Chengdu International Finance Square, universally known as Chengdu IFS (成都国际金融中心, Chéngdū Guójì Jīnróng Zhōngxīn), is a 240,000-square-meter mixed-use complex at the intersection of Chunxi Road and Hongxing Road. Opened in 2014, it houses a luxury shopping mall in its podium, two Grade-A office towers, the Niccolo Chengdu hotel at the top, and a public rooftop sculpture garden on the seventh floor. The mall itself is among the most upscale in southwest China, with over 300 brands across seven floors and a sky garden that wraps around the roof.
What made IFS famous globally, however, is not the architecture but a single sculpture. I Am Here, by American artist Lawrence Argent, is a 15-meter-long, 13-tonne white fiberglass panda that appears to climb the outside of the building, its upper body peeking over the roof edge while its hind legs dangle down the glass facade. The panda has become Chengdu's unofficial mascot and a required photo stop: visitors ride the escalator to the seventh-floor rooftop to stand beside the panda's face and take the classic selfie from underneath its belly.
What to shop
IFS is the place for international luxury and contemporary designer brands. Highlights include:
- L1–L2 luxury floor: Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermès, Gucci, Prada, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels.
- L3–L4 contemporary: Coach, Michael Kors, Hugo Boss, Armani Exchange, plus a curated collection of Chinese and Korean designer brands.
- L5–L6 lifestyle and dining: a large Muji, bookstores, children's floor and around 40 restaurants ranging from Cantonese dim sum to Sichuan hot pot.
- 7F Sculpture Garden: free, open to the public, with benches, coffee kiosks and that panda.
The basement level B1 connects directly to Taikoo Li via a covered pedestrian bridge, so you can easily combine the two on a single shopping trip. The mall also runs frequent seasonal installations, such as the summer ice sculpture exhibition and the winter light show, that draw local families.
Practical Information
- Address: 1 San Sheng Street, Jinjiang District (锦江区红星路三段1号), at the corner of Chunxi Road.
- Transport: Metro Lines 2 and 3 to Chunxi Road Station, exit I or K, direct underground access to B1.
- Opening Hours: mall 10:00–22:00; rooftop sculpture garden 10:00–22:00; Niccolo hotel restaurants until late.
- Price level: luxury; average spend ¥800–3,000 per visit, easily more for a watch or handbag.
- Payment: all international cards, Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay; tax-free available at participating boutiques.
- Tips: go to the rooftop before 17:00 to avoid the worst crowds; the panda selfie queue can be 30 minutes on weekends.
Foreign visitor tips
The information desk on L1 speaks English and can arrange tax-free refunds, tourist maps and umbrella loans. The Niccolo hotel lobby bar on the 60th floor is a splurge with a spectacular view; order tea rather than a cocktail to keep it affordable. If you buy luxury goods, keep the original packaging and receipts for airport tax refund; Chinese customs occasionally checks large amounts of imported cosmetics. Do not attempt to climb the panda sculpture itself; the rooftop viewing platform is the official and safe photo spot.
On weekends the panda selfie queue on the rooftop can stretch past 11:00 in the morning; arrive at 10:00 when the gates open for a clear shot. The L5 food court is busiest between 12:30 and 14:00; between those times walk down to B1 for shorter waits. If you buy luxury goods over 5,000 yuan, ask for a printed refund voucher; the airport desk processes these up to two hours before international departure. Wheelchair access is available via the central glass lift, which runs from B1 to the rooftop garden.
