Planning a China trip this autumn? Sichuan's biggest shopping-and-travel season — the 5th China (Sichuan) International Panda Consumption Festival — opened in Chengdu on Sept 22 and will run until Nov 30, with sub-venues in Luzhou, Nanchong and Panzhihua and events across the province.

Events worth planning around

Sixteen signature IP events and thousands of supporting cultural and tourism activities are rolling out across the province. Start here:

2026 Chengdu International Food Carnival: Opened on Sept 29 in staged sessions, so check the dates before you go. Representatives of China's seven UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy, plus 50+ stalls of local snacks, time-honored restaurant classics, and international flavors.

Sichuan-Chongqing Time-Honored Brands Carnival & Golden Autumn Consumption Season: Heritage brands, Sichuan specialties and intangible cultural heritage crafts in one place. Your best stop for souvenirs.

Supporting culture & tourism events:The Autumn in Chengdu International Music Season, provincial culture and tourism conferences, and the China Animation Centenary Exhibition run alongside. Mix food, shopping, exhibitions and concerts into one trip.

The headline deal: ticket stubs work as discount passes

This is the part most travelers miss. Any paper or digital transport ticket, scenic spot admission, or event ticket works as a discount pass at more than 3,000 partner merchants across Sichuan.

Train, cinema or scenic spot ticket: 5 percent off at Hongqi Chain, which runs 3,000 stores across the province. The discount stacks with government spend-and-save vouchers, and combined merchant savings exceed 100 million yuan ($14.9 million).

Sichuan Airlines ticket: free airport pick-up and drop-off, free accommodation during transit, and discounted entry to 50 partner scenic spots.

Train, flight, or exhibition ticket: 20 percent off admission to the Jiangkou Sunken Silver Museumin Meishan city.

Whether you are in Chengdu for the pandas, chasing autumn colors in western Sichuan, or traveling to a concert, keep every stub. Restaurants, hotels, and specialty stores will honor it.

Vouchers and subsidies that stack

"Shuli Anyi" commerce and service vouchers: vouchers worth more than 600 million yuan have been issued provincewide for use at partner restaurants and retail stores. Follow the official channels of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce and claim them on schedule.

Smart product subsidies: 10 designated categories, including smart dishwashers, smart toilets and smart drones, carry local subsidies.

Culture and tourism vouchers: these stack on top of commerce vouchers, merchant discounts, and ticket stub benefits, taking a serious bite out of trip costs.

Prize-linked invoices: ask for a receipt on every purchase, and you are in the running for the provincial lottery.

Five things to know before you go

Go beyond Chengdu. Stub perks and vouchers work province-wide — cross-region trips still qualify.

Time it right. National Day week is the peak. For a calmer trip, aim for mid to late October, or weekdays in November.

Keep every stub and invoice — you'll need them for discounts and the receipt lottery.

Read the fine print. Vouchers have eligible stores, spending thresholds, and expiry dates; confirm stacking before paying.

Coming from overseas? Online vouchers depend on app real-name registration, so access varies by account. Sichuan also operates a departure tax refund, so look for partner refund stores when buying souvenirs.

Save your ticket stubs, claim what you can, and let Sichuan feed you well.