5 Days Hong Kong Chengdu Tour by Bullet Train: Panda, Leshan & Mount Emei

Start your Chengdu tour from Hong Kong. Your driver will meet you at your hotel lobby at 10:08, and escort you to the Hong Kong Kowloon Station for your high-speed train to Leshan, Sichuan (about 9 hours).

The high-speed train journey is an experience in itself. Cutting across China's diverse and captivating landscapes, it is a comfortable and efficient way to travel between these two vibrant cities. You will get a glimpse into the changing terrain of the country, from the coastal landscapes of Hong Kong to the richly diverse natural beauty of Sichuan.

Upon your arrival at the train station in Leshan, the tour guide and driver will meet and greet you at the exit, and then escort you to the well-selected hotel in downtown Lesan. Leshan is situated approximately 140 kilometers away from Chengdu, offering you the opportunity to explore a beautiful city known for its famous Leshan Giant Buddha.

Free Time Ideas:

Leshan is also known for its unique regional cuisine, particularly beef dishes like QiaoJiao Beef, FenZheng Beef, and Leshan Grilled Skewers. Exploring the local markets, street food stalls, and restaurants in your free time is a great way to sample these specialties and appreciate the city's food culture.

In the morning, you will meet your guide in your hotel lobby and drive to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Leshan Giant Buddha which is the largest and tallest stone-carved statue of Buddha in the world. Carved into a cliff face overlooking the confluence of three rivers: the Dadu, Min and Qingyi, the 1200-year-old Grand Buddha at a towering height of 71 meters (233 feet) and 28m (92ft) wide. His shoulders span 28m, and each of his big toes is 8.5m long. His ears are 7m. The Buddhist monk Haitong conceived the project in AD 713, hoping that Buddha would protect the boats and calm the lethal currents.

The Leshan Giant Buddha offers two ways to experience it from different perspectives. You can climb the stairs built into the cliff face, providing an up-close look at the statue and its intricate details and enjoying the changing view from various angles of the giant Buddha statue, from its head to its feet. Additionally, you have the option to take a boat (about 20~30 minutes) on the rivers to view the statue from the water, which offers a different and impressive vantage point. You'll be able to witness the entirety of the Giant Buddha and appreciate the statue's grandeur within its natural surroundings.

After the tour, you will be driven about 45 kilometers to Baoguo Temple, which is the biggest temple of Mount Emei at the mountain foot. After the tour, drive to check in at your hotel and have a good rest.

You will spend a full day visiting Mount Emei, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for both its cultural and natural heritages. 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 lies on the edge of the eastern Himalayan highlands and boasts a diverse range of plants and animals, as well as breathtaking natural scenery.

To visit Mount Emei, you will take a relaxing tour by sightseeing bus, hiking, and cable car. Your itinerary will include the Tourist Center, a Sightseeing Bus to Leidongping (approximately 1.5-2 hours), a 30-minute walk to Jieyin Hall, a cable car ride to the Golden Summit (5 minutes), sightseeing at the Golden Summit, and an ascent and descent of the mountain.

This tour will help you save energy and focus on the highlights of Mount Emei. The Golden Summit is a breathtaking display of natural wonders and Buddhist spirituality, with four marvelous spectacles of Sunrise, Cloud Sea, Buddhist Light, and sacred lamps. You will have the opportunity to stroll around the Golden Summit to explore Buddhist architecture and tradition while enjoying a panoramic view of Mount Emei and its surroundings. If weather permits, you may also witness the magnificent wonder of the Cloud Sea.

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

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. 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 the 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.

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

Trip Extension Ideas: If you want to explore China and other Asia 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!