Chengdu Trip Before May: What to Prioritise in 2026
Prioritise the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, an authentic Sichuan hotpot meal, and a slow afternoon at Heming Tea House in People's Park. Visiting before May means dodging the Labor Day holiday (1 to 5 May), when domestic crowds and hotel prices spike for five days.
Book the Panda Base in advance with passport and real-name reservation through the official WeChat mini program or Trip.com; tickets are 55 yuan and open 14 days before the visit date, but tourists usually need to grab a slot 1 to 3 days ahead. Arrive at the gate by 7:30 AM (opens 07:30) so you see pandas active during morning feeding; by 11:00 AM most go inside to nap. Metro Line 3 has a stop at Panda Avenue station, then a free shuttle bus to the gate.
For hotpot, book Xiao Long Kan or Shu Daxia for around 150 yuan per person and ask for 'wei la' (微辣, mild spicy) if you cannot handle Sichuan numbing oil. For tea culture, walk into Heming Tea House with no booking and order from 30 yuan; you can stay all afternoon. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before flying in. April weather sits at 15-25 degrees C with light rain, so bring a thin rain jacket and layers.
- Book the Panda Base 1 to 3 days ahead via WeChat mini program or Trip.com; tickets are 55 yuan and tied to your passport.
- Arrive at the Panda Base gate by 7:30 AM; pandas go inside to nap by 11:00 AM and barely move after that.
- Eat hotpot at Xiao Long Kan or Shu Daxia for 150 yuan per person; ask for 'wei la' (微辣) for mild spice.
- Skip 1-5 May (Labor Day): hotel rates double and queues at every sight stretch past 1 hour.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before arrival; cash is accepted but used by under 10% of vendors in Chengdu.
Continue reading in the MyChinaGuide app