Chengdu Education

Chengdu has one of the largest and most comprehensive education systems in western China. In addition to its extensive network of kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools, vocational institutions, and universities, the city is increasingly using its strengths in Ancient Shu civilization, giant panda conservation, traditional culture, science and technology, intangible cultural heritage, and rural ecology to develop educational programs for international students and overseas youth groups.

Education Overview in Chengdu

Overall Education Scale

Chengdu has a complete education system covering preschool, compulsory education, senior secondary education, vocational education, and higher education. As of 2024, the city had 4,192 educational institutions of various types, with approximately 4.1647 million students and more than 268,800 full-time teachers.

At the preschool level, Chengdu had 2,729 kindergartens with approximately 562,800 children enrolled, while inclusive kindergartens accounted for 87.59% of the total. Compulsory education included 650 primary schools and 462 junior middle schools, with the net enrollment rate for school-age children reaching 100%. Chengdu also had 192 regular senior high schools, with around 282,800 students.

Higher education is another major strength. Chengdu is home to 66 colleges and universities, with approximately 1.3181 million undergraduate, junior-college, and postgraduate students, making the city one of the most important higher-education centers in western China.

Development of High-Quality Education

During China's 14th Five-Year Plan period, Chengdu completed and opened 539 new basic-education schools, creating approximately 506,000 additional school places. Another 60,000 places were added in 2025.

The city has also established 175 leading-school education groups, covering 642 schools and more than 600,000 students. Public primary and secondary schools and kindergartens across Chengdu's 23 districts, county-level cities, and counties have completed large-scale improvements to teaching and learning environments.

Beginning in autumn 2025, Chengdu also introduced pilot programs connecting different stages of education through 12-year primary-to-senior-high programs or six-year junior-to-senior-high programs, with eight schools participating in the first group.

Elementary and Middle School Education

Colleges and Universities

Higher Vocational Colleges

Well-Known Schools Across Chengdu

Chengdu's strongest senior high schools are traditionally represented by the famous “4-7-9” schools, referring to Shishi High School, Chengdu No. 7 High School, and Shude High School.

Chengdu's “4-7-9” Schools

Shishi High School (石室中学) operates campuses including Wenmiao and Beihu. Its history is traditionally traced back to the Western Han Dynasty, around 141 BC, and it is widely regarded as one of the world's oldest continuously operating schools associated with government education.

Chengdu No. 7 High School (成都七中) operates the Linyin and High-Tech Zone campuses and is one of Sichuan's most highly regarded secondary schools, particularly known for mathematics, science, academic competitions, and university preparation.

Shude High School (树德中学) operates the Ningxia Street, Guanghua, and Foreign Languages campuses and is another major Chengdu school with a strong reputation for academic education and student development.

Together, these schools represent Chengdu's most prominent public high-school education brands and regularly perform strongly in programs related to academic excellence and subject specialization.

Leading Regional Schools

Beyond the “4-7-9” schools, many districts and county-level cities have their own well-known institutions.

Chengdu has 72 provincial-level demonstration senior high schools, including 41 Level-I and 31 Level-II demonstration schools. Provincial Level-I demonstration schools now cover almost all of Chengdu's administrative areas.

International Study Tour Resources in Chengdu

Chengdu has developed a diverse international study-tour system using its archaeological heritage, giant pandas, World Heritage sites, museums, traditional crafts, rural communities, universities, science centers, intelligent manufacturing, and ecological resources.

For international students, the city can function as a large open-air classroom where Chinese history, archaeology, wildlife conservation, engineering, arts, technology, and modern urban development can all be explored within the same destination.

Ancient Shu Civilization Study Tours

Sanxingdui and Jinsha Archaeology

The Sanxingdui Museum (三星堆博物馆) and Jinsha Site Museum (金沙遗址博物馆) are among the most valuable educational resources for understanding ancient civilizations in Southwest China.

Study programs can introduce students to archaeology, bronze casting, ancient ritual systems, museum conservation, artifact interpretation, and the development of the Ancient Shu civilization.

Interactive activities may include simulated archaeological excavation, bronze-casting demonstrations, archaeological drawing, artifact restoration interpretation, and museum-based research tasks.

Giant Panda Conservation Study Tours

Giant pandas are one of Chengdu's most recognizable educational resources. Student groups can combine visits to panda conservation facilities with structured courses in animal behavior, ecology, biodiversity, habitat protection, nutrition, and conservation science.

The Dujiangyan panda facilities and other conservation centers around Chengdu can be used for observation-based learning. Some educational programs may include panda behavior recording, food preparation demonstrations, ecological research tasks, and conservation interpretation.

Dujiangyan Hydraulic Engineering Study Tours

The Dujiangyan Irrigation System (都江堰水利工程) provides an exceptional field-learning environment for students interested in engineering, geography, agriculture, environmental science, and sustainability.

Students can learn how ancient engineers managed the Min River through water diversion, flood control, sediment management, and irrigation without relying on a conventional dam.

Educational programs may use animation, scale models, field interpretation, and hands-on activities such as making traditional Macha water-control structures to help students understand the engineering principles.

Intangible Cultural Heritage Study Tours

Daoming Bamboo Art Village in Chongzhou

Daoming Bamboo Art Village (道明竹艺村) is one of Chengdu's most representative destinations for bamboo craftsmanship and rural cultural education.

International visitors can watch traditional Sichuan long-spout teapot performances, enjoy Sichuan Opera face-changing, and learn bamboo weaving directly from local artisans. Hands-on workshops may include making bamboo fans or small decorative objects.

The exceptionally fine bamboo strips used by skilled craftspeople provide students with a direct introduction to the patience, precision, and craftsmanship behind traditional Chinese bamboo art.

Zhanqi Village in Pidu District

Zhanqi Village (战旗村) can be used for rural culture and traditional-food study programs, including introductions to Sichuan agricultural traditions and the production culture associated with Pixian Douban, Chengdu's famous fermented broad-bean chili paste.

Mingyue Village in Pujiang

Mingyue Village (明月村) is particularly suitable for programs involving pottery, natural dyeing, rural regeneration, handicrafts, and contemporary village culture.

Students can participate in plant-dyeing workshops and learn how local artisans combine traditional skills with modern creative industries.

Tea Culture and Rural Ecology Study Tours

Chengdu's surrounding counties and rural communities provide excellent opportunities for students to understand the relationship between agriculture, ecology, traditional culture, and modern rural development.

Pujiang Tea Culture

At traditional tea-growing areas such as Tongxin Tea Estate (同心茶庄) in Pujiang, students can observe tea cultivation and processing, learn basic tea preparation techniques, and understand the role tea plays in Chinese social and cultural life.

Xindu Rural Cultural Programs

Qingliu Town in Xindu has been used for international youth programs that combine village culture, music, farming landscapes, and cultural exchange.

Students can experience rural communities not only as agricultural production areas but also as contemporary spaces for cultural creativity, tourism, education, and community development.

Science, Technology and Innovation Study Tours

As one of western China's leading innovation centers, Chengdu offers study-tour resources related to artificial intelligence, aerospace, electronics, intelligent manufacturing, new-energy industries, transportation, and science communication.

The Chengdu Association for Science and Technology and related institutions have developed educational programs using science museums, intelligent factories, AI education venues, universities, and research facilities.

For older students, these programs can be combined with university visits and discussions about China's technology industries, entrepreneurship, engineering education, and research development.

University Education Resources

Chengdu's 66 higher-education institutions provide a strong base for university-oriented educational tours and academic exchanges.

Well-known institutions include Sichuan University (四川大学), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Southwest Jiaotong University, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Sichuan Normal University, and Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

International student programs may include campus visits, academic lectures, laboratory tours, student exchanges, cultural workshops, and discussions with Chinese university students, subject to advance arrangements with participating institutions.

Representative International Study Tour Programs

“Learn Chinese Through Singing” International Youth Camp in Xindu

In August 2026, 23 young participants from 17 countries, including Madagascar, South Africa, Brazil, the United States, Mexico, Germany, and Russia, participated in a cultural study program in Xindu.

The program began at Guihu and Yang Shen'an Museum (桂湖·杨升庵博物馆), where participants explored local literary culture, recited works associated with Yang Shen, and watched Sichuan Opera face-changing.

They later traveled to Qingliu Town for cultural exchange activities in a rural setting, including an open-air music event surrounded by rice fields. The program connected Chengdu's historical culture with contemporary rural life.

Sichuan University International Course Week in Pujiang

International students from institutions including the University of Edinburgh and Pacific Lutheran University participated in educational activities in Pujiang.

Programs included visits to a ceramic museum, the Chengdu International Equestrian Center, a tea estate, and natural-dye workshops in Mingyue Village. Plant-dyeing and tie-dyeing became particularly memorable hands-on cultural experiences.

Southeast Asian Study Groups in Chongzhou

International study groups from Southeast Asia have visited Chongzhou as part of Chengdu's expanding inbound educational tourism programs.

At Daoming Bamboo Art Village, overseas participants experienced bamboo weaving, Sichuan tea traditions, and Sichuan Opera performances while learning directly from intangible cultural heritage practitioners.

How to Plan an International Student Study Tour in Chengdu

Match Destinations with Educational Objectives

Chengdu's study resources are most effective when programs are organized around a clear academic theme rather than simply combining tourist attractions.

Students interested in history and archaeology can focus on Sanxingdui and Jinsha. Programs involving biology and environmental science can emphasize giant pandas and biodiversity. Engineering and geography groups can use Dujiangyan as a field classroom, while art and humanities groups can explore bamboo weaving, natural dyeing, Sichuan Opera, tea culture, traditional cuisine, and historic neighborhoods.

Include Hands-On Learning

Interactive experiences are particularly valuable for international students. Instead of spending an entire program listening to explanations, students can take part in activities such as simulated archaeological excavation, bronze-casting demonstrations, bamboo weaving, plant dyeing, tea making, Sichuan cooking, Tai Chi, traditional hydraulic-model construction, and wildlife observation.

These activities help students understand Chinese culture through participation rather than sightseeing alone.

Combine Chengdu with Surrounding Cities

Chengdu's transportation network makes it easy to build broader educational programs.

A study tour can combine central Chengdu with Guanghan for Sanxingdui, Dujiangyan for hydraulic engineering and panda conservation, Chongzhou for bamboo crafts, Pujiang for tea and natural dyeing, and Xindu for historical and rural cultural programs.

This creates a strong combination of Ancient Shu civilization + giant pandas + Chinese engineering + intangible heritage + rural ecology.

School and University Exchanges

International groups interested in contemporary Chinese education can include visits to secondary schools or universities.

Possible activities include campus tours, classroom observation, student-to-student interaction, sports activities, cultural performances, joint workshops, language exchange, and academic seminars, depending on approval and advance arrangements with the host school.

Practical Tips for International Study Tours

Best Seasons: Spring from March to May and autumn from September to November are particularly suitable for outdoor educational activities. Summer is popular for international camps and school holiday programs, although Chengdu can be hot and rainy.

Recommended Student Age: Many archaeology, panda, nature, and cultural programs are suitable for children aged six and above, while university, science, technology, and academic exchange programs can be adapted for secondary-school and university students.

Course Reservations: Many professional study activities require advance reservations, particularly panda programs, museum workshops, university visits, school exchanges, and intangible cultural heritage workshops.

Language Services: International groups should arrange English-speaking or other foreign-language instructors who can explain not only the attractions but also the academic background of archaeology, conservation, engineering, history, and traditional culture.

Students Education Study Tours with Yaso Trip

Students Education Study Tours with Yaso Trip can be designed for international primary and secondary schools, universities, educational organizations, family groups, youth camps, and academic institutions visiting Chengdu.

Programs can focus on Ancient Shu archaeology, giant panda conservation, Dujiangyan hydraulic engineering, Chinese history, intangible cultural heritage, bamboo craftsmanship, tea culture, Sichuan cuisine, rural ecology, artificial intelligence, science and technology, and school or university exchanges.

Rather than using a conventional sightseeing itinerary, Yaso Trip can organize educational experiences according to the students' age, curriculum, academic subjects, learning objectives, group size, and cultural interests, combining expert interpretation, practical workshops, field observation, local student interaction, and cultural immersion to turn Chengdu into a comprehensive international learning classroom.