5-Day Chengdu Highlights & Jiuzhaigou Scenery Tour

Start your classic panda adventure when you arrive in Chengdu and are greeted by your knowledgeable local guide. From either the airport or train station, you’ll be driven to your hotel in air conditioned comfort. Of course there’s no doubt that giant pandas rule in Chengdu, but there’s much more to experience in this exciting city. Enjoy a relaxed introduction to Chengdu on route, and once checked in to your hotel, get out and wander the area in close proximity. Remember to speak with your guide for advice on local sights and dining options. They will be able to assist and even help you order if necessary. It’s the perfect way to experience local Chengdu life.

Meals included: None

Fortify yourself with a hearty hotel breakfast because today’s adventure requires stamina and enthusiasm. As a panda volunteer at the Dujiangyan Panda Base, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a truly unique and memorable hands-on experience. Your guide will take care of all the details, escorting you to through the entry and introducing you to the panda keepers. You will clean the working area, prepare bamboos, make panda’s favorite food of “Wowotou” (steamed corn buns), learn scientific facts about the pandas, and closely watch the keepers feeding and training the pandas. The panda keepers are very experienced and supervise your activities, with translation provided by your local guide. Of course you’ll want to take plenty of photos, especially with the certificate awarded to you as a memento from this very special experience.

Notes:

1. Panda Keeper Program has an age limit from 8 years to 70 years. For children under 8 years who are accompanied by an adult, they can take the standard panda tour in the panda base, but not be able to be the panda volunteers due to the age restriction.

2. As a maximum of 60 keepers are allowed each day, it is advisable that you book the program at least two weeks before your departure. You will appreciate that sometimes adjustments may be made to the program due to pandas’ health condition. Accurate information about the program will be provided to you by our travel consultants as soon as we are advised.

3. Each Panda Keeper Program applicant must provide a Physical Examination Record prior to the commencement of the day’s activities.

4. Panda keepers are strongly advised to be guided by their supervisors and should approach the animals with extreme caution and only under supervision. Though pandas look gentle, they are animals and their behaviors can be unpredictable.

5. On the day working as the panda keepers, wear the pants and comfortable shoes with good traction. And should not apply perfume, nail polish, strong fragranced skincare, sunscreen, and insect repellent, because the pandas are very sensitive to smell.

Expect a total change of pace today after checking out of your hotel. First stop is one of Chengu’s most famous market areas - Jinli Street. The narrow street lined with unique regional street food, traditional artisans, and modern merchandise is an opportunity to immerse yourself in typical local culture. Jinli Street is popular with locals and travelers alike, not least because of the opportunity to sample traditional food snacks and meet local craftsmen. Check out the traditional wares – pottery, bamboo, silk, fans, and umbrellas – or enjoy a contemporary twist by visiting some of the more modern fascinations found in the array of quirky boutiques. Take advantage of the chance to sample Chengdu’s famous street food here too. After working your way through Jinli Street, it’s time to relax with a leisurely wander through Wangjiang Pavilion Park. Amble among the rare bamboo groves and drink traditional Chinese fragrant teas. From here you’ll be transferred to the airport for the flight to Jiuzhaigou. Your local guide will transport you to the hotel and assist with check you and dinner, if required.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Today’s adventure commences when you are accompanied by your guide to visit Jiuzhaigou Scenic Spot. Located in the north of Sichuan Province, Juizhaighou Scenic Spot is famous for its stunning natural beauty. Steeped in mythology and legend, Juizhaigou National Park is considered sacred by the local Tibetan and Qiang people and it’s easy to see why. During your travels today, you’ll have the chance to take in the spectacular view of Nuorilang Waterfall and admire the Long Lake which is surrounded by rolling mountains and enjoys pure bule sky as background. The tour also takes in the Five-Color Pond and Pearl Beach. Here you can absorb the ethereal beauty of Jiuizhai Valley and appreciate the likeness that Five-Color Pond has to a peacock with fanning its multicolored tail. There are few places with comparable natural beauty in China, so be prepared for multiple photo opportunities. Finish the day by returning to the hotel for dinner.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner served in Hotel

Continuing in the same vein from the previous day, enjoy the emphasis on China’s natural beauty when you visit Huanglong Scenic Spot. Revered for its stunning views of colorful ponds that are formed by calcite deposits, you will also find waterfalls, caves, snow-capped mountains, and valleys in Huanglong National Park.

Now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Huanglong National Park is especially important for the role it plays in providing a home to many endangered species, including the giant panda and golden snub-nosed monkey. As a place of natural beauty, a visit here is a a wonderful contrast to the big bustling cities that are typically associated with modern China. Your tour concludes when you are driven to Jiuzhaigou airport for travel to your next destination.

Meals included: Breakfast

Travel Note: We love helping our customers make the most of their available travel time. Need helping planning your next destination? We can help. With a network that extends all over China, we can take care of every detail and arrange your departure train or flight from Jiuzhaigou – or anywhere else while you’re in China. Kindly note a surcharge will apply.