3-Day Chengdu Food Tour with Cooking Class Experience
Tour Overview
Are you ready for a sensory feast that will awaken your taste buds? Start a 3-day culinary exploration of Chengdu, following your guide to sample authentic Sichuan specialities such as ‘Qiaojiao Beef’ and ‘Bobo Chicken’; and experience the slow pace of life in People’s Park. Visit the Leshan Giant Buddha and meet the giant pandas.
The highlight of the journey is to become a chef at the Sichuan Cuisine Museum, where you’ll prepare classic Sichuan dishes with your own hands.
This is not merely a trip, but a cultural experience that allows you to discover the city through its flavors; China Xian Tour can tailor a bespoke itinerary just for you.
Travel destinations: Chengdu, Leshan
Suitable for: Food Lovers, Culture Explorers
Tour type: Private
Tour at a Glance
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Day
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Destination
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What to See & Do
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1
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Chengdu
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Free time to explore local food streets and the Tower of Vitality light show
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2
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Leshan & Chengdu
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View the Leshan Giant Buddha up close, stroll through the Kuanzhai Alleyways, and seek out authentic local snacks
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3
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Chengdu
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See cute pandas at the Panda Base, experience gaiwan tea and ear cleaning at People’s Park, try cooking Sichuan dishes
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Highlights of this tour:
Get Breathless in the World’s Tallest Stone Buddha: admire the 71-metre-high Leshan Giant Buddha. See the 1,051 curls on its head and uncover the secret behind the Buddha’s spiral hair buns.
Get up Close to Adorable Pandas: Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see numerous giant pandas and their cubs in their natural habitat. Watch pandas eat bamboo and playfully wrestle with each other, whilst your guide can help you capture wonderful photos.
Immerse Yourself in Authentic Teahouse Culture: Stroll through People’s Park and visit Chengdu’s oldest open-air ‘gaiwan’ teahouse. Relax in a bamboo chair, savour traditional teas and enjoy local traditions such as ear-scraping and the ‘long-spouted teapot’ performance.
Learn to Cook Sichuan Dishes: Learn how to prepare classic Sichuan dishes. Try your hand at chopping vegetables, preparing ingredients, mastering heat control and applying various cooking techniques, and savour the delicious dishes you’ve made yourself.
Day-by-day Itinerary
- Day 1: Chengdu Arrival
Please arrive in Chengdu by plane or high-speed train at any time. Your local guide will meet you punctually at the airport or station and take you to your hotel.
Suggestions for Free Time:
You may explore authentic Chengdu snacks on Jianshe Road/Fuqin Night Market/Kuixinglou Street by yourself, and after dinner, go to SKP to see the cyber-inspired night light show of the Tower of Vitality. It is recommended to go to the night market after 6 pm, and the Tower of Vitality will light up at 19:30
The illuminated Tower of Vitality in the evening - Day 2: Chengdu to Leshan by Private VehicleCaptivated by Leshan Buddha and Chengduās laid-back pace
Meet your tour guide in the hotel lobby and then you will be transferred to the Leshan Giant BuddhaĀ for around 2 hours. This is the tallest stone Buddha in the world. It took three generations of craftsmen 90 years to complete this 71-meter-high (233 feet) statue.
See the Leshan Giant Buddha from its feet On the right side of the Buddha, there is a nine-bend plank road. Follow your guide and walk upĀ the mountain to see the amazing 1,051 buns of curly hair on the head of the Buddha up close.
Afterwards, enjoy authentic Leshan food for a delicious lunch. āQiaojiao Beefā features a fresh and sweet broth, with beef, tripe and blood curd blanched to order, to be dipped in dried chilli powder or chilli oil.āBobo Chickenā consists of cold vegetable or meat skewers soaked in a clay bowl of spicy red oil or refreshing Sichuan pepper, which stimulates the appetite and cuts the greasiness.
Leshanās famous āQiaojiaoā beef dish After lunch, drive back to Chengdu city centre to visit the Kuanzhai Alleys. These three ancient alleys, dating back to the Qing Dynasty, blend the architectural styles of western Sichuan dwellings with those of northern Chinese hutongs, where you can experience the āleisurely lifestyleā and āslow paceā of old Chengdu.
For dinner, discover some of theĀ best street snacks, including Dandan Noodles (with peppery sauce), Zhong Dumplings and others. Lastly, we will escort you back to your hotel.
Warm Tip:Ā There are many steps within the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, so we recommend that you wear comfortable, non-slip shoes. Besides, the use of drones is strictly prohibited within the scenic area.
Chengdu Kuanzhai Alley night view Optional Activities:
If youāre short on energy or simply donāt want to tire yourself out, you can opt for a boat trip along the river to take in the magnificent panoramic view of the Buddha statues.
The Face-changing show is a masterful traditional art form from Sichuan. With the sound of gongs and drums, performers instantly switch between different facial masks, often accompanied by fire-breathing and the serving of tea in covered bowls. Highly recommended!
- Day 3: Chengdu DepartureSee cute pandas, experience teahouse culture, and taste Sichuan cuisine
Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research BaseĀ was established based on raising, treating, and breeding giant pandas at Chengdu Zoo. It is definitely a highlight for most visitors to Chengdu.
Panda baby on the tree in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding There are adorable pandas everywhere. Watch them eating bamboo, playing with each other, and sleeping. Your guide will lead you through the large area, tell you interesting facts about the pandas, and help you capture great photos.
Spend the afternoon strolling through Peopleās ParkĀ and visit Chengduās oldest open-air āgaiwanā teahouseĀ to enjoy relaxing activities such as sitting on bamboo chairs, sipping gaiwan tea and having your ears cleaned.
During your visit, watch a performance featuring the long-spouted teapot. The āmatchmaking cornerā near the teahouse is filled with marriage advertisements, offering an interesting insight into the local marriage culture.
Our customers are looking at the 'profiles' in the matchmaking corner Afterwards, visitĀ Sichuan Cuisine Museum, which includes an Exhibition Hall, Raw Material Hall, Interactive Hall, and the Kitchen God Temple. It's a good platform to learn about the history of Sichuan food culture.
Food Cooking Class:
A chef will teach you how to makeĀ three classic Sichuan dishes. Try cutting ingredients, controlling heat, and using different cooking methods. Get some insider tips on how to make your food look beautiful.Ā At the end, the chef will show you the right way to enjoy real Sichuan flavours, and then you can eat the delicious food you made yourself.
After that, your driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight home or to other destinations.
Experience cooking under the chef Note: It is recommended that you book a flight after 7 PM from Shuangliu Airport / a flight after 8 PM from Tianfu Airport.Ā Our drop-off service isĀ only availableĀ at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. If you ask us to take you to Tianfu Airport, there will be an additional fee.
Tour Price Per Person
The price varies depending on the activity, number of people, travel date, and selected hotel. Please contact us for a specific price.
Accommodation For This Chengdu Food Tour
For your China private tour, the choice is in your hands: you can selectĀ luxury 5-star hotelsĀ for unparalleled comfort,Ā cozy 4-starĀ accommodations, orĀ value-for-money 3-starĀ options.
All our partner hotels are handpicked forĀ their prime locations, conveniently situated near bustling commercial areas. Every room is equipped withĀ standard amenitiesĀ like air conditioning, hot water, 24-hour showers, reliable Wi-Fi, and windows for natural light.
InĀ some hotels, there are English-speaking staffĀ who are committed to providing attentive service. Should you have any special requests, feel free to ask - they are always ready to assist.
