5-Day Private Tour: Chengdu, Leshan, and Mount Emei

Q: What is included in the tour price?

The price includes a private air-conditioned business car, English-speaking local guide, activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary, as well as a 24/7 helpline during your trip.

Q: How physically demanding is the tour?

The overall fitness level is easy to moderate. There is some walking involved at the panda base, People’s Park, Leshan Giant Buddha, and Mount Emei, but the itinerary is generally suitable for most travelers in normal health.

Q: Will I see the pandas when they are active?

Yes. The visit to the panda base is arranged in the morning, when pandas are usually feeding and more active.

Q: Do I see the Leshan Giant Buddha from different angles?

Yes. You will both walk at the site and take a cruise, allowing you to enjoy different perspectives of the Buddha.

Q: What can I expect at People’s Park?

At People’s Park, you can enjoy Chengdu’s relaxed lifestyle, including teahouses, mahjong games, the marriage market, and other scenes of local daily life.

Q: Is Mount Emei mainly a cultural visit or a nature visit?

It is both. Mount Emei offers important Buddhist heritage sites as well as beautiful natural scenery, including forests, waterfalls, and mountain walking paths.

Transportation
Private Air-Conditioned Vehicle, Walking, Cruise
Fitness level
Easy to Moderate
Tour type
Private Tour, Panda Tour, Cultural Tour, UNESCO Heritage Tour, Nature Tour

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

A Classic Journey Through Sichuan’s Pandas, Sacred Mountains, and Buddhist Heritage

This 5-day private tour is a classic introduction to Sichuan, combining the laid-back charm of Chengdu, the cultural grandeur of the Leshan Giant Buddha, and the spiritual beauty of Mount Emei. It is ideal for travelers who want to experience some of the region’s most famous highlights in a comfortable and well-paced itinerary, with a balance of wildlife, local culture, Buddhist heritage, and mountain scenery.

Your journey begins in Chengdu, where you will meet the city’s beloved giant pandas and experience the relaxed atmosphere of People’s Park, one of the best places to observe local life. Then continue to Leshan to admire the magnificent Giant Buddha, both from the mountain path and on a scenic cruise. The tour concludes at Mount Emei, one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, where ancient monasteries, forest trails, waterfalls, and peaceful landscapes create a memorable cultural and natural experience. With private transportation, an English-speaking guide, selected hotels, and included meals as listed in the itinerary, this tour offers a convenient and rewarding way to explore Sichuan’s best-known treasures.

Tour Highlights

Meet Chengdu’s Famous Giant Pandas

Visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center in the morning, when the pandas are most active, and enjoy one of Sichuan’s most iconic experiences.

Private guide at Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center

Experience Chengdu’s Local Lifestyle

Explore People’s Park and discover the everyday rhythm of Chengdu through its teahouses, mahjong culture, marriage market, and lively local atmosphere.

Visit the UNESCO-listed Leshan Giant Buddha

See the extraordinary Leshan Giant Buddha, the world’s largest cliff-carved stone Buddha, from both the walking route and a scenic boat cruise.

Discover the Sacred Beauty of Mount Emei

Tour Mount Emei, one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, admired for its spiritual importance, scenic landscapes, and cultural heritage.

Explore the Monastery of Ten Thousand Years

Visit the historic Monastery of Ten Thousand Years, one of the oldest and most important temples on Mount Emei.

Private guide at Monastery of Ten Thousand Years Mount Emei

Walk Through Forests and Waterfall Scenery

Enjoy a pleasant walk through subtropical forests, mountain trails, and waterfall landscapes while exploring Mount Emei.

Private guide at Mountain Trails Mount Emei

Day 01 :

Arrival in Chengdu | Airport Transfer

Upon your arrival in Chengdu, your personal driver and guide will be ready to assist you. Enjoy a seamless transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore the wonders of Chengdu.

Day 02 :

Chengdu | Panda Center and City Highlights

Begin your day at the Panda Breeding and Research Center, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) north of central Chengdu. Visiting early in the morning allows you to see the pandas during feeding time when they’re most active.

Lunch will be at a local Chinese restaurant. Head to Chengdu People’s Park to inhale the refreshing air. Experience the lively atmosphere and chatter at a local teahouse in the park.

You’ll witness unique scenes exclusive to Chengdu: parents posting messages in a marriage market seeking partners for their unmarried children, a local getting a traditional teahouse ear massage, and Chengdu residents playing mahjong everywhere.

Day 03 :

From Chengdu to Leshan | Exploring the Giant Buddha

This morning, you will be driven to Leshan City, a journey of about two hours. After a short break and lunch, embark on your exploration of the Giant Buddha.

Not only will you climb for a Lilliputian view of the Buddha, but you will also enjoy a cruise to take in the grand inscription.

Following the tour, you’ll be escorted to a hotel near Mount Emei, located about 31 kilometers (19 miles) from Leshan City.

Day 04 :

Mount Emei to Chengdu | Touring Mount Emei

Devote an entire day to visiting Mount Emei, another UNESCO World Heritage site and one of China’s four revered Buddhist mountains.

Explore the Monastery of Ten Thousand Years, the largest and oldest monastery on Mount Emei. Enjoy a leisurely walk from the monastery to the Monkey Eco-Area, taking in the natural beauty of the subtropical forest and waterfalls.

This journey typically takes 3 to 3½ hours. After the tour, your guide and driver will return you to your hotel in Chengdu.

Day 05 :

Departure from Chengdu | Airport Transfer

After breakfast, your private guide and driver will meet you in the hotel lobby. They will assist with your transfer to the station or airport and help with check-in for your next destination.

Expand all

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes a private air-conditioned business car, English-speaking local guide, activities, hotels, and meals listed in the itinerary, as well as a 24/7 helpline during your trip.

Is this tour suitable for first-time visitors to Sichuan?

Yes. This itinerary is ideal for first-time visitors, as it covers some of Sichuan’s most representative highlights: pandas, Chengdu local culture, Leshan Giant Buddha, and Mount Emei.

How physically demanding is the tour?

The overall fitness level is easy to moderate. There is some walking involved at the panda base, People’s Park, Leshan Giant Buddha, and Mount Emei, but the itinerary is generally suitable for most travelers in normal health.

Will I see the pandas when they are active?

Yes. The visit to the panda base is arranged in the morning, when pandas are usually feeding and more active.

Do I see the Leshan Giant Buddha from different angles?

Yes. You will both walk at the site and take a cruise, allowing you to enjoy different perspectives of the Buddha.

What can I expect at People’s Park?

At People’s Park, you can enjoy Chengdu’s relaxed lifestyle, including teahouses, mahjong games, the marriage market, and other scenes of local daily life.

Is Mount Emei mainly a cultural visit or a nature visit?

It is both. Mount Emei offers important Buddhist heritage sites as well as beautiful natural scenery, including forests, waterfalls, and mountain walking paths.

Can this tour be customized?

As a private tour, some adjustments may be possible depending on your interests, travel pace, and practical arrangements. Please confirm customization options in advance.

5-Day Private Tour: Chengdu, Leshan, and Mount Emei

Overview

Itinerary

Cost

FAQs

A Classic Journey Through Sichuan’s Pandas, Sacred Mountains, and Buddhist Heritage