10 Days Yangtze River Cruise & Panda Tour from Chengdu

Day 1 Chengdu Arrival

Pick up service can be arranged at Chengdu train station or Chengdu airport, you will find a welcome sign "Chengdu Private Tour".

Transfer to your hotel in Chengdu for check in, the rest day is free on your own to explore Chengdu city or take rest in your room.

Day 2 Chengdu

Firstly, spend half days to explore the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center, The Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (or Chengdu Panda Base for short) specializes in baby pandas and their care. It's one of the most popular destinations for foreign travelers. And it's a must-go place when you go to Chengdu. Chengdu Panda Base not only takes care of breeding pandas, but also focuses on providing interactive activities that teach people about pandas and their protection. Besides cute giant pandas, there are also red pandas, black swans, and peacocks in the base.

Then, move on to the Wenshu Temple. The large Buddhist Wen Shu Monastery in the north of town has become a major tourist attraction in Chengdu and the surrounding neighborhood has undergone extensive renovations. The temple itself is clean and relatively quiet. There are small ponds and underused buildings in corners of the complex where you can sit and relax. Every now and then a preoccupied monk scurries past, but the grounds are mostly filled with strolling visitors.

Your lunch will be arrange at a Vegetarian Restaurant in Wenshu Temple. All the food made by vegetable.

After lunch, drive to the Renmin Park to experience the most authentic view into Chengdu local life. Have a cup of tea in a traditional tea house, watch the local older couples dancing, and enjoy the typical leisure lifestyle of Chengdu.

There are many famous scenic spots in the Renmin Park, including the Gold Water Stream, the Goldfish Island and the Potted Landscape Garden. Besides appreciating the charming landscape, you can sail on the artificial lake, drink tea in the teahouse by the lake and watch all kinds of exhibitions and performances on the Rockery Square.

Your last destination is Jinli Ancient Street to treat yourself to the local snacks and artifacts. The elegant style of the architectures gives you a glimpse at what Sichuan looked like during the Qing Dynasty.

At last, drive back to your hotel.

Day 3 Chengdu-Leshan-Mt.Emei

After breakfast, your guide will lead you to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha

Upon arrival, You will watch the wonder of sleeping Buddha, which explained the saying of ‘ Buddha is the hill and the hill is a Buddha ‘. Then we will walk up and down along the zigzagging mountain trails along the Giant Buddha, from it's head to shoulder, and from leg to foot. In front of the Buddha is the good view of the joint of Minjiang River, Dadu River and Qingyi River.

You will be able to climb up the Buddha to have a close-up look. To see more, you may walk down the narrow plank all the way to the feet of the Buddha, to discover you are only as tall as one of its toes.

After visiting the Giant Buddha, Take a cruise on the Minjiang River and enjoy the beautiful scene between the mountains and the water.

Your lunch will be arranged at the local restaurant popular with the local people to stay away from the tourists' meals.

After lunch, drive 45 minutes to Mount Emei and visit Baoguo Temple, the biggest temple of the mountain.

Stay overnight in the foot of Mt.Emei.

Day 4 Mt.Emei-Chengdu

After breakfast, leave from your hotel and you will first take a eco-car in the Scenic Area to Leidongpin and hiking to Jieyin Hall, to 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 Huazang 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. Wannian Temple is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Camel Mountain Range of Mount Emei, in Emeishan City, Sichuan, China. It is one of the six earliest Buddhist temples on Mount Emei. The temple is situated at the foot of Camel Mountain Range, facing the Daping Temple, Niuxin Temple, Shisun Summit and Bomeng Summit in the front. Wannian Temple is known not only for the bronze statue of Samantabhadra, but also for the Beamless Brick Hall.

At last, return to your hotel in Chengdu downtown.

Day 5 Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou

After breakfast, our Chengdu private tour guide and driver will escort you to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to catch your flight to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport. Upon arrival, the local guide will meet you at Jiuhuang Airport and bring you to visit Huanglong National Park. 

Huanglong National Park is a scenic and historic interest area in the northwest part of Sichuan, this area is known for its colorful pools formed by calcite deposits, especially in Huanglonggou (Yellow Dragon Gully), as well as diverse forest ecosystems, snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and hot springs. Huanglong is also home to many endangered species including the giant panda and the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey.

The travertine scenery was created by the thousands years of geological evolution, including glacial revolution, terrane movement, chemical reaction, climate changing, etc. It covers a total length of 3.6 kilometers. At the top(3990m) of the valley lies the best highlight - Five-Color Ponds consisting of 693 ponds of different sizes, shapes, colors, just looking like beautiful emeralds.

To save your energy and time, you will take a quick and convenient cable car directly to the top, and then walk down the valley to enjoy the scenery. 

After about 4-hour walking and sightseeing in Huanglong National Park, you will drive about two hours to Jiuzhaigou. Stay overnight in Jiuzhaigou.

Day 6 Jiuzhaigou Valley

Today you will have a full day sightseeing to Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic, Jiuzhaigou is a nature reserve and national park located in the north of Sichuan Province in the southwestern region of China. A long valley running north to south, Jiuzhaigou was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992 and a World Biosphere Reserve in 1997. The Jiuzhaigou valley is part of the Min Mountains on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau and stretches over 72,000 hectares (180,000 acres). It is known for its many multi-level waterfalls, colorful lakes, and snow-capped peaks. Its elevation ranges from 2,000 to 4,500 metres (6,600 to 14,800 ft).

The famous attractions you will encounter are the Multi-colored Lake, the Nuorilong Fall, the Long Lake and the Pearl Beach. The Multi-colored Lake is the smallest but most colorful lake in Jiuzhaigou Valley, and is famous for a profusion of colors and limpidity. You will see the colors of azure, light green and orange in the same pond. The Nuorilang Fall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the valley. In Tibetan language, Nuorilang means majestic and grand waterfall. The surging currents rush passionately and dash down in a series of cascades. 

Stay overnight in Jiuzhaigou.

Day 7 Jiuzhaigou-Chongqing, Yangtze River Cruise

Our driver will transfer you to the Jiuzhaigou airport, you will take the early flight to Chongqing. Upon arrival, our Chongqing tour guide will pick you up and starts your Chongqing tour:

Firstly, you will be taken to visit the Ciqikou Old Town. The old town is located in Shapingba district of Chongqing and on the west bank of Jialing River, taking up an area of 1.18 square kilometers. This place is very charming with its narrow streets and small wooden houses and it provides some great opportunities for shopping souvenirs or tasting local snacks. When you are done with this, the ship will be waiting for you to take you on the cruise.

Your lunch will be arranged at the local restaurant popular with the local people to stay away from the tourists' meals.

Then drive about 13km from Ciqikou to Three Gorges Museum. It is one of the largest museum of the country. The museum opened in 2005, replacing the former Chongqing Museum. It is located near the Chongqing People's Hall. It aims to undertake education, preservation, and scientific research with respect to cultural heritage and the natural environment in Chongqing and the Three Gorges region of the Yangtze River.

In the afternoon, head to Hongya Cave, located in Chongqing‘s core commercial district of Jiefangbei on Cangbai Road and at the intersection of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. The area combines travel, business, and cultural scenery into one grand view, with an overriding theme of Stilted Buildings which stands for the famous traditional Bayu minority architectural style on raised wooden stilts. If time permits, enjoy the stunning night view of Hongya Cave at sunset.

After dinner, transfer to the Chaotianmen dock for your Yangtze River trip.

Day 8 Yangtze River Cruise

As the largest water system in China, Yangtze River is historically, economically and culturally important to the country. It has numerous tributaries including Min River, Han River, Jialing River, Gan River, and Huangpu River.

Upon you cruise along the Yangtze river, you will have an excursion to Fengdu Ghost City, visiting either the "Ghost City" known for its statues of ghosts and devils onMingshan Hill, or the new relocation village, built for families who have moved as a result of the Yantgze's rising waters brought by the Three Gorgres Dam.

After disembark, you will take a cable car up to the hill and visit the temples all over the mountain with many statues. Your tour guide will show you around this Ghost City.

Return to the ship at the appointed time, and pass towards the fantastic Three Gorges. Stay overnight on the ship.

Day 9 Yangtze River Cruise

Following the ship, and you will enter the Qutang Gorge. The Qutang Gorge is the shortest and most spectacular of China's Three Gorges. The combination of narrow canyons among high mountains with several switchbacks in only 8 kilometres creates spectacular vistas, and the Qutang Gorge is often considered the most beautiful of all the Three Gorges. Although it is primarily famous for its scenery, the Three Gorges region is also a historically and culturally important location in China.

Upon you arrive in Wuhan, the tour guide will lead you disembark the ship and board smaller vessels in order to explore either the Daning River (or Shennong Stream).

Return to the ship at the appointed time. Stay overnight on the ship.

Day 10 Yangtze River Cruise-Yichang Departure

Today, you will pass through the Xiling Gorge. It is the largest and most downstream—eastern of the famous Three Gorges.

The last destination is Three Gorge Dam, it is the world’s largest hydropower project and most notorious dam. As well as producing electricity, the dam is intended to increase the Yangtze River's shipping capacity and reduce the potential for floods downstream by providing flood storage space.

Upon cruise arrival in Yichang. Transfer from cruise to airport or train station for your next destination. Our service ends.

Price Per Person in US Dollars

Price Includes 1. All transfer and city transportation 2. Air-conditioned car or van 3. Hotels specified in the itinerary, all based     on two persons sharingone standard room; 4. Meals specified in the itinerary: Western     breakfast in hotels Chinese lunch and     dinner in local restaurants 5. Sightseeing: All arrangements mentioned     in the itinerary will be covered All first     admission/entrance fees in the itinerary 6. Tour guide: Conducted by a professional     tour guide

Price Excludes 1. International air-tickets 2. Airport departure tax. 3. International or domestic air tickets which     are not listed in the itinerary. 4. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness     or damages incurred during your trip 5. Tips to the tour guide and driver 6. Meals not specified in the itinerary. 7. Personal expenses: phone bills, laundry,     optional tours, postage, excess baggage     charge, entertainment fees out of the     itinerary. 8. Single Room Supplement.