Joanna James
The city of Chengdu is home to a number of hidden gems and there are some must-visit attractions such as the Tianfu Square, the Chengdu Zoo, the Sichuan Opera House and the West Pearl Tower.
The West Pearl Tower has a prolonged history of construction. Having commenced construction in 1992, it was halted during the same year due to financial constraints. Subsequently, construction recommenced six years later, and the Tower was finally opened in 2006. The West Pearl Tower is essentially a commercial tower that facilitates communications and broadcasting. However, due to its immense height (where the top floor is over two hundred meters tall), a revolving restaurant was included to provide its patrons with a stunning 360-degree panoramic view of Chengdu. The Tower has seventeen floors. It can be accessed by paying an entrance fee of 100 Chinese Yuan.
One of the must visit places when in Chengdu is undoubtedly the Tianfu Square found in the heart of the city. In addition to being the largest city square in the area, it is almost as well-known as Tiananmen Square located in Beijing. The Tianfu Square can be accessed by using Subway lines one and two and the Square's station also operates as a focal point for tourists looking to explore Chengdu. Those who choose to take a taxi to the Square can do so by taking the Renmin South Road which passes in front of the best hotels in Chengdu the likes of Dorsett Grand Chengdu and leads straight to Tianfu Square. There are also a number of attractions worth exploring that are scattered across the Square. These include the Imperial Mosque, the largest in Sichuan, the Chengdu Museum which opened in 2015 and hosts numerous artefacts of archaeological importance, the Sichuan Art Gallery where numerous art exhibitions are held periodically, and the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum which does not have an entrance fee.
Ideal for tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the famous Chinese pandas, the Chengdu Zoo is the largest of its kind in southwest China. The Zoo hosts both a Monkey House and a Panda House. The Monkey House is home to Golden Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys and Ring-tailed Lemurs. The Panda House, which covers around one thousand square meters, is easily the most visited attraction in the zoo. The Panda House is known to have bred and raised nearly sixty pandas. However, at present, only around five or six pandas occupy the Panda House. Other attractions of the Chengdu Zoo include the Lion House, the Antelope House, the Tiger House, the Water Bird Lake and the Leopard House. The Zoo also hosts a Popular Science Hall which includes a digital cinema that plays five films at different times. Entrance fee to the Chengdu Zoo is around 20 Chinese Yuan.
To leave Chengdu without experiencing Sichuan Opera would be unfortunate, for this operatic experience has much to commend it. Located in West Chengdu down Qintai Traditional Street the Shufeng Sichuan Opera House is beautiful and hosts some of the most stunning Operas in the region. Performances at the Opera House include live music using traditional Chinese instruments. Considered to be one of the best attractions in Chengdu, the Shufeng Sichuan Opera House costs around 150 Chinese Yuan and is easily accessible from most spots in Chengdu.
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