5 Day Chengdu Dujiangyan Highlights Tour with One Day Giant Panda Base Volunteering Work

Today is flexible for your flight or train arrival at Chengdu – hometown of Giant Pandas. Our tour guide will pick you up at Shuangliu International Airport or Chengdu Railway Station, then bring you to your hotel.

If you get to Chengdu early, we can also arrange an extra activity in the afternoon, such asvisit Jinshan Museum, or take a relaxing walking in a local park.

Today, firstly take a trip to the Sanxingdui Site Museum. It is an archeological museum featured with Bronze Age civilization about 3000 years to 5000 years ago. The excavation site is believed to be the former capital of Ancient Shu Kingdom. The discoveries since 1920s have raised a lot of myths about itself and the possible separated civilization origin from central China. The famous discoveries include the huge bronze mask, the big bronze tree and some gold masks. It is said Sanxingdui has slept for thousand years before it woke up and amazed the world. Sanxingdui Museum is located about 50km northeast to Chengdu. The items found at Sanxingdui have been exhibited through out the world.

In the afternoon, take a short visit to the most sacred Buddhist temple in Chengdu city – Wenshu Temple which is already more than 1400 years old. Appreciate the grandiose temples, chapels in the monastery, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Buddhism. Then go to visit the busiest local park in Chengdu – Renmin Park which is featured in rich folk activities and leisure living style.

After having supper, take a pleasant walking in the fabulous Jinli Old Street to explore the ancient tradition of Chengdu.

Get up early, and your tour guide will take you to Dujiangyan City which is only about 50km away from Chengdu. The Giant Panda Base is another 18km from Dujiangyan City as the only panda base in China that has Panda Volunteer project open to the public at present. Today, you will take part in a full day's project in the base, including: A) Prepare food for the pandas, B) Clean the panda enclosure one or two times before the feeding, each time takes about 40 minutes. This is very interesting.

While during the free time, you can visit the red panda enclosure, hike to the tea farm in the park, watch panda documentaries. If there is child involved, you can consider making panda bread or attending a panda lecture.

Last, drive to Dujiangyan City for accommodation.

This morning's activity is a educational and intresting visit to the famous Dujiangyan Ancient Irrigation System which is coveniently situated in the city conner. About 2,200 years ago, Chengdu was threatened by the frequent floods caused by the flooding of the Minjiang River. So the local official of the Shu state, Li Bing, together with his son, decided to construct an irrigation system on the River t prevent flooding. After a lengthy study and years’ hard work by the local people, the great Dujiangyan Irrigation Project was completed. Nowadays, the project still plays a crucial role in draining off floodwater, irrigating farms and providing water resources for more than 50 cities in Sichuan province.

In the afternoon, you will leave Dujiangyan City to visit Qingchengshan Mountain. It is one of the ancient cradles of Taoist in China. Many fabulous ancient Taoist temples sit along the path ascending to the top, such as the Jianfu Temple built during Tang Dynasty, Tianshi Cave which is the temple and school of Zhang Daolin, a famous Taoist master who taught here and contributed greatly to spreading Taoism in China, Sangqing Temple originally established in the Jin Dynasty, etc.

Qingcheng Mountain is also famous fot its secluded tranquility. The name ’Qingcheng’ means Green Town in Chinese, for it is lush and green all year around. It is surrounded by countless peaks and densely covered by ancient threes. The posterior Mt. Qingcheng is noted for its paradisiacal scenery, while the anterior mountains is famous for its numerous cultural and historic sites.

After the sightseeing, drive back to Chengdu, and take a good rest.

After breakfast, you will be taken to catch your flight to next destination.

Tips: optional activities can be arranged for you if your flight or train schedule is in the late afternoon or evening.