16-Day China Tour from Sichuan to Chongqing, Yunnan and Guangxi

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Chengdu - Panda Base - Leishan Giant Buddha. O/N Chengdu.
4 stops
1
Chengdu
In the morning, your driver and guide will meet you at 8:00am of your Chengdu hotel then transfer to Chengdu Panda Base, need 30 minutes driving, 15km.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
2
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (Xiongmao Jidi)
You will visit the Chengdu's Giant Panda Breeding Research Base which is home to over 80 of China's iconic pandas. Most are of the familiar black and white variety, but the Base is also home to a number of the smaller, lesser-known red pandas. You'll view the animals eating and at play in a carefully maintained habitat that is as close to their natural environment as possible. You'll also learn how scientists and ecologists are working to protect the few remaining wild pandas and expand the captive population. On that last note, over 100 bears have been born at the Base since 1987. The Base became even more important after the Sichuan earthquake of 2008, with eight bears sent here from the badly damaged Wolong reserve. Your visit provides both moral and financial support for the ongoing conservation effort.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
3
Leshan Giant Buddha (Da Fo)
Upon arrival in Leshan, you can have lunch at a restaurant within sight the Giant Buddha. You'll then explore the Giant Buddha and enjoy fantastic views of the surrounding landscape from atop the Buddha's head. You then pay a visit to Lingyun Temple and Museum and get a deeper insight into the history of this amazing Buddhist site and learn the story of the carving of the Giant Buddha. Dating from the 8th century, the Giant Buddha of Leshan is the largest carved stone Buddha and the tallest pre-modern statue in the world. It was cut from the cliffs of Lingyun Shan in the hopes of calming the turbulent waters of the three rivers that flow together under its gaze. Stairs are carved into the cliff that connect the area at the Buddha's feet with the land above, allowing you to view this astonishing sight from a range of vantage points. Views are stunning over elbows and knees, taking in the river scene and Leshan's skyline.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
4
Chengdu
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Chengdu - Dujiangyan Irrigation Project - Jiuzhaigou by car. O/N Jiuzhaigou.
3 stops
5
Chengdu
In the morning, your driver and guide will meet you at 7:30am of your Chengdu hotel then transfer to Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, need 80 minutes driving, 65km.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
6
About 2,200 years ago, Chengdu was threatened by the frequent floods caused by the flooding of the Minjiang River. So the local official of the Shu state, Li Bing, together with his son, decided to construct an irrigation system on the River t prevent flooding. After a lengthy study and years’ hard work by the local people, the great Dujiangyan Irrigation Project was completed. Nowadays, the project still plays a crucial role in draining off floodwater, irrigating farms and providing water resources for more than 50 cities in Sichuan province.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
7
Jiuzhaigou Natural Reserve
Next transfer to Jiuzhaigou town, 420km, 8hrs driving. Though it’s a long driving day from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou Valley, the beautiful scenery along the way will relieve you from the fatigue and boredom. Highland mountains, Tibetan Villages, Grasslands, Yaks, Sheep, horses… Just enjoy and forget the hustle and bustle from the city. You will make 3 or 4 stops on the way for rest and lunch.
10 hours • Admission ticket not included
Day 3
Jiuzhaigou Valley. O/N Jiuzhaigou town.
6 stops
8
Jiuzhaigou Natural Reserve
Your guide and driver will meet you at 9:00am of your hotel lobby then visit the Jiuzhai Valley National Park. Today, you will have a full day to explore the Jiuzhai Valley. There are 9 Tibetan villages in the valley, so called the name. Its best-known feature is its dozen of blue, green and turquoise-colored lakes. Jiuzhai Valley consists of three valleys – Rize Valley, Shuzheng Valley and Zechawa Valley, forming a shape of "Y". It is said that there is no other place as peaceful as in Jiuzhaigou all over the world. The travel route is: Entrance - Rize Valley - Nuorilang Tourist Center - Zechawa Valley - Shuzheng Valley - Exit.
10 minutes • Admission ticket not included
9
Rize Valley
When you arrive at the entrance center and take the ticket. Then take the shuttle bus to Rize Valley. The Rize Valley is 18 kilometers long and begins at its southerly tip with a section of primeval forest that covers about half of the entire greater Jiuzhai Valley area. Rize Valley describes a series of smooth "S" curves along its south-north section (it turns eastward farther north, connecting with Zechawa and Shuzheng Valleys) as it snakes its way northward, its northerly half, except for the west-east oriented section, being one long series of scenic sites – almost all of which are lakes.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
10
Arrow Bamboo Lake
Firstly, you will visit the Arrow Bamboo Lake and hiking to walk to Panda Lake(30 minutes hiking) then take a shuttle bus to Five Flower Lake, walk around Five Flower Lake for 20 minutes. The Arrow Bamboo Lake is a shallow lake, measuring a depth of only 6 meters at its deepest, which also explains the presence of copious amounts of the tall, slender bamboo plant, Pseudosasa japonica, called arrow bamboo, aka hardy (as in "resilient") bamboo. Arrow Bamboo Lake figured in the 2002 film, Hero, starring Jet Li and directed by the famous Yimou Zhang, effusively praised (also by yours truly!) for his 1991 film, Raise the Red Lantern (starring the planet's most beautiful, most enchanting female, Li Gong) that at the time was not shown in China (but note that Yimou Zhang directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympics).
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
11
Pearl Shoal Waterfalls
You will continue take a bus from Five Flower Lake to Pearl Shoals and walk to Pearl Shoals Waterfall until to Mirrow Lake parking.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
12
Zechawagou section
Next, go to Zechawa Valley and the travel route is: Nuorilang center , transfer bus to the end of Zechawa Valley- Long Lake , walk from Long lake to Five Colored Pool. bus to Nuorilang-Rhinoceros Lake-Bonsai Shoals.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
13
Shuzheng Valley
Afterwards, visit the Shuzheng Valley. Hiking from Nuorilang waterfall. Along the way, you will visit the Rhinoceros Lake, Tiger Lake, Shuzheng Fall, Reed Lake, till the last spot Bonsai Lake. And then, get on the scenic shuttle bus and get to the scenic spot exit.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 4
Jiuzhaigou - Huanglong National Park - Chengdu by car. O/N Chengdu.
4 stops
14
Jiuzhaigou County
In the morning, your driver and guide will meet you at 7:30am and transfer to Huanglong National Park and need 2.5hrs driving, 110km.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
15
Huanglong Scenic Valley
The Huanglong National Park, where densely scatters thousands of colorful travertine ponds and flow streams. We walk along the hundreds of colorful lakes to the top along the wooden path, then walk down to appreciate the nice scenery along the way. Huanglong Scenic Area is famous for its colorful lakes, snow-topped mountains, beautiful valleys and virgin forests. The area, inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites in 1992 by UNESCO, has been called a "World Wonder" and “Fairy Land on Earth."
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
16
Huanglong Valley
Today, you will visit the Huanglong valley section and going up by cable car and down by foots is the best way due to the high altitude(3400M). When you reach the upper station by cable car, walking along the parallel path which will take us 40 minutes, and you will arrive at an active platform. Spanning more than 1km, the parallel path has no steps and won't waste your strength. Keep climbing for 1km, and you will arrive at the most famous spot, multicolored pond. The highest point of multicolored pond reaches 3900 meters, which is also the highest point of the scenic spot that tourists can arrive. Along with relief elevation of land surfaces, these calcified ponds distribute by terraces.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
17
Chengdu
Afterwards, take the private car to Chengdu city, 8 hrs driving, 361km.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 5
Chengdu - Chongqing by train. O/N Chongqing.
3 stops
18
Chengdu
In the morning, your guide and driver meet you at the Chengdu hotel lobby and drive you to Chengdu Railway Station where a train to Chongqing is waiting for you. The train takes around 2 hours. Upon arrival at Chongqing, you will be picked up on time and transferred to the Chongqing hotel.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
19
After the check in and rest, your guide will show you visit the Ciqikou ancient town. Travelers to Chongqing and locals alike throng to Ciqikou's steep and narrow pedestrian streets. Shops sell porcelain, other handicrafts, and gifts, while restaurants and tea shops give visitors a look at what many areas of Chongqing were like before the metropolis became the vast urban agglomeration it is today. A 1,500-year-old Buddhist temple straddles the hill in the middle of the old town. Ciqikou is the source of Baci Culture.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
20
Chongqing
At the end, your guide will escort you to your Chongqing hotel.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Chongqing - Wulong Karst. O/N Chongqing.
4 stops
21
Chongqing
At around 08:30, your excellent tour guide will pick you up at your downtown Chongqing hotel for a 3-hour comfortable private vehicle drive to Wulong County.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
22
Wulong Karst geological park
Wulong, featuring peculiar karst landforms, boasts of jaw-dropping stone bridges, caves, pits, eroded sinkholes and gorges. Wulong becomes known to foreign tourists due to Michael Bay's hit movie – Transformers: Age of Extinction, which directly shows the majesty beauty of the Three Natural Bridges in Wulong. Besides the famous movie-site, other interesting nature objects are also in this area, like Furong Cave, Longshuixia Gap and Fairy Mountain.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
23
Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges
After a hearty lunch at a local restaurant, your splendid Chongqing Wulong karst tour begins with the Three Natural Bridges, the essential scenic feature of this world heritage area. Exquisitely sculptured by the hands of god, the three giant stone arch bridges are real wonders that can't be seen anywhere else in the world. Inside the tranquil scenic area, you can embrace the rugged beauty of the mountain bridges and gorges by meandering along the narrow path on the valley's bottom. During the 2 - 2.5 hours visit, you will also stop by an ancient staging post near Qinglong Bridge, which was constructed during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) for handling official business and receiving guests. The wooden-structured courtyards are still well preserved with more than 20 rooms remaining.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
24
Chongqing
After some free time to wander around, your Wulong trip from Chongqing concludes. You will be transferred back to your hotel. Upon arrival at around 18:30.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 7
Chongqing - Dazu Carvings. O/N Chongqing.
4 stops
25
Chongqing
Today, you will go to Dazu County for a whole day of sightseeing (your guide will meet you at 08:30 in your hotel lobby).
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
26
The Dazu Rock Carvings
This is the birthplace of the amazing Dazu rock carvings, which were created from the late Tang dynasty (618~907) to the early Song dynasty (960~1127). With the theme of Buddhism, the Dazu cliffside carvings are distributed in Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shimenshan and Shizhuanshan. You will spend the day visiting the Baodingshan carvings located about 527 meters above sea level. It consists mainly of the Dafowan rock carvings area and the Xiaofowan rock carvings area.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
27
After the 2hrs driving, you will reach the well-preserved Baodingshan Carvings. There are green buses taking you to Baodingshan directly. You will see that mountain cliffs are densely scattered with Buddhist and Taoist statues as well as celebrity figures from the late Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). There are about 10,000 statues of Buddha carved on the 500 meter cliff in the U-shaped Dafowan. It is said to be a long narrative mural with plenty of commentary but no repeated content. You can wander at your own pace to have a close look at the precious grotto art. After the tour, a bumper lunch will be served at a fancy restaurant so that you can taste authentic Chongqing cuisines.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
28
Chongqing
At the end, your guide will escort you to your Chongqing hotel.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 8
Chongqing - Shangri-la by flight. O/N Shangri-la.
2 stops
29
Chongqing
Today, there is no activities, just take a flight to Shangri-la（Yunnan provice). Your driver and guide bring you to the Chongqing airport, you may take the CZ2607 15:15-17:16 and the flight takes around 2 hours.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
30
Shangri-La County
Upon arrival at Shangri-la(Zhongdian, Yunnan provice), you will be picked up on time with your Shangri-la local driver and transferred to Shangri-la hotel(Driver only, no guide).
20 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 9
Shangri-la. O/N Shangri-La
4 stops
31
Shangri-La County
Your tour guide will meet you at your hotel lobby at 09:00am and heading to Sumtsaling Monastery.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
32
Today, you firstly will visit Ganden Monastery, the largest Tibetan monastery in Yunnan province. It has another alias - 'the little Potala Palace.' Built in 1679, it is located in the capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and is the most important monastery in southwest China.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
33
Next, go to the Napa hai lake, The largest grassland in Shangri-la. Napahai is located in the northwest of Shangri-la County, 8 km away from the county, is a seasonal mountain lake, and also one of the few the thermal alpine swamp and swamp meadow in Yunnan province.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
34
After the lunch at Dukezong ancient town and you can walking around the town and shopping for one hour. Then, will Transfer to back to your hotel in Shangri-la.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
Day 10
Sangri-la - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Lijiang. O/N Lijiang.
4 stops
35
Shangri-La County
In the morning at 9am, your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer to the Tiger Leaping Gorge and need 2.5hrs driving, 120km.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
36
Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia)
You will set out for your hiking tour to the upper part of the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Take a 15~20 minute walk along the plank road to the viewing platform on the valley floor. Strong currents of Jinsha River roar through the narrow valley, with waves slapping against the rocks. Please have your camera ready to capture this spectacular view. At the narrowest point, you will see a giant rock of 13 meters (43 feet) high seated in the middle of the river, abruptly cutting the torrents into two branches. Meanwhile, the surging waves crash against the rock with a tremendous roar. A special viewing platform was built there for visitors to fully appreciate this impressive scenery and take pictures. You will have 1.5~2 hours taking in the great scenery of the gorge. After that, reverse the trip back to the parking lot in your guide's company.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
37
Shuhe Ancient Town
Next, go to Shuhe old town and you can have a leisure walk in Shuhe Ancient Town. Shuhe, or 'Shaowu' in Naxi language, means the village at the foot of the high mountain. In the past, behind the village there was a high moutain named Jubao, so people named the village. Shuhe Ancient Town is located 4km to the northwest of the Lijiang Ancient Town. Its central part covers an area of about 5 square kilometers with a population around 3,000. In 1997, Shuhe was ranked as an important part of Lijiang Ancient Town which was already the World Cultural Heritage named by UNESCO.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
38
Lijiang
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 11
Lijiang - Dali by car & Dali to Kunming by train. O/N Kunming.
4 stops
39
Lijiang
At 08:00, you will be picked up by your driver and guide from the lobby of your hotel in Lijiang downtown. Then, you will be driven from Lijiang hotel to Dali Chongsheng Three Pagodas, 2hrs driving, 153km.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
40
Chongsheng Three Pagodas
You will proceed to the Chongsheng Temple to wonder at the Three Pagodas. Widely regarded as the symbol of Dali, the Three Pagodas enjoy a far-reaching history that could be dated back to 1,800 years ago in Nanzhao Kingdom.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
41
Dali
At the end,your guide and driver will escort you to the Dali railway station according to the schedule of your departure train.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
42
Kunming
Upon arrival at Kunming train station, you will be picked up on time with your Kunming local driver and transferred to Kunming hotel(driver only, no guide).
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 12
Kunminng - Stone forest. O/N Kunming.
3 stops
43
Kunming
Your private guide will pick you up from the lobby of the hotel that you booked on your own in downtown Kunming at about 09:00. Then a comfortable vehicle would transfer you to Stone Forest, with the duration of 2 hours.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
44
Yunnan Stone Forest Geological Park
As a must-see of Kunming, Stone Forest is a quite hot travel destination for visitors from home and abroad. Formed by the power of nature, Stone Forest boasts the most magical karst landform, which is the essence of your private Kunming day tour. Just as its name suggests, stone pillars in various shapes densely tower in the park, and the whole complex seems to be a large-scale gray forest. With the interpretation of our knowledgeable tour guide, you would discover more funny spots and many vivid images of animals. Among all the sights of Stone Forest, you shall not miss the highlights including Sword Blade Pond (Jianfeng Pond), Peaks Pavilion (Wanfeng Pavilion) and Ashima.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
45
Kunming
At the end, your guide will escort you to your hotel with a comfortable transfer. Your memorable day trip ends here.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 13
Kunminng. O/N Kunming.
5 stops
46
Kunming
At 09:00, you will be picked up by your driver from the lobby of your hotel in Kunming downtown. Then, you will be driven from Kunming to West Hill park.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
47
To save your energy and time, your tour guide will arrange you to take a cable car up to the Dragon Gate. The 20-mins cable way ride will travel above the azure Dianchi Lake and lush forest, bringing the fairy-like scene to you. After getting off, you need to hike for 20 minutes to Kuixing Pavilion, the highest site of the scenic area. There you could capture an amazing bird's eye view of Dianchi Lake and Kunming City. Afterwards, trek down for half an hour to the exit of the Dragon Gate Scenic Area, and your memorable one-day Kunming tour package comes to an end here.
2 hours • Admission ticket not included
48
Kunming Dragon Gate
The Dragon Gate is the essence of Western Hill forest park. The scenic spot is located at the end of the whole scenic spot of Western Hill which is sitting next to Dian Lake – the largest freshwater in Yunnan and is famed as the “Pearl on the Plateau”. Standing on the Dragon Gate, travelers can overlook the panoramic view of Dian Lake, which is magnificent and gorgeous and attracts many people to Western Hill. There is an old saying about the Dragon Gate – once enter into the dragon gate, you will become famous and successful, and it’s a symbol of good luck.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
49
Next, go to Green Lake, enjoy fresh air and life of local citizens. The Green Lake Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Kunming. The water is green, the bamboos around the lake are green, and willows in summer and spring are green, hence the name. It is reputed as the emerald of Kunming City.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
50
Kunming
After the lunch, will transfer back to your hotel at Kunming. End of services today.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 14
Kunming - Guilin by train. O/N Guilin.
3 stops
51
Kunming
Today, you will take a morning train to Guilin. Your driver meet you at 7:30am and takes you to Kunming Railway Station where a train to Guilin is waiting for you. The train takes around 5 hours. Upon arrival at Guilin, you will be picked up on time and transferred to the Guilin hotel.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
52
Reed Flute Cave (Ludi Yan)
After the rest and lunch, you will visit the Reed Flute Cave. The Reed Flute Cave is a cave-based scenic spot located in the northwest suburb of Guilin, Guangxi, China, 7 km from the Guilin city center. It is about 240 meters (787ft) deep and 500 meters (1640ft) long. The cave has a great number of various exquisite stalagmites, stalactites, stone pillars and stone curtain, which have been forming since 180 million years ago. So it is also known as "the Palace of Natural Art".
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
53
Elephant Trunk Hill (Xiangbishan)
After the Reed Flute Cave, you will transfer to the Elephant hill which in the centra of Guilin City, is a hot attraction and landmark of Guilin. Beautiful natural views merged with valuable cultural landscape make it a fascinating place which makes tourists fascinated and longing for.
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 15
Guilin - Longji Rice Terraces. O/N Guilin.
3 stops
54
Guilin
In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel at around 08:45, and then escort you to the Longji terraces.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
55
Longji Rice Terraces
After a two-hour drive you will reach the entrance for the Longji Terraces Upon arrival, Then you will take a moderate trek along steps to Ping'an Zhuang Village. The walk up takes about 40 minutes. our guide will take you on a stroll around the village where you can glimpse the local Zhuang peoples' unique wooden stilted houses and we can have a lunch in the village. After a short lunch break, continue your terrace exploration to the No.2 Viewing Platform(Seven star with the moon), a 15-minute walk, which is a fantastic spot for a bird's-eye view of the Longji Terraces beneath your feet. You will have enough time to take pictures and enjoy the fresh air at the platform. And then, we will head to No.1 Viewing Platform(Nine Dragons and five tigers) and need 30 minutes via the flat path.
3 hours • Admission ticket not included
56
Guilin
Afterwards, take the private car to your Guilin hotel around 17:00pm and is free time for you.
10 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 16
Guilin - Yangshuo. The tour end.
4 stops
57
In the morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel at around 07:45, and then escort you to the Zhujiang pier, where you will start the Guilin Li River cruise to Yangshuo(4 star boat with the buffet lunch).
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
58
Li River
The boarding time is scheduled at 9:20am, and the whole journey takes about 4 hours. With your guide's company and interpretation, you could immerse yourself in the stunning karst landscape made up of rolling hills, verdant forests, odd caves and tranquil villages along the Li River. A buffet Chinese lunch will be offered on board before you reach Yangshuo at 2:00pm.
4 hours • Admission ticket not included
59
Xianggong Mountain
After disembarkation, will drive you to see the Yangshuo Xianggong hill. You will climb for 15 minutes along a moderately sloped staircase to reach the top of Xianggong Hill. Lying between the famous Yellow Cloth Shoal and the Mural Hill, Xianggong Hill is one of the greatest viewing platforms in Guilin to take in the glamour of the Li River. The supreme view of the meandering Li River making a 180-degree bend, attracts countless visitors and photographers annually.
1 hour • Admission ticket not included
60
Guilin
Afterwards, take the private car to your Guilin/Yangshuo hotel or Guilin airport and end of your 16 day tour services.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Specialized infant seats are available
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
• Children must be accompanied by an adult

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