Sichuan-Guizhou Sacred Realm | 8-Day Excellent Tour of Chengdu + Panda Base + Leshan Giant Buddha + Mount Emei + Guizhou Fanjing Mountain + Miao Villages

Welcome to Chengdu, hometown of the giant panda. Our driver will meet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to the hotel for rest. You can arrange the remaining time freely, and consult your guide for travel suggestions according to your time and interests. Suggested ways to arrive 1. By plane: Chengdu has two airports - Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), with many direct domestic routes, such as Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Lhasa, Chongqing, Wuhan, Guiyang, and Xiamen, as well as direct international routes, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and Japan. Transportation is very convenient. 2. By train: Chengdu has 4 railway stations. You can take high-speed rail to Chengdu from cities such as Beijing (7-11 hours), Xi'an (3-4 hours), Chongqing (1.5-2 hours), Shanghai (12.5-14.5 hours), Kunming (6-6.5 hours), and Guiyang (3.5-4.5 hours).

After breakfast, you will take a 17-kilometer drive to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the northern suburbs of Chengdu to see China's adorable national treasure, the giant panda, and learn about their habits and conservation. 【Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding】, abbreviated as Chengdu Panda Base, houses over 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 about panda stories. 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, known for her cute appearance and unique personality, and is called a "top-tier female celebrity." In addition to giant pandas, at the Chengdu Panda Base you can also see red pandas (rarer than giant pandas), Baer's pochards, golden pheasants, collared scops owls, and other rare animals. Note: Giant pandas prefer cooler weather and are more active in the morning, so it is recommended to arrive early to see more natural panda behaviors. Afterward, head to People's Park, hailed as one of "Chengdu's most beautiful parks," to experience the leisurely Chengdu culture up close and the slow life of the locals. Here, you can sit in a century-old teahouse, order a cup of fragrant gaiwan tea, and chat leisurely with friends on bamboo chairs. You can also experience the intangible cultural heritage of ear cleaning, enjoying the "little comfort" that sends a tingling sensation straight to your head, or watch locals playing mahjong, and stroll through the famous matchmaking corner. If you are lucky, you may even encounter locals doing square dancing, practicing tai chi, or playing traditional Chinese instruments. Afterward, you can leisurely stroll through Kuanzhai Alley, hailed as one of the "Ten Most Beautiful Streets in Sichuan," to experience Chengdu's leisurely life, enjoy a wonderful Sichuan opera face-changing performance, take great photos, admire exquisite characteristic architecture, and taste authentic old Chengdu cuisine. (Optional activity: Try local spicy dishes such as skewers and dan dan noodles, or even try one of Chengdu's most iconic specialty foods - spicy rabbit head!)

After breakfast, you will take a car ride of about 2 hours to visit the famous World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, Leshan Giant Buddha. The Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest and tallest stone-carved Buddha in the world, a great miracle in world cultural history, and a well-known Buddhist holy site in China. The Buddha is carved into the cliff at the confluence of the Minjiang, Qingyi, and Dadu rivers. Its superb carving technique makes it an artistic treasure of Tang Dynasty cliff carvings in China, and its exquisite design has allowed it to stand for a thousand years without falling, giving rise to the saying, "The mountain is a Buddha, and the Buddha is a mountain." Carved into the riverside cliff, the Leshan Giant Buddha is about 71 meters high, with shoulders about 28 meters wide, head about 14.7 meters high, ears about 7 meters long, nose and eyebrows about 5.6 meters long, mouth and eyes about 3.3 meters long, and feet about 8.5 meters wide. More than a hundred people could sit around the top of its foot. Looking at it, it is extremely majestic and solemn. You can tour on foot, view the Buddha up close, feel its grandeur, and also visit ancient Buddhist temples such as Lingyun Temple and Jiading Temple to gain a deeper understanding of Leshan's history and Buddhist culture. You may also go to the Giant Buddha viewing platform to photograph the full view of the Leshan Giant Buddha and the charming surrounding natural scenery. Optional activity at your own expense: The plank road at the Leshan Giant Buddha is narrow, steep, and rather winding. If you are not in good physical condition or want a more relaxed visit, you can take a cruise to enjoy the full view of the Buddha, taking in the majestic figure of the statue. Then, take a car ride of about 45 kilometers to visit Baoguo Temple, the largest Buddhist temple at Emei Mountain. Located at the foot of Emei Mountain, Baoguo Temple is not only an important symbol of Emei Mountain's Buddhist culture but also an excellent starting point for touring Emei Mountain. Here you can not only pay respects to the solemn halls and Buddha statues, but also burn incense and pray. Especially on sunny days, standing by the temple's red walls and under ancient trees, you can take very Zen-looking beautiful photos. After the tour, head to the hotel to check in and rest.

After breakfast, you will head to Mount Emei, one of China's four great Buddhist mountains. [Mount Emei] is a famous World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site and one of China's popular tourist destinations. It is known for its features of "majesty, elegance, wonder, steepness, and seclusion," and has reputations such as "mountain of immortals and Buddhist land," "kingdom of plants," "paradise of animals," and "geological museum." The combination of sightseeing bus + hiking + cable car allows you to more easily enjoy Mount Emei's magnificent natural scenery and appreciate its profound Buddhist culture. Recommended route for today: Visitor Center → take the sightseeing bus to Leidongping (about 1.5~2 hours) → walk to Jieyin Hall (about 30 minutes) → take the cable car to Golden Summit (about 5 minutes) → tour Golden Summit → return by the same route (this route not only helps you save energy but also lets you fully enjoy the essence of Mount Emei) Tips for visiting Mount Emei 1. There may be monkeys on the section from Leidongping to Jieyin Hall. It is recommended not to carry plastic bags or food to avoid having them snatched by monkeys. 2. The Golden Summit is the highest point of Mount Emei, at an altitude of about 3,077 meters. You can enjoy the four wonders of sunrise, sea of clouds, Buddha's light, and holy lamp. If you are lucky, you can also capture the spectacular wonder of surging clouds, which is very magnificent, best after rain clears or after snow clears; early morning is the best time to view the sunrise and Buddha's light, and the scenery is mysterious and breathtaking. After the tour, our driver will escort you back to your hotel in Chengdu for check-in and rest.

After breakfast, take a car to Chengdu High-Speed Railway Station and board a high-speed train (about 5 hours) to Tongren, known as the "Gateway to Eastern Guizhou". Our driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit. Then, they will drive you (about 1 hour) directly to our carefully selected hotel in Jiangkou County at the foot of Mount Fanjing for check-in. For the remaining time, you can freely explore Jiangkou County or rest well at the hotel to prepare for the next day's Mount Fanjing trip!

After breakfast, the driver will escort you from the hotel to Fanjing Mountain. Today you have a full day to explore this "pure land" at your leisure. 【Fanjing Mountain】 is China's fifth most sacred Buddhist mountain, ranking alongside Wutai Mountain and Emei Mountain. In the Ming Dynasty, it was imperially designated as the Bodhimanda of Maitreya Bodhisattva, and it has the reputation of being "the foremost of all famous mountains under heaven," with incense burning for a thousand years. Its geological age exceeds 1 billion years, and it is home to dove trees, tree ferns, and other Jurassic living fossils, the only habitat of the Guizhou golden monkey, and unique geological wonders, making it a rare "dual miracle of geography and humanity" globally. It was inscribed on the World Natural Heritage List in 2018. Recommended touring route for Fanjing Mountain today: Fanjing Mountain sightseeing bus → cable car → Mushroom Stone → Red Cloud Golden Summit → Cheng'en Temple → cable car → sightseeing bus → return to the hotel at the foot of the mountain. The climb takes about 4-5 hours, including the sightseeing bus and cable car. First, you will take a sightseeing bus uphill for about 30 minutes, then take a cable car for about 20 minutes to continue up the mountain. From above, the distant skyline is clearly visible, and the ever-changing clouds occasionally envelop the cable car. When you encounter mist and clouds, you can glimpse the wonder of a "sea of forest and clouds." After getting off the cable car, you will hike along the winding forest boardwalk for about 40 minutes to reach the landmark wonder of Fanjing Mountain - Mushroom Stone. This is a giant rock shaped like a mushroom that has stood firm through a billion years of weathering and erosion. You can take photos with it to capture this geological marvel. Optional attraction: Walk about 10 minutes to the Old Golden Summit (elevation about 2,493 meters) to overlook the magnificent panorama of Fanjing Mountain. Next, descend along the stone steps, pass through Pudu Square, and continue for about 1.5 hours to reach the iconic attraction of Fanjing Mountain - Red Cloud Golden Summit. At an elevation of about 2,336 meters, it is named for the red clouds and auspicious aura that often surround it, and its homophone "Hongyun Jinding" means good fortune. The top of the Golden Summit is split in two by a natural fissure called "Golden Knife Gorge," connected in the middle by the Immortal Bridge, with temples built on each side, respectively enshrining Shakyamuni Buddha and Maitreya Buddha. It has the reputation of a "Buddhist realm reaching to heaven." At dawn and dusk, it is shrouded in mist and clouds, and under sunlight, wonders such as seas of clouds and Buddha's halo often appear, like a fairyland suspended in the sky. To reach the summit, you need to climb nearly vertical steps using both hands and feet, experiencing the thrill and awe of a "city in the sky." After reaching the top, first pay respects to Shakyamuni Buddha to pray for blessings in this life; then cross the stone bridge and pay respects to Maitreya Buddha to pray for blessings in the next life. Tip: At sunrise, the eastern sky glows with rosy clouds that pierce through layers of mist and clouds, allowing you to capture the magnificent scene of "ten thousand red clouds." After visiting the must-see attractions of Fanjing Mountain, descend back to Pudu Square. If you are lucky, you can photograph the reflection of the Red Cloud Golden Summit from the viewing platform. If time permits, you can visit Cheng'en Temple near Pudu Square. This is a Buddhist temple imperially built and named by Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty during the Wanli era. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was a royal site for imperial sacrifices and was revered as an "ancient Buddhist site." After the thrilling hike, you can relax here and enjoy the amazing natural scenery. After the Fanjing Mountain hiking tour, take the cable car and sightseeing bus back the same way. Our driver will escort you to your hotel in Jiangkou County for rest. Tips 1. Due to crowding, please avoid visiting Fanjing Mountain on weekends and major Chinese holidays (such as Spring Festival, National Day, and May Day). 2. The mountain path to the Golden Summit is narrow and only allows one-way traffic, so please be careful. 3. When hiking, it is recommended to bring snacks such as biscuits, bread, and chocolate to replenish your energy.

After breakfast, you will take a car ride of about 3 hours to Kaili, known as the "Pearl of Miao and Dong." First stop, visit Shiqiao Village, known as the "Hometown of Chinese Ancient Papermaking." It is named after a natural stone arch bridge spanning the Nangao River. The village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the Nangao River winds around it in an S shape, making the scenery very beautiful. Shiqiao Village also fully preserves the bark paper-making technique passed down from the Tang Dynasty to the present. Using mulberry bark as raw material and entirely handmade, it is known as a "living fossil" of papermaking. You can stroll and admire the primitive village scenery, photograph the charming Miao architecture, and have the opportunity to witness the thousand-year-old ancient papermaking process. Cultural experience: Personally experience making flower-and-plant paper by embedding natural elements such as dried flowers and leaves into the paper pulp. After it dries and takes shape in the shade, you will have a special souvenir. In the afternoon, you will visit Matang Gejia Village. Matang Gejia Village is a traditional village mainly inhabited by the Gejia people, with more than 400 residents remaining. These Gejia people claim to be descendants of Houyi, the archer hero who shot down the suns in ancient mythology. Sun-shooting totems are commonly seen in their clothing and silver ornaments, and they have a unique language and customs. The village environment is quiet and pleasant, known as the "Shangri-La of Houyi's descendants." Moreover, in Matang Gejia Village, everything from clothing to tablecloths is batik, as if you have fallen into a colorful world of batik. The women here learn batik from childhood, with common geometric patterns (spiral patterns, sun patterns) and natural patterns (tigers, birds, fish, flowers and plants). Their compositions are full and layered, very beautiful, and the village is known as the "Hometown of Batik Art." You can immersively observe local villagers doing handmade batik with beeswax (yellow wax), or stroll through the village and experience the unique ethnic culture and living customs. Cultural experience: Personally experience the steps of wax drawing, dipping and dyeing, and dewaxing to create your own unique batik work as a souvenir. After the tour, head to our carefully selected hotel in Kaili to check in and rest. Note: If you are interested in staying overnight at Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village to enjoy the stunning night views, please consult your travel advisor in advance.

In the early morning, depart from Kaili and drive to the Chinese Historical and Cultural Village - [Lang/Langde Miao Upper Village]. This is an ancient Miao village founded in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, with a history of over 600 years. The stilted houses in the village are built against the mountains, and cobblestone paths wind through them, blending harmoniously with the surrounding green mountains and waters, earning it the reputation of a "Shangri-La". Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a grand welcome ceremony. Local villagers, dressed in traditional long-skirt Miao attire, will offer wine to guests using ox-horn cups to express welcome and blessings to visitors from afar. Here you can experience the special 12-course gate-blocking wine ritual, the highest welcoming etiquette of the Miao people, with a strong sense of ceremony. Afterwards, you will walk along the stone-paved path to the Lusheng Ground (Bronze Drum Ground) in the village center to watch wonderful Lusheng song and dance performances, such as the Lusheng Dance and Golden Pheasant Dance, both intangible cultural heritage items, and feel the charm of the "Hometown of Miao Song and Dance". In addition, Langde Miao Village still preserves the ancient Miao embroidery technique. The women's handmade embroidery patterns are exquisite, stitching their love for life and reverence for nature into their clothing thread by thread. You can leisurely stroll through Langde Miao Village, admire the traditional Miao stilted house architecture, learn about the unique "Long-Skirt Miao" culture, and experience the original Miao customs and simple folkways. After the tour, you will drive back to Guiyang from Langde.