6-Day Sichuan Tour Leshan, Mount Emei & Panda Volunteer

Day 1 Chengdu Arrival

Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of Giant Pandas . Upon arrival, your guide will meet and escort you to your hotel in Chengdu downtown in a private vehicle. The rest of today is free to explore the leisure city on your own.

Optional Activity: In the evening, you can enjoy a delicious dinner of Sichuan cuisine at a local restaurant.

Day 2 Chengdu – Leshan – Mt. Emei ( B, L )

In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel, then be driven about 2 hours from Chengdu to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Leshan Giant Buddha which is the largest and tallest stone-carved statue of Buddha in the world. It was carved during AD713~803 on a mountain rock cliff by the river, with its head reaching to the mountain top and its feet standing next to the river. The total height is 71m; while the head is 14.7m high and 10m wide, ear is 7meters high, 28 meters between knees and insteps. Its insteps can hold over a hundred people. You may be wondering why such a giant Buddha was built? It is said to have been built to calm the turbulent waters that plagued passing boats and killed many people each year in ancient time. On the right cliff of the Giant Buddha, there is a plank road built along with the Giant Buddha. From the top to foot, the plank road has nine turns, thus it’s called Nine Bends Plank Road. The widest part of the road is 1.45m and the narrowest part is only 0.6m, and there are 217 stone steps in total. You will walk down to the feet of the Giant Buddha for a closer view. Please note you may have to queue up to enter the stone stairway if you visit the Giant Buddha during the busy hours.

After the Giant Buddha visit, drive about 45mins to Baoguo Temple , the biggest temple of Mount Emei at the mountain foot. It has several serene gardens with rare plants, a library of sutras and a huge porcelain Buddha. Another famous historical relic in the temple is the 25-ton bronze Bell, reputedly as the second largest bell in China. While traveling deeper into the temple, you will enjoy different views of Mount Emei.

Lastly, drive to check in your hotel. Have a good rest for tomorrow's Mount Emei trip which has some walkings involved.

Recommended Optional Activity: take a 30 minutes’ sightseeing boat to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Giant Buddha on the river.

Day 3 Mt. Emei – Chengdu ( B, L )

This morning after breakfast, meet your tour guide and set out for Mount Emei . As one of the few World Heritage Sites of both cultural and natural heritages , Mount Emei is an enchanted combination of lush forest and cultural relics. It is one of the Four Great Buddhist Mountains in China, also the home to 5000 kinds of plants (more than the total species in Europe) and over 2300 kinds of wild animals.

You will first take your private car to the tourist center, then shift on to an Eco-Bus which will take you up to the mountain top area in 1.52 hours. Once you reaching at Leidongping (2400m), keep on walking about 30mins along stone steps to the cable car station, along which you will have a chance to see the wild monkeys. Take a cable car (about 5mins) up to the Golden Summit (3077m) which is the biggest highlight and very essence of Mount Emei. Once you get to the Golden Summit, the first view appearing in front of you is a towering multi-faced golden statue (48m) of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Next to the golden statue sits the bronze Huangzang Temple which is the first temple established on Mount Emei whose history can be traced back to the 1st century CE. You can stroll around the Golden Summit to explore Buddhist architecture and tradition, and enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Emei and surrounding. On clear days, you can even see the snow-clad of Mount Gongga (7556m), Asia’s largest table mountain – Wawu Mountain and winding rivers flowing through Emeishan city. If weather permits, you will have luck to enjoy its magnificent wonder of Cloud Sea. Sightsee around 1.5 hours on the Golden Summit area, then descend by cable car to Leidoping and take Eco-Bus again back to the tourist center. Your private car is ready to transfer you back to Chengdu (about 2.53hrs).

Optional visit to Wanfoding (Ten Thousands Buddha Peak): Wanfoding (3099m), the highest peak in Mount Emei, is currently reopening to tourists who are less 60 years old, but it is only open during 07:0014:00, and the largest allowed campacity is only 2000 tourists per day. If you want to visit Wanfoding and time allows, please discuss with your tour guide. It usually takes about 23 hours to visit Wanfoding.

Read this if you are a hiking lover:

Above itinerary is a classic visit route which is suitable for different ages of tourists. If you want more hiking experience during your trip, please contact your travel consultant to tailor-make the hiking routes according to your time and physical condition. There are routes of 2 hours (Qingyin Pavilion to Wannian Temple), 4 hours (Qingyin Pavilion to Wannian Temple + Leidongping to Golden Summit), one day (Wannian Temple to Leidongping) and 2 days (Qingyin Pavilion to Golden Summit) available.

Day 4 Chengdu – Dujiangyan Panda Volunteer (B, L)

Today you will head for Dujiangyan Panda Base to fulfill your lifetime panda volunteer work from 8: 30 to 16:00.

There are more than 40 giant pandas and 5 red pandas in Dujiangyan Panda Base . During this one-day panda volunteer program, you’ll experience some activities including honorary keepers to clean up bamboos, pick up droppings, wash the enclosures, observe and understand the panda’s status and living conditions; prepare food for the pandas and also experience the fun of making the “Panda’s Cake”; deliver delicious “Cake” and fruits to the pandas personally and understand panda’s feeding habits; watch a panda documentary that shows scientific facts about pandas, to understand how humans protect them, and how we may live in harmony with them; plant bamboos and trees, as well as set up nametags and some more interesting and meaningful activities. After the panda volunteer activities, you’ll receive an official certificate from CCRCGP that proves your love for giant pandas, as well as souvenirs, like a panda badge, a panda T-shirt or a panda club magazine.

After this tour, drive to your hotel in Dujiangyan City.

Please Note: 1. The above arrangements will be adjusted according to the specific situations and the volunteer program may be delayed or inaccessible by inevitable requirements, control, and Force Majeure like earthquakes, epidemic… 2. Being a volunteer, you should apply it a week in advance with your Application Form and Health Examination Form. 3. Requirements & Limitations: (a) Health Examination Form: To do the panda volunteer program at Dujiangyan Panda Base, you need to have a valid Health Examination Form (valid medical certificate and signature which could be applied in your country or in China). Feel free to contact our travel consultant for more information or let them register for you. (This form is to ensure that you are not carrying the infectious diseases or other illnesses which endanger the health of pandas.) (b) Age & Number Limitations: The center can accept up to 30 volunteers (aged between 12 and 65) at any one time. (c) Avoid Using Strong Smell: For pandas have keen sense of smell, volunteers should avoid using perfume or other odorous articles like mosquito repellent liquid, nail polish, skin care products, makeups, etc. on the volunteer work day. (d) Dressing Code: During the panda volunteer program, you are required to wear comfortable shoes, like sports shoes, that are suitable for the work. Try to avoid sandals, slippers, high-heels, and so on. Besides, wear trousers, avoid shorts and skirts, etc. (during the program, the panda base will provide working jumpsuits in spring and winter, and T-shirts in summer and autumn for you.) (e) Healthy Bodies: To well protect giant pandas, volunteersare required to be healthy, and people who are suffering from illness, like a cold, fever, influenza, and other infectious diseases are not suitable to do the panda volunteer programs. 4. If you have got more questions and ideas, please feel free to contact our professional travel consultants.

Day 5 Dujiangyan – Chengdu (B, L)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Transfer to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, which was an irrigation project built in 256BC. The system is still working to irrigate Chengdu plain and it’s the actual reason why Chengdu is called as the “Land of Abundance”. Visit the three main parts of Dujiangyan Irrigation System including Yuzui, Feishayan, Baopingkou, and be amazed by the wisdom of ancient Chinese.

After the tour, drive back to Chengdu.

Day 6 Chengdu & Chengdu Departure ( B, L )

Today you first stop is to visit DufuThatched Cottage , a museum in honor of Dufu(712 – 770AD), a famous realist poet in Chinese history. Taking a quite walk in this historical cultural environment, you are apt to be brought back to ancient time. Then you will be taken to a hidden spiritual Buddhist temple in hustling downtown Chengdu, Wenshu Temple, where you will marvel at the exquisite Buddhist architecture, soak in the reverent atmosphere, and wander on the temple’s peaceful paths.

Next will be an impressive visit to the famous Jinli Old Street. Time will steal away as you quietly walk on the lively streets full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, and other activities.

After the tour, your guide will escort you to the airport in time for the scheduled flight to your next destination.

What’s Included

• Professional licensed English-speaking guide
• Admission tickets for all attractions listed in the itinerary
• Accommodation as listed in the itinerary (4-star standard)
• Necessary vehicle transfers as listed in the itinerary
• Domestic flights (economy class) and high-speed trains (second class) as listed in the itinerary
• Airport (and train station) pick up and drop off
• Luggage Transfers: between airports (railway station) and hotels
• All meals as listed( “B” for Chinese and Western breakfast buffet in your hotel; “L” for Chinese Lunch in local restaurant; “D” for Chinese dinner in local restaurant.)
• Accident insurance
• Our service charge, including tour planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

Not Included

• China visa
• Personal expenses
• Accommodation not listed in the itinerary
• Single Room Supplement
• Tourist sites which are not listed in the itinerary
• Recommended optional activities
• Flights or trains not listed in the itinerary
• Excess Baggage Charges
• Optional tips to guides, drivers, etc.
• The weather of Chengdu is mild and humid, and it’s suitable for travel all year round.

Pricing Note

Final pricing is tailored to your travel dates, party size, hotel preferences and confirmed services. Your proposal will clearly list every included and excluded item.

Travel Tips

Pack comfortable walking shoes and clothing suited to the season. Keep your passport available on travel days, and tell your planner about mobility or dietary needs before departure.

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