Chengdu Museum成都博物馆
On the west side of Tianfu Square, Chengdu Museum is the city's largest comprehensive museum. Its permanent exhibition, the Chengdu History and Culture Display, runs in chronological order from the Baodun culture through modern times — the best starting point for understanding Chengdu.
Chengdu · Visitor Guide2026-10-18
Quick Answer
Is Chengdu Museum worth visiting?
Chengdu's largest museum, opened in 2016 with about 20,000 sqm of galleries and 200,000+ relics; free with reservation, open 09:00-20:00 and closed Mondays.
Quick facts
| Ticket | Free admission (advance reservation required) |
|---|---|
| Hours | 09:00-20:00 (last entry 19:00); closed Mondays (except national holidays) |
| Recommended duration | 2-3 hours |
| Best time to visit | Year-round; the indoor galleries are unaffected by weather |
| How to get there | Metro Line 1/2 to Tianfu Square Station Exit W1, then about 5 minutes on foot; buses 4/26/30/43/47/61 to Tianfu Square |
| English signage | Yes |
| Wheelchair accessible | Yes |
| Opened | |
| Collection | More than 200,000 relics |
| Gallery space | About 20,000 sqm |
| Type | National first-grade museum |
| Floors | 5 above ground, 4 below |
| Location | West side of Tianfu Square |
What to expect
Chengdu Museum stands on the west side of Tianfu Square and is the city's largest comprehensive museum. The building evokes a giant divine bird in the form of the Golden Sun Bird; total floor area is about 65,000 sqm with about 20,000 sqm of galleries — the best starting point for understanding Chengdu's history.
The permanent Chengdu History and Culture Display runs chronologically across nine galleries: pre-Qin (Baodun culture, Sanxingdui, Jinsha), Qin-Han (the Land of Abundance), the Three Kingdoms through Southern and Northern Dynasties (Shu Han culture), Sui-Tang-Five Dynasties (Chengdu's flourishing), Song-Yuan-Ming-Qing (the prosperous Rong city), and the modern era (red memory).
Treasures of the collection include the Han-dynasty storytelling figurines, fine Shu embroidery, and gold and jade wares across the dynasties. Take a docent tour or rent the audio guide — otherwise you will only skim the surface. The museum sits beside the Sichuan Library and the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum, so the three pair well in one outing.
How to get there
Metro Line 1 or 2 to Tianfu Square Station Exit W1, then about 5 minutes on foot; buses 4, 26, 30, 43, 47, 61 to Tianfu Square
Best photo spots
- The museum exterior (a Tianfu Square landmark)
- The Han-dynasty storytelling figurine (collection highlight)
- Relic galleries across the dynasties
- The museum's spiral staircase
Tips
- Free but reservation is required — book ahead
- Take a docent tour or rent the audio guide
- Entry requires your original ID card
- Selfie sticks are banned inside
Scams to avoid
- No significant scam risk
Frequently asked questions
How does Chengdu Museum differ from Sichuan Museum?
Chengdu Museum focuses on Chengdu's local history; Sichuan Museum covers the cultural heritage of all Sichuan province.
Do I need a reservation?
Yes — entry is by reservation code plus your original ID card.
How long does a visit take?
About 2-3 hours.
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Other things to do in Chengdu
Baoguo Temple
A celebrated Buddhist monastery in Xindu, Chengdu, founded in the Sui dynasty, famed for its Hall of the 500 Arhats. Admission CNY 30 — a worthwhile half-day trip.
Du Fu's Thatched Cottage
The memorial park of Tang dynasty poet Du Fu — reconstructed bamboo cottage, exposed stone inscriptions, and a museum of his life. ¥50. 2 hours.
Jinsha Site Museum
A 3,000-year-old Shu civilization archaeological site — the pit of 600 ivory tusks, gold masks, and the famous 'Flying God' goldfoil, all inside a modern museum built over the excavation.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
The world's largest panda breeding facility, with the fullest captive population anywhere. Admission CNY 55, shuttle CNY 30; go in the morning when the pandas are most active.
Chunxi Road
Chengdu's busiest shopping street, laid out in 1924 and famous for the IFS climbing panda; free to enter, shops about 10:00-22:00, metro lines 2 and 3 direct.
Du Fu's Thatched Cottage
The Chengdu home of the Poet-Sage Du Fu, now a serene memorial garden steeped in Tang poetry. Admission CNY 50.
Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Li Bing built this dam-free irrigation system around 256 BCE, and it still waters ~530,000 hectares of the Chengdu Plain today. ¥80, allow 2–3 hours, 30 minutes by train from Chengdu.
Huanhua Stream
Chengdu's most poetic park, a 2 km streamside walk where the Tang poet Du Fu once lived. Opened in 2003, free and open all day; on Metro Line 4 beside Du Fu's Thatched Cottage.
Jinli Ancient Street
Chengdu's most famous old street, about 550 m of Three Kingdoms culture and Sichuan folk charm beside Wuhou Shrine; free entry, shops 09:00-23:00, red lanterns glow best at night.
Jinsha Site Museum
Remains of the ancient Shu kingdom of the Shang and Zhou eras, findspot of the Golden Sun Bird — now China's emblem of cultural heritage. Admission CNY 70; a must for archaeology lovers.
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Turquoise travertine lakes, 100+ multi-tiered waterfalls, and snow-capped Tibetan peaks in a UNESCO park at 2,000–4,500 m altitude. ¥169. 2 days recommended.
Wide and Narrow Alleys
Three restored Qing-dynasty courtyard alleys in central Chengdu (free, open 24/7), laid out on the grid of a 1718 Manchu garrison.
Leshan Giant Buddha
The world's largest stone Buddha — a 71 m seated Maitreya cut into a riverfront cliff. Entry CNY 80, river boat CNY 50 extra; the Buddha is a mountain, the mountain a Buddha.
Longmen Mountain
A national geopark on Chengdu's northern edge and a Wenchuan earthquake memorial ground, centered on Bailu town. Free in places or CNY 30; best for hiking and exploring.
Mount Emei
One of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains and the seat of Samantabhadra. Entry CNY 160 plus CNY 90 shuttle, cableways extra. The Golden Summit sunrise is the whole point — a five-star must-see.
Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain)
Four Girls Mountain — a 6,250m peak and trekking paradise with 3 valleys. Yaomei Feng is China's answer to the Matterhorn. ¥150. 2-3 days from Chengdu. Alpine lakes, glaciers, Tibetan villages.
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
See 50+ giant pandas including cubs at 8:00 AM feeding time in a 100-hectare bamboo-forested breeding center. The best panda experience in China. 3-4 hours.
People's Park
A free, century-old city park where Chengdu's teahouse culture plays out under plane trees — pay ¥15-30 for jasmine tea and settle in for two hours of mahjong, ear-cleaning, and people-watching.
Mount Qingcheng
One of China's four sacred Taoist mountains, birthplace of the Taoist "Way of the Celestial Masters" (142 AD). Forested paths, pavilions, Taoist temples. ¥90. 1 hour from Chengdu.
Sanxingdui Museum
sanxingdui-museum in Chengdu: Bronze masks with protruding eyes, a 2.62-meter figure, and a 4-meter sacred tree from a 3,000-year-old civilization that left no written records.
Shuangliu District
Home of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, 20 km from downtown. The century-old Pengzhen Old Teahouse distills old-Chengdu life — free, 15 minutes away; mornings are best.
Sichuan Opera Show (Face Changing)
A classic Sichuan culture experience: face-changing, fire-spitting and the rolling-lamp act in a show of about 70 minutes. Best caught at Shufeng Yayun or Furong Guocui.
Taiping Street
Quiet 400-metre Republican-era old street in Chengdu with brick-timber buildings; free and open all day, shops about 10:00-20:00, a 10-minute walk from Dongmenqiao metro station.
Wenshu Monastery
Chengdu's best-preserved Buddhist monastery, founded 605-618 with over 1400 years of history; free entry 08:00-17:00, a 5-minute walk from Wenshuyuan metro station, famed for its teahouse.
Wolong Panda Reserve
Sichuan's largest panda reserve and a natural habitat of wild pandas, about 130 km from Chengdu — a full-day outing. A top pick for nature lovers.
Wolong Giant Panda Nature Reserve
The original wild panda reserve — 200,000 hectares of bamboo forest, 150+ wild pandas. Volunteer programs available. 1.5 hours from Chengdu. ¥90. Full day.
Wuhou Shrine (Temple of the Marquis of Wu)
China's most famous Three Kingdoms memorial — dedicated to Zhuge Liang, the master strategist of Shu Han. Ming Dynasty architecture, 1,800-year-old cypress trees. ¥60.
Museums in Chengdu
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding: the world's largest panda breeding center — 150+ giant pandas in a natural forest habitat, plus red pandas. ¥58.
Sichuan Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
A small but dense university museum with 3,000+ TCM artifacts covering Sichuan herbal medicine — plan 60–90 minutes and skip the gift-shop photo backdrop.
Jinsha Site Museum
The 3,000-year-old "Sun and Immortal Bird" gold disc — one of China's most famous artifacts — and the sister civilization to Sanxingdui. ¥80. An active archaeological site with a beautiful.
Sichuan Cuisine Museum
The world's only museum where you can eat your way through 4,000 years of Sichuan food history — and make your own Pixian chili bean paste.
Sichuan Museum
Sichuan's premier provincial museum beside People's Park in Chengdu — strong in Three Kingdoms Shu culture, Tibetan Buddhist art and ancient Shu civilization; verified in 2026.