Top 2 reason: Chengdu, hometown of giant pandas.

No need to go to Wolong Nature Reserve, you can see giant pandas in Chengdu and avoid a long journey with expensive fares and fatigue. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda, which is in Xindu, a northern suburb of Chengdu. It's the only giant panda sanctuary in a metropolitan area.

This big guy is exactly the prototype of Jingjing, one of the five official mascots of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.