Classic Trekking | 5-Day Leisure Trekking Tour of Chengdu + Panda Base + Wenshu Monastery + Jinli + Mount Siguniang

Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of the giant panda. Our driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to the hotel for check-in and rest. You can arrange the remaining time freely. If you are tired, you can rest at the hotel to relieve the fatigue of the journey. If it is still early, you can also stroll around the neighborhood, or consult the guide for travel suggestions based on your own 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 domestic direct flights, such as Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Lhasa, Chongqing, Wuhan, Guiyang, Xiamen, etc., as well as international direct flights, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Japan, etc., making transportation very convenient. 2. By train: Chengdu has 4 railway stations in total. You can take high-speed trains 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), Guiyang (3.5~4.5 hours), etc.

After breakfast, you will drive about 17 kilometers to 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], or Chengdu Panda Base for short, is home to 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 and 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. In addition, the famous Chinese panda star Hua Hua lives here, known for her cute appearance and unique personality, and is called the "top female celebrity." Besides 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 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.) Then, head to visit the famous Buddhist temple in Chengdu, Wenshu Monastery, a Buddhist temple with a history of more than 1,400 years and an excellent 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), the 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 tranquil mood of Buddhism. In addition, the gray tiles and red walls of Wenshu Monastery are a popular spot for photos, where you can find a good angle and capture beautiful moments. If you are interested, the delicious vegetarian food offered at Wenshu Monastery is worth trying, both healthy and surprisingly impressive. In the afternoon, head to People's Park, praised as one of the "most beautiful parks in Chengdu," to experience Chengdu's leisurely culture up close and the slow life of local people. Here, you can sit in a century-old teahouse, order a cup of fragrant covered-bowl tea, and chat leisurely with a few friends on bamboo chairs; you can also 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 the exciting local mahjong games and stroll through the famous matchmaking corner. 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 the antique Ming- and Qing-style architecture and the beautiful scene of red lanterns hanging high, appreciate the profound Three Kingdoms culture and unique western Sichuan customs, 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 everyday atmosphere unique to Chengdu's old streets.

In the morning, you will drive about 5 hours (about 214 kilometers) to visit Mount Siguniang, hailed as the "Oriental Alps." Mount Siguniang is famous for its magnificent snow mountains and canyon landscapes, and is known as the "Queen of Sichuan Mountains." It has four main peaks: Mount Daguniang (elevation about 5,355 meters), Mount Erguniang (elevation about 5,454 meters), Mount Sanguniang (elevation about 5,664 meters), and Yaomei Peak (elevation about 6,250 meters, the second highest peak in Sichuan). These four peaks stand side by side like maidens, hence the name "Mount Siguniang." To better experience the stunning natural scenery and profound Tibetan culture of Mount Siguniang, the three major valleys of Changping Valley, Shuangqiao Valley, and Haizi Valley are not to be missed. In addition, Mount Siguniang was inscribed as a World Natural Heritage site in 2006 as a core area of the "Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries," linked with the Wolong Nature Reserve. Driving from the flat Chengdu Plain over the Balang Mountain Pass at about 4,523 meters, the sea of clouds and snow mountains complement each other along the way, breathtakingly beautiful, adding unparalleled beauty to the journey. After arriving at Mount Siguniang Town at about 3,160 meters, check in at the hotel and rest. In the afternoon, you will visit Shuangqiao Valley (elevation about 2,900 to 3,840 meters), about 7 kilometers from Mount Siguniang Town. Shuangqiao Valley is the most well-developed and most concentrated scenic valley in the Mount Siguniang area, with a total length of about 40 kilometers. It mainly features natural landscapes such as snow mountain groups, alpine lakes, and primeval forests, and is hailed as the "visual calling card of Mount Siguniang." The entire tour can be done by sightseeing bus, making it very relaxing. It is also called "China's Little Switzerland" because the scenery of redwood forests, meadows, and snow mountains resembles Switzerland, making it a paradise for photography enthusiasts. You can take the scenic area sightseeing bus directly to the Redwood Forest (elevation 3,840 meters), where the conifers turn golden in autumn and are covered in snow in winter, surrounded on three sides by pyramid-shaped snow peaks, forming a magnificent snow mountain forest landscape. On the way back, the sightseeing bus will take you past Potala Peak, named for its resemblance to the Potala Palace. At its foot are sacred prayer flag white pagodas and charming flower meadows, very suitable for photographing Tibetan culture, snow mountain reflections, and road shots, with the road and the shallows beside it being the best shooting spots. Along the way, you can get off at the sightseeing bus stops and hike to visit Nianyu Dam (a gentle drifting section in summer, turning into a blue ice riverbed after freezing in winter, with charming meadows along the riverbank), Siguniang Lake (the lake reflects the snow mountains, with uniquely shaped dead trees, great for capturing magical light and shadow), and Bonsai Shoal (composed of small lake groups and travertine shoals), among other stunning natural scenery, immersing yourself in a natural painting woven from snow mountains, forests, meadows, streams, and waterfalls. After the tour, return to Mount Siguniang Town to rest.

After breakfast, head to Changping Valley (altitude about 3300~3700 meters), one of China's top 10 classic hiking routes. It is one of the "three valleys" of the Siguniang Mountain scenic area, with a total length of about 29 kilometers. It has dedicated sightseeing buses, hiking trails, boardwalks, and horseback riding routes, offering you an excellent sightseeing experience and allowing you to fully enjoy the essence of Siguniang Mountain's pristine ecology and ethnic customs. Recommended hiking route for today: take the sightseeing bus at the entrance of Changping Valley → Lama Temple (starting point of the hike, ruins of a Tibetan-style temple, a classic photo spot with snow mountains in the same frame) → Tangbai Ancient Road (primitive forest boardwalk section, famous for its ancient cypress groves, a relic of the Tea Horse Ancient Road) → Withered Tree Beach (calcified withered tree clusters and stream scenery, especially unique in winter snow scenes, connecting attractions such as Chongchongjiao Waterfall and Sea Buckthorn Forest) → Lower Ganhaizi (now a mountaineering base camp and cattle and sheep pasture, where you can enjoy snow mountain reflections and plateau wetland scenery) → Upper Ganhaizi (remains of plateau meadow lakes, along the way you can closely view the granite cone-shaped massif of Pomiu Peak) → Red Stone Beach (unique crimson granite clusters, where you can photograph scenes of "red stones reflecting snow" and "clear water rushing over stones") → Muluozi (an excellent snow mountain viewing platform, facing Yaomei Peak directly and surrounded by Pomiu Peak and Camel Peak). The round trip takes about 6~8 hours. Finally, take the sightseeing bus out of the valley.

After breakfast, you will depart from Siguniangshan Town and arrive in Chengdu after 4 to 5 hours. On the way, you will make a brief stop at Maobiliang Viewing Platform, where you can take photos of the breathtaking panorama of Siguniang Mountain. If the weather permits, you can clearly see the four majestic peaks in the distance. After that, our driver will take you to the airport/train station, and this wonderful and unforgettable 5-day Chengdu Siguniang Mountain tour will come to an end. 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.