Giant panda cub climbing a tree in Sichuan

5 DAYS · CHENGDU · QINGCHENG MOUNTAIN

Sichuan: pandas and Taoist wisdom

Volunteer with pandas at Dujiangyan, then hike sacred Qingcheng Mountain.

5 days

Chengdu round trip

4 nights

Two handpicked hotels

Year round

Best in spring and autumn

Minimum 2

Privately guided throughout

Introduction

A journey through Chengdu's culture, its pandas and Taoist Qingcheng Mountain.

Nestled within the lush Sichuan basin lies a vibrant tapestry of history, culture and spirituality. The journey begins in Chengdu, renowned for its fiery flavours and the mysterious Shu Kingdom, where ancient lanes, museums and a face-changing performance reveal the city's layered past.

From there, travel to the tranquil Dujiangyan Panda Reserve, where you will embrace the opportunity to volunteer alongside these beloved creatures. A soul-nourishing exploration follows at the mystical Mount Qingcheng, steeped in Taoist spirituality and ancient wisdom.

Why advisors choose this journey.

Top-tier boutique stays
A stylish stay in top-tier boutique accommodations.
Volunteer with pandas
Unique opportunity to volunteer at a panda reserve.
Face-changing performance
VIP seat at the magical face-changing performance.
Off the beaten path
Explore the less-visited ancient Guanxian old town and bamboo village.
Sichuan's culinary kingdom
Insightful dining recommendations and authentic Sichuan food in this culinary kingdom.

Day by day

Full Itinerary.

ChengduD1–3
Qingcheng MountainD3–5

Airport to hotel

Upon arrival at Chengdu Shuangliu airport, you will be transferred approximately 20 km (12.5 miles) / 40 minutes to your accommodation. (If departing from Tianfu International Airport, the drive to the hotel takes around 1.5 hours.)

Local teahouse keeper pouring tea in Kuanzhai Alley, Chengdu

Into the alleys of Kuanzhai Xiangzi

Explore the alleys and lanes of Kuanzhai Xiangzi (Wide/Narrow Alley). Comprising three lanes and 45 courtyards, this bustling district dates to the times of the Qing dynasty. You can find local handicrafts, restaurants and food stalls here.

Welcome dinner and Bian Lian performance

Celebrate your welcome dinner in traditional Chengdu style with a hot pot dinner in Kuanzhai. Thereafter, let us treat you to a unique Sichuan performance art known as Bian Lian (VIP seat). The performers wear vivid masks, which change from one face to another almost instantaneously with the swipe of a fan.

Overnight: Chengdu
Meals: No meals included

Sanxingdui: mystery of the Shu Kingdom

Visit the Sanxingdui Museum, featuring more than 1,500 exhibits unearthed from the Sanxingdui Ruins archaeological site. Learn about the mysterious culture of the ancient Shu Kingdom from over 4,000 years ago.

Gold bronze mask artefacts at the Sanxingdui Museum

A poet's cottage and Jinli Street

Explore the cottage of the poet Du Fu, one of the literary lights of the Tang dynasty. The cottage, where he lived from 760 to 764 and wrote 240 poems, has been rebuilt many times but still reflects the simplicity of his life.

Conclude with a walk along Jinli Street, a charming alley 550 meters in length designed in the style of the Shuhan period and fully renovated in 2024. The shops and restaurants feature all manner of local handicrafts and cuisine, making this one of the most visited sites in Chengdu.

Overnight: Chengdu
Meals: Breakfast included

Chengdu to Qingcheng Mountain with sightseeing

You will be transferred to Qingcheng Mountain with sightseeing stops along the way.

Aerial view of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and river

Dujiangyan and bamboo weaving

Marvel at the construction of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a UNESCO heritage site built in 256 BC that led to significant irrigation and agricultural development of the region.

Next, you will stop at Yangtianwo Plaza and Guanxian Old Town before continuing to Daoming Village. Exhibiting a strong rural atmosphere, Daoming Village offers a vernacular intangible cultural heritage of bamboo weaving. Learn about this bamboo project, which integrates local lifestyle with ecology, culture and industry.

Overnight: Qingcheng Mountain
Meals: Breakfast included

Be a panda keeper

We will spend half a day at Dujiangyan Reserve to volunteer as panda keepers. Clean the enclosure, prepare bamboo to feed the pandas and make panda cakes. Enjoy an exclusive visit to the panda base with a conservation expert, from whom you will learn about the on-the-ground process of reintroducing pandas to their natural habitat and the history of the project.

Giant panda cub resting in a tree at the Dujiangyan reserve

Taoism in Qingcheng Mountain

In the afternoon we head to Qingcheng Mountain (UNESCO), one of the most famous Taoist mountains, covered by verdant trees and pilgrimage temples that are seemingly carved into the thick forest of bamboo trees and caves, where you will take a boat ride and hike with your guide.

Overnight: Qingcheng Mountain
Meals: Breakfast included

Hotel to airport

You will be transferred in time to Chengdu airport for your onwards journey.

Meals: Breakfast included

Hotel information

Where you will stay.

In Chengdu

One recommended stay

The Upper House

Chengdu · Studio 60, 60 sq m / 646 sq ft

Inside the walls of the old Daci Temple, in the heart of Chengdu

We chose The Upper House because it sits within the grounds of the historic Daci Temple, its restored Qing-dynasty courtyard buildings woven directly into the hotel's contemporary design. It gives guests a rare sense of old Chengdu just steps from Taikoo Li's shopping and dining, and the rooftop pool and spa are a genuine draw after a day of sightseeing. We recommend the Studio 60 for its generous layout and calm, understated interiors. As a Preferred Hotels & Resorts member, service standards are consistently excellent.

Good to know

Built around a restored Qing-dynasty courtyard at the entrance to Daci Temple.
The 'Stepping Stones' facade echoes Sichuan's terraced hillsides.
TIVANO, the hotel's Italian restaurant, is among the best in Southwest China.

Visit hotel website →

Restored gray-brick gateway entrance to The Upper House, Chengdu

Studio guest room with latticed screen and city view at The Upper House

Aerial view of the Daci Temple quarter around The Upper House at dusk

In Qingcheng Mountain

One recommended stay

Six Senses Qingcheng Mountain

Qingcheng Mountain · Six Senses Suite, 79 sq m / 850 sq ft

At the picturesque gateway to the Qingcheng Mountains

Six Senses draws on its trademark approach to responsible luxury here, with regional architecture and landscaping woven into a resort right at the foot of Taoism's sacred peak. It is the natural place to unwind after the panda volunteering and mountain hike, with the brand's usual wellness focus and locally rooted dining. We recommend the Six Senses Suite for the extra living space and mountain outlook.

Good to know

Located exactly at the gateway to the trails of sacred Qingcheng Mountain.
An organic garden supplies the farm-to-table restaurants and the spa.
Recycled wood and local stone evoke the feel of an ancient Sichuan village.

Visit hotel website →

Timber and gray-brick entrance pavilion at Six Senses Qingcheng Mountain

Six Senses Suite with canopied bed and vaulted timber ceiling

Tai chi practice in the ginkgo gardens at Six Senses Qingcheng Mountain

Aerial view of Six Senses Qingcheng Mountain among forested hills

Outdoor terrace dining area at Six Senses Qingcheng Mountain

Official quotation

Rates & what is included.

The indicative cost covers the full journey for the party size shown. The single supplement applies only when one guest occupies a room alone. All rates in CNY.

Hotel selection

Indicative cost per person

Single supplement

The Upper House · Chengdu · Studio 60, 60 sq m / 646 sq ft
Six Senses Qingcheng Mountain · Qingcheng Mountain · Six Senses Suite, 79 sq m / 850 sq ft

Indicative cost per person

CNY 21,500

Min. 2

CNY 16,500

Min. 4

Single supplement

CNY 6,700

Based on 2 guests sharing twin rooms. Minimum 2 guests to operate. Single supplement added only for single-room occupancy. All rates in CNY.

What's included

Accommodation on twin sharing basis in hotels as stated, on bed & breakfast basis
All transportation & transfers on an air-conditioned minivan
English-speaking guide
All entrance fees as stated

What's not included

International airfare
Lunches & dinners
Beverages in restaurants where meals are included
Gratuities
Personal expenses, e.g. telephone bill & laundry
Visa
Travel insurance

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