Your tour - at a glance
Day 1 Pick you up, visit Mount Qingcheng & Dujiangyan Irrigation System
Your local guide and driver will pick you up and take you to visit the renowned Mount Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation System. Drive to Wolong Town and accommodate near the Panda Base.
Day 2 Shenshuping Panda Base visit & Panda Loving Care Program
Visit Shenshuping Panda Base to see giant pandas and enjoy the Panda Loving Care activity: clean the panda houses, take out old bamboos, prepare panda food, and have a better understanding of pandas and their protection.
Day 3 Outdoor Hiking Research at panda’s wild training area & return to Chengdu
Go to Tiantaishan panda’s wild training area to enjoy the outdoor hiking and learn to do research about pandas. Drive back to Chengdu.
Day 4 Visit Dufu Thatched Cottage, Wenshu Monastery, Jinli Old Street and Renmin Park in Chengdu
Take a relaxing and cultural tour to visit the must-go places: Dufu Thatched Cottage, Wenshu Monastery, Jinli Old Street and Renmin Park in the downtown.
Day 5 Discover Chengdu history and culture at Jinsha Site Museum
Visit Jinsha Site Museum at Chengdu downtown and know more about its history of about 3,000 years and profound culture. Tour ends.
Full Itinerary Day by Day
Day 1 Chengdu Arrival & Dujiangyan (L)
Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of Giant Panda.
Your local guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and escort you to Dujiangyan City near Chengdu, driving for about 1 hour for about 65 kilometers (about 40 miles) long.
Upon arrival at Dujiangyan, first you are going to visit the Front Mountain of Mount Qingcheng, the home of Taoism. The famous Taoism temples are all located in the Front Mountain. Hike about half hour to Yuecheng Lake which lying quietly at the middle of the mountain, then take a five minute Buyun cable car up to the mountain. Then, walk to the mountain top and visit the historical Taoism temples along the way, including Shangqing Temple, Laojun Pavilion, etc. and experience the culture of Taoism and enjoy the fresh air and stunning scenery in the mountain. After arriving at the mountain top, go back along the same way you come.
After the Taoist mountain tour, head to the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, which was an irrigation project built in 256BC. The system is still working to irrigate Chengdu plain and it’s the actual reason why Chengdu is called as the “Land of Abundance”. Visit the three main parts of Dujiangyan Irrigation System including Yuzui, Feishayan, Baopingkou, and be amazed by the wisdom of ancient Chinese.
After this tour, drive to Wolong for about 1 hour and 10 minutes covering about 50 kilometers (31 miles). Accommodate near Shenshuping Panda Base.
-
Baopingkou, the 20-meter-wide channel on the left, is said to cost 8 years to finish
Day 2 Wolong Panda Loving Care Experience (B, L)
After your breakfast, you will be transferred to Shenshuping Panda Base, which locates at a very primitive valley, the real home land for the giant pandas. Now let’s start your one full day’s Wolong Panda Loving Care program which usually includes:
Arrive at the center at Wolong Panda Base, know about and sign the safety announcement, get your passing card, put on the working clothes and gloves, and deal with relative procedures under the help of the staff there.
During the more than half an hour time, take the old bamboos out, damp the drops of pandas, know more about the living environment and conditions of pandas through careful observation, and clean their houses, etc.
Visit the breeding area for giant pandas under the company of the staff of the science education center at the base. You can watch pandas playing together, eating bamboos, climbing trees, rolling on the ground, etc. This is a great moment to take pictures of these super stars.
Shenshuping Panda Base prepares nutritious lunch for parcitipants at the dining hall. Enjoy your meal with the staff there.
Visit the panda base on your own freely to see the great living environment of pandas. Also, you can have a break and prepare energy for activities in the afternoon.
Enjoy the interesting movie about the giant pandas. Have a better understanding of the wild training and reintroduction of pandas and know about the great story of people living in harmony with pandas.
Know about what kinds of ingredients needed for panda cakes, and learn how to do the cakes for giant panda by yourself with the help of the staff.
Return the working clothes and passing card to the staff. Receive the Panda Loving Care’s certificate and other delicate souvenir to end your full day’s Panda Loving Care experience.
After the whole day’s Panda Loving Care program experiencen, enjoy the rest time on your own in or around the panda base. Tonight you will accommodate in a hotel near the panda base.
-
Participants at Shenshuping Panda Base
-
Panda Nutritionist Preparing Panda Cakes at Shenshuping Base
Trip Notes for Panda Loving Care Program
1. The above arrangements will be adjusted according to the specific situations and the Panda Loving Care program may be delayed or inaccessible by inevitable requirements, control, and Force Majeure like earthquakes, epidemic...
2. Pre-work Training:
Participants are required to participate in the pre-work training before 09:00 a.m. on that very day to better know how to do the Panda Loving Care program. Some parts of the activity would be cancelled if you arrive there late, so it is suggested get to the base before 08:30 a.m.
3. Requirements:
(a) Health Examination Form: To participate, you should apply for a week in advance with your Application Form and Health Examination Form (valid medical certificate and signature which could apply it in your country or in China). Interested people could feel free to contact our travel consultant for more information or let them register for you.
(b) Age & Number Limitations: The center can accept up to 15 participants at any one time and the age should be between 8 and 70.
(c) Avoid Using Strong Smell: For pandas have keen sense of smell, participants should avoid using perfume or other odorous articles like mosquito repellent liquid, nail polish, skin care products, makeups, etc. on the loving care workday.
(d) Healthy Bodies: To well protect giant pandas, participants are required to be healthy, and people who are suffering from illness, like a cold, fever, influenza, and other infectious diseases are not suitable to have body contact with the giant pandas.
(e) Dressing Code: During the Panda Loving Care program, you are required to wear working suites provided by the panda base, usually jumpsuits in cold days and T-shirts in warm and hot days. Shoes are up to you, but avoid avoid sandals, slippers, high-heels, etc.
(f) Force Majeure: The Panda Loving Care program is to be delayed or inaccessible if there is Force Majeure like earthquakes, epidemic... Also, your program may be influenced by the inevitable requirement and control.
4. Pre-booking & Temporary Cancellation:
Participants at Shenshuping Panda Base are required to make reservations of the programs in advance, even 1 to 2 months prior to the very program date for Participants during peak seasons (mainly from May to October). Any temporary cancellation, increase and reduction of participants of those programs are needed to tell us as early as possible (better in advance for at least 10 days excluding the national public holidays and weekends). Thank you for the generous understanding.
5. If you are allergic to any food, please tell us, your local guide, or the base staff in advance.
6. If you have got more questions and ideas, please feel free to contact our professional travel consultants.
Day 3 Wolong Panda Wild Training Area Hiking Research & Chengdu (B)
Today, you are going to do the outdoor trekking research at Tiantaishan panda’s wild training area in Wolong, which is the unique hiking activity about pandas in the world. Panda fans, let’s go!
08:40-09:00 Preparation
Arrive at Shenshuping Panda Base and get preparation for the hiking research: put on the hiking clothes, and go through the relevant procudures.
09:00-09:20 Drive to Huangcaoping
Take the vehicle from the base to Huangcaoping Parking Lot with your guide and team.
09:20-10:00 Walk to Tiantaishan Mountain
Walk from the parking lot to Tiantaishan panda’s wild training area.
10:00-10:30 Break Time
Take a break for about 30 minutes.
10:30-11:00 Safety and Research Tools Learning
Have a clear understanding of the safety precautions. Learn about the instruments and tools like wireless trackers used in the field research and how to use them under the professional guidance of the staff.
11:00-12:00 Lunch Time
have your lunch together with the staff and team members at the Tiantaishan wild training area. Get good preparation for the field research in the afternoon.
12:00-14:00 Field Research
conduct your field hiking research of the panda’s wild training area with the company and help of the staff, enjoy the natural view of the protection zone, have more knowledge of the environment and condition of pandas’ living places, come up with any questions about pandas and their habitats to know more about this animal species and how to protect them.
14:00-14:40 Back to Huangcaoping
Walk down to the foot of Tiantaishan Mountain and go back to Huangcaoping parking lot.
14:40-15:00 Drive Back to Shenshuping Panda Base
Take the vehicle and drive back to Shenshuping Panda Base, return the hiking clothes to the staff.
15:00-16:30 Sum Up & Program Ends
Make a conclusion of this one day’s field hiking research at Tiantaishan panda’s wild training area. Activity ends.
After the hiking activity, your local guide and driving will escort you to the hotel in Chengdu. Sleep well!
Optional Activity: In the evening, you can enjoy a delicious dinner of Sichuan cuisine at a local restaurant.
-
Go Uphill Tiantaishan Mountain to Do Hiking Research about Pandas
-
Wolong Panda Trekking Research: Learn More about Panda Habitat
-
Enjoy the Beautiful Scenery of Tiantaishan Panda Wild Training Area
Trip Notes for Panda Hiking Research Program
1. The above schedule and arrangements will be adjusted according to the specific situations.
2. On your hiking research day at Tiantaishan Mountain, meals are not provided by the panda base. So you need to prepare your own food, such as bread, sandwich, biscuit, drinks, etc. for lunch and take it with you.
3. During this hiking activity, you will walk in total for about 4 hours with a medium pace. Since road is narrow and not easy for walking in the natural protection zone, watch your steps.
4. Pre-booking & Temporary Cancellation:
Participants of hiking research at Shenshuping Panda Base are required to make a reservation of the program in advance, even 1 to 2 months prior to the very program date during peak seasons (mainly from May to October). Any temporary cancellation, increase and reduction of participants of the program are needed to tell us as early as possible (better in advance for at least 10 days excluding the national public holidays and weekends). Thank you for the generous understanding.
5. Requirements:
(a) Numbers & Ages: At present, the Base can accept at most 5 visitors (aged between 16 and 58) at once to experience the outdoor trekking program.
(b) Healthy Bodies: Visitors joining the trekking program are required to be in good physical condition and provide your medical examination report of the recent one year. People suffering from cold, influenza, rheumatism, elder hypertension, diabetes, and potential illnesses like cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, infectious diseases, having uncomfortable symptoms like chest distress, headache, dizzy, etc. during slight activities, and doing seldom exercise, etc. are not suitable to join in this program.
-
Go Downhill to End Field Hiking Research of Pandas
-
Have a Rest at the Office of Research Staff and Ask Questions
-
Learn How to Use Professional Tool to Do Trekking Research
Day 4 Chengdu (B, L)
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. Today, you will take a visit to Dufu Thatched Cottage which is a museum and park in honor of Dufu (712-770AD), who was the greatest realist poet and has been famed as the Sage of Poetry. Walk in this tranquil park to explore Hall of Historic Poetry, Gongbu Temple, Shaoling Thatched Cottage Tablet Pavilion, Ruins of Tang Dynasty, and know story of Dufu and history of Tang Dynasty.
After that, visit a hidden spiritual Buddhist temple in the hustling downtown of Chengdu – Wenshu Temple. Marvel at the exquisite Buddhist architecture, soak in the reverent atmosphere, and wander on the peaceful paths.
Chengdu is famous for its relaxing and leisure pace throughout China, which will be proved after a stay in Renmin Park. Sit down, order a pot of Chinese tea, make a casual chat with your friends and watching locals indulging themselves in different kinds of folk entertainment – napping in a lively teahouse, playing mahjong, disco dancing, neck massage, ear cleaning…Next is an impressive trip to the famous Jinli Old Street. Time steals away from you quietly while walking on the lively streets which are full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, etc.
Optional activity: In the evening, watch a wonderful performance of Sichuan Opera which includes folk opera, face changing, fire spitting, rolling lights, and other delightful entertainment (usually performs at 20:00~21:30).
-
Buddhist Monk at Wenshu Monastery
-
Our dear guest strolling around Jinli Old Street
-
Dufu Thatched Cottage
-
Our dear clients was experiencing Chengdu local living style in the People's Park
Day 5 Chengdu Departure (B)
On the last day, you will take a meaningful visit to Jinsha Site Museum. Constructed on the Jinsha ruin site which reveals the unique bronze civilization of the mysterious ancient Shu Kingdom (approximately 2900 - 3200 years ago), Jinsha Site Museum conserves the original expansive site for sacrifice as well as numerous ivory tusks and gold artifacts, including the symbol of China Culture Heritage – the Gold Sun and Immortal Bird.
After the tour in Chengdu, your local guide and driver will take you to the Chengdu airport / train stations for your flight or train to next destination or home. Service ends.
-
Jisha Site Museum
Make an Inquiry for Free
Recommended Add-on Options
Travel Tips for Traveling China
Beijing Great Wall Hiking Tips
You need to pack some personal gears, such as light and comfortable walking shoes, outdoor coat
and pants.
You'd better also pack sun cream, sun glasses.
Tibet Travel Tips
1. A valid passport, a valid China visa and Tibet Permits are necessary documents for traveling
in Tibet.
2. In Tibet, we suggest you avoid strong activity; do not take shower at the first day; drink
more water
and avoid of alcohol; better not to take oxygen if your AMS symptoms are mild. Always remember
that
if you have any problems or feel uncomfortable, please tell your guide immediately or contact
our
travel consultant.
3. A windbreaker, a pair of durable and comfortable shoes, a down jacket (better with hat),
sunscreen
cream, sun block, skin cream and lip balm, sunglasses, medicine for urgent use.
Panda Volunteer in Chengdu
Chengdu Research Base of Panda Breeding is only available to see giant pandas. If you are interested in
giant panda volunteer experience, please extend to Dujiangyan Panda Base, Wolong Shenshuping
Panda
Base or Ya'an Bifengxia Panda Base instead.
High Speed Train Experience
Taking high speed train to travel around China will be unique and special experience for you.
Instead
of taking flight, you can take high speed train from Beijing to Xian/Xian to Beijing, Chengdu
to
Chongqing, Yichang to Shanghai/Shanghai to Yichang, etc. All are within comfortable traveling
time
to reach the destinations. If you are interested, please feel free to ask our travel
consultants
to arrange high speed train for you.
Practical Info about Traveling with Us
Restaurant & Food
Vegetarian food Requirement
Vegetarian food in Chinese cuisine culture is usually divided into 3 categories: the Monastery
Vegetarian
Food, the Court Vegetarian Food and the Folk Vegetarian Food. And the main ingredients are:
soybean,
taro powder, mushrooms, fresh vegetables and tofu (bean curd). It will be easier to find the
vegetarian
restaurants in big cities of china, such as: Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, HK, etc.
If allergic to some food
We suggest you to list any food or ingredients that you are allergic to and let our travel
consultant
know. Then your travel consultant will mark them in the guide’s itinerary, so that our guides
in
different cities can make some preparations and arrangements in advance.
Do our guide and driver join the meal with us?
The tour guides and driver will be at the same restaurants with you, but they will only join the
meal
when you invite. Sometimes the drivers are shy to join as they usually eat fast and could not
understand
English talk around the table, so the guide will be with you more often.
Will we be able to try some local foods during our visit?
Yes, you will. There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private
guide
will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants, if you
are
interested in local food tasting. But remember, some local snacks may not match your stomach,
so
ask your guided for more information before eating.
Shopping
What to buy in China?
In China, there are myriads of souvenirs for visitors, and each city has its own specialty.
Some of the best buys are:
-
Beijing: Cloisonné; Fresh water pearls
-
Xi'an: Replicas of the Terra Cotta soldiers; Tangsancai (Tang Dynasty hand
painted China);
Antique Furniture
-
Shanghai: Silk carpets
-
Hangzhou: Longjing Tea; Silk
-
Suzhou: Silk
-
Guilin: Scroll paintings; China Southern Sea Pearls
-
Yunnan: Mounted Butterflies; Pure tea; Dali Batik (tie-dyed fabric)
-
Xinjiang: Carpets; jade articles
-
Tibet: Thang-ka(tanka)(Sheep skin wall hangings)
How to bargain?
Bargains are not acceptable in big supermarkets and department stores. But in some night markets
or tourist
shops, you can bargain for a lower price, since the vendors always ask for very high price for
a
certain item. You’d better ask the opinion of the guide first, and then the guide will tell you
the
real value and quality of the item. Please note that when the bargain is processing, the guide
will
be hesitate to help as it may annoy the bosses. Just try to let the guides know you will
bargain
in advance.
What to do with persistent vendors?
If you do not need something from them, just do not ask for price. Some of the venders are very
persisted,
and if they keep selling things to you, you can simply say “No, thanks.” (Chinese
pronunciation:
”Bu, XieXie”). If they do not give up, you just keep silence. Silence is sometimes useful to
handle
this situation.
More Tips for free-time shopping
- 1. If you think you have no desire or interest, you do not feel embarrassed to let our
guide know
DIRECTLY (since some of our guides are enthusiastic in taking you shopping)
- 2. Better to choose the shops run by the state when buying expensive articles.
- 3. Do not shop everything in one city, because every place has its unique local products
which worth
buying.
- 4. Do not feel obligate to buy anything only because the shop attendants are very kind to
you.
- 5. Be smart consumers. Do not spend big money on things you are not familiar with. Do ask
for shop
guarantee, contacts and certificates when purchasing big items like antiques, jade, arts
pieces.
- 6. Leave plenty of time for transactions. When you see something you like - buy it.
Usually, you
would not find it elsewhere and you would not have time to go back.
- 7. Always verify the date of antiques before you purchase them. Antiques dated before 1795
cannot
legally be exported.
- 8. Articles made from rare wild animals are contraband and will be confiscated by customs
without
compensation.
Private tour features
- 1. Private guide, driver and vehicle are for your exclusive use; no matter you are
individually,
or in a family or friends group. The tour is run exclusively for you without strangers.
- 2. Every itinerary can be customized to meet your specific interests/ wishes, that is, you
can choose
your favored hotels, sightseeing spots, the tour length, means of transportation, budget,
etc.
All are free of charge.
- 3. Start the tour on any date you want.
- 4. Escort you through the whole tour. All private transfers during the tour are offered,
including
airport/train station transfer, hotel-attractions round trip transfer.
- 5. The sightseeing during the tour could be based on your own timetable and pace. Flexible
to change
at your short notice.
- 6. Ideal for people who need considerate care and assistance, such as elderly, the
disabled, families
with small children.
Emergency calls
Call your guide, or if you can’t find your guide, call your travel consultant or our office
immediately.
All the phone numbers include in our confirmation letter. Keep the letter with your during your
trip.
Note: As our Beijing office is using the different guide arranging system, so
we will not
be able to provide the Beijing guide information until the day before you arrival, but once we
have
it, we will email you immediately.