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Chengdu: Panda Country

Chengdu: Panda Country

Regular price $500.00 USD
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About this Journey
Travel into the heart of the southwestern province of Sichuan, home of the panda and the pepper. Despite being the fourth largest city in China, Chengdu remains a calm metropolis with a relaxing teahouse culture. The slower pace of life in Sichuan makes it the perfect place for the laidback giant panda to prosper. On this trip, you’ll not only get the chance to view China’s cuddly icon at a panda base, you’ll also get the chance to sample Sichuan’s famous numbing peppercorns, experience Taoist spirituality, witness the Sichuanese operatic art of face-changing, and stand in the presence of the world’s largest stone Buddha.

Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Chengdu
Located in the heart of eastern Sichuan, Chengdu is the capital of this southwestern province. Geographic and political remoteness have always contributed to the free-spirited nature of the Sichuan people, and the modern cosmopolitan nature of Chengdu reflects this.

Kuan Zhai Alleyways
The Kuan Zhai Alleyways are a dynamic collision of traditional architecture and modern culture, where Qing Dynasty buildings play host to some of Chengdu’s best coffee shops, bars, galleries and boutiques. Rub shoulders with locals who love to roam these quirky lanes on their day off and tuck into some of the city’s traditional snacks, although you might want to watch out for some of the more, let’s say, ‘exotic’ local delicacies.

Sichuan “Face-Changing” Opera
The illusory, face-changing Sichuan Opera is shrouded in such mystery that a superstar Hong Kong actor allegedly once paid 3 million yuan for a master to reveal its secrets. Marvel at this arcane art as well as the acrobatics, comedy, and vivid characters that make up this regional opera in a VIP experience made all the more Sichuanese by the opportunity to have your ears cleaned by a local master during the show (if you like your ears just how they are, no need to worry, ear cleaning is optional).

Day 2 Chengdu
Qingyang Temple
Start your day at Qingyang Taoist Temple, the birthplace of Lao Zi, the founding father of Taoism, which promotes the principle of wuwei, which means “do nothing.” The religion also encourages its followers to calmly go with the flow of nature. As such, this temple is designed to reflect an ancient

People’s Park
At the center of Chengdu sits the beating heart of local life, People’s Park, a cultural playground of rock gardens, lakes, and century-old teahouses. Locals descend here for the whole gamut of activities from dancing to dating. Get lost in this giant tableaux of Chinese culture and be sure to listen out for the clanging instruments of roaming ear cleaners, who like nothing more than to show off their skills on an international guest or two.

Jinsha Archaeological Museum
When construction workers struck upon the lost city of Jinsha in 2001, what they found in the 3,000-year-old site would change the world’s understanding of Chinese history. Huge gold masks with giant, bug-like eyes and menacing smiles emerged, so unlike other artifacts of the time that rumors began to spread of alien involvement. 

Sichuan Hotpot Dinner
Enjoyed by locals and travelers alike, hotpot is communal mad-grab of some of China’s most delicious bites. Dip meats and vegetables into an expansive pot of spicy broth and have a taste of Sichuan’s fiery spirit. For those seeking a gastronomic adventure, drop in a few of the restaurant’s more exotic ingredients.

Day 3 Chengdu

Dujiangyan Panda Base
Located about an hour and a half outside of Chengdu, Dujiangyan Panda Base is one of our favorite choices for getting up close with giant pandas. The first wild pandas were first spotted in this area in 1953 and the bamboo-covered hills of the conservation center replicate the iconic animal’s natural habitat. The ultimate goal of Dujiangyan panda base is to boost the population and prepare the pandas for life in the wild. Be sure to look out for the keepers, who may well be hanging out with China’s national animal dressed as pandas themselves.
(Volunteer activities are optional and on request.)

Hike to the Daoist Mountain – Qingcheng Mountain
Qingcheng Mountain is a respite from the hustle and bustle of Chengdu’s center, a mountain known as “the most peaceful and secluded under heaven.” Your visit starts with a cable car ride, the views opening up as the mountain falls away. At the top, you keep climbing, this time on foot, exploring the temples you find along the trail. Qingcheng Mountain is known for its many Taoist temples, many of which are found on the front side. Finally, the summit and its spectacular views of lush green hills rolling into the horizon.

Back Mountain, Qingcheng
Qingcheng Mountain is known for its many Taoist temples, many of which are found on the front side. This means that the back side of the mountain is quieter and better known for its scenic trails and a beautiful, albeit small temple at the top. On Qingcheng’s ‘Back Mountain’ you’ll spend the day hiking past waterfalls, caves, and primitive forests, and wind your way up to the peak. The full hike is around 20 kilometers, but there are two cablecars that can half the walking distance should you want.

Day 4 Day Leshan and Departure
Drive to Leshan
Find your zen (or just gaze out the window) on the approximately two-hour drive south from Chengdu to Leshan, home of the world’s largest ancient Buddha and beautiful Mount Emei.

Leshan Giant Buddha
Carved dramatically into red sandstone cliffs and smiling benevolently over the river hundreds of feet below is the colossal Leshan Buddha, a 1,300-year-old, 71-meter-tall sculpture so big that an adult person would easily fit on its smallest toenail. The Buddha, built in AD 713 by a Chinese monk named Haitong to calm the river waters, was crafted from a cliff face. So much stone from the carving process fell into the river below that it did, indeed, calm the area’s waters.

Leshan is an exquisite UNESCO world heritage site that is not to be missed for its impressive size and beautiful surrounding area. Be aware that Leshan is a popular tourist destination that invites many domestic tourists. However, the beauty and history of the Buddha is worth the crowds.

Your Flight Back Home
Your WanderEastern guide will escort you to the airport and help you check in for your flight home.

Hotels

BUDDHA ZEN HOTEL CHENGDU
Buddha Zen Hotel Chengdu sits inside a traditional courtyard home in the city’s Qingyang District, just a short stroll from the Wenshu Temple. Inside, the décor emphasizes zen, creating a vibe of eastern elegance through modern amenities and hints of traditional Chinese culture. 

THE TEMPLE HOUSE, CHENGDU
An enthralling and vibrant hotel in Chengdu, The Temple House celebrates a city with a rich, fabled past and extremely exciting future through an inspiring blend of traditional heritage touches and modern comforts.

SIX SENSES QINGCHENG MOUNTAIN
Located an hour outside of Chengdu, the Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain offers travelers a contemporary escape into Sichuan’s stunning Taoist mountainside. 

Details

What’s Included

  • All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
  • All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
  • All meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water
  • All services of WanderEastern English-speaking guide(s)
  • All accommodations, based on double-occupancy and including breakfast, service charge, and government tax
  • Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip

What’s Excluded

  • International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
  • Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
  • Travel and medical insurance
  • Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
  • Expenses of a personal nature
  • Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
  • Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

TRIP COST

$2480 USD per person 

Single Supplement $1180 USD per person 

How do I secure my spot on this tour?

We will continue to work with you until your trip is perfect.

For international bookings: Once you are ready to book, a USD$500 planning fee, per booking, is required to begin reserving your arrangements. This will go towards your trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

For bookings made in China: Once you are ready to book, a RMB1,000 deposit, per person, is required. This will go towards your trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

What is the payment schedule?

1. Deposit:
A deposit is required to secure your reservation. Once your deposit has been received, we will send your confirmation along with a detailed itinerary and all the information you’ll need to prepare for your journey.

2. Full payment:
Full trip payment should be made 30 days prior to departure. If you’re booking within 30 days of your departure, you may be asked to pay make the full payment straight away.

Payments can be made via Paypal, credit card, bank transfer, WeChat or Alipay

Is this trip guaranteed to run?

This trip will be scheduled to run once we receive bookings from 2 passengers. Should the journey be cancelled due to lack of sign-ups or government restrictions, WanderEastern will fully refund any deposits or fees paid.

What is your cancelation policy?

See our full  terms and conditions for more information.

We’re on the ground with you

Our team of advisors will design every detail of the trip with you through close consultation, then orchestrate your entire journey while on the ground. We’re in the same time zone as you, so we can fulfill requests and handle issues without a hitch. With over 40 staff in Beijing and an expansive network of operational partners across the country, we have the manpower to ensure your journey is safe, reliable and comfortable from beginning to end.

Your trip, your way

Flexibility is our highest-ranking compliment. We pull off journeys for pioneers with a 6-hour layover to Hollywood’s elite, and everywhere in between. Our team regularly pulls off unprecedented logistical feats; nearly any time frame or budget is within our realm. No matter how you wish to experience China, we are here to bring that dream to life.

We embody passion

WanderEastern guides are carefully handpicked for their knowledge and charisma, then meticulously trained to maintain our exceptional service standards. They are expert storytellers and passionate natives of the regions where they guide, having the perfect combination of local insights and service know-how to bring you seamless once-in-a- lifetime moments all across China.

The little things, the big picture

Supporting inspired local economies allows you to experience the soul of the destination, while also protecting and cultivating China’s artisanal culture. From watching artisans hand make shoes in Yunnan, to picking organic vegetables for dinner on a local farm in Fujian, our tours are designed to showcase and protect China’s heritage, both natural and human.

Don't hesitate to reach out. Our travel designers will be happy to guide you!

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+86 180 5001 7145

+86 133 9503 2725

📧Email:

hello@wandereastern.com

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