2-Day Chengdu Panda Tour: Giant Pandas & Leshan Buddha

See pandas at 9 a.m. when they're most active, then pick your own Chengdu stops

A 2-day tour of Chengdu and Leshan in Sichuan Province combining the Panda Breeding and Research Center with the Leshan Giant Buddha. On day one, arrive at the research base around 9 a.m. to watch over 100 giant pandas eating, playing and climbing, then choose 2–3 afternoon attractions from Kuanzhai Alley, People's Park, Wenshu Monastery and others. Day two takes you to the 71-meter Leshan Giant Buddha (built over 1,300 years ago), where you climb for a close view and take a river cruise for a panoramic angle, then walk through Luocheng Ancient Town to see traditional workshops and local life before returning to Chengdu.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Pandas and Chengdu exploration

• Hotel pickup in the morning
• Visit Panda Breeding and Research Center
• Observe pandas eating and playing
• Visit panda kindergartens and nursery rooms
• Explore Chengdu attractions at your own pace

Day 2: Leshan Giant Buddha and local town

• Travel to Leshan Giant Buddha
• Climb mountain for close Buddha view
• Take cruise for panoramic Buddha view
• Enjoy meal in Leshan
• Visit Luocheng Ancient Town
• Walk traditional workshops and chat with locals
• Transfer back to Chengdu

The experience

How do you fit both giant pandas and a 1,300-year-old Buddha into one trip? This 2-day tour runs the two in sequence, starting with hotel pickup and a morning drive to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. You arrive around 9 a.m., when the pandas are most active: the best window to watch them eating, tumbling, climbing trees and napping. The base is home to over 100 giant pandas, and the itinerary includes visits to the panda kindergartens and nursery rooms where younger animals are raised.

The afternoon of day one is yours to shape. You choose 2–3 attractions from a list that includes Kuanzhai Alley (a historic Qing-style courtyard area with local snacks and cafés), People's Park (where Chengdu's famous teahouse culture is on display), Wenshu Monastery (a peaceful Buddhist temple), Jinli Ancient Street (known for Sichuan food and traditional architecture), Qingyang Palace (a major Taoist temple with gardens), and others. The guide adjusts the route based on what interests you and how much time you want to spend.

Day two moves to Leshan, about 40 minutes south. The Leshan Giant Buddha stands 71 meters tall and carries the title "No. 1 Buddha under Heaven". It was carved over 1,300 years ago to bless boatmen. You climb to the mountain top for a close view, then board a river cruise to see the statue from the water, where its full scale becomes clear. After lunch in Leshan, you walk through Luocheng Ancient Town, stopping at traditional workshops (blacksmith, bamboo, barber) and chatting with locals over tea before the drive back to Chengdu.

What’s included

• English-speaking local guide.
• all entrance tickets for the attractions in the itinerary.
• private air-conditioned car.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Chengdu.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Real North Adventure

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see pandas at their most active and prefer to shape your own afternoon rather than follow a fixed schedule. The flexible afternoon on day one lets you spend time on what matters to you (whether that's teahouse culture, temple architecture or street food), while the second day's route to Leshan is set to fit both the Buddha's scale and the ancient town into a single day.

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Top questions

What time do we arrive at the Panda Breeding and Research Center on day one?

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is reached around 9 a.m., when most of the over 100 pandas are active and you can watch them eating, playing and climbing.

Can I choose which attractions to visit in Chengdu on the afternoon of day one?

Yes. You pick 2–3 attractions from a list that includes Kuanzhai Alley, People's Park, Wenshu Monastery, Jinli Ancient Street, Qingyang Palace, Daci Temple and others, and the guide adjusts the itinerary to match your interests and available time.

What is the Leshan Giant Buddha and how old is it?

The Leshan Giant Buddha is a 71-meter-tall statue carved into a cliff over 1,300 years ago to bless boatmen traveling the river. It is known as the "No. 1 Buddha under Heaven" and you see it both from the mountain top and from a river cruise.

What happens after we visit the Leshan Giant Buddha?

After lunch in Leshan, you walk through Luocheng Ancient Town, where you visit traditional workshops like blacksmith and bamboo shops, enjoy tea and chat with locals, then return to Chengdu by car.