7 Days Sichuan World Heritage with Dazu Rock Carvings Tour

Full Itinerary Day by day (Can Be Customized)

Day 1 Chengdu Arrival

Welcome to Chengdu, the hometown of Giant Pandas! Clear the customs and retrieve your baggage by yourself upon arrival, be greeted by our tour guide in the Arrival Hall who is holding a sign on which says your name. A comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel. Your guide will help you check in. The rest of today is yours to enjoy the leisurely life pace of this city on your own.

Day 2 Chengdu City (B, L)

This morning you will make a stirring visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding which is not only the most important panda scientific research center, but also dwelling home for more than 100 Giant Pandas. Walk at leisure through the bamboo framed paths, and closely observe giant pandas of different ages eating bamboos, playing with each other, tumbling, climbing trees, etc. Don’t miss the chance to watch female pandas nursing their cubs in the nursery rooms. There is also a very informative Panda Museum for you to learn more scientific facts about Giant Pandas.

Following the pandas, you will be taken to a hidden spiritual Buddhist temple in the hustling downtown of Chengdu – Wenshu Temple. Marvel at the exquisite Buddhist architecture, soak in the reverent atmosphere, and wander on the peaceful paths.

Chengdu is famous for its relaxing and leisure pace throughout China, which will be proved after a stay in Renmin Park. Sit down, order a pot of Chinese tea, make a casual chat with your friends and watching locals indulging themselves in different kinds of folk entertainment – napping in a lively teahouse, playing mahjong, disco dancing, neck massage, ear cleaning… Next is an impressive trip to the famous Jinli Old Street. Time steals away from you quietly while walking on the lively streets which are full of delicious local snacks, delicate artifacts, interesting folk shows, etc.

Day 3 Chengdu - Leshan - Emeishan (B, L)

In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel, then be driven about 2 hours from Chengdu to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Leshan Giant Buddha which is the largest and tallest stone-carved statue of Buddha in the world. It was carved during AD713~803 on a mountain rock cliff by the river, with its head reaching to the mountain top and its feet standing next to the river. The total height is 71m; while the head is 14.7m high and 10m wide, ear is 7meters high, 28 meters between knees and insteps. Its insteps can hold over a hundred people. You may be wondering why such a giant Buddha was built? It is said to have been built to calm the turbulent waters that plagued passing boats and killed many people each year in ancient time. On the right cliff of the Giant Buddha, there is a plank road built along with the Giant Buddha. From the top to foot, the plank road has nine turns, thus it’s called Nine Bends Plank Road. The widest part of the road is 1.45m and the narrowest part is only 0.6m, and there are 217 stone steps in total. You will walk down to the feet of the Giant Buddha for a closer view. Please note you may have to queue up to enter the stone stairway if you visit the Giant Buddha during the busy hours.

After the Giant Buddha visit, drive about 45mins to Baoguo Temple, the biggest temple of Mount Emei at the mountain foot. It has several serene gardens with rare plants, a library of sutras and a huge porcelain Buddha. Another famous historical relic in the temple is the 25-ton bronze Bell, reputedly as the second largest bell in China. While traveling deeper into the temple, you will enjoy different views of Mount Emei.

Lastly, drive to check in your hotel. Have a good rest for tomorrow's Mount Emei trip which has some walkings involved.

Recommended Optional Activity: take a 30 minutes’ sightseeing boat to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Giant Buddha on the river.

Day 4 Emeishan - Zigong (B)

Today in the morning, get up early to appreciate the beautiful sunrise. At the highest peak of the mountain, you will be amazed by the awe-inspiring view of Huazang Temple and witness the breathtaking sea of clouds if it’s sunny.

Next, go down to Wannian Temple parking lot by car. Take a cable car up to Wannian Temple at the middle of the mountain. Appreciate the most beautiful landscape of Mt. Emei in Qingyin Pavilion as you hike from Wannian Temple to Wuxiangang parking lot.

After the tour in Emei, drive to Salt City - Zigong for night.

Day 5 Zigong – Chongqing (B, L)

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. On this day, you’ll visit three must-see of Zigong City - Zigong Salt Industry History Museum, Shenhai Well and Zigong Dinosaur Museum. After the city tour in Zigong, drive to Dazu County in Chongqing. Overnight in Dazu County.

Zigong Salt Industry History Museum, situated in the Western Shaanxi Guild Hall, is an icon and a cultural symbol of Zigong. It is considered to be a gem of Chinese architecture as well as a cultural relic of Sichuan history of salt industry.

Dug in 1835 with a shaft 1,001.42m long, Shenhai Well was the world’s first manually sunk well over a kilometer deep. It’s laid out exactly like what it used to: a typical Qing-style salt well of the early 19th century. It is by far China’s only salt well operated with the traditional technique, producing both brine and natural gas.

Zigong Dinosaur Museum is the first specialized museum of dinosaurs in China. It has been rated “World’s Best Dinosaur Museum” by the National Geographic Magazine for it has collected and exhibited the largest number of Jurassic-dinosaur fossils. There is the reversion of Emei Dinosaur which is about 10 meters high in the exhibition hall.

After sightseeing, take a 1.5-hour high-speed train to Chongqing, where your local guide and driver will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.

Day 6 Chongqing - Dazu - Chongqing (B, L)

Good morning! After breakfast, you will be met by your guide and driver at your hotel and then escorted to visit Dazu Rock Carvings at the northwest suburb of Chongqing with about 2 hours’ riding.

Earliest in 1999, Dazu Rock Carvings had been listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site for its historical significance, rich themes, and delicate carvings, which reflecting the social daily life as well as the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. During this side trip, we shall make a full exploration at the top 2 clusters: Baodingshan Rock Carvings and Beishan Rock Carvings.

Baodingshan Scenic Area is normally the first stop and the best highlight of Dazu Rock Carvings’ Exploration. Watching two digital films (optional experience with extra payment) regarding the history, development, and masterpieces of Dazu Rock Carvings will give first-time visitors a clear view of what to see and expect in this scenic area. After the film, tourists can take the sightseeing buses to get to the top highlight of Baodingshan Scenic Area, Dafowan, where most representative works of Baodingshan rock carvings are situated. Leaving Dafowan, along the excursion trail, you will pass by Wansui Tower and Xiaofuwan to reach the Shengshou Temple. The buildings along the path are antique in style. Here, travelers are also recommended to glance back at the Big Buddha Bay, which definitely will bring a different view.

After visiting the Baoding Rock Carvings, your next stop is the Beishan Scenic Area.

Although not as large and visually striking as the Baodingshan Rock Carvings, rock carvings at Beishan Scenic Area were built earlier, yet they are of irreplaceable significance to the explorer who has a greater willingness to engage with the history of China’s grottoes. As locals often say, “The professionals know the ropes from Beishan Rock Carvings”. One of the critical ropes narrating the beginning of the construction of Dazu Rock Carvings was collected at the Buddhist Bay (Fowan). It is an inconspicuous stone tablet from the Tang Dynasty, “Weijunjing Stele”, which meticulously records all crucial moments in the development of Dazu Rock Carvings. Moreover, you can see representative statues of the earliest constructions in the style of the glorious age of the Tang Dynasty, including Niche No. 5, the Vaisravana Devaraja, as well as diverse and exquisite statues of Guanyin, such as Avalokitesvara with a Rosary in Niche No. 125, and the most extensive and artistically crafted Niche No. 136 - “Wheel of the Sutra Collection,” which significantly projects the folk belief attribute of Beishan Grottoes. Beishan Scenic Area is not large; Fowan is presented in a semi-circular shape, divided into two districts, and the overall visiting time is 1-1.5 hours. With enough time and physical strength, after appreciating the cliff statues, you can climb up to the opposite peak to worship the twin Buddhas under the Duobao Pagoda, which takes another 15-20 minutes of mountain road walk.

Finally, drive back to Chongqing city and be sent to your hotel in Chongqing downtown. Have a great rest! (You can decide whether to enjoy dinner at Hongya Cave or directly be escorted to your hotel.)

Day 7 Chongqing & Chongqing Departure (B, L)

On this day, the tour first goes to the Eling Park to have a birds-eye-view of the whole city. It is one of the old private gardens in Chongqing, built in late Qing Dynasty around 1909 AD.

Then, followed a trip to Ciqikou Old Town. It was Chongqing's old harbor and was once the home of many of Chongqing's rich merchants, where you can still see lots of Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, local shops, tea houses, local Sichuan street performance and so on.

The last stop of the day is the famous Three Gorges Museum - the largest monographic museum. The exterior of the museum has cambered walls and vitreous dome, representing the history & culture of Three Gorges Project and its origins.

After the tour, transfer to the airport or port for your departure flight or Yangtze Three Gorges cruise. (Note: the cruise boarding time changes based on the ships, season, water level, weather, etc.)

The quotation for this trip is from $1045 Per Person

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2026.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.

How Our Teams Serve you at China Discovery

"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

1-on-1 Travel Consultant

Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!

After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

Local Drivers & Vehicle

Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!

Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.

All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Hi Wonder,

All is good! Only my father get tired very easily, so today we skip a little bit of the programma and got back to the hotel a little bit earlier. But overall everything is good!

The tour was also good, we saw everything we wanted to see… and everything went by smoothly. Only the distance is the problem… everything is so far away.

1 week is a good choice for us, because at the end of the trip, my father and aunt had enough of the travelling. And I even thought to go to Kashgar… maybe we do it next time only Xinjiang. My father couldn’t go to some places in Zhangye, so he wait at the entrance with the tour guide while my aunt and me were wandering around.

Vanessa

Vanessa‚ Netherlands, June 13, 2025

Hi Tammy,

Now safely back in London after a wonderful time in China.

We thoroughly enjoyed the Victoria Jenna cruise and although we did not upgrade our cabin, as it was perfectly fine, we did upgrade the dining option as it meant we could have our own table for two in the upper dining room (rather than sharing a large table for 10 people in the large dining room) plus the food choice was larger and wine was included with lunch and dinner. Highly recommend that option.

Xi’an was terrific and we really enjoyed everything you organized and our guide Jenny was great and so knowledgeable.

Over the long weekend in between we also travelled with our daughter to Hangzhou and then on to Suzhou both very interesting and pretty.

As you know we upgraded the train to Xi’an to first class which I think was well worth doing as the train back from Yichang was comfortable but very busy and noisy for Western people, and also many people were making their own pot noodles etc so my recommendation would be to travel first class on trains (rather than flying) because you see so much of the country and the stations are well organized and trains very comfortable with lots of space and no hanging around it airports.

Thank you for all your help Tammy, excellent work and I will certainly contact you again when we return (we have a two year visa) so will return so we can visit Guilin and that area.

Take care and thanks again.

Maggie

Maggie ‚ Britain, June 13, 2025

Dear Wonder:

Evolution feedback as below,

1. Very quick, impressive, Wonder took care of every detail, any doubt any concern responding in a very proper, clear a positive way.

2. Everything was perfect, well coordinated, all the guides were on time, very nice people all, service was outstanding, all reservations were made perfectly. Wonder did a perfect job.

3. I am currently recommending Chengdu Bamboo International Tours to every person I know.

4. General opinion: perfect, great service, impressive the clearness of the information, quick response and open to explore alternatives and to mofify the original tour proposed.

Hector

Hector‚ Mexico, June 12, 2025

Dear Mrs. Yang,

We are overwhelmed about the team here, your support in the backoffice and the great scenes on the tour. Unfortunately the tour ends already tomorrow morning but we will enjoy it up to the last minute.

Again, thank you for organizing.

best regards

Bernd

Bernd‚ Germany, June 12, 2025

Rita,

We enjoyed our trip and especially the studio apartment in Chongqing.

1. Tour arrangements were good and not too tiring.

2. Yes, I definitely can recommend to my friends.

3. No further suggestion for CQ tour - 2 days for CQ attractions and 1 day at Dazu Rocks are sufficient.

Thanks

Peter

Peter‚ Malaysia, June 10, 2025

Check What our customers are saying about us on Tripadvisor.com

We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years!

Richard

"This is my 3rd group trip with China Discovery planned by Jack Li. A wonderful itinerary of 19days/18days from Guilin, to Guizhou and Hunan..." read more »

Reviewed on April 30, 2025

13Kripy

"We contacted this tour group based on Trip Advisor reviews. We were not disappointed. We organised a private custom tour for the two of us with a guide to best use the time that we had at each destination..." read more »

Reviewed on June 15, 2025