Destination Profile
Cheap flights to Chengdu from New Zealand could be your ticket to a close encounter with one of the world's most lovable endangered beasts: the giant panda. Yep, the capital of Sichuan province is right on the forefront of conservation when it comes to those bamboo-eating cuties. You'll find them at the stoically named Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where sightings of the black-and-white bears abound. Back in the city itself, the narrow lanes of historic Kuanzhaixiangzi showcase the traditional teahouse culture of south China, with gabled temples and gingko-scented brewhouses aplenty. Beyond that are science museums, the mystical Wenshu Temple, and sacred mountains capped by pagodas. The top deals on the route will usually involve a stopover, taking around 20-30 hours from departure to arrival.
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding spreads through the forests of Sichuan where it hosts more than 100 uber-rare beasts who love to munch bamboo!
Lantern-lit cafés and souvenir shops combine on the atmospheric walks of Jinli Street.
Get lost in the alleys of Kuanzhaixiangzi to experience the teahouse culture of Sichuan in all its glory.
No airlines fly direct between New Zealand and Chengdu.
Air New Zealand is the best airline to fly from New Zealand to Chengdu.