DoubleTree by Hilton Chengdu Riverside is the practical choice for travellers whose plans revolve around the pandas or the high-speed trains. It sits in the Chenghua district on the north-east side of the city, about twelve minutes by car from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and roughly thirteen minutes from Chengdu East Railway Station, which handles many of the fast trains. It has 194 rooms, two restaurants and a bar, a 24-hour gym and a shopping mall on site, and it offers free self-parking, which is useful if you hire a driver or a car. The surroundings are quieter and more residential than the city centre, and a ten-minute walk takes you to the Shabanqiao metro station, so you can still reach the centre without a car. It is a sensible, comfortable base for a shorter stay or a trip built around day tours.
Location and getting around
The hotel is near a small memorial park and about a ten-minute walk from Shabanqiao station. Taikoo Li is around seven minutes by car, and Tianfu Square is about eleven minutes away. The airport takes about half an hour by car. Because the district is less lively in the evening than Chunxi Road, plan your dinners around the hotel restaurants or short taxi rides into the centre.
Rooms and facilities
Rooms are in the upscale international style, with free in-room Wi-Fi. There is a 24-hour gym, a concierge and laundry services, and a buffet breakfast is available at an extra charge. The property does not list a pool or spa, so look elsewhere if you want one. Pets are accepted for a fee, which is uncommon in China, so confirm the conditions before you travel.
Who it suits
Travellers with an early panda base visit, those taking trains from the east station, people with a car, and anyone who prefers a calmer area to the city-centre bustle. Families will appreciate the free parking and the easy access to the panda base.
Good to know
Check-in is from mid-afternoon and check-out is at noon. Distances listed by different sources vary slightly, so check on a map when you plan your transfers.
Making the most of it
If you plan to see the pandas at opening time, ask the front desk to arrange a car the evening before, as ride-hailing cars can be slow to arrive in the early morning. Breakfast starts early enough for most tour departures, and the hotel can store your luggage if you are catching an afternoon train. A short taxi ride takes you to the restaurants and teahouses of the centre for dinner.
Why stay here
- ✓Two restaurants and a bar
- ✓24-hour gym
- ✓On-site shopping mall
- ✓Buffet breakfast available
- ✓Free self-parking
- ✓Free in-room Wi-Fi
- ✓Concierge
- ✓Pets accepted for a fee
Good questions
How far is the hotel from the panda base?+
It is about twelve minutes by car from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which makes an opening-time visit easy.
Is there a metro nearby?+
Shabanqiao station is about ten minutes on foot, and Chengdu East Railway Station is a short drive away.
Does the hotel have a pool?+
No pool is listed. It does have a 24-hour gym, two restaurants and a bar.
