2-Day Chengdu Panda & Mount Emei Tour: Leshan Buddha included

Pandas at dawn, a towering Buddha carved into stone, and a mountain trek ending on a bullet train

This 2-day tour from Chengdu combines the Panda Research Base, the Leshan Giant Buddha, and Mount Emei in a single itinerary. Day one starts with a morning visit to see adult, sub-adult and baby pandas, then drives to Leshan to walk the Buddha from head to toes before settling at the mountain's base. Day two ascends to Golden Summit by cable car, visits Huazang Temple, treks through the middle zone temples and monkey habitat, then returns to Chengdu by bullet train in 1.5 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Buddha

• Transfer to Chengdu Panda Base
• Visit adult and baby pandas
• Drive to Leshan Giant Buddha with lunch
• Explore Leshan Giant Buddha mountain
• Travel to foot of Mt. Emei
• Sightsee and dine at Gourmet Street

Day 2: Mount Emei and Return to Chengdu

• Ascend to Golden Submit by bus and cable car
• Visit Huazang Temple and view scenery
• Take bus down to Wannian Temple
• Trek scenic zone to WuxianGang
• Take bullet train back to Chengdu

The experience

The tour begins with a 7am hotel pickup and a two-hour drive to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. You'll spend the morning watching pandas eat bamboo and play in their enclosures (adults, younger animals and cubs all in separate areas) before heading south toward Leshan. The drive takes about two hours with lunch included, arriving at the 71-meter Leshan Giant Buddha carved into a cliff face. You can walk the entire figure from the head down to the enormous toes, or take a boat across the river for a view from the water. By evening you're at the foot of Mount Emei, staying overnight in the Baoguo Temple area near the Gourmet Street.

Day two climbs the mountain by bus and cable car to Golden Summit, where Huazang Temple sits among cloud-covered peaks and forest. A sightseeing bus brings you down to Wannian Temple in the middle zone, and from there you trek the scenic path through Qingyin Pavilion and the monkey habitat, walking downhill to Wuxian Gang. The trek covers the mountain's most visited temples and viewpoints without the crowds that fill the upper reaches. By 6pm you board the bullet train back to Chengdu, arriving at the railway station by 8pm.

Your guide speaks English and Mandarin throughout. The tour includes all entrance fees, the sightseeing bus inside the national park, breakfast, one night's hotel, and all transport, though the cable car up to Golden Summit (120 RMB) is separate, as are lunches and dinners. Comfortable walking shoes matter: day two involves several hours of trekking on mountain paths.

What’s included

• English and Mandarin bilingual guide service.
• private vehicle transfer for the full tour.
• breakfast.
• sightseeing bus inside Mount Emei National Park.
• all entrance fees.
• one night hotel accommodation at Mount Emeishan.
• highway tolls, fuel and parking.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (8 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 7 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by China Tour Company

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Chengdu with two days free and want to see the pandas, a major Buddhist monument and a mountain in one trip. The overnight stay on Mount Emei lets you experience both the summit and the middle-zone temples without rushing, and the bullet train back keeps the second day from running late into evening.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 7 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 6 days before the start.

What's it like to see the pandas at the Chengdu Research Base?

The base keeps pandas in separate areas by age, so you'll see adults, younger animals and cubs in their own rooms. The morning visit from 9am to 11:30am catches them active and eating bamboo, which is when they're most visible.

Can I get a close-up view of the Leshan Giant Buddha?

Yes. You walk the entire carved figure from the head down to the toes over 2.5 hours, which is the closest way to see the scale. If you prefer distance, you can take a boat across the river to view it from the water instead.

How much walking happens on Mount Emei?

Day two involves a trek of several hours through the middle zone after you descend from Golden Summit by sightseeing bus. The path connects Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, the monkey habitat and other temples before you walk downhill to the train station: a moderate but sustained walk on mountain terrain.

What happens if I don't want to pay extra for the cable car to Golden Summit?

The cable car to Golden Summit costs 120 RMB and is optional. If you skip it, you can start your day two trek from a lower point, though you'll miss the summit views and Huazang Temple.

How does the bullet train back to Chengdu work?

After your trek, you take the bullet train from the mountain area back to Chengdu Railway Station, arriving in 1.5 hours. This is included in the tour and ends your day two by 8pm.