More about hotels in Sichuan
Fifteen minutes from downtown Chengdu, giant pandas are tucking into breakfast in the bamboo. A few streets over, someone's stirring a pot of hotpot that'll leave your lips buzzing for an hour. That's Sichuan in a nutshell: China's most laid-back big province, home to the country's most famous animal and its spiciest food.
Sichuan is a big place though, so where you base yourself depends on what you're chasing. Chengdu covers pandas and food easily. Head further out and you'll find cliffs carved into ancient sculpture, misty mountain trails and lakes that shouldn't be that blue. Whatever the plan, there's a stay to match it.
Where to stay in Sichuan
- Chengdu - the provincial capital and the easiest base for first-timers, with giant pandas at the Research Base, a hotpot restaurant on every corner, and the best transport links to everywhere else in the province. See hotels in Chengdu
- Leshan - home to the 71-metre Giant Buddha carved straight into a riverside cliff face and the misty hiking trails of Mount Emei, an easy day trip or overnight from Chengdu. See hotels in Leshan
- Jiuzhaigou Valley - turquoise lakes, waterfalls and standout autumn colour tucked into Sichuan's mountainous north, reached by high-speed rail plus a short road transfer. See hotels in Jiuzhaigou
- Dujiangyan - a 2,200-year-old irrigation system that's still doing its job today, plus a second, quieter giant panda base for when Chengdu's is packed. See hotels in Dujiangyan
How much is Sichuan accommodation?
Expect to pay around AU$180 a night on average across the province, though Chengdu's prices swing from backpacker-cheap to five-star depending on the block.
- Backpackers/Hostels - From AU$20 per night. A dorm bed near Chunxi Road or Kuanzhai Xiangzi, usually with a shared kitchen and no shortage of other travellers' tips.
- Budget hotels/Guesthouses - From AU$45 per night. Small but clean rooms, often part of a Chinese chain like Ibis, right by a metro stop.
- Mid-range/Business hotels - From AU$110 per night. Bigger rooms, a proper breakfast buffet, and usually a pool or gym thrown in.
- Boutique - From AU$230 per night. Design-led stays built around old courtyards or teahouse gardens, the kind of place you pick for the building as much as the bed.
- Luxury/Resorts - From AU$350 per night. Five-star service, river or mountain views, and a restaurant worth booking on its own merits.
Top-rated hotels in Sichuan
- Waldorf Astoria Chengdu - its in-house Yun Chinese Restaurant serves a Michelin-recommended take on Sichuan cuisine, so you don't even need to leave the building for the good stuff. Check rates
- Shangri-La Chengdu - sits right on the Jin River, with river-view rooms and the steady, polished service the brand's known for across Asia. Check rates
- JW Marriott Hotel Chengdu - a sleek high-rise a short taxi ride from Chunxi Road, solid for anyone who wants big-brand reliability and a city view. Check rates
- Sheraton Chengdu Lido Hotel - parked right by Tianfu Square, one metro stop from the lantern-lit lanes of Kuanzhai Xiangzi. Check rates
- Canopy by Hilton Chengdu City Centre - a design-forward option you can walk to Chunxi Road from, no cab required. Check rates
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Sichuan
- Book Panda Base tickets online before you fly, not at the gate. Chengdu's Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding only sells tickets in advance, and they can sell out during peak season.
- Aim for a 7:30am start at the Panda Base. Pandas are most active, and least likely to be curled up asleep, in the first few hours of the day.
- If Jiuzhaigou's on the list, book the train and the room early for autumn (September to November). It's by far the most popular season, and rooms near the valley fill up fast.
- Stick close to a metro line in Chengdu. Tianfu Square and Chunxi Road put you within walking distance of hotpot streets, shopping and the Kuanzhai Xiangzi alleys all at once.
- Use Chengdu as a hub rather than swapping hotels every night. High-speed rail gets you to Leshan in about an hour and Jiuzhaigou in a few, so a day trip or one overnight often beats packing up on repeat.
Sichuan pairs easily with the rest of a China trip. Check Traveloka for flights into Chengdu and activity bookings for the Panda Base and Giant Buddha ahead of time, so the only thing left to plan is which hotpot to order first.
