Qingyang Temple

Start your day at Qingyang Taoist Temple, the birthplace of Lao Zi, the founding father of Taoism, which promotes the principle of wuwei, which means “do nothing.” The religion also encourages its followers to calmly go with the flow of nature. As such, this temple is designed to reflect an ancient Chinese Taoist philosophy: “The sky is round and the earth is square.” Thus, the temple boasts an “Eight Trigrams Pavilion,” which is an eight-sided domed building set on a square foundation. Hidden throughout the grounds, under the open sky, nestled amidst the leaves, are small idols to different Taoist deities. Discovering them is discovering both the temple and Taoist thought.

People’s Park

At the center of Chengdu sits the beating heart of local life, People’s Park, a cultural playground of rock gardens, lakes, and century-old teahouses. Locals descend here for the whole gamut of activities from dancing to dating. Get lost in this giant tableaux of Chinese culture and be sure to listen out for the clanging instruments of roaming ear cleaners, who like nothing more than to show off their skills on an international guest or two.

Jinsha Archaeological Museum

When construction workers struck upon the lost city of Jinsha in 2001, what they found in the 3,000-year-old site would change the world’s understanding of Chinese history. Huge gold masks with giant, bug-like eyes and menacing smiles emerged, so unlike other artifacts of the time that rumors began to spread of alien involvement. The Jinsha museum displays all the site’s best discoveries, but don’t miss the resplendent Golden Sun Bird, now the official symbol of Chengdu.

Sichuan Hotpot Dinner

Enjoyed by locals and travelers alike, hotpot is communal mad-grab of some of China’s most delicious bites. Dip meats and vegetables into an expansive pot of spicy broth and have a taste of Sichuan’s fiery spirit. For those seeking a gastronomic adventure, drop in a few of the restaurant’s more exotic ingredients.

Drive to Dujiangyan

The ride from Chengdu downtown to Dujiangyan will take around 1.5 hours.

Dujiangyan Panda Base

Located about an hour and a half outside of Chengdu, Dujiangyan Panda Base is one of our favorite choices for getting up close with giant pandas. The first wild pandas were first spotted in this area in 1953 and the bamboo-covered hills of the conservation center replicate the iconic animal’s natural habitat. The ultimate goal of Dujiangyan panda base is to boost the population and prepare the pandas for life in the wild. Be sure to look out for the keepers, who may well be hanging out with China’s national animal dressed as pandas themselves.

(Volunteer activities are optional and on request.)

Hike to the Daoist Mountain – Qingcheng Mountain

Qingcheng Mountain is a respite from the hustle and bustle of Chengdu’s center, a mountain known as “the most peaceful and secluded under heaven.” Your visit starts with a cable car ride, the views opening up as the mountain falls away. At the top, you keep climbing, this time on foot, exploring the temples you find along the trail. Qingcheng Mountain is known for its many Taoist temples, many of which are found on the front side. Finally, the summit and its spectacular views of lush green hills rolling into the horizon.

Back Mountain, Qingcheng

Qingcheng Mountain is known for its many Taoist temples, many of which are found on the front side. This means that the back side of the mountain is quieter and better known for its scenic trails and a beautiful, albeit small temple at the top. On Qingcheng’s ‘Back Mountain’ you’ll spend the day hiking past waterfalls, caves, and primitive forests, and wind your way up to the peak. The full hike is around 20 kilometers, but there are two cablecars that can half the walking distance should you want.

Next Stop: Leshan

The town of Leshan in Sichuan Province is as laidback as the languorous river it is nestled against. However, what really draws visitors to this relaxed city is the natural and cultural riches that rest inside its confines: Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest ancient Buddha carved in stone in the world. Take life at the speed of Leshan as you explore the region’s luxuriantly green forests and gaze upon stone fingernails larger than a human.

Drive to Leshan

Find your zen (or just gaze out the window) on the approximately two-hour drive south from Chengdu to Leshan, home of the world’s largest ancient Buddha and beautiful Mount Emei.

Leshan Giant Buddha

Carved dramatically into red sandstone cliffs and smiling benevolently over the river hundreds of feet below is the colossal Leshan Buddha, a 1,300-year-old, 71-meter-tall sculpture so big that an adult person would easily fit on its smallest toenail. The Buddha, built in AD 713 by a Chinese monk named Haitong to calm the river waters, was crafted from a cliff face. So much stone from the carving process fell into the river below that it did, indeed, calm the area’s waters.

Leshan is an exquisite UNESCO world heritage site that is not to be missed for its impressive size and beautiful surrounding area. Be aware that Leshan is a popular tourist destination that invites many domestic tourists. However, the beauty and history of the Buddha is worth the crowds.

Your Flight Back Home

Your WildChina guide will escort you to the airport and help you check in for your flight home.