Chengdu Tours: Tailormade Trips to the Home of Giant Pandas, Jiuzhaigou Valley, Leshan Giant Buddha & Mount Emei
Chengdu is a city best enjoyed at a slow pace. In the city, you can visit giant pandas, relax in traditional teahouses, and savor renowned Sichuan cuisine. Beyond the city, explore UNESCO World Heritage sites and breathtaking snow-capped mountain landscapes. Whether you’re traveling with family, seniors, or seeking a deeper, more immersive journey, Chengdu offers experiences perfectly suited to every travel style.
Best of Chengdu
- No. 1 - Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding: Observe China’s beloved giant pandas up close, especially in the early morning when they are most active. The experience can be upgraded to a Dujiangyan or Wolong Panda Volunteer Program, suitable for families and senior travelers.
- No. 2 - Traditional Chengdu Teahouse Experience: Sip covered-bowl tea at People’s Park, enjoy traditional ear-cleaning, and watch Sichuan Opera face-changing performances—perfectly capturing Chengdu’s relaxed pace of life.
- No. 3 - Sichuan Cuisine, Hotpot & Face-Changing Opera: Spicy Sichuan hotpot and the famous Sichuan Opera face-changing performance are absolute must-do experiences in Chengdu. Enhance your journey with a hands-on Sichuan cooking class, or join a market visit with a local chef, learning how to select ingredients and prepare classic dishes—an immersive way to truly understand Sichuan’s rich and flavorful food culture.
Nature & World Heritage Sites Around Chengdu
- Dujiangyan Irrigation System & Mount Qingcheng (UNESCO World Heritage Sites): The Dujiangyan Irrigation System showcases the brilliance of ancient Chinese engineering, while Mount Qingcheng offers tranquil walks and rich Taoist culture. With gentle trails and minimal physical demands, it is suitable for travelers of all ages.
- Leshan Giant Buddha (UNESCO World Heritage Site): The best way to admire the world’s largest stone Buddha is from a river cruise, offering spectacular views with minimal walking.
- Mount Emei (UNESCO World Natural & Cultural Heritage Site): Famous for its Golden Summit, sea of clouds, and profound Buddhist heritage, Mount Emei can be accessed by cable car, making it an excellent choice for travelers with more time who seek both scenery and spirituality.
For In-Depth Travelers & Nature Lovers
- Mount Siguniang (Four Sisters Mountain): Often referred to as the “Eastern Alps,” Mount Siguniang is ideal for photography, light hiking, and immersive experiences among snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows.
- Jiuzhaigou Valley & Huanglong Scenic Area (Extension from Chengdu): Renowned for their turquoise lakes, snow-covered peaks, and pristine forests, Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong offer some of China’s most breathtaking natural scenery. A 3–4 day extension is highly recommended to fully appreciate these UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Hi, Nora, Beijing, Xi’an, Dali, Chendu, Guilin, Shanghai - Two couples had a better than expected trip to the above cities organized expertly by Nora. Highlights were The Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, the pandas, a fascinating stay at the Linden Center (do not miss) in Dali, a beautiful boat trip down the Li River to the surprisingly wonderful town of Yangshuo,and the Bund in Shanghai. Yangshuo Dali As..." Read More
Chengdu Highlights: Pandas, Hotpot, Teahouse, Big Budhha, Emei Mt., Jiuzhaigou Valley
We specialize in tailor-made travel experiences, so the sample itineraries below are for reference only. We customize each journey based on different travel needs—whether it’s families with children, senior travelers who prefer a slower pace, young adventurers seeking excitement, or corporate groups. Our services go beyond Chengdu, offering fully customized travel solutions across China to match your interests, schedule, and travel style.
Discover Wild Chengdu and Beyond – Tailormade Adventure Tours to Daocheng Yading, Jiuzhaigou Valley, Danba...
Best Season to Travel - May to October: Overall the best time to visit, with lush green grasslands and blooming wildflowers.
Top Travel Destinations in Western Sichuan
Mount Siguniang (Four Sisters Mountain) – Snow-capped peaks, alpine meadows, and excellent hiking and photography opportunities, often called the “Eastern Alps.”
Mount Gongga (Minya Konka) – The highest peak in Sichuan, famous for glaciers, sacred mountains, and epic trekking routes.
Jiuzhaigou Valley – World-famous for its turquoise lakes, waterfalls, forests, and seasonal colors.
Danba & Jiaju Tibetan Villages – One of China's most beautiful Tibetan villages, known for stone houses, watchtowers, and rich local culture.
Zoigê Grasslands & the First Bend of the Yellow River – Vast grasslands, wetlands, and breathtaking sunset views.
Bipenggou Valley – A scenic valley with forests, snow peaks, and colorful lakes, ideal for all-season visits.
Yading Nature Reserve (Daocheng Yading) – Sacred snow mountains and high-altitude lakes, often called “the last pure land on the Blue Planet.”
Together, these destinations make Western Sichuan one of China’s most spectacular regions for nature lovers, photographers, hikers, and travelers seeking authentic Tibetan culture.
Cultural Immersions: Adding Flavor to Your Chengdu China Journey
Learn to cook several classic yet approachable Sichuan dishes, such as Kung Pao Chicken (discovering the balance of the signature “lychee-style” sweet-and-sour flavor), Mapo Tofu (understanding the essence of mala—numbing, spicy, hot, fresh, aromatic, and tender), Twice-Cooked Pork (the soul of Sichuan cuisine), or Dan Dan Noodles (mastering the preparation of minced pork topping and authentic seasoning).
Sichuan Opera Performance: Beyond the famous face-changing and fire-spitting, a full Sichuan Opera show also features water-sleeve dancing, classic opera excerpts, rolling-lantern acts, and live suona horns and percussion. Only by watching the complete performance can you truly appreciate the humor, vivid storytelling, and profound artistry of Sichuan Opera.
Visiting People’s Park for a cup of tea is captivating for its raw, unembellished sense of everyday life. For the price of a single cup of tea, you’re essentially buying a front-row ticket to Chengdu’s living theater of local life—offering a whole new understanding of what “leisure” truly means.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chengdu Tours
At most panda bases in China, visitors can usually get within a few meters of the pandas while viewing them from designated paths or platforms, separated by fences or glass for safety.
If you join a panda volunteer program, you may get closer access—such as working near panda enclosures while cleaning or preparing food—but direct contact is not allowed. Touching, holding, or hugging pandas is strictly prohibited to protect both the animals and visitors.
These rules ensure panda welfare, reduce stress on the animals, and support long-term conservation efforts, while still allowing visitors to observe pandas up close in a safe and ethical way.
GREAT FAMILY CHINA TOUR
JULY 2024 We wanted to thank Grace at China Culture tour for organizing a great tour of China. We enjoyed our Beijing - Xian-Chengdu -Guilin -Yangshuo - Shanghai trip. Our local guides Bruce in Beijing, Susan in Xian, Jane in Chengdu, Mike in Guilin and Mary in Shanghai took care of us…read more details »
Teng Han L from SINGAPORE
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