Day Tour: Chengdu Panda Breeding Base and Leshan Giant Buddha

Be ready bright and early for pickup at your Chengdu hotel, between 7:20am and 7:40am. Board an air-conditioned tour coach bound for the famous Chengdu Research Base of the Giant Panda.  Spend several hours at the base learning about the staff's breeding and conservation efforts. Visit the research laboratory, the museum, the panda playground, the animal hospital, and the facility's beautiful lake. Depart around 11 am for the tour's next stop, the Leshan Giant Buddha.  Arrive at the world's largest stone Buddha around lunchtime, and immediately take a break for lunch. Your guide will be happy to recommend some area restaurants (own expense). The statue, dating from the Tang Dynasty, overlooks the confluence of the Qingyi, Dadu, and Minjiang rivers, and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hike the surrounding trails, which overlook Mount Emei, snapping photos and getting spectacular views. Head back to Chendgu around 6:30pm for drop-off at Tianfu Square.  Add an optional evening activity of a Sichuan Opera at a traditional tea house.

• Hotel pick-up from Chengdu downtown hotels

• Escorted walking tour at Chengdu Panda Base

• Option A for an escorted walking tour along Leshan Giant Buddha or option B of a boat ride around the Buddha.

• Before arriving at Leshan Buddha, passengers need to vote for the choice of walking tour from the foot to head of the Buddha (Option A) or taking a boat ride (Option B). You need to make an agreement for the whole team to do together. The visiting time only allows to choose one option. By taking the boat ride, you will miss the walking tour.

• English-speaking tour guide service

• Transfers between attractions

• Extra cost for optional photo opportunity with baby panda by request (RMB$2,000/person, proceed goes to Panda Research and Protection Program)

• Lunch

• Optional Sichuan Opera performance at a traditional tea house in Chengdu (RMB$160/person for VIP seat; RMB$120 for regular seat)

• Gratuities for guide and driver (recommended)