When people imagine living in China, they usually picture Beijing or Shanghai. But ask au pairs who have actually lived there, and many will tell you the same thing: the best place to start is Chengdu. Relaxed, affordable, full of food and culture, and surrounded by mountains, it's a city that's easy to love and hard to leave.
Here's why we chose Chengdu as the home of the Masons Au Pair program, and why being an au pair in Chengdu might be the best decision you make this year.
Quick answer: Chengdu combines a famously relaxed lifestyle, low living costs, world-class food, excellent public transport and easy weekend trips to UNESCO sites. For an au pair in China, it offers the full Chinese experience without the stress of a mega-city.
Chengdu for Au Pairs: Our Favourite Places
The places our au pairs love most, from pandas and teahouses to hotpot and weekend trips. Tap a place to see it on the map.
1. A Laid-Back City in a Fast-Moving Country
Chengdu is known across China for its slower pace of life. People take time for long lunches, afternoon tea and evening walks along the river. You'll see locals playing cards and Mahjong in parks, and teahouses full from morning to night. For someone moving abroad for the first time, that calm rhythm makes adapting much easier.
Experience it yourself at one of our Mahjong cultural events in Chengdu.
2. One of the Best Food Cities in the World
Chengdu was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, and it shows. Sichuan cuisine is famous for its bold, numbing-spicy flavours: hotpot, mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, kung pao chicken and endless street snacks. Living with a Chinese host family, you'll also discover the home-cooked side of Sichuan food that tourists rarely see.
Start exploring with our ultimate guide to Chinese food.
3. Affordable Living
Compared with Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen, daily life in Chengdu is noticeably cheaper. A local lunch, a metro ride or a coffee costs very little, which means your au pair pocket money goes much further. See the numbers in our guide to the cost of living in China as an au pair.
4. Pandas, Teahouses and Ancient Streets
Chengdu is the home of the giant panda, and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is just a metro ride away. Add to that historic streets like Kuanzhai Alley, Buddhist temples, the green calm of People's Park and a lively nightlife, and you'll never run out of things to do on your days off.
Our list of the top things to do in Chengdu is the perfect place to start.
Chengdu gives you the full Chinese experience, at a pace that lets you actually enjoy it.
5. Easy to Get Around
Chengdu's metro network is one of the largest in China, clean, safe and very cheap. High-speed trains connect the city to the rest of Sichuan and beyond, and Chengdu's two international airports make travelling home or around Asia simple.
6. Weekend Trips You Won't Find Anywhere Else
Sichuan is one of China's most beautiful provinces, and many highlights are only a short train ride from Chengdu:
- Mount Emei, one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, covered in our Mount Emei travel guide
- The Leshan Giant Buddha, carved into a cliff over a thousand years ago
- Dujiangyan and Mount Qingcheng, ancient engineering and Taoist temples in the hills
- Longer trips to the snowy mountains of western Sichuan in winter, as in our winter in China guide
7. A City Used to International Visitors
Chengdu hosts major international events, such as the World Games in 2025, and has a growing community of international students and professionals. You'll find international restaurants, language exchanges and plenty of people happy to help a foreigner practise their Mandarin.
8. A Local Team, Not a Remote Office
Masons Au Pair is based in Chengdu and works only in the Chengdu area. That means we personally know every host family, our team is a short ride away if you need us, and our monthly cultural activities, from ink painting to kung fu, bring the au pair community together. Your Mandarin classes take place at our partner school XMandarin in downtown Chengdu.
Why au pairs love Chengdu
- Relaxed, friendly atmosphere
- Incredible, affordable food
- Low cost of living
- Pandas, temples and mountains
- A local Masons team nearby
Good to know before you go
- The food can be very spicy
- Summers are hot and humid
- Winters feel cold indoors
- English is less common than in Shanghai
- Grey skies are frequent
Want to hear it from people who lived it? Read our Au Pair Stories, including Alice's story about why Chengdu completely won her over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chengdu a good city for foreigners?
Yes. Chengdu is safe, affordable and welcoming, with excellent transport and a growing international community. Its relaxed pace makes it ideal for a first experience in China.
Is Chengdu cheaper than Beijing or Shanghai?
Generally, yes. Food, transport and leisure activities cost noticeably less, which helps your pocket money go further.
Do I need to speak Chinese to live in Chengdu?
No. Most au pairs arrive as beginners and learn with free Mandarin classes. Read can you become an au pair in China if you don't speak Chinese.
What is the best time to arrive in Chengdu?
Spring and autumn have the most pleasant weather, but your start date is agreed with your host family. Our guide to the best time to visit Chengdu explains each season.
Make Chengdu your home
Applications for 2026 placements are open. Tell us about yourself and start your au pair year in China's most liveable city.
Apply to Masons Au Pair