5 Days Best Chengdu & Mount Siguniang Leisure Hiking Tour

Nihao! Welcome to Chengdu, the Hometown of Giant Pandas! Your private driver and guide will be ready for you when you arrive in Chengdu. Enjoy a trouble-free transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and explore panda city on your own.

Arrival Ideas:
Chengdu is well-connected by air and high-speed rail. There are two airports - Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and Chengdu Tianfu International Airport - operating many international and domestic airlines. Travelers can fly to Chengdu from most cities in China, such as Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Lhasa, Lanzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen, and Guiyang. In addition, travelers can take the high-speed train to Chengdu from Xi'an (3-4 hours), Chongqing (1.5-2 hours), Guiyang (3.5-4.5 hours), Kunming (6-6.5 hours), Shanghai (12.5-14.5 hours), and other cities.

Free Time Ideas:
You are welcome to ask your tour guide for useful tips on how to spend your free time based on your interests and available time.

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 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 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 closed on Mondays.

Later, pay a visit to Wenshu Monastery, a 1400-year-old temple dedicated to honoring Manjushri Bodhisattva, the Symbol of Wisdom. It is one of the four great temples of the Chan (Zen) school of Buddhism in China. Before entering the temple, take a moment to capture the beauty of the Red Wall. Once inside, stroll leisurely through the temple's beautiful Qing Dynasty-style buildings and marvel at the Heavenly Kings Hall, Three Saints Hall, Grand Buddha Hall, Dharma Hall, and Scripture Library in that order. The temple's buildings, such as the bell tower and corridor, are seamlessly integrated with the main complex, creating a peaceful and immersive atmosphere where you can explore and reflect on the teachings of Buddhism.

In this afternoon, it's time to take a leisurely stroll inside Chengdu Renmin Park (Chengdu People's Park) like a local and enjoy the city's slow lifestyle. You can watch locals square dancing, practicing Taiji, singing Chinese folk songs, playing traditional Chinese musical instruments, as well as playing Chinese chess and boating on the lake. Don’t miss the blind date corner (a marriage market) where parents of unmarried adults flock to the park to find a partner for their daughter or son. Then, order a cup of fragrant jasmine green tea (a favorite of Chengdu locals) while sitting in a time-honored tea house, such as Heming Tea House. Chat with your friends, try Chengdu Ear Cleaning by professional ear cleaner, and see locals having fun playing mahjong.

When the sun sets, the nightlife on Jinli Street becomes even more charming. Known as the "Chengdu Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival Scroll" and ranked at the top of the world's most beautiful streets by CNN Travel in 2021, Jinli Street was first built during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) and was then known as "Shu Jinli". Walking on Jinli Street, you can appreciate the brilliant Chinese Traditional buildings of Qing Dynasty style (1616-1911), buy all kinds of souvenirs (Shu embroidery, lacquer products, folk handicrafts, calligraphy, and paintings), try delicious local snacks (Dan Dan Noodles, Egg Pancake, Bon Bon Chicken, Sweet Potato Noodles with Pork Intestines, Iced Jelly, Sour and Spicy Tofu Pudding), and discover intangible heritages like Sugar Painting, Shadow Puppy Play, Sichuan Opera Show...

After the tour, be transferred to your hotel in Chengdu downtown for a good rest.

On this day, you'll enjoy a scenic five-hour drive (about 214km) to Mount Siguniang - a place known for its unparalleled beauty and often referred to as the "Oriental Alps." Mount Siguniang National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries. Composed of four peaks - Daguniang Peak, Erguniang Peak, Sanguniang Peak, and Yaomei Peak - Mount Siguniang is also known as the "Queen of Sichuan's Peaks". To experience the beauty of Mount Siguniang, most travelers opt to explore its three valleys: Changping Valley, Haizi Valley, and Shuangqiao Valley.

Leaving the flat Chengdu Plain, you'll travel through the mesmerizing sea of clouds of Balang Mountain, which boasts an altitude of 4,532 meters. Along the way, you'll be treated to a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Mount Siguniang in the distance, adding to the incredible beauty of the experience. After arrival, you'll check in at your hotel in Siguniang Town (altitude: 3200m).

In the afternoon, you'll venture to the stunning Shuangqiao Valley (altitude: 2900m-3850m), located about 7km from the town, where you can explore its beauty by sightseeing bus. With a length of 34.8km, Shuangqiao Valley is renowned as the most beautiful valley in Mount Siguniang National Park. Embark on the sightseeing bus and journey directly up to the end of the valley, where you'll encounter the magnificent Larch Forest (altitude: 3,850 meters), which is surrounded by snow-capped peaks on three sides. On the way back, the sightseeing bus will take you through Potala Peak, named for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, where you can capture vast grasslands, a white pagoda, prayer flags, and lush meadows adorned with beautiful flowers. You'll make stops along the way to hike and explore the breathtaking scenery at Fishing Bay, Bonsai Beach, Ten-mile Poplar Trees, and much more. As you travel through this valley, you'll witness varying alpine landscapes that will leave you in awe. After the tour, drive back to Siguniang Town and enjoy a good rest.

After breakfast, you'll continue your exploration of Mount Siguniang with a visit to the breathtaking Changping Valley (altitude: 3300m-3700m). This mature valley, with a total length of 23 kilometers, offers perfect sightseeing opportunities with its designated sightseeing bus route, hiking trail, plank road, and horse riding options. Moreover, it is the closest valley to capture the beauty of Mount Siguniang. You'll follow the route: Entrance - Lama Temple - Tangbagudao Trail - Kushtutan - Dragon Cave - Xiagan Haizi - Shanggan Haizi - Hongshitantan - Muluozhi.

You'll begin your journey by taking a sightseeing bus to Lama Temple (5km), the starting point of your hike. The hike is divided into two parts - the first part involves hiking on the plank road and the second part involves hiking from the end of the plank road to Muluozi. During the first part of the hike, you'll see a solemn monastery, waterfalls, deep valleys, and ancient withered trees standing in lakes. In the second part, you'll walk through wild forests and follow the walking trails along clear streams to discover landscapes you've never seen before - a sea buckthorn forest, red stones arranged by nature, peaks resembling camels and mushrooms, pure plateau lakes reflecting the giant peaks, flocks and herds leisurely wandering, snow-capped Four Girls Mountains, and magnificent glaciers. You'll return to Lama Temple after reaching Muluozi, completing an approximately 8-hour hike. Finally, you'll take a sightseeing bus to exit the valley.

Enjoy a peaceful morning and savor a delicious breakfast before departing from Mount Siguniang to return to Chengdu. As you drive approximately 7 kilometers from the town, you'll make a stop at the Maobiliang Ridge. This scenic platform offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Mount Siguniang, where, if the weather permits, you can see the majestic four peaks in the distance with crystal clarity.

After a 4-5 hours' drive, you'll arrive back in Chengdu. Upon arrival, you'll be escorted to your hotel in the downtown area or taken directly to the airport or railway station to catch your flight or train to your next destination.

Trip Extension Ideas: If you're not ready to return home yet and want to explore more of China or other destinations in Asia, we are here to help you plan an extension trip. Our team at Asia Odyssey Travel is always ready to assist you and turn your travel ideas into reality. Thank you for choosing us for your China tour, and we hope to see you again for your next adventure in China or Asia. Have a safe journey!