At the heart of China

A visit to Chengdu is not complete without getting up close and personal with the pandas. Zhu Xingxin / China Daily

Day 2: Panda, panda

As the habitat of the giant panda, Chengdu offers many chances to be up close and personal with these cute animals.

Chengdu Zoo is one option, but many visitors prefer going to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, about 10 km from the city.

There you can observe 121 pandas placed in different areas by age groups. Every panda has a name. They play with toys or with each other. If you're lucky to be there when there are newborn pandas, you can see the infants and how they are nursed.

Returning downtown after spending most of the day with pandas, you can jump into the city's night life. Two sub-branches of the Minjiang River merge in the city's southern part. Hejiang Pavilion overlooks the scene.

Near the pavilion and alongside the river, the Chengdu version of Hong Kong's Lan Kwai Fong is a new landmark for the city's young people and night owls.

Order anything and take in the beautiful views and interesting people around you.

Eastern Suburb Memory is a music-themed park. Like Beijing's 798 Art Zone, the park was formerly a factory that produced engines for aircraft and refrigerators. The industrial roar is long gone.

The night is now filled with the sounds of music from the bars and stages.

Day 3: Suburban delights

The essence of touring Chengdu is actually in suburbs and their countryside attractions.

Mount Qingcheng, located about 70 km away from downtown, is one of the Taoist sacred mountains. Besides the cultural sites, the tall trees and clean brooks create a wonderful place for a hike in the fresh air.

The Dujiangyan Irrigation System was built around 2,200 years ago and still functions.

Popular haunts for the locals are the teahouses alongside the rivers. They always serve tea, snacks and sometimes three exceptional meals a day, using local vegetables and poultry. Mahjong lovers gather there, too.

East of Chengdu's downtown, Luodai town is known for the spicy snacks and traces of former immigrants from other provinces. The most famous is a restaurant serving Tear-Drawing Bean/Rice Jelly. It's so hot and spicy that you can't hold back tears when eating it, but you can't quit because it's too delicious.

Huanglongxi ancient town is 40 km to the south of Chengdu. The old town preserves the former stone road, wooden houses and century-old trees, and has been the setting for a lot of kung fu movies.

The Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 took down part of the town. After reconstruction, the town is open to tourists who can cruise along the river while enjoying a meal on a boat.

Or you can have a meal at a family inn in the countryside. Many families have turned their courtyard houses into inns. Every venue has its signature attractions, from specialty chicken dishes to picturesque fishing ponds, or simply beautiful natural scenes.