Day trips
Out of the city, back by dinner
Four realistic day trips, ranked by ease and payoff. Each one is reachable by high-speed rail or a short drive.
Chengdu is a good base for regional trips, but not every famous destination is a day trip. Leshan, Qingcheng, Dujiangyan, and Sanxingdui work; Jiuzhaigou and Chongqing need more time.
Choose one day trip per short stay. Two will leave you exhausted and cut into the city's food and teahouse time.
Worth the journey
Start with this one
About 1 hour by high-speed train
Leshan Giant Buddha day trip
A 71-meter Buddha carved into a river cliff, about an hour from Chengdu by high-speed train. Go early, choose trail or boat, and avoid holiday crowds.
About 1 hour to Qingchengshan
Qingcheng Mountain day trip
A Taoist mountain of mist, temples, and stone steps about an hour from Chengdu. Choose the front mountain for temples, the back for hiking.
About 1 hour to Lidui Park
Dujiangyan irrigation system
A 2,200-year-old irrigation system that still works, an hour from Chengdu. A half-day of engineering, riverside walks, and temple views.
About 20–30 min to Guanghan North
Sanxingdui Museum day trip
A museum of bronze masks, gold, and a lost civilization, about an hour from Chengdu. One of China's most striking archaeological collections.
About 1–1.5 hours from Chengdu East
Chengdu to Chongqing Overnight Trip
A one-night Chongqing trip from Chengdu: high-speed rail times, what an overnight actually buys you, Hongya Cave and river views, and how the hotpot differs.