4 Days Highlights of Chengdu & Chongqing Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chengdu Arrival (No meal)

   Upon your arrival at Chengdu airport / train station, the local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to downtown hotel for check-in. Free and easy on your arrangement for rest of the day.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

2. Day 2: Panda and Stone Buddha Visits
   Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Leshan Giant Buddha

   Today start your Chengdu tour with visits to two of the most important sights in the city! The first one will be the exciting Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, which is well known for the protection and breeding of the endangered giant pandas which are unique to China. The base is a highlight for most visitors to Chengdu. There are adorable pandas everywhere. You can watch them eating bamboo, playing with each other, and of course, sleeping. Your tour guide will navigate you through the huge area, share some information about the pandas, and help you take amazing photos.

   

   After lunch, you’ll head to the amazing Giant Buddha in Leshan. Drive around 2 hours from Chengdu city, you can enjoy the urban scenery on the way.

   Regarded as the tallest stone Buddha in the world, the Leshan Giant Buddha was carved out of a cliff face 1300 years ago. When you look up at it from its toes, it’s hard to imagine how ancient Chinese people built this massive statue which withstood the ravages of wind and rain as well as man-made damage. You will climb up the stairs to the top of the mountain to enjoy the wonderful scenery. The stairs may seem intimidating, but the hiking is well worth the time and effort.

   Friendly Tips: There are 2 ways to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, one is climbing up the mountain, and one is taking a cruise along the river to take far view of it. Climbing up the mountain was included in the package as most tourists said this way is better. Taking a cruise is optional. If you would like to take a cruise instead of climbing up the mountain, or if you want to try both these 2 ways, just ask your tour guide for assistance.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chengdu

   

3. Day 3: Chengdu to Chongqing by High-speed Train (B+L)
   Ciqikou Ancient Town, Monument to the People's Liberation

   In the morning, you will take a high-speed train to Chongqing from Chengdu. Upon arrival at Chongqing Train Station, the local English-speaking tour guide and driver will be waiting for you at the exit gate holding a welcome board with your name.

   Your exploration begins with Ciqikou Ancient Town. It is one of the must-visit sites in Chongqing where many people flow every day. Serve as an important port along the Jialing River, Ciqikou Ancient Town has been familiar with the jollification for the comings and goings of passengers since its birth in the Song Dynasty, witnessing the developing process of Chongqing local culture. Today, on the stone-paved streets here will you be surprised at the rich cultural activities like Sichuan Opera, oil manufacture, and dough figurines through which the hidden local culture, folk customs, religious culture, and so on are reflected.

   After that, pay a visit to the Monument to the People's Liberation, which stands at the central zone of Jiefangbei (The Chinese name of the Monument) Commercial Circle. It was built in 1946 and finished the next year to symbolize the success of the Chinese anti-Fascist war. Today, it is a landmark of Chongqing City, attracting people with its fame as well as the busy commercial circle around.

   Accommodation: Overnight in Chongqing

   

4. Day 4: Chongqing City Tour & Chongqing Departure (B+L)
   Museum of General Joseph Stilwell, E'ling Park, Hongya Cave, Far view of Liziba Station of Chongqing Light Rail

   Today, you will further explore the best of Chongqing city! The first site will be the Museum of General Joseph Stilwell. The Museum is built on the former residence of General Joseph Stilwell during his appointment in the anti-Fascist war as the chief of the general staff of China Theater from 1942 to 1944. It collects some daily stuff, manuscripts, and the army uniform of the General, not only exhibiting the important history of this great man but also the friendship between China and the US.

   Later, come to E'ling Park to behold the whole of Chongqing city as well as Jialing and Yangtze River. It is located on a hill between the Jialing River and the Yangtze River, occupying the highest point of Chongqing city. Besides its elegant scenery inside, the park enchants visitors more with the perfect location to enjoy the night view and bird view of this beautiful city especially when it is soaked in sunrise or sunset.

   

   Next, move on to Hongya Cave. It is a real existence for the romantic scene you’ve seen in Miyazaki Hayao’s anime. The stilted buildings leaning against the cliffs, embed their bodies harmoniously into the hills with drops about 75 meters and get embraced into the hug of the soft river. It’s a perfect fusion of the architectural culture of residences from hilly areas, Chongqing local folk culture, and port culture. Especially when it lit up at night, Hongya Cave seems to come into life beyond the cold identity as building groups when rosy lights flow from the windows. The massive visitor flows to Hongya Cave, only after Forbidden City, entitles it loud fame on the list of “Things to do in China”.

   Continue your Chongqing tour, take a far view of Liziba Station of Chongqing Light Rail. The light rail of Chongqing is a distinctive scene in this city and the Liziba section is the highlight. It's like a magic in a movie or a romantic scene in Japanese anime in which the train is shuttling through the body of a residential building. You might fix your eyes on the roaring locomotive, see off its disappearance, and exclaim its incredible existence. The tour guide will point to the best location for you to take pictures. For such an amazing scene, video is better to record than photos.

   At the end of the Chengdu and Chongqing tour, you will be dropped off at Chongqing airport/train station/cruise port for departure.

   Accommodation: N/A