Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Tianfu Greenway (planned 16,900km network connecting the city)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- 339 Television Tower; Longquanyi (Peach blossom viewing in spring)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Huanhuaxi Park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Sansheng Flower Village (designated BBQ/camping areas)
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Qingcheng (Taoist mountain, 1 hour by train)
- National Parks Nearby
- Jiuzhaigou National Park (8-hour drive or 1-hour flight)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- SF Express (Best quality); ZTO/YTO (Cheaper)
- Tech Repair Services
- Taikoo Li Apple Store or Computer City at Moziqiao
- Table Tennis Spots
- Public tables at most residential compounds and People's Park
- Language Classes
- Chengdu Mandarin Club; Sichuan University Mandarin Program
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Sichuan Provincial Library (Tianfu Square)
- Community Centers
- Tongzilin International Community Neighborhood Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Wangyu Internet Cafe chain (High-spec PCs, approx. 10 CNY/hour)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not available (Illegal in mainland China; closest is Macau)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 35,000 CNY per m² (40 m² = 1,400,000 CNY)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 18,000 CNY per m² (40 m² = 720,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 32,000 CNY per m² (60 m² = 1,920,000 CNY)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 16,000 CNY per m² (60 m² = 960,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 30,000 CNY per m² (80 m² = 2,400,000 CNY)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 15,000 CNY per m² (80 m² = 1,200,000 CNY)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard); 15% for High-Tech enterprises in Development Zones
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% (typically reduced to 5% with tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (>183 days in China)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45%
- VAT
- 13% standard; 9%, 6% for specific services
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, China has strict CFC and anti-avoidance regulations
- Property Tax
- Currently being piloted/refined (Deed tax 1-3% at purchase)
- Property Transaction Tax
- VAT approx 5% if held <2 years; Individual Income Tax on gain
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; IIT exemptions on some expat allowances (housing/schooling)
Essentials
- City
- Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
- Population
- Approximately 21,000,000
- Internet Speed
- Avg 150 Mbps (Fiber common); VPN required for international sites (Astrill recommended)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 CNY ≈ 0.14 USD, 1 USD ≈ 7.20 CNY
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water (approx. 2 CNY per 500ml)
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A, C, and I sockets
- SIM Card
- China Unicom or China Mobile; approx. 100 CNY/month for 40GB data. Passport required for registration.
- Banking for Expats
- ICBC, Bank of China; Alipay and WeChat Pay are essential for daily life
- Accommodation
- Ziroom (managed apartments), Wellcee (expat-friendly listings)
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; 99% of transactions via Alipay/WeChat Pay
- Short Term Rentals
- Trip.com (Ctrip), Meituan, or local boutique guesthouses starting at 150 CNY/night
- Budget Accommodation
- Hello Chengdu Youth Hostel (approx. 60 CNY/night for a dorm)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li for shopping, or Kuanzhai Alley for traditional atmosphere
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Tongzilin (International district) or Dayuan (High-Tech Zone) for modern infrastructure
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (Raffles City, Renmin South Road), approx. 1,200 CNY/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Wheat & Baker (Tongzilin) or Mondoli's Blood (Taikoo Li area); laptop-friendly with stable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Chengdu Expat 'After Work' mixers; Startup Grind Chengdu events
- Social Events for Expats
- Chengdu-Expat.com events and WeChat groups (Chengdu Gaming Guild, Chengdu Beer Lovers)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Didi Chuxing (integrated into Alipay/WeChat)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Meituan Bike, HelloBike (scan QR code); approx. 1.5 CNY per 15 mins
- Best Beach Nearby
- None (landlocked); closest is man-made beach at New Century Global Center
- Top Regional Airline
- Sichuan Airlines
- Top International Airline
- Air China (hub at Chengdu Shuangliu and Tianfu International)
- Highway Access
- G5 Beijing–Kunming Expressway and G42 Shanghai–Chengdu Expressway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Chengdu East Railway Station (High-speed rail hub)
- Public Transport Passes
- Tianfu Tong card/QR code; subway rides 2-7 CNY base based on distance
- Regional Travel
- Bullet train to Chongqing (1.5 hours, approx. 150 CNY)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- West China Hospital (International Department); Raffles Medical (Tongzilin)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Y+ Yoga Center (International Plaza), approx. 150 CNY/class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Megafit or Physical (Chunxi Road); approx. 3,500 CNY for annual membership
- Laundry Services
- Taier Clean (online pickup via WeChat) or local small shops (approx. 15 CNY per kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Meituan Waimai, Ele.me
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mapo Tofu at Chen Mapo Tofu (approx. 35 CNY); Kung Pao Chicken
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Wenshu Monastery Vegetarian Restaurant (approx. 35-50 CNY for buffet)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Let's Grind Coffee & Bakery (Pingle Alley); HeyTea (Cheese tea)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Auchan (Gaoxin) or local wet markets in Jinniu District
- E-commerce/Online Store
- JD.com (fastest delivery), Taobao, Pinduoduo
- Grocery Delivery
- Hema (Freshippo) - 30 min delivery within 3km
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lan Kwai Fong (Jiuyanqiao) and Poly Center (underground clubbing)
- Local Brewery
- Wild West Brewing (Gaoxin District); Great Leap Brewing (Taikoo Li)
- Wine Bars
- Le Coq Au Vin (Yulin District)
- Street Food Stalls
- Jianshe Road (Famous for Shao Kao and Gua Chuan)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Peter's Tex-Mex (Tongzilin); Grappa's (Italian, Taikoo Li)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (58 CNY entry)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Sichuan Museum; Chengdu Museum (Tianfu Square)
- Historical Sites
- Wuhou Shrine (Three Kingdoms history); Du Fu Cao Tang (Thatched Cottage)
- Religious Sites
- Wenshu Monastery (Buddhism); Qingyang Palace (Taoism)
- Annual Events
- Lantern Festival (Tazishan Park); Dragon Boat Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Yulin (famous for 'Chengdu' song/folk bars) and Kuanzhai Alleys
- Theater Venues
- Sichuan Opera House (Shu Feng Ya Yun) for mask changing performances
- Local Markets
- Lotus Pond (Hehuachi) wholesale market
- Music Scene
- Little Bar (Yulin) - the birthplace of Chengdu indie rock
- Street Art
- U37 Creative Warehouse area
- Cooking Classes
- Sichuan Higher Institute of Cuisine (professional classes available)
- Art Galleries
- Luhu A4 Art Museum (Tianfu New Area)
- Historic Buildings
- Anshun Bridge (reconstructed traditional bridge)
- Local Heritage
- Shu Embroidery (intangible cultural heritage)