Quick Half-Day Layover in Chengdu

We booked a hotel near the South Railway Station, just an 8-minute walk straight from the station to the Crystal Orange Hotel. From the airport, you can take Metro Line 18 directly to the hotel without needing to transfer.

We arrive in Chengdu at 13:10, so we can head straight to the hotel to check in and drop off our luggage. While there, we can grab a coffee to-go from the hotel before heading out for our itinerary.

Jinli Ancient Street is accessible by metro, requiring one transfer. Once you exit the station, it’s just a 2-minute walk, making it quite convenient. You can plan to spend 2-3 hours here strolling and enjoying the food. If you want to watch performances at the food court area, you might want to allocate even more time. It’s a great spot for buying souvenirs, trying local snacks, and even visiting the nearby museum. Although we didn’t try many food stalls, we highly recommend the stinky tofu!

Next, take Bus No. 82 to Xing’an Bridge. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the Music Square Pier, which is the starting point for the Jinjiang Night Cruise.

This area is lively, so you can take a stroll around while waiting for it to get completely dark before boarding the boat. After the cruise, there are plenty of bars and restaurants along the riverside. We chose the outdoor area of Chi Beer, which had the best view. A gin and tonic costs around RMB 98, and a bottle of beer is about RMB 50. For food, we only ordered dumplings, dried tofu skewers, and lamb skewers. The food was quite average and not very cheap, but the view was absolutely worth it. They even provide small blankets for the outdoor seating, which is a thoughtful touch!

Overall, this itinerary is perfect for a romantic date! Highly recommended!!

Post by TingYuuuu | Nov 2, 2025