12 Days Shanghai Chengdu Jiuzhaigou Leshan Emeishan Zhangjiajie Panda Tour

The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower
Yu Garden
Jiuzhaigou Colorful Ponds
Welcoming Pool in Huanglong
Mt. Emei Golden Sumbit
Leshan Buddha
Pandas
Zhangjiajie National Park

Tour Outline: Shanghai - Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou - Huanglong - Chengdu - Chengdu Panda Base - Leshan Giant Buddha - Emeishan - Chengdu - Zhangjiajie

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

This outstanding tour of China takes you from the eastern coast port of Shanghai to some of the most beautiful sites in the southwestern province of Sichuan, exploring high snow mountains, massive carved Buddhas, protected wildlife parks, stunning natural scenic areas, and cuddly giant pandas.

The tour starts in Shanghai, you will visit the famous wildlife park that has become a major center for the protection of several endangered species in China, and view some of the rare species of animals that live inside. After a visit to the famous sculpted Yu Garden of the ancient Ming Dynasty, you will take a flight to Chengdu, before taking the overland trip to Jiuzhaigou National Park, one of China’s most stunning scenic areas. The drive takes you through some beautiful areas of highland mountains, grasslands, and Tibetan villages, to the Y-shapes valley of the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. Consisting of three valleys and nine Tibetan villages, the area is spectacular in its natural beauty. Then you head for the nearby Huanglong National Park, famous for high snow-capped mountains and colorful lakes. Then you head back to Chengdu to visits the famous Panda Research Center, before driving south to Leshan to visit the world’s largest Buddha, carved into the rocks of the cliff above the river. From here you will travel to the foot of Mount Emei, one of China’s most sacred mountains, and take the hike up the mountain to see the several ancient temples, the Monkey Zone, and the cloud-sea that extends around the peak of the mountain at certain times of the year. Then you will take the short flight to Hunan Province to visit the Zhangjiajie National Park, with its famous mountains, awesome waterfalls, spectacular grand canyon, and the infamous Glass bridge that extends out over the abyss below.

[Shanghai] Experience the maglev train and visit Shanghai Wildlife Park and Yu Garden;
[Jiuzhaigou] Visit Changhai Lake and Pearl Beach in this wonderland;
[Huanglong] Go trekking in this “Abode of Immortals”;
[Chengdu] See cute pandas;
[Leshan Giant Buddha] Visit the tallest stone Buddha statue with 71m height in the world, which was carved on the cliff;
[Zhangjiajie] Experience the magnificence of Grand Canyon, Glass Bridge and pay a visit to famous Tianmen Mountain.

Best Time to Visit

All year round
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; zero physical demand

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Shanghai and Experience the Maglev Train

After your arrival in Shanghai, our guide will take you to experience maglev train from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road Metro Station, then transfer you to your hotel. You can ask the guide to recommend local famous restaurants for you.

Stay overnight at Shanghai

Day 2: Shanghai Sightseeing: Shanghai Wildlife Park, Yu Garden

Golden monkey in Shanghai Wildlife Park

Yu Garden

Today, you will first visit the Shanghai Wildlife Park. This is a theme park integrating wildlife breeding, exhibition, breeding and protection, popular science education and entertainment. You will see the golden monkey, golden antelope, Crested Ibis, Asian Rhinoceros Unicorn, very rare species, the park was made mainly to protect, breed and extend rare and endangered animals, popularize animal knowledge to the public, meanwhile, cultivate awareness of animal protection.

After visiting Shanghai Wildlife Park, you will go to Yu Garden, a private garden built in the Ming dynasty, about 400 years ago. After meticulous care for over 20 years, the owner named it “Yu Garden”, expressing the wishes of safety and harmony. you can experience the ancient culture in Yu Garden, viewing the magnificence of wisdom of Ancient Chinese.

Stay overnight in Shanghai

Day 3: Take Flight from Shanghai to Chengdu

Today, we will escort you to take a flight from Shanghai to Chengdu. Upon your arrival at the Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, our tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Chengdu. The rest of the day is for you to relax.

Stay overnight at Chengdu

Day 4: Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou by Road (420KM, 8 hours driving)

The tour guide and driver will meet you at 7:30am at Tianfu Square.

After a brief greetings, we set out for the wonderful trip. 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.

We will make 3 or 4 stops on the way for rest and lunch.

Upon arrival in Jiuzhaigou, the tour guide will help you check in. You could either have a free walk around or have a good rest at the hotel.

Stay overnight in Jiuzhaigou Town

Day 5: Jiuzhaigou Valley Day Tour

The Crystal Lake in Jiuzhaigou Valley

Forests and Lakes in Jiuzhaigou Valley

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.

Stay overnight in Jiuzhaigou Town

Day 6: Visit Huanglong National Park and Drive back to Chengdu

Five-color Ponds in Huanglong National Park

Five-color Ponds in Huanglong National Park in winter

Today, you will move on to 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."

In the afternoon, drive to Chengdu.

Stay overnight at Chengdu

Day 7: Visit Chengdu Panda Research Base, Leshan Giant Buddha and Drive to Mt. Emei (180KM, 2 hours)

The Majestic Giant Buddha in Leshan City

Chengdu Giant Panda

In the morning, the guide will meet you in your hotel and then we will head to Chengdu Panda Research Center in about half an hour drive.You will catch pandas' feeding time, visit both adult and baby pandas houses and watch them eating fresh bamboo. After visiting Panda Center, we drive to Leshan with about 2 hours.

In Leshan, we visit the biggest sitting Buddha sculpture in the Lingyun Temple. The grand Buddha was completed in 803 of Tang Dynasty after 90 year's construction and enjoys the fame of the biggest sitting stone sculpture in the world, about 71- meter in height. Tour guide will take you to walk along the path built on the cliff face of the hill from the top of Buddha’s head to his toes, or you can choose taking a sightseeing boat from the pier to the water surface in front of Giant Buddha to watch the huge Buddha from the river.

In late afternoon, continue driving to the foot of Mt. Emei. In the evening, tour guide will take you to the Gourmet Street to enjoy the delicious local food of Leshan.

Overnight at the foot of Mt. Emei

Day 8: Visit Mt.Emei, Golden Submit & Middle Mountain Scenic Zone, back to Chengdu by Bullet Train (180KM, 1.5 hours)

Wannian Temple in Mount Emei

Mount Emei Golden Submit

Morning going up to Leidongping, where you can take cable car to Golden Summit (Cable Car 120RMB not included in package), visit Huazang Temple, and enjoy the magnificent view of the clouds, mountains, forest. If weather is good, you will have chance to see clouds sea. Then go down to mid-hill scenic zone, you will have a trek along the path to visit Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, Moneky Zone, etc, finally walk down hill to Wuxiangang bus station, from here you take tourist bus to go downhill.

In late afternoon, take Bullet Train back to Chengdu within only 1.5 hours.

Stay overnight at Chengdu

Day 9: Fly from Chengdu to Zhangjiajie

Today, we will escort you to take a flight from Chengdu to Zhangjiajie. Upon your arrival at the Zhangjiajie Airport, our tour guide will meet you and escort you to your hotel in Zhangjiajie. The rest of the day is for you to relax.

Stay overnight at Zhangjiajie

Day 10: Visit Zhangjiajie National Park: Tianzi Mountain and Yuanjiajie-Avatar Mountain

Tianzi Mountain

Jinbian Stream

Today, you will head to visit the Zhangjiajie National Park, which is famous for its multiple different- shape peaks. Some are humans alike; some are animals alike; all of them are nature-formed. You will see Yuanjiajie-avatar Mountain, a landscape with many scenic spots, such as Jinbian Stream, Tianzi Mountain and Echoing Valley. It’s said that three thousand strange peaks and eight hundred beautiful streams are inside this park.

Stay overnight at Zhangjiajie

Day 11: Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge

Zhangjiajie Baofeng Lake

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon consists of luxuriant vegetation, fresh air. And the water is filled with a layer of mist, just like in the paradise, cool and comfortable, which makes all worries disappear. Walking on the plank road, with the stream going down slowly, mist gently touch your face, you will feel like a celestial, there’s only you enjoying the moment.

After a little walking, you will experience the famous Glass Bridge, you can see there’s abyss under your feet, but don’t worry, it’s very safe.

It’s time for lakes. You will be escorted to Baofeng Lake, see for yourself of this magnificent view: the water falling down from 3000 feet above.

Stay overnight in Zhangjiajie

Day 12: Visit Zhangjiajie and Depart from Zhangjiajie

Visit Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain

Visit Zhangjiajie National Park

In the morning, you will visit Tianmen Mountain and the most famous landscape - Tianmen Holes, these holes facing each other from south and north, as if it’s the gate towards heaven.

After the trip, we will transfer you to the airport and wave goodbye.

Price Details & Guide

Price Inclusions

Private transportation to the destinations and sites listed in the itinerary; ranging from 4WD land cruiser to bus depending on the group size and trip route; car gasoline, road toll and in-transport refreshments (free bottles of water, air pillow and headscarf) are included;
Private experienced English-speaking trip leader;
Airport/railway station pick-up and send-off services at the beginning/end of the tour;
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
First aid kit;
A coverage of 300,000RMB Chartis travel insurance;
Lodgings for 11 nights;

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Zhangjiajie/Chengdu (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Chengdu from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availibility and cost with your travel consultant);
Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~10USD per person);
Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;
China Entry visa fees;

Notice:

1. Please keep close and follow instructions of your guide in Zhangjiajie, as it’s high, but it’s very safe under proper routes.
2. The age restriction of volunteer program is between 12 to 65 years old. Even though the pandas look harmless, they are carnivores. Parents must ensure that they prevent their children from coming into direct contact with the pandas.
3. If your children are between 2-11 years old, you can still take them with you during the program. Your guide will help to take care of them. If your children are under 2 years old and you take care of them throughout the day.

Itinerary Alteration

Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:

1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.

If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!

The cancellation fee charged by 3rdpoletour.com will be kept under your name (person who contacted us) for a usable period of 2 years. Within the applicable period you can use it for next time or you can kindly pass your authority to any of your family, friends or colleagues to use by booking a tour with 3rdpoletour.com. A certifying email from you is necessary to pass the cancellation fee to others, but it is only applicable for private group.