2 days in Chengdu: an itinerary day by day
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 3 of 5 free; paid: Chengdu Panda Base, Leshan Giant Buddha
- Duration
- 2 days, 9:30 to 17:58 each day
- Start and finish
- Kuanzhai Alley → Leshan Giant Buddha
- On foot
- ≈ 0 min in total
- Transport
- 3 rides, ≈ 1 h 28 min
- Lunch
- around 13:17
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn.
Day-by-day plan
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Day 1 · Chengdu09:30–17:58 · 4 places · 8 h 30 min
Kuanzhai Alley
· 1 h · Free
- 24 min · transport or taxi
Chunxi Road
· 1 h · Free
- 23 min · transport or taxi
Wenshu Monastery
· 1 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 41 min · transport or taxi
Chengdu Panda Base
· 3 h · ¥55, children under 1.3 m free
Day 2 · Chengdu09:30–13:30 · 1 place · 4 h
Leshan Giant Buddha
· 4 h · ¥80; river boat ¥70 extra
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
3 of 5 are free; 2 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Kuanzhai Alley | 42 | 1 h | Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Chunxi Road | 42 | 1 h | Free |
| 3 | Wenshu Monastery | 40 | 1 h | Free |
| 4 | Chengdu Panda Base | 23 | 3 h | ¥55, children under 1.3 m free |
| 5 | Leshan Giant Buddha | 30 | 4 h | ¥80; river boat ¥70 extra |
| Total | 10 h | 3 of 5 free |
Tips for each stop
Day 1
- 1
Kuanzhai Alley. Three lanes of old Chengdu: Qing courtyards, teahouses and face-changing shows. Free.
- 2
Chunxi Road. The main shopping street since 1924; a 15 m panda climbs the wall of IFS. Free.
- 3
Wenshu Monastery. Chengdu's main working monastery, with an open-air teahouse. Free.
- 4
Chengdu Panda Base. The giant and red panda base ≈ 10 km from the centre. 55 yuan, online passport booking only; pandas are most active in the morning.
Day 2
- 5
Leshan Giant Buddha. The 71 m Tang-era Buddha carved in a cliff where three rivers meet, ≈ 125 km from Chengdu. 80 yuan, boat another 70.
Who this route is for
- A weekend in Chengdu
- Pandas and the Buddha
- By high-speed train
- Mount Emei needs another day
- Holidays mean queues at Leshan
Spring and autumn.
How the two days work
Day one is the one-day Chengdu itinerary. Day two is the trip: a high-speed train to Leshan, then the stairway down beside the statue or the boat.
Remove any stop with the cross or drag it with ≡, and add another one nearby — the times recalculate.
Leshan: stairway or boat?
The stairway runs down beside the statue from head to feet — expect queues at weekends and holidays. From the 70-yuan boat you see the whole Buddha; the trip takes about half an hour. Short on time? Start with the boat.
Is 2 days in Chengdu enough?
For the pandas and Leshan, yes. Mount Qingcheng, a Taoist mountain in the forest, is 25–40 minutes by train; Wuhou Shrine is next to Jinli Street for the evening.
How to do it right
- Book the Leshan train ahead in the 12306 app or Trip.com.
- Reach the Buddha at opening: the stairway queue grows later.
- Many museums and parks in China admit visitors only with a passport booking — via WeChat, the website or a mini-app, usually 1–7 days ahead. Carry your passport.
- China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
- Wear good shoes: the stairway beside the statue is steep.
Questions
What to do with 2 days in Chengdu?
Day one: pandas and the centre. Day two: the Leshan Giant Buddha.
How much is the Leshan Giant Buddha?
80 yuan, plus 70 for the boat.
How do I get to Leshan?
By high-speed train from Chengdu, then a taxi or bus.
Stairway or boat?
The boat shows the whole Buddha; the stairway gets you close, with queues.
Is 2 days in Chengdu enough?
Yes, for the pandas and Leshan.
How much does it cost?
55 yuan on day one and 150 on day two, plus the train.
Is it good with kids?
Yes; the boat is easier than the stairway.
When is Leshan open?
8:00–17:30 in winter, 7:30–18:30 from April to 7 October.
When is the best time?
Spring and autumn.
How do I pay in Chengdu?
China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — link a foreign card before you go; keep some cash yuan as a backup.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area
- China Railway (12306)
