5-Day Chengdu, Leshan and Mount. Emei Tour

This tour covers the most popular attractions in Chengdu and nearby cities. You will see the cute pandas, the romantic lanes in Chengdu, and most of all two UNESCO World Heritage Sites-the Giant Buddha cut during the Tang Dynasty, and Mount Emei.

Highlights
Meet the lovely pandas in the Panda Breeding and Research Center
Witness the largest Buddha statue in the world in Leshan
Relax when walking on Mount Emei, one of China’s most famous Buddhist mountains
Stroll along Kuan-Zhai Lane to see the well-preserved historic architectures

DAY 1  Chengdu Arrival
Your private driver and guide will be ready for you when you arrive in Chengdu. Sit back in a comfortable, non-smoking car, leave the hassles to your guide, and enjoy a trouble-free transfer to your hotel.

DAY 2  The Panda Breeding and Research Center and Kuan-Zhai Alley Tour
In the morning you will first visit the Panda Breeding and Research Center, about 10 kilometers (six miles) north from central Chengdu. You will visit the nursery to see the highly successful breeding program, stroll among the bamboo groves and shady walkways, and view the pandas at rest or play. It is best to go early in the morning to see the pandas feeding at around 9:30am, when they are most active during the day.

Lunch is at a Chinese restaurant where you can learn about the Sichuan-style dishes.

After lunch you will go to Chengdu People’s Park to have a deep breath of fresh air. Verdant trees and various flowers make the traditional pavilions and buildings much more graceful. You can join the local people to experience the bustle and chatter of a local teahouse in this area.

Kuan-Zhai Lane (or Wide and Narrow Alley) is the day’s last destination; an ancient street with hundreds of years’ history combined with modern elements. There you can imagine the old Chengdu by walking past the Qing Dynasty (1636–1912) style buildings.

DAY 3  The Giant Buddha Tour
You will be driven to Leshan City this morning, which takes about two hours. After a short break and lunch, you will begin your journey to the Giant Buddha, which takes about 10 minutes.

Listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1992, The Giant Buddha (cut in the Tang Dynasty, which took 90 years to complete) in Leshan is located to the east of Leshan City, and is on Lingyun Mountain where Min River, Qingyi River, and Dadu River meet. The sitting Buddha statue is 71 meters high and has the largest existing inscription on a precipice in the world. Besides climbing to get a Lilliputian view of the Giant Buddha, you will also go on a cruise to take a look at the huge inscription.

After the tour, you will be escorted to a hotel near Mount Emei, which is about 31 kilometers (19 miles) from Leshan City.

DAY 4 The Mount Emei Tour
You will spend a full day visiting Mount Emei, which is another UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China. You will take a relaxing walking trip from the Monastery of Ten Thousand Years to the Monkey Eco-Area. By first taking a public sightseeing bus at the entrance, you will arrive at the parking lot of the Monastery of Ten Thousand Years in 30 minutes. Jump on a cable car to go up to the monastery in a relaxed style in just 10 minutes without wasting any time.

The Monastery of Ten Thousand Years is the largest and oldest monastery on Mount Emei. Then, walk a few steps to Qingyin Pavilion to enjoy the natural beauty of the sub-tropical forest and waterfall. Walking forward, through a valley called Yixiantian (A Glimmer of Sky), you will arrive at the Monkey Eco-Area where you can see some piquant monkeys, but do not get too close to them for safety reasons. Then you can walk to Wuxiangang parking lot in 30 minutes and take a public bus back to the entrance. The whole journey takes about 3 to 3½ hours. Your guide and driver will escort you back to the hotel in Chengdu after the tour.

DAY 5 Chengdu Departure
Your private guide and driver will wait for you in your hotel lobby after breakfast. They will accompany you to the station or airport and help you check-in for your next destination.