Spice up your family trip to Chengdu with these under-the-radar activities!

Pandas, pandas, pandas, pandas! Did we mention pandas? It’s impossible to mention the busy city of Chengdu, located in Sichuan province, without hearing the “p-word” on repeat. Somewhat unknown among foreign tourists (especially in comparison to Beijing and Shanghai), when Chengdu does get a mention outside China, it’s usually in relation to the giant black-and-white cuties who have been living here for a lot longer than the human inhabitants. A number of high-profile panda breeding and rehabilitation centers are the main attraction for families in Chengdu, but there’s an awful lot to do in this friendly city other than pat the pandas. Most visitors make a beeline for the Chengdu Research Base for Giant Panda Breeding, which results in minimal queues and crowds elsewhere. As is often the case in under-the-radar Chinese cities, Caucasian kids are something of a novelty and may get something of a rockstar reception. Those with light-haired kids shouldn’t feel offended if locals for photos with the kiddos–it’s just friendly curiosity.

Get a Taste for Tibet

With opportunities to reach Tibet by plane, train, or car from Chengdu, this city is a gateway to that mysterious mountain region. Arranging visas to Tibet can be a major hassle, but families in Chengdu can almost feel as though they’ve entered Tibetan territory without leaving Sichuan. Chengdu’s Tibetan Quarter, which spans several streets close to Wohou Temple in the south-west of the city, is the place to barter for Tibetan arts and crafts, and tuck into traditional dishes like yak meat and yak butter tea. Home to one of the largest Tibetan settlements outside Tibet itself, this colorful corner of the city is notable for the large numbers of maroon-robed Buddhist monks that stroll around its rather ramshackle lanes, and it all feels intriguingly at odds with the chain coffee stores and high rise hotels that are cropping up elsewhere in modern Chengdu.

Visit the Wenshu Yuan Monastery

Wenshu Monastery itself can hardly be considered off-the-beaten-track (pandas aside, it’s one of Chengdu’s most popular attractions), but you and your brood can still experience the grounds the local way, rather than following the group tours. It’s a working monastery home to some 80 Buddhist monks, many of whom can be spotted playing sports in the vast grounds. Kids are unlikely to get bored in the 13 acres of gardens, but you can make things extra interesting by challenging them to spot some of the treasures dotted around the complex, including Liang Dynasty (502-587 CE) stone inscriptions; 300 Buddha statues made from mud, stone, and iron; and a jade Buddha thought to have been carried from Myanmar on foot by a particularly hardy monk. Locals and tourists rub shoulders at the on-site tea rooms and the vegetarian café, while a number of simple spots nearby sell tasty noodles and other easy eats for kids.

Take a Side Trip to a Historic Town

The countryside surrounding Chengdu is home to dozens of tiny Tibetan villages and historic Chinese towns, many of which make an easy independent day trip from the city. Frequent buses serve many of the routes to these towns, with one notable example being Huang Long Xi Ancient Town. Some 30 miles southeast of Chengdu, in Shuangli County, this fascinating town has a history stretching back more than 1,700 years. It’s become known locally not only for its three magnificent temples, but also for its super-abundant tea houses–bamboo tables and chairs placed along the riverfront are cheap and cheerful spots to take the weight off and refuel. Take the kids to see the giant watermill by the river, and the 1,000-year-old banyan trees, whose giant gnarled roots are the subject of many local legends.  

Hotpot Hotspot

Chengdu is almost as famous for its hotpot fare as it is for its pandas. While much of the bubbling stuff served in the city is too spicy for most kids’ palates, there are some tamer versions that may well whet their appetites for the city’s favorite dish. While there are hotpot restaurants across the city, it’s worth making sure you go to a goodie. The huge lines of locals that form outside Shu JiuXiang are a good indicator of its quality, and with diners able to choose their spice levels (as well as the fact that the cooking pot is shaped like a dragon’s head) this is a popular choice for families. If that’s still too much like hot stuff, promise kids a visit to one of Chengdu’s now-ubiquitous ice cream and frozen yogurt shops to cool their tongues down after dinner.

Need some ideas to infuse your family trip to China with nature, luxury, and/or adventure? Check out my collection of articles for families traveling to China!