6 Days Chengdu – Chongqing Classic Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chengdu Arrival (No meal )

   Upon your arrival at Chengdu airport/train station, the local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to downtown hotel for check-in. Free and easy on your own for rest of the day.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

2. Day 2: Highlights of Chengdu Tour ( B, L )
   Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Jinsha Site Museum, Renmin Park, Kuanzhai Alley

   At around 08:30, the English speaking Chengdu tour guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby, then your amazing day will start!

   The first scenic site will be the exciting Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, which is well known for the protection and breeding of the endangered giant pandas which are unique to China. The base is definitely a highlight for most visitors to Chengdu. There are adorable pandas everywhere. You can watch them eating bamboo, playing with each other, and of course sleeping. Your tour guide will navigate you through the huge area, share some information about the pandas, and help you take amazing photos.

   After lunch, continue your visit to Jinsha Site Museum. It is an excellent place to learn about Chengdu's history. There are thousands of cultural relics that can date back to 3000 years ago. You will follow your knowledgeable tour guide to appreciate the precious artifacts such as golden sun bird disc, golden mask, bronze standing figure and stone tiger, and get to know the stories behind them. You also can enjoy a leisurely walk around the lovely park.

   After the interesting sightseeing, come to enjoy some relaxing tea time in Renmin Park. Renmin Park is a perfect place to do people watching. Here you can enjoy a cup of tea in a nice tea house and watch local people while away the time with various activities such as playing cards, doing tai chi, playing mahjong, dancing, and napping.

   Later, follow your guide to explore the local food and culture in Kuanzhai Alley, which has a long history and can date back to the Qing Dynasty. Now the old alleys have been converted into one of the top attractions in Chengdu. Strolling along the streets, you still can see many well-preserved Qing Dynasty buildings. In addition to appreciating the traditional architecture, you also can savor some local delicacies. As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Chengdu will surprise you with its delicious food.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

   

3. Day 3: Chengdu - Leshan - Chengdu Tour ( B, L )
   Leshan Giant Buddha

   Today, you’ll head to the amazing Giant Buddha in Leshan. Driving around 2 hours from Chengdu city, you can enjoy the urban scenery on the way.

   Regarded as the tallest stone Buddha in the world, Leshan Giant Buddha was carved out of a cliff face 1300 years ago. When you look up to it from its toes, it’s hard to imagine how ancient Chinese people built this massive statue which withstood the ravages of wind and rain as well as man-made damages. You will climb up the stairs to the top of the mountain to enjoy wonderful scenery. The stairs may seem intimidating, but the hiking is well worth the time and effort.

   Friendly Tips: There are 2 ways to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, one is climbing up the mountain, one is taking a cruise along the river to take far view of it. Climbing up the mountain was included in the package as most tourists said this way is better. Taking cruise is optional. If you would like to take cruise instead of climbing up the mountain, or if you want to try both these 2 ways, just ask your tour guide for assistance.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

   

4. Day 4: Chengdu to Chongqing Tour by High-speed Train ( B, L )
   Ciqikou Ancient Town, Monument to the People’s Liberation

   In the morning, the driver will pick you up from the hotel lobby and drop you off at Chengdu East Train Station for high-speed train to Chongqing.  After around 1.5 hours' riding, you will arrive at Chongqing Train Station. The local English speaking tour guide and driver will be waiting for you at the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name.

   Your Chongqing tour begins with Ciqikou Ancient Town. It is one of must-visit sites in Chongqing where many people flow every day. Serve as an important port along Jialing River, Ciqikou Ancient Town has been being familiar with the jollification for the comings and goings of passengers since its birth in Song Dynasty, witnessing the developing process of Chongqing local culture. Until today, on the stone-paved streets here will you surprise at the rich cultural activities like Sichuan Opera, oil manufacture and dough figurine through which the hidden local culture, folk custom, religious culture and so on are reflected.

   After that, pay a visit to Monument to the People’s Liberation, which stands at the central zone of Jiefangbei (The Chinese name of the Monument) Commercial circle. It was started to built in 1946 and finished in the next year to symbolize the success of Chinese anti-Fascist war. Today, it is a landmark of Chongqing City, attracting people with its fame as well as the busy commercial circle around.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chongqing

   

5. Day 5: Chongqing Culture Tour ( B, L )
   Dazu Rock Carvings

   Dazu Rock Carvings is one of the “Eight Great Stone Grottoes in the World”, enrolled on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1999. The carving started from Tang Dynasty, reached the climax Song Dynasty and kept going on in Ming and Qing Dynasty, representing the world’s highest level in grotto art during 9^th to 13^th  centuries. Besides, it also reflects subtly the development and change of Chinese grotto art style in Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty. Not limited on single theme of Buddhism like other Chinese grotto, a perfect coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism is readable from the sculptures here. Grottoes art is cherished by human and luckily accessible across the world, however, a single grotto group like Dazu Rock Carvings satisfying grand scale, deliberate carvings, various themes and styles as well as rich content is hardly to find. Doubtlessly, Dazu Rock Carving is a precious fortune for all human beings.

   Words is too pale to describe its fascination. On today's Chonqing tour, visit to Dazu Rock Carving always comes as something of excitement and “wow”. You will feel a soul shock when you standing before those vivid sculptures and carvings. Today we will focus on the best highlight of Dazu Rock Carving at Baodingshan Hill which bears the largest scale, greatest statues and best preservation. What excites your eyes would be the beautiful colors, various shape and vivid faces on the statues and what strikes your soul would be the stories of human life hidden behind the carvings. Yes, you can even read continuous stories beyond the individual statues! So please follow your guide closely to learn more. Statues of Three Sages of Huayan together with sculpture of six realms and samsara and Thousand-hand Bodhisattva are the main essence of today’s sightseeing.

   Finishing the sightseeing, drive around 2.5 hours back to your hotel.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chongqing

   

6. Day 6: Chongqing City Tour & Chongqing Departure ( B, L)
   Museum of General Joseph Stilwell, E’ling Park, Hongya Cave, Far view of Liziba Station of Chongqing Light Rail

   Today you will further explore the best of Chongqing! The first site will be Museum of General Joseph Stilwell. The Museum is built on the former residence of General Joseph Stilwell during his appointment in anti-Fascist war as the chief of the general staff of China Theater from 1942 to 1944. It collects some daily stuff, manuscripts and army uniform of the General, not only exhibiting the important history of this great man but also the friendship between China and US.

   Later, come to E’ling Park to behold the whole Chongqing city as well as Jialing and Yangtze River. It locates on a hill between Jialing River and Yangtze River, occupying the highest point of Chongqing city. Besides its elegant scenery inside, the park enchants visitors more with the perfect location to enjoy the night view and bird-view of this beautiful city especially when it soaked in sunrise or sunset.

   Next, move on to Hongya Cave. It is a real existing for the romantic scene you’ve seen in Miyazaki Hayao’s anime. The stilted buildings leaning against the cliffs, embeds their bodies harmoniously into the hills with drops about 75 meters and get embraced into the hug of the soft river. It’s a perfect fusion of architectural culture of residences from hilly area, Chongqing local folk culture and port culture. Especially when it lit up in night, Hongya Cave seems to come into life beyond the cold identity as building groups when rosy lights flowing from the windows. The massive visitor flows to Hongya Cave, only after Forbidden City, entitles it loud fame on the list of “Things to do in China”.

   Last, take a far review of Liziba Station of Chongqing Light Rail. The light rail of Chongqing is a distinctive scene in this city and Liziba section is the highlight. It’s like a magic in movie or a romantic scene in Japanese anime that the train is shuttling through the body of a residential building. You might fix your eyes on the roaring locomotive, see off its disappearance and exclaim the incredible existing. The tour guide will point the best location for you to take picture. For such an amazing scene, video is better to record than photos.

   At the end of the 6 days Chengdu Chongqing tour package, you will be dropped off at Chongqing airport / train station / cruise port for departure.

   Accommodation: N/A