China

Highlights of Chengdu

China

Highlights of Chengdu

China

Trip Overview

Travelling to Tibet via Chengdu, you have the chance to explore this famous Chinese city, discovering the traditional enclaves amid a modern city. Panda Research Centre introduces you to these delightful iconic animals. Travel south of the city to the Leshan Giant Buddha, carved into the hillside. Chengdu’s famous tea houses and a traditional Sichuan hot pot dinner immerse you in the local culture.

Trip Highlights

  • Visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
  • Explore historic alleys in the city’s old quarter: Kuan Xiangzi (Wide Alley) and Zhai Xiangzi (Narrow Alley), which trace their history back to the 17th century Qing Dynasty
  • Experience China’s tea culture in teahouses lined along the road amidst the luxuriant bamboo forest in a tranquil atmosphere.
  • Leshan Giant Buddha, a colossal stone statue of Maitreya, carved directly from the surrounding rock, is the largest sculpture of Buddha standing at 71 meters high
  • Sichuan opera stands out for its variety of stories, a play blended with the local dialect, customs, folk music and dances

Itinerary

Arrive at Chengdu.

Arrive at your hotel. Dinner is included this evening at a local Sichuan Hotpot restaurant. Whilst Sichuan food is traditionally amongst the spiciest in China, hot pot can be served to suit all levels of chilli enjoyment (including none)!

Chengdu sightseeing: visit Panda Research Base, Kunzhai Xiang and Chinese tea houses.

First stop, The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (30-min drive). This is a huge park with rivers, lakes, ornamental green lawns, wild bamboo forests and man-made rocks and caves created to provide a healthy environment for the pandas and other endangered species including red pandas, swans, peacocks, rare birds and butterflies. There is a museum and a cinema explaining research, environmental issues and pandas’ lives.

Kunzhai Xiang is an area of three parallel old city alleys with 45 courtyard houses dating from the Qing. Restored, it has become a popular area with many bars, restaurants, teahouses and shops selling interesting Chinese souvenirs. It provides a good opportunity to learn about local life during the Qing Dynasty and appreciate Sichuan crafts and entertainments. Take a break at one of Chengdu’s many famous teahouses.

In the evening you have the option to see Sichuan Opera A tradition originating in the C17th when immigrants flooded into Sichuan bringing different dramas and blended them into the local dialect, customs, folk music and dances. The main highlight of Sichuan Opera is the ’face changing act’ when actors change their masks – sometimes 10 masks in less than 20 seconds!

Chengdu sightseeing: visit Leshan Giant Buddha.

This 71m tall stone statue was carved out of a cliff face at the confluence of three rivers in the C8th; complete with drainage channels. Depicting a seated Maitreya (future Buddha) it is the largest stone Buddha in the world. Stairs at either side allow you to climb up for a closer look. Nearby Wuyou Si monastery (ad742) has many impressive decorations, statues and painted scenes from the Journey to the West (one of the four classical Chinese novels written in the 16th century).

Returning to Chengdu you may depart to Lhasa by train or flight.

 

Services Included

  • Transport by private vehicle as per itinerary.
  • English Speaking Tibetan guide throughout the trip.
  • Entry fees to listed sights.
  • Hotel accommodation (room only)
  • Welcome Sichuan Hotpot dinner

Services Excluded

  • Meals other than specified as included.
  • Expenses of personal nature including bar bills, mineral water, telephone calls and laundry.
  • Insurance – your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, medical expenses, emergency evacuation and repatriation and personal liability. We recommend that it cover cancelation curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects.
  • Tips and gratuities.
  • Any service not specified as included.
  • Additional expenses which may arise due to circumstances beyond control of RMT including, but not limited to, delay due to landslide, strikes, flight cancellation or flight delays.

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