13-Day Ultimate Sichuan Tour: Pandas, Giant Buddha, Mt.Emei, Jiuzhaigou & Western Sichuan Highlands

Nihao! Welcome to Chengdu, the Hometown of Giant Pandas! Your private driver and guide will be ready for you when you arrive in Chengdu. Enjoy a trouble-free transfer to your hotel. The rest of today is yours to relax in Panda City on your own.

Arrival Ideas:

Chengdu is well-connected by air and high-speed rail. There are two airports - Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, operating many international and domestic airlines. Travelers can go to Chengdu by air from most cities in China, like Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Lhasa, Lanzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen, Guiyang, Chongqing… In addition, travelers can take high speed train to Chengdu from Xian (3-4 hours), Chongqing (1.5-2 hours), Guiyang (3.5-4.5 hours), Kunming (6-6.5hours), etc.

Free Time Ideas:

You are welcome to ask your tour guide for some useful tips to spend your free time based on your time and interests.

In the morning, you will meet your guide early at the appointed time in your hotel lobby. Since pandas prefer cool weather and are more active in the morning, we advise you to arrive early at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Chengdu Panda Base), located only about 17 kilometers away from the city center. This is the closest panda base around Chengdu for you fulfill your panda dream.

Chengdu Panda Base is the base with the largest population of captive giant pandas in the world, accommodating over 100 pandas of different ages. You can watch pandas playing, eating, climbing, sleeping, and in autumn, even see the pink newborn giant panda cubs in the Sunshine Nursery House and the Moonlight Nursery House. Discover the charming panda stars at this base, such as Hua Hua, the most adored and celebrated panda who has captured the hearts of the nation, and Zhi Ma, the real-life inspiration behind the panda mascot of the World University Games. Besides giant pandas, the cute red pandas (rarer than giant pandas) at the Red Panda Playgrounds are also the highlight of the Chengdu Panda Base. Nowadays, the panda base has also become an urban birding spot for local birders and kids to search for Red-billed Leiothrix, Black-throated Tit, Chinese Blackbird, Spotted Dove, White-browed Laughingthrush, and more. If you're interested, you can follow your guide to discover more about pandas' secrets through the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum, which is free to enter but requires advance reservation, and closed on Mondays.

Later, pay a visit to Wenshu Monastery, a 1400-year-old temple dedicated to honoring Manjushri Bodhisattva, the Symbol of Wisdom. It is one of the four great temples of the Chan (Zen) school of Buddhism in China. Before entering the temple, take a moment to capture the beauty of the Red Wall. Once inside, stroll leisurely through the temple's beautiful Qing Dynasty-style buildings and marvel at the Heavenly Kings Hall, Three Saints Hall, Grand Buddha Hall, Dharma Hall, and Scripture Library in that order. The temple's buildings, such as the bell tower and corridor, are seamlessly integrated with the main complex, creating a peaceful and immersive atmosphere where you can explore and reflect on the teachings of Buddhism.

In this afternoon, it's time to take a leisurely stroll inside Chengdu Renmin Park (Chengdu People's Park) like a local and enjoy the city's slow lifestyle. You can watch locals square dancing, practicing Taiji, singing Chinese folk songs, playing traditional Chinese musical instruments, as well as playing Chinese chess and boating on the lake. Don't miss the blind date corner (a marriage market) where parents of unmarried adults flock to the park to find a partner for their daughter or son. Then, order a cup of fragrant jasmine green tea (a favorite of Chengdu locals) while sitting in a time-honored tea house, such as Heming Tea House. Chat with your friends, try Chengdu Ear Cleaning by professional ear cleaner, and see locals having fun playing mahjong.

When the sun sets, the nightlife on Jinli Street becomes even more charming. Known as the "Chengdu Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival Scroll" and ranked at the top of the world's most beautiful streets by CNN Travel in 2021, Jinli Street was first built during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) and was then known as "Shu Jinli". Walking on Jinli Street, you can appreciate the brilliant Chinese Traditional buildings of Qing Dynasty style (1616-1911), buy all kinds of souvenirs (Shu embroidery, lacquer products, folk handicrafts, calligraphy, and paintings), try delicious local snacks (Dan Dan Noodles, Egg Pancake, Bon Bon Chicken, Sweet Potato Noodles with Pork Intestines, Iced Jelly, Sour and Spicy Tofu Pudding), and discover intangible heritages like Sugar Painting, Shadow Puppy Play, Sichuan Opera Show...

After the tour, be transferred to your hotel in Chengdu downtown for a good rest.

Recommended Optional Evening Activities:

1. Watch a wonderful Sichuan Opera performance which includes face changing, spitting fire, hand shadows, puppet show, dancing, singing and acrobatics. (usually from 20:00 to 21:30).

2. Appreciate the city's night view by boat (30mins) along the Jinjiang River, which winds through central Chengdu. (18:00~23:30)

On this day, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel to start your exploration of Western Sichuan. Leaving the flat Chengdu Plain, you will head towards Mount Siguniang and have a rare chance to see giant pandas in their wildest habitat and get to know their habits and living environment at the Wolong Panda Base.

After encountering these cute pandas, you'll travel through the mesmerizing sea of clouds of Balang Mountain, which boasts an altitude of 4,532 meters. Later, enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way and make a stop at Maobiliang Ridge. This scenic platform offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Mount Siguniang, where, if weather permits, you can see the majestic four peaks of Mount Siguniang in the distance with crystal clarity, further enhancing the beauty of the experience. Finally, upon arrival, you'll check in at your hotel in Siguniang Town (altitude: 3200m).

After breakfast, you'll continue your exploration of Mount Siguniang with a visit to the breathtaking Changping Valley (altitude: 3300m-3700m). This mature valley, with a total length of 23 kilometers, offers perfect sightseeing opportunities with its designated sightseeing bus route, hiking trail, plank road, and horse riding options. Moreover, it is the closest valley to capture the beauty of Mount Siguniang. You'll follow the route: Entrance - Lama Temple - Tangbagudao Trail - Kushtutan - Dragon Cave - Xiagan Haizi - Shanggan Haizi - Hongshitantan - Muluozhi.

You'll begin your journey by taking a sightseeing bus to Lama Temple (5km), the starting point of your hike. The hike is divided into two parts - the first part involves hiking on the plank road and the second part involves hiking from the end of the plank road to Muluozi. During the first part of the hike, you'll see a solemn monastery, waterfalls, deep valleys, and ancient withered trees standing in lakes. In the second part, you'll walk through wild forests and follow the walking trails along clear streams to discover landscapes you've never seen before - a sea buckthorn forest, red stones arranged by nature, peaks resembling camels and mushrooms, pure plateau lakes reflecting the giant peaks, flocks and herds leisurely wandering, snow-capped Four Girls Mountains, and magnificent glaciers. You'll return to Lama Temple after reaching Muluozi, completing an approximately 8-hour hike. Finally, you'll take a sightseeing bus to exit the valley.

Optional Leisure Tour to Explore Mount Siguniang:
If you want to enjoy the beauty of Mount Siguniang without in-depth hiking, you can explore it by sightseeing bus in Shuangqiao Valley. The experience will be:

You'll venture to the stunning Shuangqiao Valley (altitude: 2900m-3850m), located about 7km from the town, where you can explore its beauty by sightseeing bus. With a length of 34.8km, Shuangqiao Valley is renowned as the most beautiful valley in Mount Siguniang National Park. Embark on the sightseeing bus and journey directly up to the end of the valley, where you'll encounter the magnificent Larch Forest (altitude: 3,850 meters), which is surrounded by snow-capped peaks on three sides. On the way back, the sightseeing bus will take you through Potala Peak, named for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, where you can capture vast grasslands, a white pagoda, prayer flags, and lush meadows adorned with beautiful flowers. You'll make stops along the way to hike and explore the breathtaking scenery at Fishing Bay, Bonsai Beach, Ten-mile Poplar Trees, and much more. As you travel through this valley, you'll witness varying alpine landscapes that will leave you in awe.

After the tour, drive back to Siguniang Town and enjoy a good rest.

In the morning, you'll prepare to transfer to another enchanting destination on the Western Sichuan Route - Danba County (about 105km away, 2.5 hours’ drive). Welcome to Danba, renowned as one of the "Top 6 Most Beautiful Countrysides of China". It is also known as "A Place of Hundreds of Ancient Watchtowers", and its surrounding hills feature clusters of stunning and traditional Jiarong Tibetan Villages built with stone, each with ancient watchtowers and hospitable homestays.

As you approach Danba County, you'll make a stop at Zhonglu Tibetan Village, which gets its name from the Tibetan phrase "A Fantastic Place Looking Forward to". Stepping into this primitive Tibetan village is like entering a fairytale wonderland, with isolated homes resembling pure snow lotuses blooming at the foot of Moerduo Mountain. Ascend to a higher point and you'll be treated to a breathtaking view of the village, with traditional Tibetan houses in white, red, and black blending seamlessly with the emerald green trees. In the spring, the village transforms into a true fairyland, with countless ancient towers standing tall and distinct above the tree line, and elegant white pear flowers decorating the mountain slope in tiers, creating a pastoral painting before your eyes. If you visit in the autumn, the leaves turn golden and adorn the green trees, while the red and white Tibetan houses stand out among the golden and green surroundings, with watchtowers towering above. Spend a delightful time strolling among the fertile farmlands and lose yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Zhonglu Tibetan Village.

In this evening, stay overnight in Zhonglu Village.

After enjoying breakfast, it's time to continue your journey and explore the next stop on the Western Sichuan Loop. Drive 6 kilometers to Danba's Suopo Village, where you'll have the opportunity to admire 172 Danba towers. Originally built to suppress demons, these towers later served as fortresses for families to protect against hostile enemies. From the Suopo platform, you'll be able to fully appreciate the entire village, which is painted in harmonious autumn hues of red, orange, and green, with ancient towers scattered among numerous Tibetan-styled white houses. You'll witness various shapes of towers, including quadrilateral, pentagonal, and hexagonal structures, standing tall and erect amidst the stunning forest. They appear as the guardians of the "Ancient Kingdom of Towers".

Proceed on your journey and take a break to admire the majestic Yala Snow Mountain, which is one of the four sacred mountains in Tibetan areas and stands tall at an elevation of 5,820 meters, resembling a crown towering over the earth. After taking a moment to appreciate the breathtaking mountain scenery, you'll continue your drive to another incredible site: the Moshi Park Scenic Area (altitude: 3,500 meters) in Bamei County. It is renowned as China's eighth most beautiful boulevard. This scenic area is known for its unique geological features, which have been shaped by thousands of years of geographic movement and weathering. It is the only stone forest on the plateau in China and its spectacular landscape can be compared to the South China Karst. You can take a sightseeing bus to explore the park and marvel at the stone forest, which stands magnificently on the lush green land surrounded by mountains. This park offers ample opportunities to take breathtaking pictures and capture amazing memories.

After the tour, drive about 40 minutes to Tagong town for accommodation.

After breakfast, enjoy a stunning trip to Tagong Monastery. “Tagong”, which means “A Land Favored by Bodhisattva” in the Tibetan language, is a legendary place. According to legend, Princess Wencheng was on her way to Lhasa for her wedding to the Tibetan King when she was captivated by the breathtaking scenery of Tagong. She left a life-sized statue of the Shakyamuni at the age of 12 here. The Tagong Monastery, also known as 'Little Jokhang Temple,' is a renowned religious site belonging to the Sakya Sect, with a history spanning over 1,000 years. You can visit the monastery and observe the pilgrims worshiping. Afterward, take a leisurely stroll on the lush Tagong Grassland and gaze at the distant snow-capped Yala Mountain (5,884 meters). The harmonious scene includes numerous yaks and sheep grazing on the fertile grassland under the blue sky. Optionally, you can rent a horse to explore the area happily and visit a herder's home.

Afterward, enjoy a scenic drive to Xinduqiao, which is known as “A Paradise for Photographers”. Along the way, you'll be mesmerized by the picturesque landscape - wildflowers blooming by the winding river, golden poplar forests showcasing their elegance on the two sides of the road, Tibetan-styled houses scattered among the farmland, and roaming yaks and goats.

Next, brace yourself for the exhilarating drive through Zheduo Mountain, which stands at an altitude of 4,298 meters and features many bends along the way. Feast your eyes on the countless breathtaking snow-capped mountain vistas, including the panoramic view of Mount Gongga with many peaks standing in a row above the sea of clouds. Don't miss the opportunity to capture this stunning scenery.

Finally, you'll arrive in Kangding, where you'll be staying for the night. You can enjoy a leisure walk around the city.

This morning, you'll have a scenic 30-kilometer drive to Mugecuo Scenic Area, often referred to as the “Little Jiuzhai Valley.” The area is famous for its stunning red and yellow autumn foliage. Hop aboard a sightseeing bus and pass through Fangcao Plateau, where you'll be greeted by breathtaking views of colorful flowers, grass, and horses. Visit the Seven Color Lake, the highlight of the area, and marvel at the multicolored crescent-shaped lake that glimmers like a diamond, displaying hues of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple amidst the dense forest. The lake's serene ambiance, accompanied by the chirping of birds, offers a dreamy respite.

Next, head to Azalea Gorge to marvel at the primitive landscape featuring verdant forests, lakes, and hot springs. This location also offers a great vantage point to view the sacred Yala Snow Mountain and Lotus Snow Mountain from a distance. Finally, visit Mugecuo Lake (3,700m), a peaceful alpine lake that mirrors the sapphire sky and vibrant forest colors.

After your tour, you will embark on an approximately 4-hour drive (about 260km) toward the mist-shrouded Mount Emei, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to your hotel at the foot of the mountain, near the tranquil Baoguo Temple. Have a peaceful rest in this spiritual environment to prepare for your mountain exploration tomorrow.

You will spend a full day visiting Mount Emei, which is one of the World Heritage Sites for both cultural and natural heritage. Mount Emei is one of the four famous sacred Buddhist mountains in China, with numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries. Beyond its rich cultural heritage, the mountain also stands on the edge of the eastern Himalayan highlands and hosts a diverse range of plants and animals and amazing natural scenery.

You will take a relaxing way to visit Mount Emei by sightseeing bus+hiking+cable car. Tourist Center - Sightseeing Bus to Leidongping( about 1.5~2 hours) - Walk 30mins to Jieyin Hall - Go up to Golden Summit by cable car(5mins) - Sightseeing in Golden Summit - Ascend the Mountain in the Same Way.

It will help you save energy and focus on the highlights of Mount Emei. The Golden Summit is an extravagance of natural wonders and Buddhist spirituality, which comprises four marvelous spectacles of Sunrise, Cloud Sea, Buddhist Light, and a sacred lamp. You can stroll around the Golden Summit to explore Buddhist architecture and tradition, and enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Emei and the surrounding area. If the weather permits, you will have luck to enjoy the magnificent wonder of Cloud Sea.

After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you back to the hotel in Chengdu.

In the morning, depart from your hotel at the foot of Mount Emei and enjoy a comfortable 50-minute drive to the Leshan Giant Buddha, a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the largest and tallest stone-carved statue of Buddha in the world, this monumental 1,200-year-old masterpiece is carved directly into the red sandstone cliff at the confluence of three rivers. Standing 71m (233ft) tall with shoulders spanning 28m and ears reaching 7m, the statue perfectly embodies the local saying: "The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain."

You will explore the area on foot, walking the winding pathways that lead you from the head down to the massive feet, allowing you to see each part of the Giant Buddha closely. Along the trail, you will discover numerous ancient Buddhist temples, intricate sculptures, and sacred caves that tell the story of the region's spiritual history. (Recommended Optional Activity: Since the cliffside plank pathways are steep and narrow, you may choose to take a cruise instead. This offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the entire Buddha from the river, providing the best perspective for photography.)

After marveling at this architectural wonder, you will embark on a 2-hour drive back to Chengdu. Upon arrival, you will be escorted to your hotel in the downtown area or to the airport/station according to your schedule. Have a good rest after your spiritual journey through the heart of Sichuan.

On this day, you will be escorted to Chengdu East Railway Station for a high-speed train to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station (about 1.5-2 hours). Upon arrival at Huanglong Jiuzhai Station, the local guide and driver will meet you there and escort you to Huanglong National Park, about 27 km away, with a 30-40 minute drive.

Huanglong National Park is a stunning valley with terraces of colored limestone ponds in blues, greens, oranges, yellows, and white. Huanglong, which means “Yellow Dragon”, got its name for its special geographical features. Seen from a distance, Huanglong's numerous travertine formations look like an enormous golden dragon arching across the valley, winding its way between the snowy mountain peaks. Huanglong Valley is also renowned for its superlative scenery of snow-topped mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, virgin forests, wild animals, etc. The area, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, has been called a "World Wonder" and "Fairy Land on Earth."

Instead of a 6-hour hike, you are suggested to take a quick cable car directly to the top and then walk down the valley to enjoy the scenery (usually 3 to 4 hours). Walking down the mountain, you can see the main sites of Honglong Monastery, Five-Colored Ponds, Mirror Ponds, Welcoming Guest Ponds, a waterfall, as well as some temples and caves.

At the top (3556 m) of the valley lies the best highlight - Five-Color Ponds, consisting of almost 700 ponds of different sizes, shapes, and colors. It is well arranged and noted for the most graceful, bright, and distinct colors. Cobbles on the bottom shape into prisms of clearly visible chromatism between the texture and the water plants. Water in the pools overflows, which makes all the colorful pools look like pieces of azure green jade plates from a distance.

After sightseeing, you will leave the park and drive for about 2 hours (104km) to Jiuzhaigou to check in at your hotel.

Useful Tips for Visiting Huanglong National Park:

1. The altitude of Huanglong is higher than that of Jiuzhaigou, ranging from 3,200 to 3,600 meters (10,500 to 11,800 feet), which may cause high altitude sickness for some travelers. You'd better avoid any strenuous exercises. It is recommended to prepare an oxygen bottle, or there are also many oxygen stations in the park.
2. The Huanglong cable car is closed in winter.

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

With some of the most beautiful and inspiring scenery on earth, Jiuzhaigou was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is even one of China’s most enchanting attractions. Jiuzhaigou (literally “Nine Settlement Valley”) takes its name from the nine Tibetan settlements along its length, which is most renowned for its bluer-than-blue lakes, rushing waterfalls, colorful forests, and deep woodlands backlit by snowy mountain ranges.

The park is a Y-shaped valley with three main sections: the Zechawa, Rize, and Shuzheng valleys. The relaxing and wise way is to take advantage of the sightseeing bus. There are sightseeing buses running from the entrance to the three valleys. Travelers hop off the bus, walk along wooden plank roads to enjoy the sights, then hop on another bus to the next attractions. Our tour guide will design a smart 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 a sightseeing bus to Nuorilang Waterfall. After that, take a bus to Zechawa Valley. From there, have a short hike to Five-Flower Lake and Pearl Beach. And then move to Rize Valley to visit Panda Lake, Five Flowers Lake, Pearl Shoal, Mirror Lake, etc. Lastly, get back to Nuorilang. Have a rest at the joining point of the "Y" - Nuorilang Tourist Center. After a good rest, spend your time visiting Shuzheng Valley. Then, descend along Shuzheng Valley to the park entrance and enjoy the great natural scenery interspersed with traditional Tibetan villages, etc. on the route.

Useful Tips:

1. Get to the park earlier to escape the crowds of tourist groups.

2. Wear comfortable walking shoes or hiking& trekking shoes;

3. Dining options inside the park are limited and expensive. Buffet lunch is provided in Nuorilang Restaurant (the only restaurant in the valley). If you bring your own food, you can picnic far away from the masses and avoid spending any longer at the busiest points.

After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and accompany you to the train station or airport for your train or flight to your next destination.

Trip Extension Ideas: If you want to explore Sichuan or China and other Asian destinations rather than return home right away, we would be glad to assist you with an extension trip. Feel free to tell us your ideas!

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia. Safe journey!