A Food-Led 10 Days: Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an

Street food

Trip at a Glance

Ten days lets you eat through Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an. Split it 4-3-3: fly into Chengdu, rail to Chongqing (1 hour), rail to Xi'an (5 hours). Budget 4,500-7,000 RMB per person for food, hotels and local transport, plus intercity rail.

This route works because the three cities sit along China's western high-speed rail corridor and each represents a distinct regional food culture: Chengdu's complex, numbing Sichuan cooking; Chongqing's bolder, oilier river-port hotpot and xiaomian; and Xi'an's wheat-and-lamb Muslim Chinese cuisine that you will not find in the other two.

HXXC Travel, based in Jiangmen, Guangdong, runs this circuit regularly for first-time international visitors. We can adjust the pace and heat level to your group.

food table

Days 1-4: Chengdu — Sichuan Cuisine Deep Dive

Day 1: Arrival and Kuanzhai Alley

Arrive at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) or Shuangliu International Airport (CTU). Most international flights now land at Tianfu. Taxi to the city centre takes 40-60 minutes and costs around 80-120 RMB. Metro Line 18 connects Tianfu to the city in about 50 minutes for 8 RMB.

Check into a hotel near Chunxi Road or Tianfu Square for walkable access to restaurants. Mid-range options in this area run 400-700 RMB per night.

For your first evening, walk Kuanzhai Alley (Wide and Narrow Alleys). The alleys themselves are touristy, but the surrounding streets have real local food. Try:

Day 2: Panda Base and Mapo Tofu

Go to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding early. Arrive by 8:00 am when pandas are most active. Entry is 55 RMB as of November 2026; book online in advance through the official WeChat mini-program. Plan 3-4 hours.

For lunch, go to Chen Mapo Tofu on Xikang Road, the original branch of the restaurant that claims to have invented mapo tofu in 1862. A plate of mapo tofu costs 35-50 RMB. Order it with rice and a side of twice-cooked pork (huiguo rou).

Afternoon: Wenshu Monastery and its teahouse. A pot of Gaiwan tea costs 15-30 RMB and you can sit for hours. This is where Chengdu locals actually spend time — not a show for tourists.

Dinner: Yu Hotpot or any branch of a local hotpot chain in the Yulin area. A full hotpot meal for two with beer runs 200-350 RMB. Order half-and-half pot (yuan yang guo) if you want a non-spicy broth side.

Day 3: Leshan Day Trip or Cooking Class

Option A: Day trip to Leshan (1 hour by high-speed rail from Chengdu East Station, about 55 RMB one way). Leshan has the Giant Buddha and its own food culture. Try Leshan beef jerky, bobo chicken (bobo ji — skewers in a spicy sesame broth), and Qiaojiao beef. Return the same evening.

Option B: Stay in Chengdu and take a half-day cooking class. Several schools near Wenshu Monastery offer morning market visits followed by a 3-4 dish cooking session for 300-500 RMB per person.

Day 4: Sichuan Museum and Departure to Chongqing

Morning: Sichuan Museum (free, bring passport) or the Jinsha Site Museum (70 RMB).

Afternoon: Take high-speed rail to Chongqing. Trains depart from Chengdu East Station and arrive at Chongqing North or Chongqing West. The fastest trains take about 1 hour; ticket price is around 150-180 RMB second class. Book a day or two ahead on the 12306 app or via HXXC Travel.

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Days 5-7: Chongqing — Hotpot and Xiaomian

Day 5: Arrival, Ciqikou and First Hotpot

Chongqing is built on mountains and the Yangtze River. A hotel in the Jiefangbei (Liberation Monument) area puts you within walking distance of food streets and the Yangtze cableway.

Start at Ciqikou Old Town, a riverside porcelain-trading port turned food street. Try:

Evening: Your first real Chongqing hotpot. Unlike Chengdu hotpot, Chongqing hotpot uses beef tallow (niu you) as the base and is generally hotter and oilier. Try any well-reviewed hotpot in the Yuzhong district. Expect 80-150 RMB per person including beer. Order beef tripe (maodu), duck intestine (ya chang), and lotus root.

Day 6: City Walk and Jianghu Cuisine

Morning: Ride the Yangtze River Cableway (20 RMB one way) for a view of the city. Walk through the Liziba area to see the monorail passing through a residential building.

Lunch: Jianghu cuisine (jianghu cai) — the bold, salty, spicy cooking style that originated in Chongqing's riverside taverns. Try quan shui ji (spring water chicken) or la ziji (spicy chicken with a mountain of dried chilis) at a local restaurant. 50-90 RMB per dish.

Afternoon: Explore Hongya Cave's lower levels for the architecture, then walk the riverside. The view from Qiansimen Bridge at night is worth the walk.

Dinner: Try a dry-pot (gan guo) restaurant — ingredients stir-fried and served in a heated iron pot, less soupy than hotpot. 60-100 RMB per person.

Day 7: Markets and Departure to Xi'an

Morning: Visit a wet market like Shibanpo or any neighbourhood market. This is where you see Chongqing's food ingredients up close: piles of dried chilis, Sichuan peppercorns, pickled mustard greens, and fresh beef offal.

Afternoon: Take high-speed rail to Xi'an. The direct train from Chongqing North to Xi'an North takes about 5-5.5 hours and costs around 280-450 RMB depending on the train. Book ahead — this is a popular route. Alternatively, fly (1.5 hours, 500-900 RMB), but the train is more reliable and drops you closer to central Xi'an.

Days 8-10: Xi'an — Muslim Quarter and Noodle Country

Day 8: Arrival and Muslim Quarter

Xi'an North Station connects to the city via Metro Line 2 (about 40 minutes to the Bell Tower). Check into a hotel near the Bell Tower or within the city wall for easy walking access to the Muslim Quarter.

Evening: Walk to the Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie). This is the food capital of northwest China. Eat:

Day 9: Terracotta Army and Return for Dinner

Morning: Take bus 5 (306) from Xi'an Railway Station to the Terracotta Army site, about 1 hour, 7 RMB. Or hire a car through HXXC Travel for a smoother round trip.

The Terracotta Army ticket is 120 RMB as of November 2026. Plan 3-4 hours on site. Pit 1 is the largest and most impressive.

Lunch at the site area is mediocre and overpriced. Eat a light snack and save yourself for Xi'an.

chengdu jinli ancient street

Dinner: Try a roujiamo shop off the main Muslim Quarter drag — look for places where locals queue, not tourists. Pair it with a bowl of paomo or a cold plate of liangpi (cold skin noodles in sesame and chili sauce, 10-15 RMB).

Day 10: City Wall and Departure

Morning: Rent a bike on the Xi'an City Wall (bike rental 45 RMB for 2 hours, wall entry 54 RMB). The full circuit is about 14 km and takes 1.5-2 hours. Go early to avoid heat and crowds.

Lunch: One last Xi'an meal. Try a persimmon cake (shi zi bing) for dessert — 5-8 RMB.

Afternoon: Depart from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport. If you need to connect through Beijing or Shanghai for your international flight, domestic flights from Xi'an are frequent and run 400-800 RMB.

Getting Between the Three Cities

All high-speed rail tickets in China require passport verification. Book through the official 12306 app or a travel agency like HXXC Travel. As of November 2026, 12306 accepts foreign passports and most international credit cards, but the app can be finicky — if it fails, use a booking service. Re-check train schedules and prices before travel, as they adjust seasonally.

Quick Dish Reference by City

Chengdu

Chongqing

Xi'an

Practical Information

Visa

As of November 2026, China offers visa-free entry to citizens of numerous countries for stays of up to 30 days under unilateral agreements, and transit visa-free entry for eligible nationalities. Policies change frequently — check with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate for the current rules before booking.

Best Time to Go

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are the most comfortable. Summer in all three cities is hot and humid — Chongqing is famously one of China's furnace cities. Winter is cold but uncrowded, and hotpot season is at its best.

Budget

Per person, per day, mid-range:

Total for 10 days excluding intercity rail and international flights: 4,500-7,000 RMB per person. Add about 500-700 RMB for the two high-speed rail segments.

Language

English is not widely spoken in Chengdu, Chongqing or Xi'an outside top hotels. Download a translation app (Pleco or Baidu Translate) and have your hotel address in Chinese characters. HXXC Travel provides English-speaking guides for the full route if you prefer not to navigate alone.

Payment

As of November 2026, Alipay and WeChat Pay are the dominant payment methods everywhere, including street food stalls. Both now accept foreign credit cards after identity verification. Cash is accepted but slower. Set up Alipay with your foreign card before you arrive — it takes 10 minutes and saves you from carrying small bills.

FAQ

How many days do you need for Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an?

Ten days is comfortable. Four days in Chengdu lets you see pandas, eat hotpot, and take a Leshan day trip. Three days in Chongqing covers the main food and city sights. Three days in Xi'an covers the Terracotta Army, Muslim Quarter and city wall. You can compress to 7-8 days by skipping Leshan and one city, but you will rush the food.

What is the best way to travel between Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an?

High-speed rail is the best option for all three legs. Chengdu to Chongqing is about 1 hour by train. Chongqing to Xi'an is 5-5.5 hours by train. Flying between Chongqing and Xi'an saves only about 2 hours of total travel time once you factor in airport transfers, and the train drops you closer to central Xi'an.

Is the food in Chengdu and Chongqing too spicy for foreigners?

Both cuisines use Sichuan peppercorn (numbing, ma) and dried chili (hot, la) heavily, but you can manage the heat. In Chengdu, order a half-and-half hotpot (yuan yang guo) with one non-spicy side. In Chongqing, ask for wei la (slightly spicy) when ordering xiaomian and other dishes. Most restaurants will accommodate. If you cannot eat chili at all, Xi'an's Muslim Chinese cuisine is milder and wheat-based.

Do I need a visa to visit Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an?

As of November 2026, China offers visa-free entry to citizens of many countries for stays of up to 30 days, and transit visa-free entry for eligible nationalities. The exact rules depend on your passport and trip structure. Check with your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before booking, as visa policy can change.

How much does a 10-day food trip to Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an cost?

Budget 4,500-7,000 RMB per person for hotels, food, local transport and attractions over 10 days, excluding international flights. Add 500-700 RMB for the two high-speed rail segments. Food is inexpensive — street meals run 10-30 RMB and hotpot for two runs 200-350 RMB.

Can I see the Terracotta Army and eat in the Muslim Quarter on the same day?

Yes. The Terracotta Army is about 1 hour from central Xi'an by bus. If you go in the morning and spend 3-4 hours on site, you can be back in the city by mid-afternoon and eat dinner in the Muslim Quarter. The Quarter is most lively in the evening.

Is it safe to eat street food in China?

Street food in Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an is generally safe at busy stalls with high turnover. Avoid raw dishes and anything that has been sitting out. Carry hand sanitizer. The food is cooked to order in front of you at most stalls, which is a good sign.

Related private tours

A 10-day food route through Chengdu, Chongqing and Xi'an, connected by high-speed rail. Includes day-by-day plans, dish prices, where to eat, and practical tips for first-time visitors to western China.