Tianfu Sacred Realm | 6-Day Highlights Adventure of Chengdu + Daocheng Yading (See Pandas + In-Depth Trekking)

Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of giant pandas. Our driver will meet you at the exit of the airport/railway station and escort you to your hotel for rest. You can arrange the remaining time freely. If you are tired, you can rest at the hotel to relieve travel fatigue. If it is still early, you can stroll around the neighborhood, or consult your guide for travel suggestions based on 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 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. Transportation is very convenient. 2. By train: Chengdu has 4 railway stations. 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. Evening activity recommendations (optional) 1. Sichuan Opera Performance: Some teahouses or dedicated performance venues in Chengdu offer wonderful Sichuan opera performances, including face-changing, fire-spitting, shadow puppetry, puppet shows, dance, singing, and acrobatics. Performances are usually from 20:00 to 21:30. You can enjoy tea while watching and experience the rich Chengdu cultural atmosphere. 2. Jinjiang Night Cruise: A night cruise on the Jinjiang River is a highlight of evening activities. Cruise times are usually from 18:00 to 23:30, lasting about 30 minutes. You can enjoy the night view of downtown Chengdu and feel the beauty of the brilliant lights on both sides of the Jinjiang River complementing the antique buildings.

After breakfast, you will drive about 17 km to visit 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. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, abbreviated as Chengdu Panda Base, keeps more than 100 giant pandas and is the base with the largest number of captive giant pandas in the world. Here, you can see giant pandas of different ages playing, eating, climbing hills, climbing trees, sleeping, and other cute and interesting scenes in the park, and you can also follow the 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 Hua Hua lives here, known for her cute appearance and unique personality, and is called a "top female celebrity." In addition, besides 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: 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, go to visit Wenshu Monastery, a famous Buddhist temple in Chengdu. It is a Buddhist temple with more than 1,400 years of history 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), 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 blessings 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 praying for blessings), and 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; 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—healthy and amazing. In the afternoon, go 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 intangible cultural heritage ear cleaning and enjoy the tingling "little comfort" that shoots straight to your head, or watch exciting local mahjong games and stroll through the famous matchmaking corner. As the sun sets, it is a good 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 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 atmosphere unique to Chengdu's old streets. After the tour, return to your Chengdu hotel to rest.

This morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in Chengdu and escort you to the airport to take a flight to Daocheng Yading (about 1 hour and 20 minutes). After arrival, our local driver will meet you at the exit of Daocheng Yading Airport (DCY, altitude about 4,411 meters) and escort you to Shangri-La Town. On the way, you will pass through Sangdui Town. If it happens to be golden autumn, you can enjoy the charming scenery of the stunning "Sangdui Red Grassland," where the wetland grasses are as red as flames, complementing the surrounding golden poplars, blue streams, and distant snow peaks, like a brilliant colorful plateau oil painting with a strong visual impact. As you approach the holy "White Stupa," Daocheng is right before your eyes. Daocheng White Stupa, also known as "Dorzhi Drakar Stupa Forest," is the largest white stupa in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a landmark landscape for entering Daocheng, and one of the iconic cultural landmarks of the Tibetan region. Its main stupa is 37 meters high, round on top and square below, entirely white, with a pure gilded top. The stupa body is decorated with hundreds of animal reliefs and 512 brass prayer wheels, surrounded by 119 small stupas, forming a spectacular stupa forest. You can take a panoramic photo directly in front of the white stupa, and it is especially sacred under the sunset in the evening. After the tour, head to Shangri-La Town. You can arrange the remaining time freely, or go to the hotel to rest well and prepare for the upcoming Daocheng Yading hiking trip!

This morning, you will drive about 1 to 1.5 hours (about 41.5 kilometers) from Shangri-La Town to Daocheng Yading Scenic Area. 【Daocheng Yading】is a highly representative plateau natural and cultural landscape in southwestern China, famous for its ultimate fusion of "three sacred snow mountains, plateau lake wonders, and Tibetan culture." It has the reputation of "the last pure land on the blue planet" and "the soul of Shangri-La in China," and is an enchanting paradise. Today's Daocheng Yading itinerary: Visitor Center → Scenic Area Sightseeing Bus (about 1 hour, stopping at Yading Village along the way) → Zhaguanbeng (the terminal of the sightseeing bus and the starting point for hiking to Chonggu Monastery and Pearl Lake, with a distant view of Mount Xianuoduoji) → hike 0.5 km → Chonggu Monastery (located at the source of the stream at the foot of Mount Xiannairi, known as the "Gate to Shangri-La Fairyland," and because it faces Mount Xiannairi and overlooks Chonggu Meadow and Yading Valley, it is also called the "Gate to Heaven." Here you can see Tibetan Buddhist Gelug school temple architecture and enjoy the magnificent view of Mount Xiannairi) → hike 1.5 km → Pearl Lake (also known as "Zhuoma Latso," located at the foot of Mount Xiannairi, the lowest-altitude holy lake in Yading Scenic Area and the best spot to view snow mountain reflections, offering a close-up view of Mount Xiannairi) → return along the same route to Yading Village. The hiking route from Zhaguanbeng to Pearl Lake is about 3 kilometers round trip, taking about 2-3 hours, entirely on metal boardwalks or stone paths with gentle slopes, suitable for most visitors. Note: The section from Chonggu Monastery to Pearl Lake rises from 3,900 meters to 4,100 meters, so be mindful of altitude sickness. After the tour, return to Yading Village for overnight stay. On clear days, you can enjoy the brilliant "plateau starry sky" in the evening. Daocheng Yading practical tips 1. Today we will transfer to the scenic area sightseeing bus to enter Yading Scenic Area. Our vehicle and driver cannot enter the scenic area with the team members. Tonight we will stay overnight in Yading Village. The local weather is unpredictable, so it is recommended that team members leave their suitcases in the vehicle and bring a small backpack (containing necessary toiletries, warm clothing, valuables, rain gear, etc.) into Daocheng Yading Scenic Area. 2. Accommodation in Yading Village is relatively simple, with basic facilities, converted from local homes. Please be mentally prepared, but you can better experience the simple local customs. Note: Seasonal water and power outages are unavoidable, so please prepare a flashlight and portable toiletries in advance. 3. There are limited dedicated restaurants in Daocheng Yading Scenic Area. Team members can dine at their accommodation or at the Luorong Pasture restaurant in the scenic area. However, since all supplies must be transported from outside the scenic area, it is recommended to prepare adequately in advance. During National Day and autumn, traffic congestion or long waiting times may occur in Daocheng Yading Scenic Area, and arrival at dining spots may be delayed. It is recommended to bring some snacks and chocolate to replenish energy. 4. On the hike to Pearl Lake, you will encounter many small animals. Please do not tease or provoke them to avoid accidental injury.

After breakfast, you will go from Yading Village to the visitor center, then take a sightseeing bus to Zhaguanbeng, about 1–1.5 hours. After that, set off from Zhaguanbeng and hike for 2–2.5 hours, passing Chonggu Temple (elevation about 3,900 m) and arriving at Luorong Pasture (elevation about 4,180 m). If you want to save energy, you can also choose to walk 20 minutes to Chonggu Temple, then take a 30-minute shuttle bus to Luorong Pasture. Luorong Pasture is a traditional Tibetan pasture. You can stroll leisurely through it and enjoy natural beauty such as herds of cattle and sheep, blooming wildflowers, alpine forests, and clear streams, enjoying a peaceful and healing moment away from the noise of the city. The three sacred snow mountains—Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong, and Xianuoduoji—surround the pasture in a triangular arrangement. Among them, Xianuoduoji Peak is sharp like a warrior, Yangmaiyong is like a pure and noble fairy, and Xiannairi resembles a seated Buddha. The scenery is very spectacular, and from the pasture boardwalk or viewing platform you can view all three mountains at once. Because Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake are at higher elevations, you can decide according to your own condition whether to continue the next 5-km hiking trip, which takes about 3–3.5 hours to reach the fairy-tale-like Milk Lake (elevation about 4,600 m; if you are interested, you can also pay to ride a horse to Milk Lake). Milk Lake is a sapphire-blue lake formed by glacial meltwater, set among snow mountains like a jewel, surrounded by milky-white travertine shoals like silk, like blue tears dropped from the sacred mountains into the human world, and is known as the "Sea of Heaven." On sunny days the lake surface shows a gradient of blue-green, while on cloudy days it appears even deeper. After that, continue walking for about 30 minutes to Five-Color Lake (elevation about 4,500 m), only 300 meters away. Due to minerals and light refraction, Five-Color Lake displays colors such as sapphire blue, dark green, and golden yellow on its surface, and is called "nature's palette." It overlaps with reflections of sacred mountains such as Yangmaiyong and Xiannairi, holy and mysterious. After touring the Daocheng Yading scenic area, take the sightseeing bus out of the scenic area and go to Daocheng County for the night (about 117 km in total, about 2–2.5 hours by car). Daocheng Yading travel tips 1. There are five sightseeing bus stops from Chonggu Temple to Luorong Pasture: the starting point (Chonggu Temple Station), the first stop (Qianfoshan Station), the second stop (Shenghui Lake Station), the third stop (Yangmaiyong Station), and the terminal (Luorong Pasture Station). The round-trip fare is 70 yuan/person, and the one-way fare is 40 yuan/person. The fare between each stop is 10 yuan/person (hiking is optional; guests may choose at their own expense; if fares change, the official announcement shall prevail). 2. Disclaimer: Five-Color Lake and Milk Lake are not included in the travel agency's regular itinerary. If you wish to visit these two attractions, the expenses and safety are your own responsibility, and you bear the risks yourself. 3. There are two ways from Luorong Pasture to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake: one is hiking along the horse trail, about 5–6 hours round trip, about 10 km; the other is riding a horse, about 3 hours uphill (horse riding is at your own expense, 300 yuan per person one way; the horse caravan goes 3.5 km from Luorong Pasture to the destination). Please pay attention to safety when riding, and ensure the horse is led by a groom. From the end of the horse caravan route to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake there is a 1.8-km hiking section; the path is rather rugged and requires relatively high physical fitness. In addition, the area is at high altitude, with low temperatures and strong mountain winds, so please bring sufficient warm clothing. 4. Regarding visitor flow control at the Daocheng Yading scenic area: to avoid overcrowding, the maximum capacity of the Daocheng Yading scenic area is 15,000 people. We will reserve Daocheng Yading tickets for you in advance. If, during peak season, too many reservations prevent you from visiting Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake, we will adjust the itinerary according to the actual situation.

After breakfast, our driver will take you to the airport. At this point, this wonderful and unforgettable 6-day Chengdu and Daocheng Yading tour comes 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.