Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha: Private day tour

The Panda Base opens at 9am when the animals are most active and feeding.

A private day tour from Chengdu visits the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the morning, then the Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area in the afternoon, with hotel pickup, entrance tickets and transportation included. You'll watch giant pandas, red pandas and nursery areas during their most active hours, then explore the 71-meter Buddha statue: either by hiking the scenic trails or taking a boat for a river view of the monument.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding3h
2. Leshan Giant Buddha3h

Chengdu Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha

• Hotel pickup in Chengdu
• Drive to Chengdu Panda Base
• Visit Chengdu Panda Base
• Lunch break (own expense)
• Drive to Leshan Giant Buddha
• Visit Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area
• Return to Chengdu hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Chengdu hotel before 8am and a one-hour drive to the Panda Base. Morning is when the pandas feed and move around most. You'll see giant pandas, red pandas, and the mother-and-baby rooms across the pavilions and wildlife areas. The base is a research institution, not a zoo, so the animals and their routines shape what you encounter each day. After roughly two hours there, you have a lunch break on your own before heading south.

The drive to Leshan takes two and a half hours. The Leshan Giant Buddha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site carved into a cliff face: 71 meters tall, taller than the Bamiyan Buddha in Afghanistan. You can walk the scenic trails around it, including the nine-winding plank road and visits to Lingyun Temple and other sites on the grounds, or take a boat on the river for a full-face view of the statue from the water. A guide accompanies you throughout and explains what you're seeing. You'll return to your Chengdu hotel by early evening.

The vehicle is private and air-conditioned for the whole day. Bottled water is provided. Entrance to both sites and the boat ticket at Leshan (if you choose the river option) are included. Lunch is at your own expense and timing.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Chengdu's Third Ring Road.
• entrance tickets to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Leshan Giant Buddha.
• boat ticket at Leshan.
• private air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• bottled water.
• guide service at Leshan.

Before you book

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

AgesUp to age 88

GroupPrivate

Audio guideChinese

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

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. 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.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Manjing Travel

Is this one for you?The early 8am pickup and morning arrival at the Panda Base mean you catch the animals during their most active feeding hours, which is when the visit is most rewarding. The full day and two-and-a-half-hour drive each way suit travelers with a flexible schedule who want to see both sites without arranging separate transport.

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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.

What time of day do the pandas at Chengdu Research Base tend to be most active?

Morning is when giant pandas feed and move around most, which is why the tour visits the Panda Base between 9am and 11:30am. This timing lets you see the animals at their liveliest.

Can I choose how to see the Leshan Giant Buddha? By walking or by boat?

Yes. You can hike the scenic trails around the Buddha, including the nine-winding plank road and temple grounds, or take a boat on the river for a full-face view of the 71-meter statue from the water. Both options are available depending on conditions.

What is included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off within Chengdu's Third Ring Road, entrance tickets to both the Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha, the boat ticket at Leshan, private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, and a guide throughout the day are included. Lunch is at your own expense.

How long is the drive from Chengdu to each site?

The drive to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding takes about one hour. From there to Leshan Giant Buddha takes two and a half hours.

Is a guide provided, or do I explore on my own?

A guide accompanies you throughout the tour at Leshan Giant Buddha and explains the sites. At the Panda Base, you explore the pavilions and areas on your own during your visit window.