¡¡¡¡Although many of Chengdu's historical sights have long since disappeared and the skyscrapers are shooting up, this remains a pleasant city to spend some time in. One of the nicest aspects of this city is the atmosphere on the streets. Markets and street hawkers abound and just wandering around gives visitors a fascinating insight into the old city. The streets and alleys around Wenshu Monastery are a great place to start your exploring. There are a few places of historical or religious interest scattered about the city too. Chengdu's status as a center for learning is evident throughout the city, not least at the former residence of the great poet, Du Fu's Thatched Cottage .Renmin Park in the southwest of the city also allows for a glimpse into the daily life of the locals here and the city has literally thousands of tea houses which are fabulous places to do some people watching. The tea house in the Wenshu Monastery is one of the very best.

Some of China's best natural scenery is in the area around Chengdu. The Panda, one of China's most famous symbols, can be seen at the Giant Panda Breeding Institute outside the city. Deep and lush bamboo forests are also inviting places to spend a day or two and Shunan Bamboo Forest is a spectacular spot. Qingchengshan is a nice mountain offering pleasant walks and a break from the city.

Giant Pandas

¡¡¡¡Although the old custom of presenting foreign dignitaries with a baby panda has ended, this gorgeous bear is still associated with, and something of a symbol for, China. It is unknown how many pandas remain in the wild today, but estimates put the figure at as few as 1,000, the majority of which can be found in Sichuan. Although numerous reserves have been established to protect the giant panda, poaching is numerous and not even the death penalty is a sufficient deterrent.

Climate

¡¡¡¡Chengdu enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by an early spring, hot summer, cool autumn and warm winter. The average annual temperature for the year is 16 degrees C.

¡¡¡¡The best time to visit is between March and June or between September and November. The hottest season here is during July and August when temperatures can be almost unbearable although Chengdu does have a few nice spots (such as¡¡Qingchengshan Mountain outside the city center where it is possible to get some shade and respite from the heat. This is also however the rainy season and it is awkward juggling the two types of weather at once! In summer the heat is wet with a high temperature of 35 degrees C and in winter, the average temperature is approximately 5 degrees C.

Chengdu Weather