8 Days Chengdu Guizhou Tour with Emei and Fanjing Mountains

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chengdu Arrival

   Hello! Welcome to Chengdu for a 8-day private guided tour with rich culture! Upon your arrival, a local driver will pick you up and send you to the downtown hotel for check-in. The rest of today is free for you to relax on your own.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

2. Day 2: Chengdu Highlights
   Watch Pandas Play, Sip Tea Leisurely, Wander Historic Streets

   After breakfast, drive to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which is 10 kilometers away from the city center (Tianfu Square). This base is a world-renowned giant panda conservation and breeding site, with 244 pandas as of the end of 2024. Walking along the bamboo forest paths, you can observe pandas of different ages playing, chewing bamboo, and sleeping up close. Visit the museum to learn about the living environment and daily activities of pandas. You also have the opportunity to watch the nursing of panda cubs in the nursery. Return to the city center to visit the hidden Wenshu Temple, the most well preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu.

   

   Afternoon time is for relaxing. The tour guide will take you to People's Park to experience the slow paced life of Chengdu. The locals love to gather here to chat, play mahjong, and drink tea... Of course, you can learn from the locals to order a pot of Chinese tea and savor it.

   Afterward, take a stroll around Jinli, the most popular pedestrian street in Chengdu. There are many local specialty snacks, souvenirs, and buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties waiting for you.

   In the evening, you can experience our optional activities: Sichuan cuisine / hotpot as dinner, or Sichuan opera performances (for an additional fee, please inform your tour guide or travel consultant in advance).

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Chengdu

3. Day 3: Emei Mountain Exploration
   Enjoy the Sea of Clouds and Marvel at Golden Buddha

   Today we will drive 2 hours to Mount Emei for a whole-day exploration. It is a World Heritage site that attracts endless tourists to hike, photograph, and explore Buddhist culture. Mt. Emei is also home to over 3,200 species of plants and 2,300 species of animals.

   After arriving at the scenic area, take the sightseeing bus to Leidongping and walk for about 30 minutes to Jieyin Hall. Then jump onto the cable car to Jinding, Golden Summit (3,077 meters). On the mountain, if the weather is nice, you will see an incredible sea of clouds. There is a beautiful golden statue of a bodhisattva, which is viewed as the symbolic presence on the mountain. You might wonder how the buddha statue got built on such a height.

   

   After appreciating the stunning view, take the cable car to Leidongping and then change to the sightseeing bus down the mountain. Please note: put your food deep enough in your bag, the monkeys can be aggressive at times. After this wonderful hiking trip, you will be escorted back to your Chengdu hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: on the Mountain

4. Day 4: Mt. Emei to Leshan
   Admire the Largest Stone Buddha in the World

   Before leaving Mount Emei, you will be led to visit Baoguo Temple, which is the center of Buddhist activities on Emei Mountain. The Ming Dynasty porcelain Buddha statue, copper tower, and copper bell are the "three treasures" of the temple and must see.

   Drive 1 hour to admire the Leshan Giant Buddha - the highest stone Buddha in the world. This 71 meter high statue took 90 years to complete. In fact, its construction process is very complex. Can you imagine that the Buddha has 1051 curly hair on his head. There is even an invisible irrigation system behind its ears. How incredible! You need to walk up many steps to observe the Buddha up close. Therefore, you are advised to wear comfortable shoes. If you want to get a panoramic view, you can pay extra for a boat tour.

   At the end of the visit, check in the hotel in Leshan city.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Leshan

   

5. Day 5: Leshan to Kaili by High-speed Train
   Experience Miao Culture & Twinkling Night Views

   This morning, be sent to take a high-speed train to Kaili, Guizhou Province. After arrival, the tour guide in Guizhou will pick you up for lunch first.

   Start your Guizhou tour this afternoon at Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village. With over 6,000 people in the village - 99% of whom are from Miao ethnic minority - it is recognized as the largest Miao settlement village in China.

   Nestled among rolling mountains, the village features beautiful terraced fields cascading down the slopes, divided by the shimmering Baishui (White Water) River into parts. You'll see the unique stilted wooden houses along the mountainside. The guide will introduce you to fascinating ethnic minority traditions, after which you're free to explore at leisure: sample authentic street food, browse exquisite handicraft shops, or wander to nearby villages for picturesque views.

   At night, the village transforms into a sea of twinkling lights. You will be arranged to take a sightseeing bus to the observation deck to enjoy the panoramic view of the illuminated Miao village.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Xijiang

   

6. Day 6: More Miao Villages in Guizhou
   Savor Rice Wine, Dance with Miao, Craft Ancient Batik Work

   After breakfast, take a train ride to Langde Miao Village. This charming settlement consists of upper and lower villages, with only the upper village open to visitors.

   Upon arrival, you'll be greeted with the traditional hospitality - a ceremonial welcome featuring twelve-course rice wine. Then follow the flagstone path to the village square, where you can enjoy the rhythmic sounds of lusheng (traditional reed pipes) and Miao folk dances performance. Feel free to join in - the villagers love when guests participate in their cultural traditions!

   After that, you will be led to visit another distinctive Miao village - Matang Gejia Village. It is said that they are descendants of Houyi (a hero in Chinese mythology). The village is famous for its long history of batik. These antique wax prints have unique patterns, mostly depicting natural beasts, flowers, birds, insects, and fish. If you are interested, you can pay extra (optional) to learn how to make your own batik work.

   Your Miao village tour has come to an end here. The driver will transfer you to stay overnight at the foot of Mount Fanjingshan. Rest well and prepare for exploring Fanjingshan tomorrow.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: near Fanjingshan

   

7. Day 7: Whole Day Exploration on Fanjingshan
   Ascend Sacred Peaks to Witness Nature's Stone Miracles

   Fanjingshan Mountain, with an altitude of 2,572 meters, is famous for its amazing mountain scenery, long Buddhist history, and rich resource of plants and animals. This scenic area was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.

   The main attractions of Mount Fanjingshan are concentrated on the peaks. After receiving the ticket, your tour guide will take you on a shuttle bus to the cable car station. When taking the cable car, have a bird's-eye view of Fanjingshan, which is definitely thrilling for both body and soul.

   After getting off the cable car, it takes about 40 minutes on foot to reach Mushroom Stone, which is an incredible masterpiece of nature. As its name suggests, this stone is shaped like a mushroom. The huge quadrate head is supported on a slender column-like body. You will learn from the tour guide that mushroom stones have been standing there firmly for a billion years.

   

   Continue walking towards Golden Summit. When you look up at the top of the mountain, you will find that the path on the steep cliff becomes narrower and narrower. This is a real adventure! After reaching the summit, the roaring sea of clouds is bathed in the pale golden sunlight, quite spectacular.

   Cheng'en Temple is located in Pudu Square and was first built in the Ming Dynasty, helping Fanjingshan Mountain gain the title of one of the "Five Great Buddhist Temples".

   If you have watched videos related to Mount Fanjingshan, you must have seen the shots of Red Cloud Golden Summit. The giant stone column is deeply in ground, but divided into two parts at the top, which is a masterpiece of nature. A stone bridge connects them.

   After the hike, take the cable car and shuttle bus down the mountain in the same way. The driver will transfer you for 1.5 hours to Tongren City for an overnight stay.

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: in Tongren

8. Day 8: Departure from Tongren

   This is morning is free for you until the pick-up time for departure. Our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and send you to Tongren airport / train station to see you off. Your 8-day Chengdu and Guizhou tour comes to a perfect end. Safe travels!

   Meal: Breakfast + Lunch

   Accommodation: N/A