7 Days Shanghai – Chengdu Tour with Mt. Emei

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Shanghai Arrival (no meal)

   Upon your arrival at Shanghai Pudong/Hongqiao Airport, our local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and then transfer to downtown hotel for checking-in. Free and easy on your arrangement for rest of the day (no guide service).

   Accommodation: Overnight in Shanghai

2. Day 2: Shanghai
   Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, Yuyuan Market, Shanghai World Financial Center, Nanjing Road, the Bund (Lunch)

   AM: Shanghai is an intoxicating hybrid of ancient China and a prosperous modern metropolis. Today, your exploration begins with the Shanghai Museum at People’s Square (closed on each Monday). Established in 1952, the Shanghai Museum has a collection of more than 120,00 rare cultural pieces from the Old Stone Age to modern times.

   After that, move on to the beautiful Yuyuan Garden. Yuyuan Garden is a masterpiece of classical gardens and a must-visit place in Shanghai. There are over 40 scenic spots scattered in the garden. While you navigate the garden at the company of your tour guide, you will understand more about profound traditional Chinese culture fully embodied in every nook and cranny of the garden.

   After visiting the pretty Yuyuan Garden, you will wander around the lively Yuyuan Market. You can get everything here 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.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: Then you will go to tick off Shanghai World Financial Center, a tall skyscraper in Pudong New Area. It boasts a total of 104 floors with 3 floors under the ground and 101 floors above the ground, among which Floor 94, 97 and 100 serves as sightseeing halls. You will have chance to see for yourself and go up to the 100th floor to have a marvelous panoramic view of the Huangpu River. Walking on the 55-meter long transparent sightseeing corridor will be an exciting experience.

   Nanjing Road is the earliest shopping street in Shanghai. 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.

   The last stop is the Bund, which is one of the most sought-after places in Shanghai because of its historic significance and impressive view. Some Chinese couples even choose the Bund to take their wedding photos. You will love walking along the waterfront, watching the ships passing, and appreciating the old colonial buildings.

   Optional night activity:

   Option A: Attend an entertaining Acrobatic Show, which one of the best theaters in China. You will definitely be amazed by the perfect balance and agility of the daring acrobats and wonder how they manage to control their body so well.

   Option B: Take a relaxing Huangpu River night cruise to enjoy the spectacular scenery on the bank. Huangpu River separates Shanghai into two parts, Pudong and Puxi. Cruising on the river will give you an unparalleled view of the city’s skyline and an unforgettable traveling experience.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Shanghai

   

3. Day 3: Shanghai – Chengdu by Flight
   Jade Buddha Temple, Tianzifang (Lunch)

   AM: After breakfast, go to visit the Jade Buddha Temple. It is an oasis in the heart of Shanghai. You will have chance to admire the exceptional jade Buddha statue that a monk named Huigen brought back from Burma in 1882 and can pray for blessing for yourself and your family. Please note that it is not allowed to take photos of the jade Buddha. The temple is aesthetically beautiful and you can just roam around with the smell of incense in your nostrils.

   After that, move on to the Tianzifang, which is a nice place to find different faces of Shanghai. Here you can appreciate the old Shikumen buildings and have a glimpse of the daily life of local people that still live in the narrow lane; you can explore some quaint shops to get interesting handicrafts, stop at a café to have a cup of coffee, and try some mouth-watering local snacks.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   After lunch, our driver will escort you to the airport for flight to Chengdu. Upon arrival, our local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to local hotel for checking-in. Have a good rest for tomorrow (no guide service)!

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

   

4. Day 4: Chengdu
   Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Renmin Park, Jinli Pedestrian Street (Lunch)

   AM: Sichuan is known as the home to giant pandas. Today you will start the tour with Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base to see the long-waited cute pandas. There are giant pandas of all ages from baby pandas to adult pandas, and you will also have chance to see the more active red pandas. You will have a lot of fun to watch the lovely creature sleeping, eating and playing. They will definitely melt your heart.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   

   Then you will follow your tour guide to the vibrant Renmin Park to experience local people’s life. The park is free to enter, and the locals like to come here to do exercise and socialize with people. You can just get a seat at a tea house and sit there with your tea watching a laid back city life unfold before you.

   Later, your tour guide will take you to explore the bustling Jinli Pedestrian Street, a must see place in Chengdu. You can see that the buildings here are built in Qing Dynasty style, and meandering through the street gives people the feeling of traveling back in time. You can enjoy shopping, do people watching, and taste some yummy food that you never saw before.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

   

5. Day 5: Chengdu – Leshan – Mt. Emei by Car
   Leshan Giant Buddha (Lunch)

   AM: Today you are going to admire the tallest stone Buddha in the world, Leshan Giant Buddha. It took 90 years for three generations of craftsmen to accomplish this 71-meter-high statue. There is more to it than what you see with your eyes. For example, there are 1051 buns of curly hair on the head of the Buddha, and it has an invisible irrigation system just behind its ears and head. Your knowledgeable tour guide will share the history and some fascinating stories of the colossal Buddha. Please note that it involves lots of stairs. Highly recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and watch your steps.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After visit in Leshan Giant Buddha, drive to Mt. Emei and transfer to local hotel for check in. Have a good rest for tomorrow’s hiking.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Mt. Emei

   

6. Day 6: Mt. Emei – Chengdu by Car
   Mt. Emei (Lunch)

   AM: Today you will spend full day to explore Mt. Emei. First, take an Eco-car in the Scenic Area to Leidongping and hiking to Jieyin Hall, from where you will take a cable car up to the Golden Summit (altitude: 3077 m). At the highest peak of the mountain, you will be amazed by the awe-inspiring view of Huazhang Temple and witness the breathtaking sea of clouds if it’s sunny. Next, go down to Wannian Temple parking lot by car. Take a cable car up to Wannian Temple at the middle of the mountain. Appreciate the most beautiful landscape of Mt. Emei in Qingyin Pavilion as you hike from Wannian Temple to Wuxiangang parking lot.

   Noon: Lunch in local restaurant.

   PM: After the tour finished, you will be escorted back to Chengdu downtown hotel.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

   

7. Day 7: Chengdu Departure (No meal)

   Please prepare your belongings in advance. Your guide and driver will meet you at appointed time and transfer you to airport for your departure flight. Our 7-day Shanghai Chengdu tour will end here. Wish you a pleasant journey (no guide service)!