Highlights of Sichuan

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrive in Chengdu

Home town of panda, Kuanzhai Xiangzi, drink tea in People’s Park

In the morning arrive in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, home town of giant panda. Picked up by the local guide at airport and then transfer to hotel.
In the afternoon stroll in the beautiful old block of Chengdu - Wide Alley and Narrow Alley (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi), the relics of the Manchurian garrison since 1718 and consist of 3 parallel lanes with the old classical houses, which are unique in southern China just like the northern Chinese architectural style presented by Hutong. After a careful renovation in June 2008, the pubs, tea houses, restaurants and guesthouses are concentrated here, and in no time at all, it becomes the "lobby of leisure capital Chengdu". A walk here gives you a first impression of the "city of loafers".
Then visit the People’s Park, have a seat at the 100-year old Heming Tea House, and enjoy your Gaiwan Tea in a comfortable environment. Gaiwan (traditional Chengdu tea pot with three parts: lid, bowl and saucer), bamboo armchair, bamboo table and an exciting tea ceremony with a long mouth teapot show you the authentic tea culture of Chengdu, which is known throughout China.

Overnight at Boyun Jinjiang Hotel

Tea House in People’s Park

DAY
2

Chengdu - Leshan - Mount Emei

Visit Grand Buddha in Lingyun Temple, and boat on the Minjiang River. Visit nunnery Fuhu Si

In the morning depart for Leshan. On the way enjoy the beautiful countryside landscape of western Chengdu Plains during about two hour’s driving on the expressway.
Upon arrival in Leshan visit the Grand Buddha in Lingyun Temple. The grand Buddha was completed in 803 of Tang Dynasty after 90 year’s construction and enjoys the fame of the biggest sitting stone sculpture in the world with a 71-meter height. Carved on the cliff face, the sculpture is well designed with perfect balance and effective water drainage system.
After visiting the Lingyun Temple and the Grand Buddha, boat on the Minjiang River to see the front site of the Grand Buddha and the “hidden sleeping Buddha”.
Afterwards head for Mt. Emei, the main ritual place of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Puxian Pusa) and one of the four most celebrated Buddhism Mountains in China. Visit nunnery Fuhu Si at the foot of Mt. Emei.

196 km, 3 hours 25 minutes
Overnight at Hongzhushan Hotel (Fifth Building)

Breakfast

Leshan Buddha

DAY
3

Mount Emei

Golden Summit of Mt. Emei, Wannian Temple

Early in the morning take the sightseeing bus to the Leidongping Bus Station along the 52-kilometer zigzag mountain road.
Upon arrival, take the cable car to the Golden Summit that is with an elevation of 3099 meters. If the weather is well, you will find that your vision becomes broadened; the verdant forest waves surge along the mountain; Min River, Qingyi River and Dadu River are like three pieces of silk; Mt. Daxue and Mt. Gongga seem to stretch to the horizon; the sun emerges with all shimmering rays through the surging cloud. Lucky enough, the Buddhist light is available to see.
Visit Huazang Si Temple and the golden statue of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Puxian Pusa).
Then take cable car and the sightseeing bus down to the Wannian Temple to enjoy the famous carving of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra riding on his white elephant.
Hike on the old stone steps descend via Qingyin Pavilion (Clear Sounds Pavilion) to the One-Thread-Sky, and to the bus station at Wuxiangang, and then get picked up to descend the mountain.

Overnight at Hongzhushan Hotel (Fifth Building)

Breakfast

Emeishan Jinding

DAY
4

Mount Emei - Dujiangyan

Daoming Bamboo Craft Village, Sightseeing at Dujiangyan

Today depart from Mt. Emei to Dujiangyan, on the way visit Daoming Bamboo Craft Village to experience the national intangible cultural heritage of Daoming Bamboo Weaving. The Bamboo Craft Village is conceived as a natural, artisanal, and socioeconomic utopia. Daoming Bamboo Village has practiced bamboo knitting for more than 2,000 years, and villagers have made a living from traditional bamboo techniques.
Then visit Dujiangyan Irrigation System that was built around 250 BC by Li Bin, a governor of Shu Prefecture in Qin State. The great project still works well today after more than two thousand year’s function, which not only puts an end of the water disaster to the local people but also makes Chengdu Plain “the land of abundance”. While visiting the water conservation work, you may find that the methods of harnessing the river that the ancient people used are so simple but useful. In 2000, Dujiangyan became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And we’ll also visit the Temple of Two Kings (Erwang Miao), Anlan Cable Bridge, Fish Mouth Water-Dividing Dam (Yuzui). Take the panorama view of Dujiangyan Irrigation System from the Qinyan Pavilion.
If you are interested, you can go and take a picture with the giant panda sculpture that is taking selfies and in the evening walk around the ancient South Bridge (Nanqiao), a landmark of Dujiangyan.

236 km, 3 hours 31 minutes
Overnight at Dujiangyan Ancient City International Resort Hotel

Breakfast

Dujiangyan

DAY
5

Dujiangyan - Wolong - Taoping - Maoxian

Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong Natural Reserve, Taoping Village of Qiang Minority

In the morning drive to Wolong Natural Reserve. It is one of the China earliest natural reverses, which is rated the preservation zones network of “mankind and living beings” by UNESCO. Visit Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong, about 70 pandas live here, it is the largest breeding center for giant pandas, integrating scientific research, feeding, breeding, reproduction, wildness training, etc.
Then continue to drive through the magnificent valleys along the upper Min River, picturesque villages of the Qiang nationality with their characteristic stone houses and striking towers attract visitors’ eyes: beautiful, idyllic, prominent and mystical. The Qiang nationals are descendants of an ancient ethnic group of China. "Qiang" is a historical ethnic group of China, which was found on 3,000-year-old oracle bones. Over time, records of other nationalities in China such as Han (Han Chinese), Zang (Tibetan), Yi, Naxi, Bei, Hani and Lisu emerged. Their way of life is the evidence of ancient traditions practiced. The villages with the tower-like stone houses testify the advantageous of a high-building life, especially in the epochs of warlike conflicts.

200 km, 4 hours
Overnight at The Whisper Mountain Hotel

Breakfast

Taoping

DAY
6

Maoxian - Songpan - Huanglong - Jiuzhaigou

Songpan Ancient Town, Huanglong National Park

Depart from Maoxian and drive along the Ming River via the Songpan Ancient Town.
Arrive at the Huanglong National Park (since 1992 UNESCO World Heritage Site). The main attraction of Huanglong National Park is Huanglong Valley, with 3.5 km long, at an altitude between 3100 and 3600 meters and with countless travertines. The water, which origins from the snow-capped peaks and irresistibly makes its way down into the valley, over time created a spectacular and breathtaking karst landscape with countless terraced pools or ponds, often shining in blue, turquoise and green. Running from south to north, the valley is located below the snow-capped main summit of the Minshan Mountains - Xuebaoding (5588 m). The Yellow Dragon Valley, according to the Huanglong Valley Translation, allegedly owned its great name from the Huanglongsi Monastery, which is located in the upper part of the valley and is originally a Taoist monastery from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). When see from a distance, a yellow, scaly dragon winds in the midst of lush forests to the valley. Welcome to a magnificent natural landscape of China: The wooden walkway with numerous wooden promenades invites you to have a hike. Finally, take the cable car back down.
Then continue drive to Jiuzhaigou.

283 km, 5 hours 23 minutes
Overnight at Jiuzhaigou Northwest Grand Hotel

Breakfast

Huanglong

DAY
7

Jiuzhaigou

Sightseeing and Walking in Jiuzhaigou Nature Park

In western China, in the north of Sichuan Province, between the Sichuan Red Basin and the eastern foothills of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau lies Jiuzhaigou - the Nine-village valley. In the midst of the magnificent mountains of the Minshan Mountains, Jiuzhaigou stretches for 50 kilometers and covers a total area of 720 square kilometers at an altitude between 1900 and 3100 meters. The Nine-village valley includes two mountain rivers, which merge in the middle of the area Y-shaped and thus form a chain of countless lakes, which string like pearls. According to a traditional story, a Tibetan mountain god fell in love with a goddess and one day gave her a precious mirror, brilliantly polished with wind and clouds. But the mirror fell out of her hand, splintering and tumbling down into the valley, where the 108 pieces of shards turned into crystal-clear mountain lakes shining in bright blue or dark blue, turquoise and green. There are lush brooks and waterfalls everywhere, magnificent bamboo groves and mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, snow-capped peaks and picturesque Tibetan villages. The Jiuzhaigou Natural Park was protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992. With the help of the environmental buses of the National Park, which commute between the Scenic areas, you have a fantastic view of Jiuzhaigou.

Overnight at Jiuzhaigou Northwest Grand Hotel

Breakfast

Jiuzhaigou

DAY
8

Jiuzhaigou - Songpan - Chengdu

Visit Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan

Transfer to Songpan railway station to take the high speed train (2nd Class) back to Chengdu.
In the afternoon visit Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, about 40 km north of Chengdu and just setting up at the northeast corner of the famous Sanxingdui Ruins. The nearly square ruin covers an area of 12 square kilometers and is protected by a river on the northern side and a city wall on the other sides. It was the Sanxingdui culture in the period 2800 to 800 BC. Sanxingdui is one of the oldest cultivated settlements of humanity and is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Opened in October 1997, the modern and informative Sanxingdui Museum showcases over 1,000 excavated gold, bronze, jade, clay and stone and ivory works of art. But the most beautiful, astonishing and mysterious are the bronzes, above all huge bronze masks and a larger than life bronze sculpture - they are so strange and with their big ears and eyes and the high-bridged nose look completely different from the already known Chinese art works! Apparently, the Sanxingdui culture mastered both the fine art of bronze technique and unprecedented aesthetics. This site is recognized as one of the most important ancient remains in the world for its vast size, lengthy period and enriched cultural contents. The unique Sanxingdui Museum is a good place to explore the mysterious ancient Shu culture and history.

Overnight at Boyun Jinjiang Hotel

Breakfast

Sanxingdui

DAY
9

Chengdu

Chunxi Street, Taikoo Li

In the morning, stroll around Chunxi Road and Taikoo Li, stop for a photo at the statue of a climbing panda on the IFS skyscraper and admire the 5D effect as the panda climbing out of the wall.
At last transfer to airport, then leave Chengdu.

Breakfast

panda shaped steamed cake

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