Trip Summary
Slow down in China's most livable big city. Morning with the pandas at their most active, a day at the 2,300-year-old Dujiangyan waterworks and Taoist Mt Qingcheng, an optional day to the Leshan Giant Buddha — and every evening in teahouses and hotpot houses.
Trip Highlights
- Panda base at 07:30 opening — feeding time for the cubs
- Dujiangyan: walk the ancient river-weirs that still irrigate the plain
- Taoist quiet of Mt Qingcheng's forest stairways
- People's Park teahouse + ear-cleaning masters; hotpot with numbing peppercorn
Day by Day
Day 1 — Arrive Chengdu
Old-town Jinli Street lanterns at dusk; mapo tofu dinner.
Flight in · Chengduinternational flights, destination pre-filledBook → Stay · Kuanzhai Alleyold lanes by People's Park — teahouses and hotpot at the doorBook → Car rental · Chengdupick up at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport on arrivalBook → 
Day 2 — Panda base + city
Metro+bus to the Chengdu Research Base by 07:30, back for People's Park teahouse and Kuanzhai Alleys.
Stay · Kuanzhai Alleyold lanes by People's Park — teahouses and hotpot at the doorBook → 
Day 3 — Qingcheng & Dujiangyan
Full-day loop: the weirs and Anlan suspension bridge at Dujiangyan, then the front mountain of Qingcheng.
Stay · Kuanzhai Alleyold lanes by People's Park — teahouses and hotpot at the doorBook → Tickets · Mount Qingcheng & Dujiangyanskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 4 — Leshan Buddha (optional)
HSR 1 h to Leshan; view the 71-m seated Buddha from the river, or climb the stair-cut cliff.
Stay · Kuanzhai Alleyold lanes by People's Park — teahouses and hotpot at the doorBook → Tickets · Leshan Giant Buddhaskip-the-line entryBook → Tickets · Mount Emeiskip-the-line entryBook → Day 5 — Out
Wenshu Monastery teahouse morning, then Tianfu airport (directs to Europe/SEA).
Flight out · Chengdudeparture flights from Chengdu, destination openBook → 
Travel in China