7 Days Sichuan Tour | Chengdu Jiuzhaigou Leshan Mount Emei Tour

Nihao! Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas. Our team will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore on your own.Arrival Ideas:Chengdu is easy to reach. Two airports serve the city - Shuangliu (CTU) and Tianfu (TFU) - with flights from most major cities in China and Asia. High-speed trains connect Chengdu to Xi'an (3-4 hours), Chongqing (1.5-2 hours), Guiyang (3.5-4.5 hours), and Kunming (6-6.5 hours). iFree Time Ideas: If you arrive early, ask your guide for recommendations. They might suggest a walk through People's Park to watch locals play mahjong, a visit to Wenshu Monastery for some quiet time, or an evening stroll along Jinli Old Street to try Sichuan snacks.

Morning: Chengdu Panda BaseMeet your guide early in the hotel lobby. Pandas are most active in the cool morning hours, so an early start is worth it.The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is home to over 100 pandas of all ages. Watch them climb, eat bamboo, nap, and play. In autumn, you might spot pink newborn cubs in the nursery houses. Look for the famous pandas - Hua Hua, the nation's favorite, and Zhi Ma, the mascot of the World University Games.Red pandas roam nearby - smaller, rarer, and just as charming. The base has also become a spot for urban birding. If you're interested, follow your guide through the Panda Museum (free, reservation needed, closed Mondays).Wenshu MonasteryNext, visit Wenshu Monastery, a 1,400-year-old Buddhist temple dedicated to Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. It's one of China's four great Zen Buddhist temples.Before entering, stop for a photo at the Red Wall. Inside, walk through the Qing Dynasty-style buildings in order: Heavenly Kings Hall, Three Saints Hall, Grand Buddha Hall, Dharma Hall, and Scripture Library. The bell tower and corridors create a peaceful atmosphere perfect for quiet reflection.Afternoon: People's Park (Renmin Park)After lunch, head to Renmin Park to see Chengdu's slow side. Watch locals square dance, practice tai chi, sing folk songs, play Chinese chess, or boat on the lake.Don't miss the blind date corner—a marriage market where parents gather to find partners for their adult children. It's a real Chengdu tradition.Find a seat at Heming Tea House, a century-old teahouse. Order a cup of jasmine green tea, a local favorite. Chat with friends, try an ear cleaning session (a local specialty), and watch people play mahjong nearby.Evening: Jinli Old StreetAs night falls, explore Jinli Old Street. CNN Travel ranked it one of the world's most beautiful streets in 2021. First built during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), it was once called "Shu Jinli."Today, the street is lined with Qing Dynasty-style buildings. Browse shops selling Shu embroidery, lacquerware, folk crafts, and calligraphy. Try local snacks like dan dan noodles, egg pancakes, bon bon chicken, and spicy tofu pudding. Watch artisans create sugar paintings or shadow puppets.If you're interested, your guide can help you find a teahouse with Sichuan Opera performances later in the evening. iOptional Evening Activities: Sichuan Opera Show (8:00-9:30 PM)—face changing, fire spitting, puppetry, and acrobaticsJinjiang River Night Cruise (30 minutes, 6:00-11:30 PM)—see the city lights from the waterAfter the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel in downtown Chengdu.

Our team will pick you up at your hotel. Drive about 2 hours south to Leshan to see the Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage site.Leshan Giant BuddhaThe Buddha is the largest stone-carved statue in the world at 71 meters tall and 28 meters wide. It was carved into a cliff face 1,200 years ago where two rivers meet. His shoulders span 28 meters, each big toe is 8.5 meters long, and his ears are 7 meters. Locals say, "The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain."You'll walk down steep pathways to see the Buddha up close. The route passes ancient Buddhist temples, sculptures, caves, and religious relics along the way. iOptional Activity: The plank pathways are steep and narrow. If walking is difficult, you can take a boat cruise instead. From the water, you'll get a panoramic view of the Buddha's full scale.Drive to Mount EmeiAfter visiting the Buhhda, drive about 45 kilometers to Baoguo Temple, the largest temple at the foot of Mount Emei. Take some time to explore before checking into your nearby hotel for the night.

You'll spend a full day exploring Mount Emei, a UNESCO World Heritage site for both cultural and natural significance. It's one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, home to numerous temples and monasteries. The mountain sits at the edge of the eastern Himalayan highlands, with diverse plants, animals, and stunning scenery.Morning: Ascent to Golden SummitStart at the tourist center. Take a sightseeing bus to Leidongping (about 1.5-2 hours). From there, walk 30 minutes to Jieyin Hall, then ride the cable car up to Golden Summit (5 minutes). This route saves energy and lets you focus on the highlights.Golden SummitThe summit offers four famous spectacles when conditions are right: sunrise, sea of clouds, Buddhist light, and sacred lamps. Stroll around to explore Buddhist temples and architecture. On clear days, the cloud sea spreads below you like an ocean.Afternoon: Descent & Return to ChengduAfter enjoying the views, descend the same way - cable car down, then walk back to the bus stop. Your guide and driver will meet you and drive back to Chengdu (about 2.5 hours). Check into your hotel for a good rest.

Morning: Train to Huanglong Jiuzhai StationOur team will escort you to Chengdu East Railway Station for a high-speed train to Huanglong Jiuzhai Station (about 1.5-2 hours). Upon arrival, your local guide and driver will meet you and drive about 30-40 minutes (27 km) to Huanglong National Park.Huanglong National ParkHuanglong means "Yellow Dragon." The name comes from the view from above—travertine formations winding through the valley like a golden dragon. This UNESCO World Heritage site is famous for its colored limestone ponds in blues, greens, oranges, yellows, and white.The park also offers snow-topped mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, virgin forests, and wild animals. It's often called a "World Wonder" and "Fairy Land on Earth."Exploring the ParkInstead of a 6-hour hike, take the cable car to the top and walk down (about 3-4 hours). The descent takes you past main sites: Honglong Monastery, Mirror Ponds, Welcoming Guest Ponds, a waterfall, temples, and caves.The highlight at the top (3,556 meters) is the Five-Color Ponds - nearly 700 pools of different sizes, shapes, and colors. The water overflows from pool to pool, and from a distance they look like pieces of azure jade.Afternoon: Drive to JiuzhaigouAfter exploring, leave the park and drive about 2 hours (104 km) to Jiuzhaigou. Check into your hotel and rest.Useful Tips:The altitude here is 3,200 to 3,600 meters(10,500 to 11,800 feet) - higher than Jiuzhaigou. Move slowly to avoid altitude sickness. Oxygen stations are available in the park, or you can bring your own bottle. i Note The Huanglong cable car closes in winter. Your guide may adjust plans if needed to ensure you have the best experience.

After breakfast, you'll head to Jiuzhaigou National Park with your guide. You'll take a sightseeing bus into the park to explore this fairyland landscape.Jiuzhaigou is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of China's most beautiful places. The name means "Nine Settlement Valley," named for the nine Tibetan villages along its length. It's famous for bluer-than-blue lakes, rushing waterfalls, colorful forests, and woodlands backed by snowy mountains.Exploring the Y-Shaped ValleyThe park has three main sections: Zechawa Valley, Rize Valley, and Shuzheng Valley. The best way to explore is by sightseeing bus. You hop off at stops, walk along wooden boardwalks to enjoy the views, then hop on another bus to the next spot. Your guide will plan a route based on your energy and the crowds.Classic Route:Take a bus to Nuorilang Waterfall, then continue to Zechawa Valley. From there, hike to Five-Flower Lake and Pearl Beach. Next, move to Rize Valley to visit Panda Lake, Mirror Lake, and more. Return to Nuorilang Tourist Center, the junction of the Y, for a rest.After lunch, explore Shuzheng Valley on your way back to the entrance. You'll pass traditional Tibetan villages and more stunning scenery. iUseful Tips: Arrive early to beat the tour group crowds.Wear comfortable walking shoes - you'll be on your feet most of the day.Food inside the park is limited and pricey. Nuorilang Restaurant is the only option for a buffet lunch. Many visitors bring their own food to picnic away from the busiest spots.

After breakfast, our team will pick you up from your hotel. They will accompany you to the airport and help you check in for your 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!