1 Day Chengdu Food Tour with Ultimate Cooking Class & Panda Visit

In the morning, you will meet your guide early at the appointed time in your hotel lobby. Since pandas prefer cool weather and are more active in the morning, we advise you to arrive early at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Chengdu Panda Base), located only about 17 kilometers away from the city center. This is the closest panda base around Chengdu for you to fulfill your panda dream.

Chengdu Panda Base is the base with the largest population of captive giant pandas in the world, accommodating over 100 pandas of different ages. You can watch pandas playing, eating, climbing, sleeping, and in autumn, even see the pink newborn giant panda cubs in the Sunshine Nursery House and the Moonlight Nursery House. Discover the charming panda stars at this base, such as Hua Hua, the most adored and celebrated panda who has captured the hearts of the nation, and Zhi Ma, the real-life inspiration behind the panda mascot of the World University Games. Besides giant pandas, the cute red pandas (rarer than giant pandas) at the Red Panda Playgrounds are also the highlight of the Chengdu Panda Base. Nowadays, the panda base has also become an urban birding spot for local birders and kids to search for Red-billed Leiothrix, Black-throated Tit, Chinese Blackbird, Spotted Dove, White-browed Laughingthrush, and more. If you're interested, you can follow your guide to discover more about pandas' secrets through the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum, which is free to enter but requires advance reservation and is closed on Mondays.

After driving for about an hour, you will arrive at the Sichuan Cuisine Museum in Pixian County. This unique museum is known as the only edible museum in China, providing you with a one-of-a-kind experience of Sichuan cuisine culture via the senses of sight, smell, taste, and touch.

Your gastronomic adventure begins with a taste of various renowned Sichuan snacks that are certain to tantalize your taste buds. And then a tour of several tourist areas, your first stop is the Classic Collection Hall, where you can trace the evolution of Sichuan cuisine culture through historical artifacts and detailed displays. Next, you'll explore the Raw Material Area, where you can experience how the bean curd pudding is made with the grinding machine and witness the traditional manufacturing methods of Pixian chili bean paste, a key ingredient in Sichuan cuisine. Afterward, attend a ceremony to worship the god of the kitchen, dedicated to the deity known as Zao Jun, representing the guardian and protector of the family's well-being. The Kitchen God Temple inside this museum is the biggest one in China.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of your visit will be the cooking class led by a professional chef. Here, you'll learn to cook three classic Sichuan dishes such as Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken and master the delicate art of balancing spicy, sweet, sour, and savory flavors - the hallmark of Sichuan cuisine. The cooking class culminates in a feast where you can enjoy the dishes you've lovingly prepared. After your meal, you'll be awarded the "Rookie Master Chef" certificate, a memento of your culinary achievements and a reminder of the skills you've acquired. After the meal, take a stroll in a traditional Sichuan-style garden and have a cup of tea to enjoy the rest of your time, just as local Sichuan people do.

After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel in downtown Chengdu.