Sichuan China Complete Guide 2026: Chengdu Pandas, Jiuzhaigou, Leshan Buddha, Mt Emei, Dujiangyan
Browse more guides: China travel | Asia destinations TL;DR Sichuan packs the planet's largest captive panda population, five UNESCO sites, and the spice-numb cuisine that shaped modern Chinese cooking inside one 486,000 km² province. I spent eighteen days circling Chengdu, the Tibetan plateau valleys, and the Min River temple towns. This guide covers visas (240-hour transit through Chengdu plus the standard 90-day tourist), Alipay setup, altitude prep for 3,300 m Jiuzhaigou, and how to book pandas before 07:30. Why Visit Sichuan in 2026 Three reasons pushed Sichuan to the front of my 2026 plans. The visa picture favours independent travellers. China reopened standard tourist visas at USD 140 for 90 days from most passports, and Chengdu sits on the approved list for the 240-hour visa-free transit policy: 54 eligible passports can enter for ten days with an onward third-country ticket. I used the transit route on my first visit and the L visa on my second. Chengdu is the pand...