The Complete Chengdu Surrounds

Leave Chengdu early for the Leshan Giant Buddha, a monumental Tang-dynasty carving built into the cliffs of Lingyun Mountain. Facing the meeting point of the Min, Dadu and Qingyi rivers, the statue reveals the close relationship between Buddhist belief, ancient water transport and the hope of calming dangerous currents. During the visit, appreciate its immense scale and look closely at the stone-carving details.

Continue into Ya'an's tea-growing region and visit Niunianping Tea Garden, where orderly rows of tea bushes spread across the hillsides — sharply layered on clear days, softer and more atmospheric in the mist. A walk through the plantation introduces Ya'an's humid, misty growing conditions and its long local tradition of tea drinking.

In the late afternoon, continue to Ya'an and settle into the hotel, ready for the following day's panda experience at Bifengxia.

After breakfast, visit Bifengxia Panda Base, set within a lush, densely forested mountain valley. The setting offers a chance to observe giant pandas of different ages in a relatively natural environment while learning about their diet, daily behavior and the base's conservation and breeding work. Panda activity varies with the weather and individual routines, so the order of the visit may be adjusted to make the most of conditions on the day.

Continue into Bifengxia Right Gorge for a scenic walk through one of Ya'an's characteristic mountain landscapes. Stone paths follow streams beneath dense vegetation, passing waterfalls, steep rock walls and narrow sections of the gorge. The walk reveals how the area's humid climate supports its rich forest ecosystem, and the distance can be adjusted according to the group's energy.

In the afternoon, travel to Dujiangyan and begin a walking route around Yulei Mountain. Pass the City God Temple area and follow the hillside path into Guanxian Ancient City, combining wooded views with traditional lanes and glimpses of everyday local life. After dark, visit Nanqiao Bridge and the nearby riverfront, where illuminated water flowing beneath the bridge creates the vivid blue night view popularly nicknamed Dujiangyan's "Blue Tears."

Spend the final day exploring the Taoist heritage of Mount Qingcheng. Follow a cultural hiking route toward Yuqing Temple and Yuanming Temple, where forest paths connect quiet religious sites hidden among dense greenery. Along the way, learn about Mount Qingcheng's place in the development of Chinese Taoism and notice how temple architecture, sacred images and daily practices express Taoist ideas about nature, balance and simplicity.

Continue through the main scenic area, walking among old trees, stone steps and traditional temples at a relaxed pace.

The experience concludes with an introductory Tai Chi session. Simple movements, weight shifts and breathing exercises provide an accessible way to experience a living Chinese wellness tradition rather than only hearing about it. Return to Chengdu in the late afternoon or evening.