Top Choice for Chengdu | Chengdu + Panda Base + Wuhou Shrine + Jinli + Wenshu Monastery + Chunxi Road Classic 2-Day Tour

Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas. This morning, our guide will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you to start today's Chengdu tour. First, you will drive about 17 kilometers 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 efforts. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, or Chengdu Panda Base for short, houses over 100 giant pandas, making it the world's largest captive giant panda breeding base. Here, you can watch 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 at 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, you can also see red pandas (rarer than giant pandas), Baer's pochards, golden pheasants, collared scops owls, and other rare animals at the Chengdu Panda Base. (Note: 1. Giant pandas prefer cooler 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, praised as one of "Chengdu's most beautiful parks," to experience Chengdu's leisurely culture up close and the slow pace of local life. Here, you can order a cup of fragrant gaiwan tea in a century-old teahouse, sit on bamboo chairs with a few friends and chat leisurely, experience intangible cultural heritage ear cleaning and enjoy the tingling "little comfort" that shoots straight to the top of your head, or watch the exciting local mahjong games and stroll through the famous marriage market. If you are lucky, you may also encounter locals square dancing, practicing tai chi, or playing traditional Chinese instruments. After that, head to visit Wuhou Shrine, known as the "Holy Land of the Three Kingdoms." This is the only existing temple in China where a monarch (Liu Bei, founding emperor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period) and his ministers (Zhuge Liang, chancellor of Shu Han, Guan Yu, etc.) are jointly worshipped. It is also the most famous memorial site for Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, and the heroes of Shu Han, and the world's most influential Three Kingdoms relics museum. Recommended route for today's visit to Wuhou Shrine: Zhaolie Temple of Han (housing the gilded statue of Liu Bei) -> Liu Bei Hall (learn about Liu Bei's life, Shu Han history, and Three Kingdoms culture) -> Zhuge Liang Hall (gain a deeper understanding of Zhuge Liang's life and contributions) -> Corridor of Civil Officials and Military Generals (admire up close 24 lifelike statues of Shu Han heroes) -> Sanyi Temple (recall the story of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei's "Peach Garden Oath") -> Red Wall Alley (an iconic photo spot at Wuhou Shrine, best photographed in the morning or afternoon when the light is soft and bamboo shadows are dappled) -> Hui Mausoleum (the joint tomb of Liu Bei, Lady Gan, and Lady Wu) As the sun sets, it is a great time to visit Jinli. Jinli is known as the "First Street of Western Shu" and the "Chengdu version of Along the River During the Qingming Festival," and is one of Chengdu's most representative historical and cultural districts. It 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 the antique Ming and Qing architecture and the beautiful scene of red lanterns hanging high, appreciate the profound Three Kingdoms culture and unique western Sichuan style, watch wonderful Sichuan opera face-changing performances, capture beautiful moments during your trip, slowly browse specialty handicraft shops (Shu embroidery, bamboo weaving, paper-cutting, calligraphy and painting, etc.), taste authentic old Chengdu snacks (dan dan noodles, ice jelly, sugar-oil fruit, etc.), and immersively feel the lively atmosphere unique to Chengdu's old streets. After the tour, return to your hotel in Chengdu to rest.

After breakfast, head to visit the famous Buddhist temple in Chengdu, Wenshu Monastery, a Buddhist temple with more than 1,400 years of history and a great place to experience Chengdu's culture and history. You can stroll through it and admire in turn the Hall of Heavenly Kings (dedicated to Maitreya Bodhisattva and the Four Heavenly Kings, one of the main buildings of Wenshu Monastery), Wenshu Pavilion (with a Buddhist pagoda and Buddhist library, a great place to learn about Buddhist culture), the Mahavira Hall (touch the iron "Fu" character in the hall, symbolizing taking good fortune with you), the Sutra Library (housing Buddha relics), and the Hall of the Three Great Beings (dedicated to Guanyin, Wenshu, and Samantabhadra, a holy place for prayers), among other solemn buildings, and feel the Zen atmosphere and tranquility of Buddhism. In addition, the gray tiles and red walls of Wenshu Monastery are a popular spot for photos, so you can find a good angle and capture a beautiful moment. If you are interested, the delicious vegetarian food offered at Wenshu Monastery is worth trying, both healthy and impressive. Then, head to visit the Chengdu Museum, the largest comprehensive city museum in southwestern China. This is an excellent place to learn about Chengdu's history, culture, and art. Its collection is rich, with more than 200,000 items, covering precious cultural relics from the Neolithic period to the Republic of China era, such as bronzes, gold and silver wares, pictorial bricks, stone carvings, ceramics, calligraphy and painting, and furniture. Among them, the humorous Eastern Han drumming and singing pottery figurine, the mysterious Sanxingdui bronze mask, the exquisite lacquered figure marked with acupuncture points, and the delicate openwork gilded sachet are treasures of the Chengdu Museum and are worth careful appreciation. In addition, the intangible cultural heritage of China in the Chengdu Museum, such as shadow puppetry, puppet shows, Sichuan opera, Sichuan cuisine, and teahouse culture, is very impressive, allowing you to experience up close the charm of Chengdu's splendid historical culture and unique folk customs. After that, head to Tianfu Square, known as the "Heart of Chengdu," to admire the bustling modern urban scene. This is the largest city-center square in western China and a landmark and symbol of Chengdu. Strolling here, you can better experience Chengdu's urban life, feel its profound Shu culture, and appreciate the enchanting charm of the Land of Abundance. In addition, do not miss the statue of Chairman Mao and the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum. The 30-meter-high statue of Chairman Mao in the due north of the square is one of Chengdu's landmark sights and a venue for important festivals and events; the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum behind the statue is a must-visit for family trips and technology enthusiasts. Finally, take a leisurely stroll along Chunxi Road, the most prosperous and fashionable commercial street in downtown Chengdu. This is one of Chengdu's most representative city cards and a famous commercial pedestrian street in China, known as the "First Street of the Southwest." Among its highlights, the giant panda climbing the wall at Chengdu International Finance Square (IFS) is an iconic sight on Chunxi Road. You can take a photo with it, or overlook Chengdu's charming city scenery from the rooftop lawn and observation deck. Then, stroll through Taikoo Li Chengdu, where you can browse a wide variety of international luxury brand stores and distinctive local shops, and admire architecture that combines western Sichuan residential style with modern design. In addition, the thousand-year-old Daci Temple hidden in Taikoo Li provides a tranquil oasis amid busy urban life. Here, you can enjoy tea, pray, and feel the beauty of the collision between tradition and modernity. After the tour, this wonderful and unforgettable 2-day Chengdu 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, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.