10Days Sichuan Discovery Tour : Giant Panda, Jiuzhaigou, Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei

Day 1 Chengdu Arrival

Chengdu airport/train station pick up

Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of the Giant Panda. Your local guide will meet you at the airport/train station and then escort you to your hotel in a private vehicle. The rest of today is yours to relax in the panda city on your own.

Arrival Ideas: Chengdu is only about 2~3 hours flying from the majority of big cities in China, such as Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shanghai, etc. You can also get to Chengdu by high speed trains from Xian (4hrs), Chongqing (1hrs), Guilin (6hrs), Kunming (6hrs), etc.

             

• • Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Day 2 Chengdu Panda Tour (B, L, D)

Today's highlights: Giant Panda Base, Jinli Street, Renmin Park, Wenshu Temple

This morning you will make a stirring visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding which is not only the most important panda scientific research center, but also dwelling home to more than 100 Giant Pandas. Walk at leisure through the bamboo framed paths, and closely observe giant pandas of different ages eating bamboos, playing with each other, tumbling, climbing trees, etc. Don't miss the chance to visit the most adorable panda cubs in the panda kindergartens. If you are lucky, you may be able to see the precious panda babies in the nursery rooms. There is also a very informative Panda Museum where you can learn more scientific facts about Giant Pandas.

Leaving the panda center, you will be taken to a hidden spiritual Buddhist temple in the bustling downtown of Chengdu - Wenshu Temple. Marvel at the exquisite Buddhist architecture, soak in the reverent atmosphere, and wander on the peaceful paths. Adjacent to the monastery is a small bazaar (Wenshufang) where you can enjoy a leisure stroll through to experience local market and living style.

Chengdu is famous for its relaxing and leisure pace throughout China, which will be proved after a stay in Renmin Park. Sit down, order a pot of Chinese tea, make a casual chat with your friends and watching locals indulging themselves in different kinds of folk entertainment - napping in a lively teahouse, playing mahjong, disco dancing, neck massage, ear cleaning... Next is an impressive trip to the famous Jinli Old Street. Time steals away from you quietly while walking on the lively streets which are full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, etc.

At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.

Recommended Optional Evening Activities: 1) enjoy a delicious dinner of Sichuan cuisine (or hotpot) at a local restaurant; 2) watch a wonderful performance of Sichuan Opera which includes folk opera, face changing, fire spitting, rolling lights, and other delightful entertainment (usually performs during 20:00~21:30).

• Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu

Day 3 Chengdu - Leshan Giant Buddha - Emei(B, L, D)

Today's highlights: Leshan Giant Buddha, Baoguo Temple

In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel, then be driven about 2 hours from Chengdu to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Leshan Giant Buddha which is the largest and tallest stone-carved statue of Buddha in the world. It was carved during AD713~803 on a mountain rock cliff by the river, with its head reaching to the mountain top and its feet standing next to the river. The total height is 71m; while the head is 14.7m high and 10m wide, ear is 7meters high, 28 meters between knees and insteps. Its insteps can hold over a hundred people. You may be wondering why such a giant Buddha was built? It is said to have been built to calm the turbulent waters that plagued passing boats and killed many people each year in ancient time. On the right cliff of the Giant Buddha, there is a plank road built along with the Giant Buddha. From the top to foot, the plank road has nine turns, thus it’s called Nine Bends Plank Road. The widest part of the road is 1.45m and the narrowest part is only 0.6m, and there are 217 stone steps in total. You will walk down to the feet of the Giant Buddha for a closer view. Please note you may have to queue up to enter the stone stairway if you visit the Giant Buddha during the busy hours.

After the Giant Buddha visit, drive about 45mins to Baoguo Temple, the biggest temple of Mount Emei at the mountain foot. It has several serene gardens with rare plants, a library of sutras and a huge porcelain Buddha. Another famous historical relic in the temple is the 25-ton bronze Bell, reputedly as the second largest bell in China. While traveling deeper into the temple, you will enjoy different views of Mount Emei.

Lastly, drive to check in your hotel. Have a good rest for tomorrow's Mount Emei trip which has some walkings involved.

Recommended Optional Activity: take a 30 minutes’ sightseeing boat to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Giant Buddha on the river.

• Leshan Giant Buddha in summer

Day 4 Emei – Chengdu(B, L, D)

Highlights of today: Mount Emei (Leidongping, Golden Summit, Huazang Temple)

This morning after breakfast, meet your tour guide and set out forMount Emei. As one of the fewWorld Heritage Sites of both cultural and natural heritages, Mount Emei is an enchanted combination of lush forest and cultural relics. It is one of the Four Great Buddhist Mountains in China, also the home to 5000 kinds of plants (more than the total species in Europe) and over 2300 kinds of wild animals.

You will first take your private car to the tourist center, then shift on to anEco-Buswhich will take you up to the mountain top area in 1.5~2 hours. Once you reaching atLeidongping(2400m), keep on walking about 30mins along stone steps to the cable car station, along which you will have a chance to see the wild monkeys. Take a cable car(about 5mins) up to theGolden Summit(3077m) which is the biggest highlight and very essence of Mount Emei. Once you get to the Golden Summit, the first view appearing in front of you is a towering multi-facedgolden statue (48m) of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Next to the golden statue sits the bronzeHuangzang Templewhich is the first temple established on Mount Emei whose history can be traced back to the 1st century CE. You can stroll around the Golden Summit to explore Buddhist architecture and tradition, and enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Emei and surrounding. On clear days, you can even see the snow-clad of Mount Gongga (7556m), Asia’s largest table mountain - Wawu Mountain and winding rivers flowing through Emeishan city. If weather permits, you will have luck to enjoy its magnificent wonder of Cloud Sea. Sightsee around 1.5 hours on the Golden Summit area, then descend bycable carto Leidoping andtake Eco-Busagain back to the tourist center. Your private car is ready to transfer you back to Chengdu (about 2.5~3hrs).

Optional visit to Wanfoding (Ten Thousands Buddha Peak): Wanfoding (3099m), the highest peak in Mount Emei, is currently reopening to tourists who are less 60 years old, but it is only open during 07:00~14:00, and the largest allowed campacity is only 2000 tourists per day. If you want to visit Wanfoding and time allows, please discuss with your tour guide. It usually takes about 2~3 hours to visit Wanfoding.

Read this if you are a hiking lover:

Above itinerary is a classic visit route which is suitable for different ages of tourists.If you want more hiking experience during your trip, please contact your travel consultant to tailor-make the hiking routesaccording to your time and physical condition.There are routes of 2 hours(Qingyin Pavilion to Wannian Temple),4 hours (Qingyin Pavilion to Wannian Temple + Leidongping to Golden Summit),one day(Wannian Temple to Leidongping) and2 days(Qingyin Pavilion to Golden Summit) available.

• Golden Summit of Mount Emei

Day 5 Chengdu - Chuanzhusi(B, L, D)

In early morning of today, your will meet your tour guide in your hotel loby, then leave the city and drive toChuanzhusi Town, which is a beautiful small town near to Huanglong National Park. The distance between Chengdu and Chuanzhusi is about 350 kilometers, and need about 6~7 hours to drive. You will make a midway stop to visit Taoping Qiang Village, which is an ancient village of Qiang people, an important ethnic group in northern Sichuan. Taoping Qiang Village is best-preserved Qiang-style building group of watchtowers and folk houses all over the world, and it was built in 111 AD as the county pass and key defense area in West Han dynasty (206 BC - 9 AD) according to historic materials. Strolling in the village, you will be astonished by the so solid houses that compose like a maze.

You will arrive at Chuanzhusi Town in the afternoon. The rest of today is free for you to acclimatize the altitude (2900 m)and relax.

       

Day 6 Chuanzhusi - Huanglong - Jiuzhaigou Valley(B, L, D)

After breakfast, drive about 30 minutes from Chuanzhusi to visit Huanglong National Park. Situated in the Minshan Mountains in northwestern Sichuan Province, Huanglong Valley has one of three most outstanding examples oftravertine lake terracesin the world, which is 3.6 Kilometers long, lying under the grandiose peak of Xuebao Peak (Snow Treasure Mountain: 5,588 meters) like a yellow dragon. This is how the valley gained the name of Huanglong (Yellow Dragon). The travertine scenery was created by the thousands years of geological evolution, including glacial revolution, terrane movement, chemical reaction, climate changing, etc. At the top (3556m) of the valley lies the best highlight -Five-Color Pondsconsisting of 693 ponds of different sizes, shapes, colors, dazzling like beautiful emeralds. Huanglong Valley is also renowned for superlative sceneries of snow mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, wild forests, etc. as well as an important habitant of Giant Pandas and Snub-nosed monkeys. All these magnificences of nature helped Huanglong gained the title ofWorld Natural Heritage Sitein 1992.

It usually takes about 6 hours to hike from the entrance to Five-Color Ponds, then return to the entrance. To save energy and time, you will take a quickcable cardirectly to the top, and thenwalk downthe valley to enjoy the scenery. After about3-hour sightseeingin the valley, you will leave the park and drive about 2 hours to Jiuzhaigou to check in your hotel.

Useful tips: 1) some attractions in Huanglong valleys are located over 3500 meters above the sea level, which may cause high altitude sickness for some travelers. You’d better walk at a slower pace. If you feel hard to breathe or headache, you can go to the Oxygen Bars to rest and take oxygen; 2) Huanglong cableway is not operational in winters; 3) there is no restaurant in the valley, you can bring some food or snacks, or have lunch after exiting the park.

      

Day 7 Jiuzhaigou Valley (B)

After breakfast at your hotel, set out for thefull-day exploration of Jiuzhaigou National Park. Your guide will accompany you to hop on asightseeing busto enter the park to explore the fairyland landscape of Jiuzhaigou.

Having been hidden as a mysterious home to nine Tibetan villages and never been bothered by outsider until the first discovery in the middle 20th century, Jiuzhaigou is a reserve of superb and diverse natural beauty of which the waterfall and plateau lakes are praised as the most stunning waterscape in the world. According to official records, there are up to114turquoise pools and lakes,47tranquil springs,17groups of waterfalls,11rapids and5beautiful tufa shoals scattering in the three main valleys of Jiuzhaigou, Rize Valley, Zechawa Valley and Shuzheng Valley. They present various color patterns of white, blue, green, turquoise and emerald in different seasons. The visual feast of Jiuzhaigou also expand from waterscape to spectacular jaggedalpine mountains,wild forestswith multi-colors and many other remarkable natural features.

Visiting Jiuzhaigou Valley isrelaxing and enjoyable. There are sightseeing buses running from the entrance to the three valleys with stops near the scenic spots. Travelers hop off the bus, walk along wooden plank roads to enjoy the sights, then hop on another bus to next attractions. Our tour guide will organize your visit route according to your time, energy and crowd level, and accompany you to explore the essence of Jiuzhaigou at a comfortable pace. The classic visit route is to take tourist bus from the entrance toNuorilang Water Fallfirst, then transfer toZechawa Valleyto visit the Long Lake and Five-Color Pond, then move toRize Valleyto visit the Panda Lake, Five Flowers Lake, Pearl Shoal, Mirror Lake, etc. Lastly, get back to Nuorilang, and descend alongShuzheng Valleyto the park entrance and visit Rhinoceros Lake, Tiger Lakes, Shuzheng Waterfall, Sparkling Lake, etc. on route.

After Jiuzhaigou sightseeing, your tour guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Useful tips: 1) try to have breakfast and enter the park earlier to escape the crowds of tourist groups; 2) wear comfortable walking shoes and seasonal cloths based on your travel month; 3) Buffet lunch is provided in Nuorilang Restaurant (the only restaurant in the valley) but food options are limited. You can also bring some snacks or let your hotel prepare packed food for you if you like.

      

Day 8 Jiuzhaigou Valley - Dujiangiyan ( B, L )

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up in your hotel, then drive about 6 hours to Dujiangyan City. Take a strop to enjoy beautiful plateau lake view of Diexi Lake on route. After check in your hotel in Dujiangyan downtown, you are free to relax and explore around.

Located in the west of Chengdu City, Dujiangyan is known by most people for its magnificent Irrigation System. The two thousand years old irrigation system is reputed as the forerunner of the world conservancy culture, and it’s the oldest and the only no control irrigation system in the world which is still in use. Besides this World Heritage Site, Dujiangyan is also the habitat of Giant Panda. (Note: If you are interested in taking a Panda Volunteering Program, please contact our travel consultant to arrange for you. The volunteering program usually takes a half day to finish.)

      

Day 9 Dujiangyan - Qingcheng Mountain - Chengdu ( B, L, D)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you at your hotel in Chengdu downtown area, then drive about 1.5 hours to Dujiangyan. Upon arrival, you will first pay a visit toDujiangyan Irrigation System, a 2000-year-old living world heritage to solve problems of diverting water without the use of dams. The system is still working to irrigate Chengdu Plain and it’s the real reason why Chengdu is called “the Land of Abundance”. Visit the three main parts of the weir woks controlling the water from the upper valley of the Minjiang River including Yuzui Bypass Dike, Feishayan Floodgate, Baopingkou Diversion Passage, and be amazed by the wisdom of ancient Chinese. After getting to know the theory of system, extend to the nearby Erwang Temple to meet Li Bing and his son who constructed this ecological engineering feat around 256 BC.

Later, drive about 16 kilometers toMount Qingcheng (Front Mountain), the birthplace of Taoism! In 142 CE the philosopher Zhang Ling founded the doctrine of Chinese Taoism here. Most of the essential elements of Taoism culture are embodied in the teachings of Taoism that emanated from the temples that were subsequently built on the mountain during the Jin and Tang dynasties. In this afternoon, the first temple you are going to visit isJianfu Palace built in 730 in Tang Dynasty. Walk into the holy palace to know many Taoism celebrities and appreciate the famous couplet regarded as “The First of Mount Qingcheng”. Then, enjoy the short boat experience acrossYuecheng Lake which lying quietly at the middle of the mountain. Take the 5-minuteBuyun Cableway up to the mountain. Next is a relaxing walk to the mountain top, and stop to visitShangqing Palace for a deep understanding about Laozi, a famous ancient Chinese philosopher and the reputed author of theTao Te Ching. Continue your walking toLaojun Pavilion situated at the highest peak of Mount Qingcheng (1,260 meters). This pavilion rises 33 meters in nine layers, from a square base symbolizing the Earth to a circular top symbolizing the round sky. Getting into the pavilion, you can view a huge statue of Laozi riding a water buffalo and get the breathtaking panoramic of the whole mountain. After the enjoyable time on the top, return via the same way you come.

After the tour, be escorted to your hotel in Chengdu downtown (1.5 hours’ driving). Service ends!

Day 10 Chengdu Departure (B)

Today is free for you until your tour guide and driver escort you to the airport in time for the scheduled flight to next destination.

Price includes:                                                                  
♦ Private transfer between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels
♦ Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service
♦ Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis
♦ All attraction entrance fees as specified
♦ Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food

♦ Fast train Second Class Kunming to Dali

Price excludes:                                                                 

* International flight or high-speed train as specified to Chengdu
* Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion
* China Entry Visa Fees
* Personal expenses
* Optional tours, meals, activities and services

 

Safety Policy:                                                                  

By signing up for a trip you ensure to provide travel history transparency and certify to inform us if you have been to any medium or high-risk area (including abroad) in the past 90 days.

Please make sure to prepare your Green Health QR Code and surgical face masks (especially for the bus drive)

If you have any symptoms such as fever, coughing, or other illness prior to the trip, please inform us right away. 

*We monitor the situation on a daily basis and would inform you in case of any changes. 

 

Thank you for your cooperation.