I enjoy walking around business districts and the Chunxi Road area in Chengdu which featured the IFS Panda was perhaps one of the more memorable that I’d visited this year. Found in the heart of Chengdu, Chunxi Road is a vibrant commercial hub that is chock full of malls, shops for international brands, tea houses, and even some historic sites. There’s even an iconic panda statue that is sure to turn heads because of how whimsical it looks.
Chunxi Road and IFS Panda: Iconic Landmarks in Chengdu
Getting to Chunxi Road is relatively easy. Taxis and ride-shares can bring you here or you can alternatively take the metro. I started my walk from the Louis Vuitton Store at the IFS or International Finance Square.
If I were to describe the IFS, it would be akin to a central business district/mall complex with other integrated developments like office spaces, hotels, and even residential buildings/spaces (among others). It’s not shown here but the area that I took this photo from is a sidewalk that’s actually as wide as the street next to it.
Just a couple of steps from the Louis Vuitton store, you’ll come across the famous IFS Panda. Or rather, the panda’s posterior. I actually didn’t notice it until I saw a couple of people pointing at it as I was walking along the sidewalk. On a side note, this specific area of Chunxi Road has other clothing brands like Fendi, Prada, and even Uniqlo (if you’re into fast fashion).
Here’s a closer look at the iconic panda’s (also equally iconic?) posterior. I’m not going to lie, it actually looks like a mini kaiju going up a building from this angle. Having seen these creatures in person at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, going up a building is probably what a panda is going to do if they’re this big.
Owing to how iconic the landmark is, expect there to be a lot of people here. It wasn’t as crowded (at least when I was there) as Shibuya’s Scramble Crossing but the crowds were still sizable. Still, a crowd this size is par for the course for any business district.
One thing that was noticeable here (at least during my visit) was that the crowd composition was mostly locals. There were the occasional tourist groups but I don’t think they were that prevalent in the crowd. It was really mostly locals who probably just came from (or are going to) the numerous establishments here.
Before checking out the panda and more of the IFS, I went on a detour at the night markets in the surrounding sidewalks. So one thing I really appreciated here was the presence of sidewalk food stalls. I’m a sucker for contrast and the presence of high-end/luxury establishments in adjacent or nearby streets that these food stalls were was actually quite refreshing to look at. I definitely think that these stalls added a lot of identity and culture to the business district.
Here’s a stall that sells authentic Leshan skewers. Now if you’re not familiar with Leshan skewers then I suggest trying a couple from here. These are essentially meats skewered, deep fried, then brushed/topped with a savory and spicy seasoning. This specific stall also has vegetables which, depending on the season, can vary.
Now if someone recommends visiting in the morning then absolutely don’t listen to them. If you’re just looking to shop then sure but the evenings are definitely the best time to come here. Again, the area becomes really lively and thanks to the numerous food stalls here, it’s actually much more affordable to eat out.
As with a lot of major cities in China, it’s quite safe to eat out at night here in Chengdu. There are plenty of security cams which kind of act as a deterrent against petty crimes/criminals. Of course you should still be cautious but really, security is going to be the least of your worries when you’re here.
Now if you’re wondering, that’s the northern part of the block across the Chunxi Road from IFS. Basically, if you crossed over from the sidewalk that I took this picture from and walked towards your left then you’d find yourself back at Chunxi Road and the site of the first image I took earlier. Alternatively, you can walk from where I took this image and you’d find yourself at an intersection where you can then see the IFS.
Speaking of the IFS, I did the second option and I’m now at the intersection I was talking about in the previous image. You can see the Louis Vuitton store is still open and more importantly, the sizable crowd that seems like it’s gathered outside it. It’s more likely though that these are just people who’re probably going home after spending time in the IFS (or the establishments in and/or around it).
So this is what the inside of the IFS mall looks like. Probably one of the notable things that you’ll notice here is this sign featuring the face of the IFS Panda. I unfortunately didn’t spend too much time inside as I then made my way up to the rooftop area.
Speaking of the rooftop area, here’s what it looks like. Much like the sidewalks and the mall itself, this area was also relatively busy with lots of people milling about or just relaxing. Of course, the reason for the crowd here is pretty evident if you looked closely at the picture.
Now before I talk more about the IFS Panda, I’d like to comment on open space here at the rooftop. It has this lawn with some nice looking trees and with what I think is an abstract art installation. I wanted to get closer to touch the art installation but unfortunately, I don’t think anyone is allowed to step on the lawn.
Finally, I get a clear look at the IFS Panda’s face. It doesn’t look as cute as Hua Hua’s but it’s definitely got that derp-y appeal that I think a lot of people will like. I mean, just look at the people lining up to take pictures of it.
Unveiled back in 2014, the IFS Panda is said to have been made essentially to bridge the interests of public business with that of public interaction. Looking at it now, I think they were able to do just that with how popular and iconic the sculpture has become. You only really need to look at the image above to see the sculpture successfully fulfilling its purpose.
Not going to lie, the IFS Panda does kind of look sad up close. I’m also not sure if its face was based off of a real panda. I will say this though, it actually looks larger than what I initially thought it would be.
Another thing that I liked about the IFS Panda sculpture is its 3D look. I’m kind of reminded of a 3D model before textures are applied/wrapped to its surface. On a side note, it was kind of surprising that when it came my turn to get close to the sculpture, there were fewer people milling about here. I’m not quite sure why that was but it was fortunate (not really as you’ll see in the next image) that they left or else I wouldn’t be able to come this close as I really wasn’t up to jostling for position with a crowd that night.
When I eventually decided to go back down to Chunxi Road, this was the sight that awaited me. Just look at the number of people here! It was absolutely packed and it would seem that the people at the rooftop from earlier (and then some) were all here. And yes, it’s as loud as you’re thinking. The noise was tolerable though and it thankfully wasn’t as loud as when I visited Dujiangyan’s Blue Tears.
If you’re not good with crowds then I would recommend visiting in the morning or afternoon. There are still going to be plenty of people during those times but definitely not as crowded as at night. Moreover, I would avoid coming here during the holidays as it’s going to get even more crowded.
Now if you’re someone who enjoys urban or street photography then the night time views here are arguably better. It’s not as memorable as Dujiangyan or even Hongyadong in Chongqing but the light quality is I think much better here. Now you’re still going to want to be respectful when shooting out in the streets but I’ve generally found people here don’t mind you taking pictures so long as you don’t focus on them.
This was a little later in the night and at the Zhongshamao entrance of the IFS. It’s much less crowded here though the lighting is a lot more subdued compared to the Chunxi Road entrance. Across the road is another block dedicated to designer/luxury jewelry stores. Aside from Harry Winston, this side also has branches for Gucci, Cartier, Hermes, Issey Miyake, and Givenchy (among others).
Perhaps the most notable feature of this street at night are the trees. Take note that I took these photos in the middle of the year so it was well past the Christmas season. Thanks to the lights on the trees though, it felt really festive and was a nice contrast to Chunxi Road’s brightly illuminated sidewalks.
And that ends my visit to the IFS Panda in Chunxi Road. I will say that if you plan to visit Chengdu then this area is actually worth checking out. The IFS Panda is a nice landmark to take pictures of and IFS itself has plenty of establishments to check out if you’re into luxury shopping. What if you don’t plan to spend money though? Well, that’s not going to be an issue as you really don’t need to pay an admission fee to walk around even inside the IFS. Moreover, there are plenty of relatively cheap eats around Chunxi Road.
Ever been to Chunxi Road yourself? What were your favorite spots and sights when you visited? We’d really appreciate it if you shared your thoughts and experiences with our community in the comments section below!
