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Trying to figure out where to stay in Chengdu can feel a little overwhelming because there are several completely different parts of the city that could make sense depending on what you want to do. After visiting, though, I can say I was so happy with where we stayed. My family stayed at Grand Hyatt Chengdu on Chunxi Road, and I absolutely loved the location. We were surrounded by shopping, restaurants, and things to do, and we could easily walk to Chunxi Road, Chengdu IFS, t

Chengdu surprised me. Obviously, I knew about the pandas. That is probably the first thing anyone thinks about when they hear Chengdu. What I was not expecting was how much I would love the actual city. There is incredible shopping, tea culture, temples, food, ridiculously fun nightlife, huge modern malls, traditional alleyways, a 24-hour spa, and somehow even a massive indoor ski and snowboard resort just outside the city. And the nightlife genuinely caught me off guard. We

Trying to figure out where to stay in Chongqing can get confusing very quickly. This city is huge, incredibly vertical, and split by two rivers, which means a hotel that looks close to something on a map may not actually feel close once you factor in hills, bridges, stairs, and Chongqing’s completely chaotic geography. After visiting, I am SO glad we stayed where we did. My family stayed at The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square in Jiefangbei, and I genuinely thought it was t

Chongqing might be one of the most visually insane cities I have ever visited. I mean that as a compliment. It feels futuristic, chaotic, and completely different from anywhere else I have traveled. And there is A LOT to do. Most of what we did absolutely lived up to the hype, but there were a couple of popular spots I honestly would not go out of my way to visit again. There were also quite a few things I wish I had known before the trip that would have made exploring Chongq

Visiting the Great Wall of China is one of those travel experiences that somehow still feels surreal even when you are standing on it. I have now been twice, and both visits were unusually quiet, but for completely different reasons. The first time, my family had private access through a relative of my dad’s, so that experience was definitely not typical. When I returned in July 2026 and visited the Juyongguan section, though, I was genuinely surprised by how empty it was aga

China has become one of my favorite places I’ve traveled to, and after visiting twice, I’ve learned that a little preparation can make a huge difference. Traveling around China is surprisingly easy once you arrive and have everything set up, but many of the apps, payment methods, internet restrictions, and even airport rules are completely different from what American travelers may be used to. If you’re planning your first trip to China, there are a few things you’ll want to