5-Day Chengdu Chongqing and Wulong Karst Tour

Day 1 Chengdu Arrival

Airport / railway station pick up

Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of the Giant Panda. Your local guide will meet you at the airport/train station and then escort you to your hotel in a private vehicle. The rest of today is yours to relax in the panda city on your own.

Arrival Ideas: Chengdu is only about 2~3 hours flying from the majority of big cities in China, such as Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc. You can also get to Chengdu by high speed trains from Xian (4hrs), Chongqing (1hr), Guilin (6hrs), Kunming (6hrs), etc.

• Our tour guide picked up guests at Chengdu East Railway Station

Day 2 Chengdu Sightseeing (B, L)

Highlights of today: Chengdu Panda Base, People's Park, Wuhou Temple, Jinli Old Street

This morning you will make a memorable visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This facility is not only the most important panda scientific research center in the world, but also the home for more than 100 Giant Pandas. You will walk at leisure through the bamboo-framed paths and closely observe giant pandas of different ages eating bamboos, playing with each other, tumbling, and climbing trees. Be sure to not miss the chance to visit the most adorable panda babies in the nursery rooms and panda kindergartens. There is also a very informative Panda Museum where you can learn more scientific facts about Giant Pandas.

Chengdu is famous throughout China for its relaxing and leisurely pace and lifestyle, which will be demonstrated by a visit to the City’s People's Park. Sit down, order a pot of Chinese tea, have a casual chat with your friends and watch locals indulging themselves in different kinds of folk entertainment - napping, playing mahjong, disco dancing, and giving neck massages!

After that, you will move on to Wuhou Temple This unique site combines emperor Liu Bei's tomb with his prime minister Zhuge Liang's shrine and is hailed as the most influential Three Kingdoms museum. Stroll through its solemn courtyard lined with cypress trees, admire Tang-era tablet scripts, and encounter Liu Bei's and Zhuge Liang’s statues and hear their legendary story.

Next will be an impressive visit to the famous Jinli Old Street. Time will steal away as you quietly walk on the lively streets full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, and other activities.

Recommended Optional Evening Activities: 1) enjoy a delicious dinner of Sichuan cuisine (or hotpot) at a local restaurant; 2) watch a wonderful performance of Sichuan Opera which includes folk opera, face changing, fire spitting, rolling lights, and other delightful entertainment (usually performs during 20:00~21:30).

• A Lovely "Saying Hello" Panda, Shot Our Guest
• Our clients enjoying local Chinese tea in the People's Park
• Our guest Chona visited Jinli Old Street in 2018
• Red Panda in Chengdu Panda Base, Sichuan, China shot by our customer Eric from Netherlands in May, 2024
• The Statue of Zhuge Liang in Wuhou Temple

Day 3 Chengdu - Chongqing (B, L)

Today's highlights: Three Gorges Museum, People's Assembly Hall, Liziba Metro Station, Eling Park

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the railway station to catch your high speed train to Chongqing (about 1.5 hours). Upon your arrival, your local guide and driver will meet you at the railway station to start your exciting exploration of the Mountain City!

First, be escorted to the Three Gorges Museum in the city downtown. The vast collection of more than 280 thousand pieces of precious historical relics will let you have an amazing understanding of the great Yangtze River and the formation of the magnificent Three Gorges, and tell you the gradual thriving of Chongqing from 3,000 years ago, to its war defense in 20s century, and developmental path to be one of the 4 prosperous municipalities in China. Stepping out from the museum, have a nice look at the People’s Assembly Hall that is popular with fancy classical exterior design and was listed into the History of Architecture compiled in London in 1987.

Later, be transferred to take Chongqing Rail Transit Line 2 from Huanghuayuan Metro Station to Liziba Metro Station to look at the city’s prototype from a different angle. Then, get off to have the never-seen magic of the train going through an 11-storey block of flats, existing only in the fantastically structured Chongqing built against mountains. After that, travel up to E’ling Park and embrace the impressive panorama of Chongqing City, which has been highly praised as “Little Hong Kong” with its well-arranged row upon row of modern skyscrapers and two winding rivers surrounding.

After the tour, be transferred to your hotel in Chongqing downtown! Have a nice sleep!

• Beautiful Appearance of People's Assembly Hall
• Chongqing Light Rail Going Through a Building at Liziba Metro Station
• Chongqing City Panorama from E'ling Park

Day 4 Drive to Wulong & Wulong Tour (B, L)

Today's Highlights: Furong Cave

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to Wulong Karst Geopark, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since 2007, about a 2.5–3 hour drive from Chongqing City. This expansive geopark features three major attractions: Three Natural Bridges, Longshuixia Gap, and Furong Cave.

You'll first explore Furong Cave, a beautiful limestone cave known as the "underground artistic palace and a cavern scientific museum." It is the only karst cave in the world recognized as a World Heritage site. A scenic 10-minute cable car ride will provide you with breathtaking views of the emerald Wujiang River winding through the mountains. Then, you will venture into the vast cave, which has been forming for over 1.2 million years and extends 2,700 meters. Be amazed by nature's artistry as you discover more than 70 rare stalactite formations resembling waterfalls, pillars, arrows, palaces, and pagodas, illuminated or in their natural dim glow.

After your cave adventure, you'll be driven about 70 minutes to Xiannvshan Town for an overnight stay.

Optional Experience at An Additional Cost: Enjoy Impression Wulong, a grand nighttime landscape performance set in the valley, directed by Zhang Yimou - the visionary behind the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

• Colorful Furong Cave
• Wilson from Singapore visited Furong Cave in September 2023.

Day 5 Wulong Karst Geology Park & Back to Chongqing (B, L)

Today's Highlights: Three Natural Bridges, Longshuixia Gap, Hongya Cave

Today, you will explore Wulong Karst National Geological Park. Wulong Karst is well known for its giant dolines (sinkholes), natural bridges and caves, which were inscribed as a part of South China Karst UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. Besides, it is the shooting location of the globally famous movie “Transformers IV”.

After arrival at Wulong Tourist Center, hop on a sightseeing bus to the largest natural bridge cluster in Asia - Three Natural Bridges , where you can appreciate exceptionally high natural bridges with long stretches of deep unroofed caves. Take the sightseeing elevator down to the valley bottom to marvel at the magnificent Karst Mountains, miraculous caves, and beautiful waterfalls. Enjoy your hiking by passing Tianlong Bridge, Tianfu Post House (shooting location of Zhang Yimou’s movie “The City of Golden Armor”), Qinglong Bridge and Heilong Bridge.

Then, take a sightseeing bus to Longshuixia Gap, a gap-style gorge and the important part of Wulong Karst. In this natural oxygen bar, enjoy 2 kilometers of fun walking by One Line Sky, Dragon Pool Minoring the Moon, etc. and witness the cliffs on both sides, verdant original forests in the valley and mysterious waterfalls.

After the visit, your guide and driver will escort you back to Chongqing city. Then, go down to Hongya Cave to catch the symbolic view of Chongqing. The featured Ba & Shu regional wooden structures are tiered up to 11 floors on a hillside, creating a stunning sight with neon lights at night. Enjoy your leisure walk there and take some beautiful photos!

After the tour, be transferred to your hotel. Have a nice sleep! (You can decide whether to enjoy dinner and nightview at Hongya Cave or be escorted directly to your hotel. Please discuss with your tour guide.)

(Note: The Wulong Karst tour involves many steps and can be tailored based on your physical fitness, schedule, budget, etc. Please consult your travel expert to adjust the itinerary when booking, particularly for the elderly who prefer less walking.)

• Wilson from Singapore visited Wulong Three Natural Bridges in September 2023.
• Wilson from Singapore visited Wulong Longshuixia Gap in September 2023.
• Josh's Family from USA visited Wulong Three Natural Bridges in July 2024.
• Hongya Cave Night View

Day 6 Chongqing & Departure (B)

Chongqing's Highlights: Longmenhao Old Street, WFC Huixianlou Observation Deck

Good morning! After breakfast, your guide and driver will greet you at your hotel to continue your Chongqing discovery.

First, explore the mountain leaning Longmenhao Old Street of 6 layers, which preserves around 200 precious buildings for Chongqing history seeking. Wander from the upper gate down along the alleys to imagine the past decades and take contrasting photos of the present vibrant urban Chongqing.

next, go up to the open-air WFC Huixianlou Observation Deck of 339 meters high to appreciate the spectacular 360° Chongqing cityscape!

After the visit, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport or railway station for departure from Chongqing. Tour ends!

• Longmenhao Old Street
• Longmenhao Old Street