7 Days Chengdu & Shanghai In-depth Tour with Panda Volunteering

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chengdu Arrival ( no meal )

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

   Suggested Evening Idea: You can explore two of the most famous streets in Chengdu on your own - Kuanzhai Alley and Jinli Pedestrian Street. Both of them are in Chengdu city area, you can take a taxi or walk there from your hotel.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

2. Day 2: Panda Volunteering & Mt.Qingcheng Tour
   Dujiangyan Panda Base, Qingcheng Mountain ( B, L )

   Today would be the highlight of your Chengdu tour since you will be closely visit the cute pandas by volunteering in Dujiangyan Panda Center and hike to Mount Qingcheng.

   Start from your hotel at around 07:30, after 1 hour driving, you’ll arrive at Dujiangyan Panda Base, which is the only scientific research institution in China that focuses on preventing and controlling panda disease and rescuing pandas from the wild. Here you will see the fluffy black and white giant pandas sleeping, chewing bamboo, climbing trees and wrestling with each other.

   Be greeted by a professional panda keeper who also will give you brief introduction about pandas, your volunteering day begins!

   The main volunteering activities including:

   1. Carry food ( bamboo, fruits etc. ) for pandas at the guidance of the panda nursing staff;
   2. Clean panda’s room and sports places at the guidance of the panda nursing staff;
   3. Feeding pandas at the guidance of the panda nursing staff;
   4. Other activities with pandas ( no directly touch).

   Friendly Tips:

   * The panda volunteering fee is CNY800/pax which was NOT included in our tour package, please pay in cash when you arrive at the site.

   * Today you will have lunch at the panda base to enjoy the real local dishes.

   * The volunteering activity needs reserve 1 week ahead of your visit date by using your passport. Please send the copy of your passport to your travel consultant for reservation.

   After lunch, you will continue the tour to the holy Qingcheng Mountain. It is one of the four famous Taoist mountains in China. Here you will witness a wonderful combination of natural beauty and Taoist culture. You can try to climb to the top of the mountain and enjoy spectacular scenery. Along the way, you will visit some Taoist temples to soak in the religious atmosphere and find your inner peace. If the climb is too much for you to handle, cable car is available.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

   

3. Day 3: Chengdu Classic City & Food Tour
   Jinsha Site Museum, Sichuan Cuisine Museum, Wenshu Temple ( B, L )

   AM: Today, just follow your guide to explore the best of Chengdu city! First, come 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 walk around the lovely park and take some pictures.

   Later, you will go to check out a unique museum themed with cuisine culture, Sichuan Cuisine Museum, and have a fantastic experience there. You will have chance to see plenty of cooking utensils from the past dynasties and sample some local delicacies. The highlight of this interesting museum tour will be learning to cook a couple of Sichuan dishes such as Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken under the instructions of local chefs. After finishing cooking, you will sit down and enjoy your own cooking.

   Noon: Lunch in Sichuan Cuisine Museum.

   

   PM: After lunch, continue your visit to Wenshu Temple which was built in the Sui Dynasty with a long history. The temple is still operating and frequented by local people who come to pray and relax themselves. It is a good place to come to know Buddhism. You can have a nice stroll around the pleasant garden and take photos of the wonderful ancient architecture.

   Last, follow your guide to the vibrant Renmin Park which 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.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

4. Day 4: Chengdu - Shanghai by Flight
   Leshan Giant Buddha ( B, L )

   AM: Today, you’ll head to the amazing Giant Buddha in Leshan. Drive 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.

   Noon: Lunch at local restaurant.

   PM: Finish the nice hiking, transfer to the airport for your evening flight to Shanghai. Upon arrival, our local driver will be waiting for you at the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to local hotel for check-in.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Shanghai

   

5. Day 5: Shanghai Classic City Tour
   Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Market, Shanghai Museum, People Square, Former French Concession, Nanjing Road ( B, L )

   AM: At 08:30, our English speaking tour guide and driver will pick you up from the downtown hotel. Your exploration in Shanghai begins with the famous Yuyuan Garden, which is a representative of classical Chinese gardens with elegant pavilions, old bridges, artistic rockeries, small ponds, etc. It was originally built by Pan Yunduan in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty for his parents to enjoy their old age in peace. The garden has gone through a lot in the over 400 years’ history. It was once deserted at the death of Pan Yunduan, restored by new owners, badly damaged during the Opium War, and reopened in 1961 after a lot of repairs.

   Nearby is the lively Yuyuan Market, wonder around here you can get everything from traditional Chinese crafts like chopsticks, fans, and pottery to local delicacies such as steamed buns, crab shell cake, and pork chop with rice cakes. Don’t forget to haggle for a better price.

   After that, move on your visit to Shanghai Museum( closed on every Monday ). The museum houses millions of collections and especially features bronze wares, porcelain works, paintings and calligraphy works.  Finish the exploration of history, stroll on People Square to have a glimpse of the daily life of the locals. The square now is most famous for its match-making corner where parents try to seek partners for their children.

   Noon: Lunch at local restaurant.

   PM: Next, come to the Former French Concession, the largest and most prosperous concession among all the four French concessions in old China. From 1849 to 1943, this area was ruled by France for almost a century. Here your tour guide will reveal a history of humiliation and you will see many old beautiful European style buildings which look very charming hidden in the shade of French parasol trees.

   Afterwords, come to the earliest shopping street in Shanghai-Nanjing Road. Your tour guide will point out the four time-honored department stores, Yong’an Company, Xianshi Company, Xinxin Company and Daxin Company, from which you can get a bit history of this commercial street. If you want to try some delicious food, the street definitely will not disappoint you.

   Last, enjoy your sightseeing in one of the landmarks of Shanghai - the Bund. You may not know that the area used to be a desolate tidal flat, but turned into British settlement and Shanghai’s financial center in the late Qing Dynasty. It is the perfect place to take great photos of amazing skyline. Make sure to bring your camera!

   Accommodation: Overnight in Shanghai

   

6. Day 6: Zhujiajiao Water Town Exploration Tour
   Zhujiajiao Water Town ( B, L )

   Today you will enjoy and relax yourself in one of the most famous Water Towns in China - Zhujiajiao Water Town.

   Dubbed “the Venice of Shanghai”, Zhuajiajiao Water Town has a history of more than 1,700 years. Walking around the ancient water town, you will feel like traveling back to the Ming and Qing dynasties with elegant stone bridges across the rivers and plenty of old buildings around you. You can stroll around the streets to see as many things as possible, and you can optionally have a relaxing gondola ride to truly experience the charm of water town.

   Friendly Tips: Taking a boat cruise along the river is available and excluded. If you would like to take a cruise, please feel free to ask your tour guide for assistance ( optional ).

   After that, transfer back to your hotel. Free and easy on your own for rest of the day.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Shanghai

   

7. Day 7: Shanghai Departure ( B )

   Free and easy on your own until the pickup time for departure. Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer to Shanghai airport / train station to see you off.

   Accommodation: N/A