4 Days Chengdu to Bipenggou Winter Tour: Giant Pandas, Skiing & Natural Hot Springs

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)

Today, your Bipenggou tour truly begins. After an early breakfast, drive about 3 hours into the mountains, arriving at Bipenggou Valley. The landscape transforms into a snowy dream.

Upon arrival, take a sightseeing bus with light hiking to explore Bipenggou's core attractions:

• Longwang Sea(龙王海): where the snow-capped mountains are reflected in the lake's surface, resembling a piece of jade. Walking along the boardwalk for half a circle and taking a few photos will make your Instagram feed very eye-catching. Don't linger too long, as the scenery further ahead is even more spectacular.
• Shanghaizi(上海子): This is a service station with a restaurant, restrooms, and a rest area. You can eat noodles there, and there are many options to choose from.
• Panyang Lake(磐羊湖): This is the core area for snow activities in Bipeng Valley! The frozen lake surface looks like white jade, and you can have snowball fights and build snowmen with your friends, and take some amazing photos in the snow. For those seeking thrills, you can also try snowmobiling (an optional activity, highly recommended!).
• Yanziyan(燕子岩): Located at an altitude of approximately 3800 meters, this area is surrounded by snow-capped mountains on three sides, with meadows covered in snow, resembling a "winter wonderland." Standing on the observation deck and photographing the "snowy crown" of the Queen's Peak is incredibly breathtaking; a gentle hike along the wooden boardwalk (**avoid running or jumping to prevent altitude sickness)**allows you to have fun with friends in the snow and film atmospheric videos. With few people around, it feels like you have the entire snow-covered mountain to yourselves.

Skiing (optional): The ski resort is located in Zhuoma Beach, at an altitude of over 3600 meters. The sightseeing bus to Panyang Lake stops at the ski resort. Put on rented ski equipment and enjoy 2 hours of skiing - feel the excitement of gliding on fresh snow (beginner slopes available).

After your snow adventure, check into a cozy hot spring hotel. Soak in the warm outdoor pools as the sun sets behind snowy peaks - a perfect winter moment.

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart Bipenggou for Ganbao Tibetan Village (approx. 1 hour's drive).

This thousand-year-old Tibetan village is built against the mountains, with stone houses arranged in an orderly manner. Walk through the village, visit local families, learn about Tibetan architectural craftsmanship, and enjoy butter tea and zanba (roasted barley flour) as hospitality. 

Then, begin your journey back to Chengdu. You'll be dropped off at your Chengdu hotel, the airport, or train station according to your schedule. Your Chengdu to Bipenggou winter tour ends here - full of snow memories, panda smiles, and mountain peace.