This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Chengdu.
Chengdu is the main city in Sichuan, it is usually considered a hub to many of the tourist attractions both far (Tibet) and near (the giant Buddha of Leeshan, the dinosaur museum, or the panda center). All of these destinations are offered as organized tours by the numerous Chengdu hostels. It is very convenient to use them if you are lacking time, and you want a decent deal. But be careful, you can easily end up in a Chinese speaking only tour without knowing it.
When you're staying at a Chengdu hostel you should go see the largest statue of Mao in China, and some of the lovely temples in the city. You should also spend some time in the very active People's Park on a Sunday because of its live music, children's attractions, tea houses, fish ponds, and bonsai park. The Sichuan opera with its changing face characters. If you are a gourmet, try the famous Sichuan fondue in a dedicated restaurant, but be careful because it's really spicy. Most of the hostels in Chengdu are based in the north of the town, near the river and the temples. But if you want to immerse yourself in the city, and be near the other attractions, we would recommend you to stay in a Chengdu hostel near the main square.
It is strongly advised to book your Chengdu hostel in advance in order to be picked up by their staff either at the train station or the new airport which is quite out of the way. Independent cabs can be tricky to use to get to the correct hostel in Chengdu.
