: getting close up to so many pandas + visiting one of China’s most underrated museums
AM - Panda Base 👉🏻 book your ticket here
PM - Sanxingdui Museum ➡️ Chunxi Lu ➡️ Anshun Bridge 👉🏻 buy your ticket here
🛏️Sleep in Chengdu
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Day 3 - CHENGDU
Why I find this day special: lots of relaxing vibes + seeing futuristic architecture
AM - Wenshu Monastery
PM - Dufu Thatched Cottage ➡️ New Century Global Center ➡️ Towers of Vitality ➡️ Panda Twin Towers
🛏️Sleep in Chengdu
🍜My suggested meals: kung pao chicken 宫保鸡丁, mapo tofu 麻婆豆腐, Sichuan hotpot 四川火锅
🥢My suggested eating districts: Chunxi Lu + Taikoo Li (春熙路 + 太古里), Jinli Ancient Street 锦里古街
👉🏻Check out my Ultimate Chengdu Travel Guide
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Day 4 - LESHAN
Why I find this day special: the world’s biggest stone Buddha statue + ancient town vibes
🚅Take the train from Chengdu East to Leshan 👉🏻 book your train here
⬇️(take taxi)
AM - Giant Buddha and river cruise
PM - Suji Ancient Town
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🚅Return to Chengdu by train + Sleep in Chengdu
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My suggested Chongqing itinerary 👣
In one line: Chongqing is known as 8D city. The most unique city I’ve ever been to!
Day 5 - CHENGDU ➡️ CHONGQING
Why I find this day special: The most mind-blowing night-time views I’ve ever seen + some brain twisters!
🚅Early morning - Take the train from Chengdu East station to Chongqing West/North station
⌚Travel Time - Around 1-1.5 hrs
⬇️(leave luggage at hotel)
AM - Liziba ➡️ Kuixinglou ➡️ Chaotianmen Square
PM - Hongyadong ➡️ Jialing River Beach ➡️ Daijiaxiang Cliff Path ➡️ Jiefangbei ➡️ Deyi Shijie
🛏️Sleep in Chongqing (2 nights)
👉🏻 I recommend Regent Chongqing and Intercontinental Chongqing for its incredible skyline views.
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Day 6 - CHONGQING
Why I find this day special: Serious history stuff + lots of fancy staircase districts!
AM - Three Gorges Museum ➡️ Chongqing People’s Auditorium
PM - Shibati ➡️ Huguang Guild Hall ➡️ Longmenhao Old Street ➡️ Xiahaoli ➡️ Nanbin Road Promenade
🛏️Sleep in Chongqing
🍜My suggested meals: Chongqing hotpot, Chongqing noodles (xiaomian), spicy chili chicken
🥢My suggested eating districts: Go to Bayilu Food Street + Xiahaoli
👉🏻Check out my Ultimate Chongqing Travel Guide
Day 7 - CHONGQING
Why I find this day special: free exploration to have a personalised experience
All day - free day to explore, eat, shop
OR visit the historic site Dazu Rock Carvings 👉🏻 buy your tickets here
(take the high speed train from Chongqing North or Chongqing West to Dazu South station + take a taxi to Baodingshan)
OR visit the scenic site Wulong Karst
(take the high speed train from Chongqing East to Wulong South station + take a shuttle bus or taxi)
🛏️Sleep in Chongqing
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coffee in Chinese = kā fēi 咖啡
SUMMARY NOTES📝
You don’t have to do the full itinerary. Cut and swap depending on what interests you the most!
LENGTH OF STAY 📅
If you only have time to visit the very top highlights of Chengdu and Chongqing, I recommend at least 5-6 days.
If you want decent time for local exploration and activities at a casual pace, I recommend at least 7-8 days.
If you want a more full-on experience covering day trips away from the cities, I recommend at least 8-10 days.
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MY ADVICE FOR ARRIVAL CITY 🛬
You can fly directly into Chengdu or Chongqing for this itinerary. They both have a major international airport.
Check out my article The 9 Best Airports To Fly Into China
If you want an even longer trip in this part of China, consider adding the following destinations:
➡️ Emeishan
➡️ Zhangjiajie
➡️ Fenghuang Ancient Town
➡️ Furong Ancient Town
For ticket prices, see ultimate guide for each city!
These articles are particularly relevant for planning your trip:
By the way, check if you can save money on your China trip by:
For more itinerary ideas, see:
My selected China itineraries for 2026
BEST Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing Itinerary: 3 Days, 7 Days, 10+ Days
BEST Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Chongqing, Chengdu Itinerary: 2-14 Days
BEST Beijing, Xi’an, Nanjing, Shanghai Itinerary: 3 Days, 7 Days, 10+ Days
Best Chengdu and Sichuan Itineraries: 3 Days, 7 Days, 10 Days
Best Shanghai + East China Itineraries: 3 Days, 7 Days, 10 Days
BEST Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Guilin Itineraries: 3 Days, 7 Days, 10 Days
To work out how much time to spend in China, check out:
How Long Should I Spend In China On My First Trip? Example Itineraries
