Pandas & Karst: Chengdu to Guilin
8 Days of Nature, Wildlife & Landscapes
Trip Highlights
- Giant Panda Research Base — early morning feeding
- Leshan Giant Buddha by boat
- Mount Emei golden summit at sunrise
- Li River cruise: Guilin to Yangshuo
- Cycling the Yulong River countryside
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrive Chengdu
Chengdu- Airport transfer
- Jinli Ancient Street evening stroll
- Sichuan hot pot welcome dinner
Stay: Boutique hotel, central Chengdu
Panda Base + City Highlights
Chengdu- Giant Panda Research Base (7:30 am entry — morning feeding)
- Kuanzhai Alley afternoon
- Traditional Sichuan teahouse experience
- Chengdu dumpling dinner
Stay: Boutique hotel, central Chengdu
Leshan Giant Buddha
Chengdu / Leshan- Day trip to Leshan (2 hrs)
- Boat cruise to view Giant Buddha from the river
- Climb down to the base of the 71m Buddha
- Lunch at Leshan riverside restaurant
- Return to Chengdu
Stay: Boutique hotel, central Chengdu
Mount Emei Ascent
Mount Emei- Drive to Mount Emei (1.5 hrs)
- Cable car to Golden Summit (3,077 m)
- Golden Summit temples and cloud sea views
- Overnight at summit monastery
Stay: Summit monastery guesthouse, Mount Emei
Emei Sunrise + Fly to Guilin
Guilin- Dawn: sunrise over the cloud sea from Golden Summit
- Morning descent and drive to Chengdu
- Afternoon flight to Guilin
- Evening: Reed Flute Cave illuminated tour
Stay: 4-star hotel, Guilin city
Li River Cruise to Yangshuo
Yangshuo- Morning: Li River cruise (Guilin to Yangshuo, 4 hrs)
- Arrive Yangshuo
- Afternoon: rest and West Street exploration
- Evening: Impression Liu Sanjie light show
Stay: Karst-view boutique hotel, Yangshuo
Yangshuo Cycling & Rafting
Yangshuo- Yulong River cycling (Ten Mile Gallery route)
- Bamboo raft on the Yulong River
- Moon Hill natural arch hike
- Cooking class: Guilin rice noodles
Stay: Karst-view boutique hotel, Yangshuo
Depart from Guilin
Guilin- Morning: Xingping village (20-yuan note viewpoint)
- Transfer to Guilin airport
- Depart
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What's Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- Internal flights Chengdu–Guilin
- All transfers
- Daily breakfast + 5 dinners
- Guides at all key sites
- All entrance fees
Not Included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Lunches and extra meals
- Personal spending
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mount Emei suitable for non-hikers?
Yes — cable cars provide access to the Golden Summit. You don't need to hike if you're not comfortable with it.
Can I see a giant panda being held?
Panda holding programmes are available at some bases in Chengdu with advance booking, though we recommend enjoying them in their natural habitat from a respectful distance.
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