Sichuan: A Foodie Journey Through China’s Spice Capital

About this Journey
Sichuan cuisine is famed across China and beyond, most iconically for its mouth-numbing peppercorns and sizzling chilies. So, while gongbao jiding and mapo dofu are no longer well-kept secrets, the stories and cooking techniques behind them still are.

Itinerary
Day 1  Chengdu
Meet your WanderEastern guide in the airport arrivals hall – we’ll have your private vehicle on standby ready to transfer you to your hotel • Immerse in the spice capital of China in style with a traditional hotpot dinner 
Day 2  Chengdu
Learn the flavors and techniques of Sichuan cooking with a masterclass at the Sichuan Cuisine Museum  • Head back to the hotel for a short break • Sip tea like the locals at Chengdu’s central teahouse, a traditional afternoon pasttime • In the evening, dine like a local on a guided foodie tour that takes you into the best food stalls and “fly” restaurants at a popular night market
Day 3  Leshan
Arrive in Sujiao to try the famous qiaojiao beef at a beloved local joint • Admire the mesmerizing colossal Buddha, a 1,300-year-old sculpture that stands at 73 meters high • Prepare your belly with a visit to Leshan’s foodie draw:  Zhanggongqiao Food Street where sizzling aromas and local favorites will stir up an appetite
Day 4  Zigong - Luzhou
Drive to Zigong • Stop for a visit to Shenhaijing Salt Well, a 19th-century salt well where locals frequent to get salt to make the best paocai (pickled vegetables) • Enjoy a regional delicacy – rabbit made in local mala style – at Tuxingtianxia restaurant • Head to Luzhou Laojiao Baijiu Distillery to get an up-close view of how China’s most beloved alcohol, baijiu, is produced • Enjoy dinner of Luzhou’s best culinary offerings at the Garden Restaurant, a frequented joint by both locals and high-level officials
Day 5  Luzhou
Your WanderEastern guide will escort you to the airport and help you check in for your flight home

We’ve set out to eat and drink our way through Sichuan, the way the locals do. During our 5-day journey we’ve curated a menu of culinary experiences through Chengdu, Leshan and Luzhou. Our mouths are already watering thinking of the Chengdu hot pot (of course), savory qiaojiao beef, Sichuan green tea, and the ubiquitous, baijiu. Join us as we sip tea with locals at Chengdu’s bustling Heming teahouse, get a behind-the-scenes look at how baijiu is produced, visit an ancient salt well, and stroll through night markets and famous “fly” restaurants, all under the guidance of our food-obsessed Chengdu local guide.

Hotels

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

JINYE CHANYI VACATION HOTEL, LESHAN Local Boutique
This local boutique, opened in 2015, boasts a beautiful traditionally-themed exterior and clean stylish rooms.

LUHU HOTEL, LUZHOU 4-Star
Luhu Hotel is our top choice of accommodation in Luzhou. The hotel is located in a peaceful residential neighborhood, designed to amplify the nature and courtyard elements in a traditional style.

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 & domestic flights and relevant taxes
• Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
• Travel, health and trip cancellation 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 chauffeurs

TRIP COST

$3480 USD per person 

Single Supplement $980 USD per person