Clara Mendez
April 21, 2026
Customized China Tours Tailored Just for You
This 5-day fully private customizable holiday centered in Chengdu takes you to Sichuan’s most iconic unmissable attractions, including the world-famous giant pandas, stunning culturally rich Mount Emei, and the nearby Leshan site. Tailored entirely to your preferences rather than a rigid one-size-fits-all group schedule, this curated tour delivers a relaxed, personal travel experience aligned perfectly with your interests. It also boasts great value with competitive pricing and secure, trusted payment options to give you full peace of mind for your memorable Sichuan getaway.
This 5-day private holiday starts and ends in laid-back, spice-loving Chengdu, blending iconic wildlife, misty mountain scenery, 3,000 years of ancient culture, and slow local charm. After arriving and settling into downtown Chengdu, you’ll get a front-row encounter with fluffy giant pandas, then venture south to see the world’s largest ancient stone Buddha at Leshan from the river, before exploring the sacred forested slopes of Mount Emei. You’ll wind back to Chengdu to explore mysterious ancient Shu relics and wander preserved historic alleys, with every part of the trip curated to fit your interests.
Today you’ll arrive in the vibrant capital of Sichuan, Chengdu, where your private host will greet you and help you check into your selected downtown accommodation. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in, explore the surrounding neighborhood, or sneak in a pre-tour serving of Sichuan hotpot on your own. 🏨 Hotel: Your choice of Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza or Grand Hyatt Chengdu
Wake up to a hearty, filling western buffet breakfast 🍽️ before heading out early to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, when pandas are most active. You’ll wander through lush, natural enclosures to get up-close views of fluffy giant pandas munching bamboo and playing, getting those once-in-a-lifetime photos. After your panda visit, you’ll slow down to the local Chengdu pace at a traditional tea house along the Xiaojiahe River, where you can relax sipping smooth gaiwan coffee beside the water. 🍽️ Included Meal: Western buffet breakfast. 🏨 Hotel: Your choice of Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza or Grand Hyatt Chengdu
Start your day of adventure with a western buffet breakfast 🍽️, then depart downtown Chengdu for southern Sichuan’s scenic sites. Your first stop is Leshan, home to the 71-meter-tall Giant Buddha carved into a cliffside over 1,200 years ago. You’ll take a gentle boat ride on the Min River to get the perfect unobstructed full view of this iconic ancient sculpture. After a tasty midday lunch, you’ll continue on to Mount Emei, one of China’s four great sacred Buddhist mountains, to explore its misty, emerald forest slopes. After a full day of exploring, you’ll enjoy a traditional Sichuan dinner before checking into your on-mountain accommodation. 🍽️ Included Meals: Western buffet breakfast, lunch, dinner. 🏨 Hotel: Building No. 5 of Hongzhushan Mountain
After breakfast 🍽️, you’ll ride a scenic cable car up Mount Emei’s slopes to take in sweeping panoramic views of rolling cloud seas and forested peaks. Next, you’ll visit two of the mountain’s most historic and culturally significant Buddhist sites: the ancient Wannian Temple, which dates back more than 1,600 years, and the stately Baoguo Temple at the foot of the mountain, with its quiet courtyards and priceless cultural relics. After a midday lunch, you’ll drive back to downtown Chengdu and check into your preferred downtown hotel for the night. 🍽️ Included Meals: Western buffet breakfast, lunch. 🏨 Hotel: Your choice of Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza or Grand Hyatt Chengdu
Your final day in Chengdu begins with a delicious western buffet breakfast 🍽️. First, you’ll visit the Jinsha Site Museum, where you can explore the excavated relics of the 3,000-year-old ancient Shu Kingdom, and see intricate gold and bronze artifacts that reveal Sichuan’s mysterious early history. After that, you’ll wander the preserved Wide and Narrow Alley, a charming historic neighborhood made up of traditional Qing-dynasty courtyard homes, lined with cute cafes, local craft shops, and snack stalls perfect for last-minute souvenirs. After your exploration, your tour concludes, and you’ll depart for the airport or train station for your onward journey. 🍽️ Included Meal: Western buffet breakfast
Min 2 · Max 20 people per group
Traveler reviews
April 21, 2026
I’ve done several group tours across China before, and this private customizable tour was a world of difference. We could take as much time as we wanted watching the pandas play, instead of being rushed off to the next stop. Mt. Emei’s misty peaks and playful wild monkey encounters were such a magical contrast to lively downtown Chengdu. Everything was clearly communicated and fairly priced compared to other similar tours I researched. I would absolutely recommend this trip to anyone visiting Sichuan for the first time.
February 14, 2026
The spontaneous food stops our guide added to the itinerary were just as memorable as the main attractions. We got to try authentic Chengdu hot pot and local street snacks that we never would have found on our own. We also skipped all the long ticket lines for both the panda base and Mt. Emei, which saved us hours of waiting.
November 3, 2025
Our consultant Lynn from HelloChinaTrip helped us adjust the itinerary last minute when we decided we wanted an extra day of food exploration instead of adding a second temple. Every arrangement went off without a hitch, from the private car between sites to our comfortable centrally located hotel in Chengdu. Our morning at the panda research base was perfectly timed, and the cable car arrangement up Mt. Emei made the mountain accessible even for my retired parents. This tour took all the stress out of planning, and we got to see every iconic Sichuan highlight we wanted.
September 5, 2025
I can’t imagine a better introduction to Sichuan than this well-planned tour.
April 28, 2025
As a family of four with two young kids, we loved that we could customize the tour to match our energy levels. Our driver was always on time and our guide did a wonderful job explaining panda biology and Emei’s cultural history to the kids. Getting early access to see baby pandas at the base was a highlight no crowded group tour could offer. We left Chengdu feeling relaxed and full of delicious Sichuan street food.
March 10, 2025
All the attractions were incredible and the private itinerary fit our slow travel pace perfectly. We had to cut our Mt. Emei hike short because of unexpected heavy rain, which was the only small downside to the trip.
January 22, 2025
Getting up close to giant pandas at the research base was a dream come true. Our private guide knew all the best spots to see pandas active before the midday crowds hit. Mt. Emei’s misty views and ancient Buddhist temples were just as stunning as advertised.
December 18, 2024
This was the perfect Chengdu trip, worth every penny.
