8 Days Chengdu Leshan Emei Tour with Yangtze Cruise
Tour Overview
Chengdu is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China because it is home to the treasured Giant Panda. The city is just 1.5 hours by high-speed rail from Chongqing, the gateway city for Yangtze River cruises. On this 8-day Chengdu tour with Yangtze River cruise, tourists can see the adorable pandas up close, experience the leisure life of the region, explore the specialty streets and authentic Sichuan cuisine.
You’ll also marvel at the massive Leshan Giant Buddha. Climb Mount Emei and enjoy the view from the Golden Summit. Then, take a Yangtze River cruise and sail through the Three Gorges to explore the charming culture. You will also take a short half-day tour of Chongqing.
Travel destinations: Chengdu, Leshan, Mount Emei, Yangtze River
Suitable for: Families, Cultural Enthusiasts, Nature Lovers
Tour type: Private
Highlights of this tour:
- See playful giant pandas and baby pandas at Chengdu Research Base and learn about their habits.
- Marvel at the huge 71-meter-high Leshan Giant Buddha carved into the cliffs.
- Ascend Mount Emei to the Golden Summit to witness the enchanting Cloud Sea if lucky.
- Cruise through the Three Gorges of Yangtze River and experience the Tujia ethnic minority.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu
Welcome to Chengdu, the Land of Abundance! After arriving at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, your driver will pick you up and take you to a comfortable hotel in the city center of Chengdu. The whole journey takes about 40 minutes. You can explore this culinary paradise at your own pace in the remaining time. Hotpot is the representative of Chengdu. If you can eat spicy food, don't miss it.
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Chengdu
Chengdu Hotpot - Day 2: Chengdu TourVisit the Giant Panda Base to Observe Pandas and Learn Their Habits
Start your Chengdu tour with a visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, about 10 kilometers from the city. The base fully simulates the wild living environment of giant pandas, with lakes, streams, bamboo forests and lawns. You will witness the adorable giant pandas and learn about the lifestyle habits. Also, you can glimpse the baby pandas up close.
Baby Pandas in Chengdu Giant Panda Base Next, head to Wenshu Temple, which was built in the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and is still frequented by local people who come to pray and relax themselves today. It is a good place to learn Buddhism.
Spend your afternoon enjoying relaxing tea time in Renmin Park. Here you can enjoy a cup of tea and watch local people playing cards, playing mahjong, and napping. Last, go to explore the bustling Jinli Street, a quite popular place in Chengdu. You can enjoy shopping and tasting some yummy food that you never saw before.
Jinli Old Street Optional Activity: In the evening, you can pay extra to watch the Sichuan Opera Face Changing Show, a quick face-changing performance that is truly unique to the area.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Chengdu
- Day 3: Chengdu to Leshan TourMarvel at the Giant Buddha and Learn Its History
After breakfast, we will drive for 2 hours from Chengdu to Leshan to see the amazing 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. 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 guide will share the history and some fascinating stories of the colossal Buddha.
Leshan Giant Buddha Please note that it involves lots of stairs. So you are suggested to wear comfortable walking shoes and watch your steps.
Friendly Tips: There is another way to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha - taking a cruise along the river to take far view of it. (Optional, at an additional cost)
After that, drive to Baoguo Temple, which is nestled against the backdrop of Emei Mountain. Follow your guide to appreciate the architectural beauty, learn the ancient history behind it, and admire the unique porcelain Buddha statue which was made in the well-known porcelain capital Jingdezhen in the Ming Dynasty.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: near Mt. Emei
- Day 4: Mount Emei TourExplore the Nature and Culture on Golden Summit
After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby and take you to the stunning Mount Emei. Famous as both world natural heritage and world cultural heritage, it attracts numerous visitors every year for hiking, photography and profound Buddhist culture. It is also home to more than 3,200 plant species and over 2,300 animal species.
You will take a sightseeing bus to Leidongping, walk for about 30 minutes to Jieyin Hall, and then hop on a cable car up to Golden Summit. If you are lucky, you will see fantastic sea of clouds. There is a majestic golden statue of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva which is regarded as the symbol of the mountain. You might be curious how the Buddha statue was built on such a high peak.
Sunrise Views of Emei Mountain After enjoying the breathtaking scenery, you will take cable car down to Leidongping and then go down the mountain by a sightseeing bus. Please note to hide your food in your bag because there are many monkeys on the mountain which can be quite aggressive sometimes. After the fantastic hiking, you will be escorted back to your Chengdu hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Chengdu
- Day 5: Chengdu to Chongqing Tour by High-speed TrainVisit Ciqikou Ancient Town for History and Local Delicacies
After a delicious breakfast, you will be escorted to take a high-speed train to Chongqing. Upon arrival, the local guide will meet you and then start your Chongqing tour directly! First, we head to Ciqikou Ancient Town, which is famed Little Chongqing. It is a time-honored place that has a long history dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). You can see many ancient architecture and try the local delicacies here.
Ciqikou Ancient Town After that, head to the Three Gorges Museum, a comprehensive museum of Chongqing history and art, especially those of Ba-Yu culture and Sanxia culture. You will learn about the history of southwest China. After the museum visit, your guide will escort you to Chaotianmen Dock to board your Yangtze River cruise ship. Boarding time is usually from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: on Cruise
- Day 6: Yangtze River CruiseStart Your Yangtze River Cruise with Tai Chi and the unique Pagoda
In the morning, Yangtze River cruise tour begins with a relaxing Tai Chi class on deck. Tai Chi is a traditional Chinese martial arts program. People can exercise their bodies and hearts through slow, continuous movements and breathing exercises. Afterward, take a lecture on the history and culture of the Yangtze River area. Enjoy a cup of coffee on the sundeck.
Shibaozhai Pagoda Next, you will have a shore excursion to Shibaozhai Pagoda. Known as the "Pearl on the River", Shibaozhai is one of remaining wooden structures in China. You will appreciate unique architecture and learn many interesting legends from your knowledgeable tour guide. Built along the mountain, with a total of 12 floors and a height of 56 meters, this pagoda is known as one of the world's eight strange buildings.
Optional Activity:
If you are interested in ancient Chinese legends, you can choose to visit Fengdu Ghost City (for an additional fee). This is a quite interesting place, known for its strange folk legends.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Accommodation: on Cruise
- Day 7: Yangtze River CruiseCruise through the Breathtaking Three Gorges and Immerse in Tujia Culture
At dawn, the cruise ship pass through the magnificent Three Gorges. The Three Gorges include Qutang Gorge, Wu Gorge and Xiling Gorge, which is a highlight of your Yangtze River cruise tour.
Along the way, you will see towering mountains and cliffs on both sides of the gorge. The steep and continuous peaks can usually rise about 700-800 meters above the river surface, which is quite spectacular. You will switch to a smaller boat to explore the primitive Shennv Stream. Shoot the sheer cliffs and lush greenery and experience the culture of the local Tujia ethnic minority. They are good at music and dance.
Take a smaller boat to sail down the Shennv Stream In the evening, enjoy a Captain's Farewell Party, which features music, dance and farewell toasts for celebrating the end of your Yangtze River cruise.
Optional Activity:
If you want a historical tour, you can choose an optional visit to the White Emperor City, which is perched on a hill. Many ancient Chinese poets once climbed to this city and wrote immortal poems. Therefore, White Emperor City is also known as the "City of Poetry". You will get a panoramic view of the Yangtze River from its top.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner
Accommodation: on Cruise
- Day 8: Departure from YichangExplore the Impressive Three Gorges Dam and Possibly See a Rainbow in the Mist
Today, follow your guide to explore the engineering marvel of the Three Gorges Dam. It is the largest water conservancy hub project and the largest hydropower station in the world today. Standing on the dam crest, you can feel the magnificent white waves. If you visit on a sunny day, you may encounter a rainbow in the mist on the huge waves of flood discharge.
Three Gorges Dam After the dam visit, take the bus arranged by the cruise company to the Yichang Three Gorges Center Cruise Terminal. There will be an experienced driver will be waiting to escort you to the airport or train station for your onward journey. Your 8-day Chengdu and Yangtze River Cruise tour ends here. We are always here to serve you and customize your China tour to other cities!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
