8 Days China Silk Road Tour with Chengdu Panda
Tour Overview
This 8-day China Silk Road trip takes you through iconic destinations from Chengdu to Dunhuang. Beginning in Chengdu, you will visit the famous Giant Panda Base and exploring local attractions. Marvel at the Leshan Giant Buddha and the sacred Mt. Emei.
In Xi’an, discover the Terracotta Warriors and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Experience the desert landscapes of Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring in Dunhuang, then explore the ancient Mogao Caves, home to priceless Buddhist art.
Highlights of this tour
- Get up close to the adorable giant pandas and observe their playful, lazy lifestyle.
- Stroll along Jinli Old Street to feel the lively atmosphere.
- Marvel at the world’s largest stone Buddha, carved into a cliff.
- Enjoy panoramic views of the cloud sea from the summit of Mt. Emei.
- Witness the life-sized Terracotta soldiers.
- Explore this iconic Buddhist structure – Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
- Experience the desert wonder of Mingsha Mountain and the peaceful Crescent Spring.
- Admire the ancient priceless murals and Buddhist artifacts at Mogao Caves.
Basic Trip Information
Travel Route: Chengdu-Leshan-Emei-Xian-Dunhuang
Travel Length: 8 Days and 7 Nights
Tour Code:
Group Size: Only your family or group
Suitable for: Culture & history lovers, adventurers
Departure: Any day you want
Your tour – quick look
Day 1-2 Arrival & Chengdu Tour
Spend one day visiting the highlights of Chengdu city including Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Renmin Park, Wuhou Temple, and taste local snacks on Jinli Street.
Day 3-4 Leshan and Emei Mountain Tour
Pay a visit to the China’s largest stone Buddha – Leshan Giant Buddha before traveling to the foot of the Emei Mountain. Take a cable car up to the summit to learn about the Buddhist culture and enjoy the sea of clouds. After that, go back to Chengdu.
Day 5-6 Flight to Xian, Xian Tour
Two full-day exploration of the most popular attractions in Xian such as Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Street, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Day 7-8 Flight to Dunhuang, Departure
In the morning, take a flight to Dunhuang and experience desert fun in Echoing-Sand Mountain and Crescent Lake. Also, visit the Mogao Grottoes and Dunhuang Museum to learn about the region’s history and culture.
Day-to-day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Chengdu
Welcome to the 8 days Silk Road trip from Chengdu! Upon arrival, our private guide will wait for you at the airport exit by holding a welcome sign with your name on it. Then you will be driven to the hotel to check in. The rest day is free for your disposal
Meal: N/A
Accommodation: in Chengdu
Day 2 Chengdu Panda Tour
Observe the Daily Life of the Lovely Pandas
After the hotel breakfast, we will start the Chengdu tour with the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, one of the leading protecting and breeding bases for endangered wildlife in China. Tourists would see the lovely giant panda nearby and observe its daily life. Besides the giant pandas, there are also other popular wild animals like red pandas, mandarin ducks, and peacocks.
Finishing the visit, take a walk in Renmin Park to see and feel live in Chengdu. There are also quite a few ancient-styled buildings with local taste.
Continue your exploration of Wuhou Temple, dedicated to the heroes of Shu Han periods, such as Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang. It was first built over 1,700 years ago. Here, there are red walls and green tiles, towering ancient trees, and every stone monument and statue tells the story of the Three Kingdoms (220-280).
At last, stroll around the Jinli Old Street, located next to the Wuhou Temple. The ancient street is based on the architectural style of the late Qing Dynasty, integrating the culture of the Three Kingdoms and the traditional folk culture of Sichuan. On both sides of the street, there are many shops selling various specialty snacks and handicrafts. If you are interested, you can enjoy Sichuan opera performances.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Chengdu
Day 3 Chengdu to Leshan Tour
Witness the Largest Stone Giant Buddha in the World
After hotel breakfast, pick you up from the hotel and drive for 2 hours to Leshan to admire the Leshan Giant Buddha. The Buddha was carved on the cliff which stands at the joint point of the Daduhe River, Qingyijiang River, and Minjiang River. The 71-meter-high Buddha figure is the largest inscription on precipices in China.
Afterward, drive about half an hour to Mt. Emei. On Mt. Emei there is Baoguo Temple. That temple is the Buddhist activity center of Mt Emei. On the main gate of the temple, there hangs a board with the Chinese Character报国寺. The grand Baoguo temple consists of Maitreya Hall, Main Hall, Seven Buddhas Hall, and Samantabhadra Hall. Finally, go downhill and stay overnight in a hotel at the foot of the mountain.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: at the Foot of Mt. Emei
Day 4 Emei Mountain Tour, Back to Chengdu
Enjoy the Cloud Sea & Golden Pagoda on the Summit
Today, we will continue to explore Mt. Emei. First take the scenic shuttle bus to arrive at Leidongping. From here we will hike for 1.5 km to arrive at Jieyin Hall. From Jieyin Hall we will take a cable car to go up to Golden Peak where lies best attractions of Mt. Emei are.
On Golden Peak, tourists will have a chance to see the cloud sea, Buddhist light, etc.
Then we will go downhill to the parking lot and from there take a cable car to visit Wannian Temple, one of the oldest temples in Emei Mountain. Then, admire the beautiful scenery of the mountain in Qingyin Pavilion and finish visiting here. Going down to mountain foot by shuttle bus and go back to hotel in Chengdu.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Chengdu
Day 5 Chengdu to Xian Tour by Flight
Explore the Landmarks of Xian from Street to Pagoda
After breakfast, check out the hotel in Chengdu and transfer to the airport for a flight to Xian. Upon arrival in Xian, met by local driver and guide and transferred to visit the Great Mosque in the city center.
Before visiting the Great Mosque we will take a walk at Muslim Street where you will meet lots of local food and little tourist souvenirs. At the end of Muslim Street is the Great Mosque, the major worship place for Muslims in Xian. Unlike Mosques in other countries, this Mosque is built with a typical Chinese style.
Last, come to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, which is a worship place for Buddhists. The pagoda was originally built to hold sutras and figurines of the Buddha that Xuanzang brought back to China from India. Now the Big Wild Goose Pagoda has been built into a big garden, where people can have a retreat. After the tour in Xian, escort you to the hotel for check-in.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xi’an
Day 6 Xian Terracotta Army Tour
Marvel at the Life-sized Clay Warriors
Your private tour guide will pick you up from the hotel lobby in the morning. Then after a short visit to Terracotta Figures Factory which focuses on reproduction of Terracotta figures, you will be directly transferred to the Terracotta Warriors and Horses.
Known as “the Eighth Wonder of the World”, the museum shows a surprisingly high level of sculpture, which is the most significant discovery of the 20th century. The splendid scene and format will leave you with an impressive memory.
After lunch, continue visiting the Xian Ancient City Wall. It is the most completely preserved and the largest city wall in China. It was built for the military defense in the ancient time. Since it is cycling the city, visitors can ride a bike around the city wall (optional, at your own expense). After that, go back to your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Xi’an
Day 7 Xian to Dunhuang Tour by Flight
Experience the Fun of Desert with Optional Activities
After breakfast, end your Xi’an tour. The driver will take you to the airport and fly to Dunhuang, the essence of the ancient Silk Road. After landing, meet your tour guide and begin your Dunhuang trip at Mingsha Mountain, a desert wonder. The sand here makes a sound when it is blown by the wind, hence its name.
Crescent Spring is surrounded by Mingsha Mountain and has a shape resembling a crescent moon. The spring water is as clear as jade, enduring thousands of years of wind and sand without being exhausted. You can experience the fun of sand skating. Also, you can pay extra to ride a camel.
After the visit, you will be escorted to downtown area to check in at the hotel.
Meal: Breakfast + Lunch
Accommodation: in Dunhuang
Day 8 Departure from Dunhuang
Appreciate Buddhist Grotto Art at the Mogao Caves
Today, continue your Silk Road tour of Dunhuang at the most notable attraction, the Mogao Caves, which is one of the four most famous caves in China. The grottoes, also known as Caves of the Thousand Buddha, preserve nearly a thousand years of Buddhist cave temple architecture, clay sculpture, mural paintings, and manuscripts, dating from the 5th to the 14th centuries.
In the Tourist Reception Center, which functions as the Digital Exhibition Center now, tourists will see two 20-minute-long digital movies to have an overall understanding of the Silk Road Tour. Later, be guided to visit the Dunhuang Museum to get more detailed and overall knowledge of Dunhuang.
After that, you will be escorted to the airport for the flight departing Dunhuang. The service for 8-day private Silk Road trip ends here.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: N/A
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