Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Buddha: Private tour with pickup

A 71-meter Buddha carved into a cliff face, and more than 50 pandas in a native habitat an hour from the city.

A private full-day tour from Chengdu to the Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha, with hotel pickup and round-trip transport between sites. You spend the morning with giant pandas, red pandas and baby pandas in their bamboo groves, then travel to Leshan to see the 71-meter statue from multiple angles: by boat on the river below, by stairs climbing the cliff, and from above the head. An audio guide in English is included. Entry tickets and a tour guide are available as add-ons at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Buddha

• Travel to Chengdu Panda Base
• See giant pandas and baby pandas
• Travel to Leshan Giant Buddha
• View Buddha from boat
• Climb stairs to see Buddha
• See Buddha from above head

The experience

The Chengdu Panda Base sits about 30 minutes by car from downtown, in a sprawling habitat of bamboo groves and native-like enclosures that house more than 50 pandas. You'll see giant pandas, red pandas, and in summer months, baby pandas. The base draws nearly 100,000 overseas visitors each year, so arriving early in the day (which this tour does) gives you the best light and the most active animals. The private transport means you move at your own pace through the grounds, without waiting for a group.

After the Panda Base, the tour carries you to Leshan, where the Giant Buddha rises 71 meters from a cliff face where three rivers meet. The statue is carved directly into the stone, with a seated figure, hands resting on his knees. His head alone is 14.7 meters tall and 10 meters wide, covered in 1,021 curls of hair. The shoulders span 28 meters. You approach the Buddha from three vantage points: by boat on the river below, climbing the stairs built into the cliff itself, and from a platform above, looking down at the crown of his head. Each angle reveals a different scale and proportion of the work.

The tour includes private transportation, bottled water, parking fees, fuel and tolls, and hotel pickup and drop-off. An audio guide in English is provided. Entry tickets to both the Panda Base and Leshan Buddha, as well as a live tour guide service, are available to add at checkout. The full day runs between 5 and 8 hours depending on how long you spend at each site.

What’s included

• Private transportation with a friendly and professional driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• round-trip transport between the Panda Base and Leshan.
• bottled water.
• parking fees, fuel and tolls.
• audio guide in English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesUp to age 80

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by pandachinago

Is this one for you?The full day takes 5 to 8 hours depending on how long you linger at each site, so plan accordingly if you have other activities in Chengdu. The private transport means you set the pace. You can spend an extra hour with the pandas or take your time climbing the cliff stairs to the Buddha without waiting for a group to move on.

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Top questions

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 24 h before the start.

How far is the Chengdu Panda Base from my hotel?

The Panda Base is about 30 minutes by car from downtown Chengdu. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, so the driver collects you and returns you at the end of the day.

Can I see baby pandas on this tour?

Baby pandas are visible at the Chengdu Panda Base during summer months. The base houses more than 50 pandas in total, including giant pandas and red pandas year-round.

What does it mean to see the Leshan Buddha from different angles?

The Leshan Giant Buddha is carved into a cliff face, so you can view it from the river below by boat, climb stairs built into the cliff to see it up close from the side, and reach a platform above to look down at the top of the head and shoulders.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Lunch is not included. The tour provides bottled water and covers transport, parking and tolls. You can arrange meals at restaurants near either site or bring your own food.

Do I need to speak Chinese, or is there an English guide?

An audio guide in English is included with the tour. A live tour guide who speaks English is available to add at checkout if you prefer personal commentary at each site.

What's the smallest detail you can actually see on the Leshan Buddha?

The Buddha's smallest toenail is large enough to seat a person. His ear is 7 meters wide and can fit two people, which gives a sense of the scale when you stand near the cliff face.