Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province in southwest China. The city's history dates back to the 4th century BC, when it became the capital of the Shu Kingdom. Artifacts from that era, discovered during archaeological excavations, are housed in the Jinsha Museum. The city is home to the renowned Chengdu Research Center for Giant Pandas, where visitors can observe the endangered bears in their natural habitat.

The city's main attractions include the Wuhou Temple complex, the Qingyanggong Palace (Black Goat Palace), the Baoguang Monastery, the Du Fu Memorial Museum, and the Sichuan Provincial Museum.

Qingcheng Mountain, covered with evergreen trees and shrubs, is 63 km from the city.

The Dujiang Dam, 49 km from Chengdu, is a world-famous ancient hydraulic structure. Built during the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC), this surviving structure is considered one of the wonders of the world. In 2000, Dujiang was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Jinsha Hillfort is located near Qingyang Highway in the western suburbs of Chengdu. Here, visitors can learn about the brilliant culture of the ancient Chu State, which existed 3,000 years ago. Archaeologists have unearthed over 3,000 artifacts from that era, including gold and jade jewelry, funerary ceramic vessels, ivory, tortoiseshell, and deer antler artifacts.

The Sanxingdui Tombs are located 20 kilometers from Chengdu, near the city of Guanghan. Numerous artifacts dating back over 5,000 years have been unearthed from the tombs.

Qingyangong is famous for its Taoist monastery, the construction of which began in the Tang Dynasty. The monastery complex consists of the Lingzu and Hunyuan Pavilions, the Bagua Pavilion, the Wuji Pavilion (Sanqingdian), the Doumu and Tangwang Pavilions, and the Cixing Altar.

The saying "Shu opera towers above all other performances in the world" reflects the achievement of Sichuan opera and Zaju (an ancient form of comedic drama involving dancing, singing, poetry, and miming). In the city, the first named opera "Bullfighting" was written in the Warring States period. The first detailed recorded opera was staged in the royal court of Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdom period. China's first clearly recorded Zaju was also performed in Chengdu. Tombs of witty Han dynasty poets were excavated in Chengdu. And face-changing masks and fire breathing remain hallmarks of the Sichuan opera.

Tea houses are ubiquitous in the city and range from ornate traditional establishments with bamboo furniture to simple modern tea houses. Teas on offer include jasmine, longjing and biluochun tea. Tea houses are popular venues for playing mahjong, getting a massage or one's ears clean. Some larger tea houses offer live entertainment such as Sichuan opera performances.

Chengdu is known for its hot pot. Hot pot is a traditional Sichuanese dish, made by cooking vegetables, fish, and/or meat in boiling spicy broth. A type of food suitable for friends' gathering, hot pot attracts both local people and tourists. Hot pot restaurants can be found at many places in Chengdu.