3-Day Sichuan Heritage Tour: Tea Culture, Pandas, and the Leshan Giant Buddha

Summary

Day 1 Chengdu-Mt.Mengdingshan-Shangli:Mt.Mengdingshan Tea Tour, Shangli Old Town
Day 2 Shangli-Bifengxia-Leshan:Bifengxia Panda Base, Bifengxia Gorge, Drive to Leshan
Day 3 Leshan-Chengdu:Leshan Giant Buddha, Boat cruise on the Minjiang River, Museum of Handmade Paper

Day 1 Chengdu-Mt.Mengdingshan-Shangli

Your private guide from "Your Way Holiday" will warmly greet you at your hotel lobby, or at Chengdu railway station or airport, holding a sign with our agency name. After settling in, we’ll drive about 1.5 hours along the expressway to reach the serene Mt. Mengding. Along the way, your guide will introduce the highlights of today’s destinations, sharing fascinating stories about Sichuan’s tea heritage and the cultural importance of the mountain. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the countryside view as we make our way into the tea-covered hills of western Sichuan.

Mountain Mengding, located in Mingshan County on the southwest edge of the Sichuan Basin, is not only beautiful but deeply historical. It's about 100 kilometers from Chengdu and 15 kilometers from Ya’an. Known as the "Hometown of World Tea Culture," Mengding is said to be where tea cultivation first began. Your guide will explain the legend of Wu Lizhen, a Taoist from the Han Dynasty, who lived in seclusion atop this mountain and became the first known person to plant tea. Because of his contributions, he is revered as the "Ancestor of Tea Planting," and his story remains an integral part of Chinese tea culture.

Today you’ll have a chance to immerse yourself in tea culture in an authentic way. If you're up for a light hike, your guide will lead you through the lush tea terraces of Mengding Mountain, where a few ancient tea trees still grow—some believed to be over a thousand years old. Then, with the help of local villagers, you’ll learn how to hand-fry freshly picked tea leaves in traditional woks. Your guide will assist with translating and explaining each step. You’ll also have a chance to try picking some tender tea leaves yourself—a fun and relaxing way to connect with nature and tradition.

After this hands-on experience, enjoy a countryside lunch with the locals featuring seasonal ingredients and dishes infused with tea, such as tea-smoked duck or stir-fried greens with tea oil. Your guide will ensure your comfort and help explain each dish. In the late afternoon, we’ll continue our journey with a scenic drive to Shangli Ancient Town. The guide will share the story of this town's role on the Southern Silk Road and how locals believe it to be a cornucopia due to its unique riverside location.

Upon arrival in Shangli, your guide will walk with you along the slabstone-paved alleys, where wooden stilt houses peek out from between bamboo groves and rice fields. The air here is fresh and peaceful, making it an ideal place to slow down and relax. You may enjoy sipping tea beside the ancient stone bridge, sketching the tranquil scenery, or simply watching daily life unfold. Your guide can help arrange optional cultural experiences such as local painting, calligraphy, or tea tasting sessions if you wish. Tonight, you'll stay in a guesthouse surrounded by quiet mountains and murmuring streams.

Day 2 Shangli-Bifengxia-Leshan

This morning, after a hearty breakfast, we’ll drive about 30 minutes through the mountain landscape to reach Bifengxia Scenic Area. Upon arrival, you will be first taken to the Bifengxia Panda Base, for the safety and development of the captive population of giant pandas, China’s State Forestry Bureau planned and built the panda center in Bifengxia Valley in Yaan on December 28th in 2003. Being the “paradise” for about over 40 giant pandas of different ages, Bifengxia Center performs extraordinarily for the breeding, rescue, research, scientific education of giant pandas to save this rare and endangered animal species, together with Dujiangyan Panda Ark and Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base, and is reputed as the “World Natural Heritage - Giant Panda’s Habitat in Sichuan”.

After a simple and tasty lunch at a nearby restaurant—featuring home-style Sichuan dishes like fried eggplant, braised tofu, and bamboo shoots—we’ll continue exploring Bifengxia’s natural wonders. Accompanied by your guide, you’ll hike into the Bifengxia Gorge, a deep canyon filled with waterfalls, clear streams, and dramatic rock formations. With two separate canyons—the left one about seven kilometers long and the right one six—there are many scenic spots along the way. The narrow gorge, 30 to 70 meters wide and 100 to 200 meters deep, is surrounded by lush forest, making it a refreshing place to escape summer heat.

As you hike, your guide will help identify local plants and wildlife, and point out interesting features like hanging bridges and cliffside walkways. The tranquil sound of running water and the vibrant greenery offer a perfect contrast to city life, providing an ideal opportunity to reconnect with nature. After our canyon exploration, we’ll drive about 2 hours to Leshan, where you can relax for the evening at your comfortable hotel. Your guide will help you check in and suggest options for dinner or a night walk near the riverfront.

Day 3 Leshan-Chengdu

After breakfast, your experienced guide will accompany you to the Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most iconic landmarks in Sichuan. During the drive, your guide will share the fascinating history of this colossal statue, which was carved into the red sandstone cliff during the Tang Dynasty over 1,200 years ago. Upon arrival, you’ll first witness a natural wonder known as the “Sleeping Buddha” — the surrounding ridgeline resembles a reclining figure, with the Giant Buddha forming its chest. Locals often say, “The mountain is a Buddha, and the Buddha is a mountain,” and as your guide points out the details, you’ll understand the spiritual and geographical beauty behind this poetic saying. 

Next, your guide will lead you on a memorable walk along the winding stone pathways carved into the cliffside, starting from the Buddha’s majestic head. As you descend the narrow trail to its massive feet, you’ll have the rare opportunity to admire the craftsmanship up close—the finely chiseled curls of its hair, the serene expression on its face, and the precisely sculpted hands resting on its knees. Your guide will explain how ancient engineers built a hidden drainage system within the statue to protect it from erosion. At the base, as you gaze up at the 71-meter-tall figure, you’ll feel dwarfed by its presence—its toes alone are taller than an average person. Across the river, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view of the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu, and Qingyi Rivers, a strategic location that inspired the Buddha’s construction to calm the waters and protect passing ships.

To fully appreciate the grandeur of the Leshan Giant Buddha, your guide will escort you to the pier for a Minjiang River Cruise. From the boat, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the entire seated Buddha, framed by green mountains and red cliffs. This perspective reveals the full scale and harmony of the statue with its natural surroundings. As the boat glides along the river, your guide will point out historical spots and explain how water transport played a crucial role in the region's development. The peaceful cruise offers an ideal moment to take photos and reflect on the architectural brilliance of the Tang Dynasty artisans who created this masterpiece.

In the afternoon, your guide will take you on a short drive to Jiajiang County, a quiet riverside town known for its traditional handicrafts. Here, you'll visit the Museum of Handmade Paper, where you’ll gain insight into one of China’s greatest ancient inventions—papermaking. Inside the museum, your guide will explain each step of the traditional process, from soaking bark fiber to screening and drying it into sheets. You’ll witness how this delicate art form, dating back to the Han Dynasty, was passed down through generations. If you’d like, you can even try your hand at making a sheet of paper, guided by skilled local artisans. It’s a hands-on cultural experience that connects you with China’s legacy of creativity and invention.

At the end of this enriching day, your private guide and driver will accompany you back to Chengdu, ensuring a safe and comfortable journey. Whether you are returning to a hotel in downtown Chengdu or catching a train or flight, your guide will assist with any necessary arrangements. Along the way, feel free to ask for dining recommendations or tips for the rest of your stay. Today’s tour offers not only iconic sights and natural beauty, but also a deep cultural immersion—blending history, art, and personal exploration into a truly memorable experience.

Price Per Person in US Dollars