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Compare live prices for Chengdu
Prices change constantly, so we don't quote them here. Compare live prices on these partner sites:
Flights from the UK: compare on Skyscanner to find cheap tickets with trusted airlines. Direct flights on Chinese airlines from London can take some of the shortest routes. In China: Trip.com is our pick for trains, hotels and things to do, with an English app.
Instagrammable stays
Our pick of the most photogenic hotels in Chengdu, from comfortable to top-end. Tiers and price levels (£ to ££££) are our editorial banding; check live prices before you book.
Luxury · £££
The Temple House
Contemporary design wrapped around a restored Qing-era courtyard next to Daci Temple.
Luxury · £££
Niccolo Chengdu
Sleek tower hotel above the IFS mall, close to Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li.
Nearby tags: approx walk = straight-line distance × 1.3 at 80 m/min, from © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Hotel photos are from Wikimedia Commons where a free licence allows; otherwise see photos on the partner site. Credits.
Search hotels in Chengdu
Best time to visit
March–June and September–November. Summers are hot and humid; winters are mild but overcast.
Getting there from the UK
Air China flies direct from London (Heathrow and Gatwick) to Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) on some days of the week. Check current schedules on Skyscanner. Otherwise connect via a Chinese hub. High-speed trains link Chengdu with Chongqing, Xi'an and beyond.
Top tips
- Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding early in the morning, when pandas are most active.
- Relax in a People's Park teahouse and try traditional ear cleaning if you're brave.
- Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei are both reachable by high-speed train as day trips or short stays.
- Kuanzhai Alley and Jinli are touristy but fun for snacks in the evening.
- Chengdu has two airports — Shuangliu (CTU) and Tianfu (TFU); check which one your flight uses.
China essentials for UK travellers
- Visa: according to GOV.UK (as checked in October 2026), holders of full 'British citizen' passports can currently enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit, until 31 December 2026. Longer stays, or other purposes like work or study, need a visa. Your passport needs at least 6 months' validity and 2 blank pages. Rules change, so always check GOV.UK and the Chinese Embassy in the UK before you travel. Hong Kong and Macao have separate rules.
- Getting there from the UK: direct flights on Chinese airlines from London Heathrow and Gatwick to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu take roughly 10–11.5 hours, some of the shortest routes between the UK and China, often with competitive fares. Compare flights on Skyscanner to find cheap tickets with trusted airlines. Book trains, hotels and activities in China on Trip.com.
- Getting around: China's high-speed rail network is fast and affordable. Book in advance (Trip.com sells China train tickets in English), and bring your passport, which is used as your ticket ID. Domestic flights cover longer hops.
- Payments: China is largely cashless. Alipay and WeChat Pay both let you link a foreign Visa or Mastercard, so set them up before you go. Carry some cash as a backup, because many smaller vendors don't accept foreign cards directly.
- Staying connected: some apps you use at home, such as Google Maps, Gmail and WhatsApp, may not work normally in mainland China. Download offline maps (Amap or Apple Maps work well) and a translation app before you go, and tell family which app you'll use to keep in touch. International roaming or a travel eSIM bought before departure is the easiest way to get online.
- Registration: hotels register foreign guests with police automatically. If you stay privately, you must register within 24 hours (GOV.UK).
- Busy periods: avoid Chinese New Year and Golden Week (1–7 October) if you can. Trains and attractions sell out and prices rise.