An antique water street beside Tiexiangsi Temple, packed with teahouses and restaurants.
Experience Chengdu's distinctive water street teahouse culture and enjoy leisurely moments in antique-style architecture.
Tiexiangsi Water Street is a surprise in Chengdu High-tech Zone, with both cultural heritage and a modern leisure vibe. It suits travelers who want to escape the hustle and bustle and experience slow living.
Tickets & Transport
Tickets
- Free
- Yes
Opening Hours
- Opening notes
- Water Street is an open block, accessible all day; business hours vary by shop, generally 10:00-22:00.
Best Time to Visit
- Best time of day
- Evening to night, when the lights are on, for the best atmosphere.
- Best day of week
- Weekdays
- Best season
- Spring and autumn, when the weather is pleasant.
- Avoid times
- Noon and evening on public holidays, when it's crowded.
- Avoid days
- Weekends and public holidays
- Crowd level
- Medium
- Crowd peak time
- Weekend afternoons and evenings
Getting There
- Metro station
- Dayuan Station
- Metro line
- 5号线
- Metro exit
- Exit B
- Metro distance
- 1.2km
- Metro walk
- 15min
In Detail
Located in Chengdu High-tech Zone, Tiexiangsi Water Street is built around the ancient Ming Dynasty Tiexiangsi Temple. It is an antique-style water street that blends Western Sichuan residential architecture with modern commerce. The street follows the Xiaojia River, featuring small bridges, flowing water, pavilions, and towers, recreating the leisurely charm of old Chengdu's water towns.
The water street is packed with teahouses, cafés, and specialty restaurants, offering both traditional gaiwan tea and new-style Sichuan cuisine and creative dishes. On holidays and weekends, folk events and water performances make it especially lively.
Strolling along the bluestone paths, wooden covered bridges, and babbling streams, visitors feel transported back to old Chengdu. Whether you enjoy tea in the daytime sunshine or take a walk among the evening lights, you'll experience the unique slow rhythm of life in Chengdu.
What to expect
Visitors will see antique-style buildings along the water, hear the soft babbling of the stream, and smell the aroma of tea and food. You can stroll along the river or sit in a teahouse for an afternoon, soaking in the slow Chengdu lifestyle.
How to visit
Visit in the afternoon: first explore Tiexiangsi Temple, then have tea and dinner on the water street. Take Metro Line 5 to Dayuan Station and walk about 15 minutes, or take a bus to Tianfu First Street Station.
Pros
Free admission, beautiful environment, authentic teahouse atmosphere, and great photo opportunities.
Cons
Some restaurants are expensive, and it can get crowded on holidays and weekends.
Highlights
- A complex of traditional Western Sichuan folk houses, with small bridges and flowing water creating a poetic atmosphere.
- Numerous distinctive teahouses and restaurants offer authentic Sichuan flavors.
- Adjacent to Tiexiang Temple, convenient for a visit and prayers along the way.
- At night, the dazzling lights make it a great spot for photos and check-ins.
FAQ
Does Tiexiang Temple Water Street require a ticket?
No, the Water Street itself is free, and Tiexiang Temple is also free to enter.
Is the Water Street suitable to visit at night?
Yes, when the lights come on at night, the Water Street has its own unique charm, and many restaurants and teahouses stay open late.
Is there a metro near the Water Street?
The nearest metro station is Dayuan Station on Line 5, about a 15-minute walk away. You can also take a bus there.
Field Tips
Best photo spot 1. Main bridge of Water Street: Stand on the bridge to capture the antique buildings on both banks and their reflections in the water. 2. Teahouse terrace by the river: Use the Western Sichuan folk houses as a backdrop to shoot a leisurely tea vibe. 3. Tiexiangsi Temple gate: The contrast between the ancient temple and the street scene gives a strong cultural feel. 4. Lantern corridor at night: The lights create a great setting for nighttime portrait photography.
Best entrance Nanhua Road entrance (near Tianfu First Street)
Best exit North-side exit (near Tiexiangsi Temple)
Location & Nearby
Nearby attractions
- Nongyuan Art Expo Park (5.3 km)
- Nanhu Dream Island Theme Park (6.3 km)
- Chengdu Haichang Polar Ocean World (7.3 km)
- Tianfu Hibiscus Park (7.7 km)
- Joy City (8.8 km)