China’s cities have been receiving a lot of attention lately, especially among Singaporean families. Chengdu was no exception. Often described as one of the happiest cities in China and widely recognised as a relaxed megacity, it piqued our interest. A city that moves at a slower pace, yet operates at a massive scale — that contrast intrigued us.
We wanted to visit Chengdu with kids on a family-friendly holiday to find out for ourselves. Could this “chill” city also deliver an enriching experience for the Boays? And beyond that, could it be our affordable hack to experience the modernity and comforts of a major Chinese city — without the price tag of Shanghai or Beijing?
Planning a Trip to Chengdu with Kids
If you are planning any trip within China, Xiaohongshu is not just helpful — it is essential.
Other platforms simply do not compare in terms of detail. Content creators on XHS go deep. Their videos are longer, often filmed in landscape format, and packed with practical information — sometimes almost overwhelmingly so, especially if you are used to the quick edits of Instagram or TikTok. But that depth is precisely what makes it invaluable.
A simple search for “成都 亲子游” (Family-friendly Chengdu) opens up an entirely different perspective of the city.
Massive indoor playgrounds. Immersive malls. Kid-focused experiences designed on a scale we rarely see back home. The variety was staggering, especially for a city that carries a reputation of being laid-back and relaxed.
After a few nights down the XHS rabbit hole, we were confident — a visit to Chengdu with kids could easily fill eight full days without feeling repetitive.
Getting to Chengdu, China – The Trade-Off
Direct flights from Singapore typically take between four and a half to five and a half hours. Unfortunately, because this year-end trip was a spontaneous decision, we were faced with steep airfares and limited availability.
Determined to stay wallet-friendly, we booked Xiamen Airlines at about $1,662 for a round trip for the four of us. The reduced price came with a longer journey (no inflight entertainment). We flew four hours to Xiamen, had a three-hour stopover, and then flew another three hours to Chengdu.
From check-in at Changi Airport to arriving in the city centre, the entire journey took close to fourteen hours. We left Singapore at 9am and only reached Chengdu close to 8pm.
It was long and undeniably tiring. But because we did not have to clear immigration and re-check luggage at Xiamen, the stopover surprisingly felt less disruptive than expected. In fact, it even gave us the opportunity to briefly explore the city during transit — something we will share more about later.
One important note for travellers heading to China: the regulations around portable power banks are strict. Make sure yours carries the CCC certification mark. Without it, your power bank will be confiscated at security.
Day 1 – Straight Into the City
By the time we landed at Tianfu Airport, Day 1 had essentially become a travel day. Although there were airport hotels available, we decided to push on into the city centre. We wanted to start fresh the next morning without dealing with rush hour traffic heading inward.
As expected, there were drivers offering rides outside the airport. After our experience in Guangzhou last year, we chose to book a DiDi instead. It remains the safest and most transparent option, especially when travelling with children and luggage.
The one-and-a-half-hour ride from Tianfu Airport to Tianfu Square cost us RMB170. Despite sharing the same name, the airport and Tianfu Square are still a significant distance apart.
Holiday Inn Express, Tianfu Square – A Pleasant Surprise
We have stayed at Holiday Inn Express properties before, so we had a clear benchmark in mind — practical rooms, reliable standards, nothing overly fancy.
This one exceeded expectations.
At roughly SGD80 a night, our room was surprisingly spacious, measuring about 50 to 60 square metres. It comfortably housed two double beds, an ottoman that could double up as an additional sleeping space, and a large, well-designed shower area. After a fourteen-hour travel day, the extra space made a tangible difference.
The details were thoughtful. The children received panda-themed toothbrushes and small panda touches around the room that immediately made them feel welcome. It was subtle but intentional — a reminder that we were truly in Chengdu.
Breakfast also went beyond the typical “Express” spread. There were live stations serving freshly cooked noodles and congee alongside Western staples. It was hearty, efficient and exactly what we needed before diving into the city.
Right outside the hotel was a halal Xinjiang restaurant, which perhaps explained why we noticed quite a number of Muslim travellers staying there.
The location turned out to be strategic as well. People’s Park and Kuanzhai Alley were both roughly ten minutes away by car, making it a convenient base for our first few explorations.
After such an arduous journey, stepping into that room felt like a quiet reward. Chengdu had barely begun — and already, it was gently exceeding our expectations.
Day 2 – Kuanzhai Alley and Grand Hyatt, Chengdu
We started Day 2 at Kuanzhai Alley. The moment we stepped in, surrounded by panda memorabilia and unmistakably touristy energy, it immediately switched us into travel mode.
Kuanzhai Alley — literally translated as Wide and Narrow Alley — is a gentrified area where an ancient Qing Dynasty military settlement has been restored and reimagined with modern restaurants, boutique cafés, face-changing mask performances and Hanfu makeover studios.
It felt like a gentle introduction to Chengdu — modern and trendy, yet not overwhelming or chaotic. We spent the morning taking it slow, hopping between coffee joints, sampling panda-themed desserts, and stopping frequently for photos. It was relaxed, unhurried, and very much in line with the city’s reputation.
After Kuanzhai Alley, we headed to our next accommodation — the Grand Hyatt Chengdu, easily our favourite stay of the trip.
For this leg, we decided to splurge a little more, knowing we would be spending three full days here. Located right at Chunxi Road, the hotel sits in the heart of the city’s action and is directly connected to a shopping mall.
At around SGD250 a night, we booked an 80-square-metre suite that came with a separate bedroom, living room, dining area, a powder room and a spacious bathroom.
The only downside was that the suite came with a single king bed. I ended up sleeping on the large ottoman in the living room, but the staff thoughtfully converted it into a proper sleeping space with a comforter, blanket and pillow — a small gesture that made a big difference.
Breakfast was crème de la crème. Multiple live stations served freshly cooked items, from brioche with scrambled eggs and avocado to a wide spread of Asian and Western options. There was also an indoor heated pool and a well-equipped gym, though the surrounding area was simply too happening for us to spend much time enjoying the hotel facilities.
Orientation at Chunxi Road
We spent the rest of the day exploring Chunxi Road. While relatively compact, the district is densely packed with shopping malls, street activity and visual spectacle. For high-end shopping, Taikoo Li offered an extensive range of designer brands.
For us, the highlights were more relaxed — a visit to the LEGO store and some downtime at Shake Shack, both of which had China-exclusive offerings.
Those viral 3D LED screens you’ve probably seen on social media? Chunxi Road has several of them. The most popular one sits right next to Taikoo Li, but honestly, you’re spoilt for choice.
For a city often described as “chill”, the energy here was anything but subdued. Street performances, panda mascots pulling in customers, and even a mobile karaoke bus — where passengers could hop on and sing while the rest watched — filled the streets.
The spontaneity and joy with which locals embraced everyday life challenged many of our preconceived notions and served as a quiet reminder of how much more there is to understand beyond stereotypes.
Not wanting to waste our comfortable suite, we bought takeaway and ended the night back in the room, winding down and recharging for the next day.
Day 3 – Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
No trip to Chengdu feels complete without seeing the pandas. After all, Sichuan is where they originate. While we aren’t particularly big panda fans ourselves, we figured it was still worth experiencing the hype at least once.
We chose the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding mainly because of its proximity to the city — about a 40-minute cab ride. What we didn’t quite anticipate was the sheer scale of the place. It is massive — roughly four times the size of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay — and involves a lot of walking.
At the entrance, we were approached by multiple touts offering guided services, claiming they could help us locate the pandas, which are often elusive. Based on past experiences, we declined. It didn’t take long for us to understand what they meant.
The pandas were spread far apart, and perhaps because it was an off-peak season, many were not visible in their enclosures. Even when we did spot them, they were doing very panda things — eating, sleeping, eating some more, and continuing to sleep. None of the cute rolling-down-the-hill moments we had subconsciously imagined.
In the end, we encountered more souvenir shops than pandas. Even with the internal buggy rides, it took us close to five hours to get from one end to the other. Unless you are a serious panda enthusiast, this might not be a must-visit — at least, it wasn’t quite our cup of tea.
Eastern Suburbs Memories
Feeling like the first half of the day hadn’t quite lived up to expectations, we decided to head to another gentrified area known as Eastern Suburbs Memories.
The moment we arrived, the atmosphere shifted. Old factories, chimneys, exposed pipes, and remnants of trains and aircraft gave the place a distinctly industrial, hipster vibe.
True enough, the area was dotted with cafés, people lounging on camping chairs, boutique stores, streetwear shops, and even a dog lawn where locals simply hung out.
Right across the road was Tanhui Wanke City Plaza, a large mall packed with family-friendly stores, amusement centres and even a small petting zoo. But what really caught our attention was the park nearby.
There, we saw elderly residents sitting with their grandchildren, others casually chatting, and some — semi-clothed — doing calisthenics in the open. It was another moment that challenged familiar stereotypes, highlighting just how lifestyle-centric and unapologetically relaxed daily life felt here.
Once again, Chengdu offered us a different lens — not through attractions or landmarks, but through how its people live, move, and occupy shared spaces.
Day 4 – People’s Park & Sichuan Science and Technology Museum
The morning started slow, much like the previous day. We headed to People’s Park, Chengdu’s first public park — a space shaped by artful landscaping, pavilions, lakes and old-school teahouses. Parks aren’t usually our go-to when travelling, but we were genuinely curious about how locals spend their everyday lives.
Right at the entrance, we were greeted by elderly residents engaged in ballroom dancing. In another pavilion, a group was doing eye massage exercises. Many others simply sat by the teahouses, cracking nuts over pots of tea. We were told some could easily spend a quarter of their day just chatting and drinking tea by the lake.
Naturally curious, we joined in — doing all the touristy things. From getting my ears cleaned (a very typical Chengdu street scene) to paying for a Kungfu tea performance. Even after we were done and had our “gram checks,” the locals were still there, unhurried, simply passing time.
Parents take note: the park also has a small amusement corner with old-school, Uncle Ringo-esque rides and a modest playground — a nice little bonus if you’re exploring with kids.
A short 15-minute walk away was the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum. We’ve made it a personal rule to visit at least one science centre in every city we travel to, and this one did not disappoint — at least in scale.
Admission is free, and the museum spans four floors packed with exhibitions and activities that could easily take up an entire day if explored properly. The foyer opens with a massive aviation display featuring hands-on exhibits on flight, space travel, and a strong dose of national pride around China’s aerospace achievements.
There are two dedicated children’s sections — an indoor zone where kids can role-play different occupations and explore perception science and illusion-style exhibits that really spark curiosity, and an outdoor area designed like a sensory playground.
The other levels house a wide range of interactive experiences, from robotics to virtual simulations — all very engaging for children.
That said, one downside was the state of maintenance. Quite a few exhibits were malfunctioning or temporarily closed, which took away from what could otherwise have been a truly immersive experience.
We spent the rest of the evening strolling around Chunxi Road again. My wife headed back to the hotel to rest, while I had a quiet moment with the Boays — just father and sons, trying Chengdu street food. Laughing at the same shop owner who somehow seemed to appear in every store, daring each other to try garlic-laden oysters, and hunting for Ultraman cards.
Simple, mundane moments — but deeply heartwarming. The kind that I know will hit very differently when they’re older.
We turned in early that night, resting up for the next big adventure in the middle leg of our trip.
Day 5 – Xiling Snow Mountains
Ever since our Hokkaido snow experience, the Boays have been yearning for that same thick, wintery wonderland again. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that Xiling Snow Mountains, just a 2.5-hour cab ride from Chengdu, could potentially fulfil that wish.
A quick check on Xiaohongshu showed people camping in snow-covered tents, playing in deep powder, living out proper winter fantasies. Naturally, we bought into that dream too. Imagining ourselves all bundled up, cuddled together in a snow-covered tent, we booked a night at Deep Breathes.
For SGD180 a night, it came with very basic amenities — a simple breakfast, two mattresses (just enough for the four of us), and a heater.
Compared to the comfort and polish of our stay at the Grand Hyatt, it honestly felt like a joke. But hey… at least there was supposed to be snow.
Except travel, as always, had other plans.
Winter came late. The snow that had fallen days earlier had mostly melted. What greeted us instead were semi-green, semi-brown slopes, with only traces of white clinging on at higher ground. With no snow, the entire resort — and its touristy offerings — felt like someone had pulled the plug. Everything was quiet, subdued, almost paused.
We even saw a few Singaporeans lugging their suitcases and ski gear up the mountain, only to be met with the same disappointment. It was one of those “oh no…” moments you could feel without anyone saying a word.
Disappointed? Definitely. But wanting to role-model adaptability and resilience to the Boays, we swallowed our frustration and explored what the place still had to offer.
Ironically, it was the Boays who ended up teaching us what it truly meant to live in the moment.
They played endlessly at the playground, spent hours digging and sliding around the remaining patches of snow near the mountain peak, and later sat contentedly in the tent, trading Ultraman cards — completely unfazed. Meanwhile, the adults exchanged glances, silently hoping the next day would arrive a little faster.
Moments like these remind me why travelling as a family matters. Beyond the highlights, it gives us shared experiences — sometimes imperfect ones — that become quiet lessons in resilience, perspective, and presence. These are the stories we’ll still be able to laugh about long after the trip is over.
Travel tip: If you’re heading to Xiling Snow Mountains, leave your luggage at your city hotel’s concierge and pack just a day bag. We returned to the Grand Hyatt to pick up our luggage after leaving the mountains — a small decision that made the whole experience far more manageable.
Day 6 to 7 – Chengdu’s Global Center
We decided to end our 9D8N Chengdu trip with a 3D2N stay at the Global Center, thinking it would be a gentle and convenient way to wind down. After several days of roaming shopping streets and café-hopping around the city, the Boays were clearly craving something more playful — and this turned out to be the perfect balance between rest and entertainment.
We spent the last two nights at InterContinental Chengdu Global Center, located right inside the Chengdu Global Center. Without even stepping outside the complex, we packed our two days with indoor playgrounds that went far beyond the usual slides and ball pits — think quest-based experiences, interaction with NPCs, cave exploration, and even role-playing different occupations.
For families, it felt like a destination designed with kids in mind, yet comfortable enough for parents to slow down and recharge. If you’re curious about the specific attractions we tried and what we’d recommend, you can read the full breakdown of our time at Chengdu Global Center.
Ending the Chengdu leg this way gave the trip a satisfying sense of balance — shopping, urban exploration, and unapologetically kiddy fun, all wrapped up neatly.
Day 8 – An Unexpected Find
Our flight back to Singapore came with a five-hour stopover in Xiamen, and instead of staying put at the airport, we decided to make a quick dash into the city centre. Zhongshan Road Walking Street is just a 25-minute cab ride from Gaoqi International Airport, making it surprisingly doable even on a short layover.
Being in Xiamen, the street food scene immediately felt familiar to us Hokkien folk — thanks to its proximity to Taiwan and shared Fujian roots.
We spotted classics like oyster omelette (蚵仔煎), peanut soup, satay-style grilled skewers, five-spice pork rolls, and plenty of braised snacks that reminded us of home. It was comforting, nostalgic, and very easy to eat your way down the street.
After that, we hopped into a cab and headed to Shapowei, a laid-back seaside neighbourhood filled with boutique shops, indie cafés, street food stalls and quirky knick-knacks.
It had a youthful, artsy vibe — the kind of place where you slow your pace without realising it. That short three-hour city detour ended up being a surprisingly fitting full stop to the holiday.
Final Reflections on the Family-friendly Trip to Chengdu with Kids
Looking back, China never fails to amaze us with its speed of modernisation, and this trip to Chengdu only reinforced that there will likely be many more China trips to come — helped by its affordability and genuinely over-the-top child-friendly offerings.
Food was something we were slightly cautious about at first. Sichuan cuisine is famously spicy, but in reality, the variety is huge. Many restaurants are clearly catering to families, offering non-spicy options and child-friendly meals — a detail we appreciated more than once.
Overall, the food scene in Chengdu turned out to be far more diverse (and accommodating) than we expected.
While Chengdu is often described as a chill city, it’s still packed with enough kid-centric activities to keep everyone happy. So if you’re thinking of visiting a China city and want to venture beyond the usual Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou routes, Chengdu might just surprise you more than you expect.
