Chengdu Day Tour: Chengdu Panda Base + People's Park + Kuanzhai Alley + Jinli
Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of the giant panda. This morning, our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you to start today's Chengdu panda and old streets tour.
First, you will drive about 17 kilometers to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, to see China's adorable national treasure, the giant panda, and learn about their habits and conservation. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, or Chengdu Panda Base for short, houses more than 100 giant pandas, making it the world's largest captive giant panda breeding base. Here, you can see giant pandas of different ages playing, eating, climbing hills, climbing trees, and sleeping in the park, and you can also follow your guide to visit the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum to learn more stories about pandas. If you visit in autumn, you may also have the chance to see adorable giant panda cubs in the Moon Nursery and Sun Nursery. Moreover, the famous Chinese panda star Huahua lives here. She is known for her cute appearance and unique personality and is called a "top female celebrity." In addition to giant pandas, you can also see red pandas (rarer than giant pandas), Baer's pochards, golden pheasants, Eurasian scops owls, and other rare animals at the Chengdu Panda Base. (Note: 1. Giant pandas prefer cool weather and are more active in the morning, so it is recommended to arrive early to see more natural panda behavior; 2. Admission to the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum is free, but advance reservation is required, and it is closed every Monday.)
After lunch, head to People's Park, hailed as one of the most beautiful parks in Chengdu, to experience Chengdu's relaxed culture up close and the slow pace of local life. Here, you can sit in a century-old teahouse, order a cup of fragrant gaiwan tea, chat leisurely with a few friends on bamboo chairs, experience the intangible cultural heritage of ear cleaning and enjoy the tingling "little comfort" that shoots straight to the top of your head, or watch lively local mahjong games and stroll through the famous matchmaking corner. If you are lucky, you may also encounter locals dancing in the square, practicing tai chi, or playing traditional Chinese instruments.
Afterward, head to Kuanzhai Alley, hailed as one of the ten most beautiful streets in Sichuan. This is the only remaining ancient street from the Qing Dynasty in Chengdu, preserving the authentic old Chengdu style and serving as a great place to experience the city's laid-back slow life. Strolling leisurely through it, you can admire exquisite ancient architecture, taste authentic old Chengdu cuisine (dan dan noodles, spicy rabbit head, chuan chuan, and more), and take excellent travel photos. (Optional activity at your own expense: You can enjoy a spectacular Sichuan opera face-changing performance in a teahouse or small theater in Kuanzhai Alley.)
As the sun sets, it is the perfect time to visit Jinli. Known as the "First Street of Western Shu" and the "Chengdu version of Along the River During the Qingming Festival," Jinli is one of Chengdu's most representative historical and cultural districts and was once rated by CNN as one of the 21 most beautiful streets in the world. Strolling through the ancient streets and alleys, you can admire antique Ming and Qing architecture and the beautiful scene of red lanterns hanging high, appreciate the profound Three Kingdoms culture and unique western Sichuan charm, watch wonderful Sichuan opera face-changing performances, capture beautiful moments during your trip, browse specialty handicraft shops (Shu embroidery, bamboo weaving, paper cutting, calligraphy and painting, and more), taste authentic old Chengdu snacks (dan dan noodles, ice jelly, sugar-oil glutinous rice balls, and more), and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere unique to Chengdu's old streets.
After the tour, this wonderful and unforgettable one-day Chengdu panda and old streets tour will come to an end. Our driver will take you to the airport/train station or back to your hotel. If you would like to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Huangshan, Harbin, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Tibet, Guilin, Xinjiang, and more, you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.
🍽️ Lunch included
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