6 Days Shanghai and Chengdu Classic Tour

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Shanghai Arrival

   Upon your arrival at Shanghai airport/train station, our local driver and guide will pick you up from the exit gate. You can easily notice them as they’ll holding a welcome board with "China Xian Tour". Then we’ll transfer you to the downtown hotel for checking in. Free and easy on your arrangement for the rest of the day

   If your time permits, we recommend you to take a walk along the Bund in the evening. This can be quite relaxing and the stunning skyline illuminated by colorful lights can show you the heart of the city.

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   4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
2. Day 2: Shanghai Essence
   Shanghai Museum, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai World Financial Center, Nanjing Road, the Bund

   Shanghai is a captivating destination where allows you to take a glimpse of both China’s ancient charm and modern prosperity. On the first day, your exploration begins with the Shanghai Museum at People’s Square (closed on each Monday). Established in 1952, this world-class museum houses over 120,000 cultural relics.  Here, you’ll get to see incredibly delicate treasures ranging from ancient bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, and paintings to exquisite furniture and jade pieces. And they’ll be telling you stories from different dynasties. And even the building itself consists a significant part the cultural exploration. Its circular dome and square base symbolize the ancient Chinese belief of a round heaven and square earth.

   After that, move on to the beautiful Yuyuan Garden. Yuyuan Garden is a masterpiece which perfectly elaborates the art of classical Chinese garden and it has long been a must-visit place in Shanghai. There are over 40 scenic spots scattered in the garden, each one of them can give you a touch of classical beauty. Your tour guide will tell you all the details and touching stories of every part of the garden, and through this navigation, you’ll get to understand more about the profound Chinese culture.

   After visiting the pretty Yuyuan Garden, you will wander around the lively Yuyuan Market. You can get everything here from traditional Chinese crafts like paper fans and pottery to local delicacies such as steamed buns, crab shell cake, and pork chop with rice cakes.

   Then you will go to tick off Shanghai World Financial Center, a tall skyscraper in Pudong New Area. It boasts a total of 104 floors with 3 floors under the ground and 101 floors above the ground, among which Floor 94, 97 and 100 serves as sightseeing halls. You will have chance to see for yourself and go up to the 100th floor to have a marvelous panoramic view of the Huangpu River. Walking on the 55-meter long transparent sightseeing corridor will be an exciting experience.

   Nanjing Road is the earliest shopping street in Shanghai. Your tour guide will point out the four time-honored department stores, Yong’an Company, Xianshi Company, Xinxin Company and Daxin Company, from which you can get a bit history of this commercial street. If you want to try some delicious food, the street definitely will not disappoint you.

   The last stop is the Bund, which is one of the most sought-after places in Shanghai because of its historic significance and impressive view. Some Chinese couples even choose the Bund to take their wedding photos. You will love walking along the waterfront, watching the ships passing, and appreciating the old colonial buildings.

   Optional night activity:

   Option A: Attend an entertaining Acrobatic Show at Shanghai’s best theaters. Prepared to be amazed by the perfect skills and agility of the acrobats. It’s going to be an exploration of courage and excitement.

   Option B: Take a relaxing Huangpu River night cruise to enjoy the spectacular scenery on the bank. The Huangpu River has divided Shanghai into two different worlds. So that cruising on the river will give you a view of the city’s skyline in an old-Shanghai atmosphere.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Shanghai
3. Day 3: Shanghai to Chengdu by Flight
   Zhujiajiao Water Town

   In the morning, we’ll be heading to the Zhujiajiao Water Town, which is also called “the Venice of Shanghai”. It has already served as a beautiful touch of Shanghai for more than 1,700 years. Walking around the ancient water town, you will feel like go back to the old days in Ming and Qing dynasties, and the past stories are told by every elegant stone bridge across the rivers. Take a full exploration here is rewarding, and you can get to see more to in an optional gondola ride along the river.

   When you finished the water town tour, our guide and driver will escort you to the airport for flight to Chengdu.

   Upon arrival, our local driver will pick you up from the exit gate by holding a welcome board with your name and transfer to local hotel for checking-in. Have a good rest for tomorrow (no guide service)!

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
4. Day 4: Chengdu Panda Visit
   Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Wuhou Memorial Temple, Jinli Pedestrian Street

   Sichuan is known as the home to giant pandas. Today you will start the tour with Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base to see the long-waited cute pandas. This is a peaceful sanctuary dedicated to the protection and breeding of China’s most beloved animal. And except for meeting the adorable creatures, you can also find a sense of calm in the base’s beautiful landscape that arranged with bamboo forests, ponds, and walking paths. There will be different venue allowing visitors to observe pandas of all ages. And you might also spot red pandas and in the site. After a close up observation of pandas, there’s also museum providing details about how researchers have been caring for these endangered species for all these years. Visiting early in the morning is best, as pandas are most active during feeding time.

   Then, head to Wuhou Memorial Temple, which is of great historical significance for Chinese people. It was built in memory of the founding emperor of the Shu Kingdom, Liu Bei, and his prime minister, Zhuge Liang. There are a lot of precious cultural relics such as calligraphy works, stone statues, stone inscriptions and couplets, from which you will have a glimpse of the Three Kingdoms period and know the stories of the great figures. It also has a bonsai garden of high aesthetic value beside the tomb of the emperor. You can walk around and take some pictures.

   Next, your tour guide will take you to explore the bustling Jinli Pedestrian Street. It’s a must-see attraction in Chengdu, which can tell you the city’s profound facts. Buildings here are built in Qing Dynasty style, and they’ll be taking you back in time with their unique beauty. Here you can enjoy shopping or just sitting in a tea house and watching all kinds people walking by. Don’t forget to taste some traditional Chengdu food that you may never encounter before.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
5. Day 5: Chengdu to Leshan
   Leshan Giant Buddha, Renmin Park, Kuanzhai Alley

   Today you are going to travel to Leshan and admire the tallest stone Buddha in the world, Leshan Giant Buddha. It took 90 years for three generations of craftsmen to accomplish this 71-meter-high statue. And except for its amazingly crafted outer look, there are way more profound stories lying behind and waiting for you to explore. For example, there are 1051 buns of curly hair on the head of the Buddha, and it has an invisible irrigation system just behind its ears and head. Your tour guide will uncover all its history and fascinating stories for you to help you better understand its unparalleled significance. And please note that this visit involves a rather excessive walk (lots of stairs), so we highly recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes and always watch your steps.

   Trip Note: You can also take a short boat ride (ticket purchased on site) to admire the full view of the Buddha from the river, it offers a quite unique perspective for visitors to capture this masterpiece’s immense scale and serene expression.

   After that, drive back to Chengdu city and you will follow your tour guide to the vibrant Renmin Park to experience local people’s life. The park is free to enter, and the locals like to come here to do exercise and socialize with people. You can just get a seat at a tea house and sit there with your tea watching a laid back city life unfold before you.

   The last stop in Chengdu is Kuanzhai Alley. Kuanzhai Alley has a long history and can date back to the Qing Dynasty. Now the old alleys have been converted into one of the top attractions in Chengdu. Strolling along the streets, you still can see many well-preserved Qing Dynasty buildings. In addition to appreciating the traditional architecture, you also can savor some local delicacies. As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, Chengdu will surprise you with its delicious food.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Chengdu
6. Day 6: Chengdu Departure

   Please prepare your belongings in advance. Your guide and driver will meet you at the appointed time and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. Our service will end here. Thank you for joining China Xian Tour's 6-day Shanghai Chengdu tour. Wish you a pleasant journey (no guide service today)!

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