Chengdu Panda Center & Leshan Giant Buddha private tour with lunch

Pandas in the morning, an ancient Buddha carved into a cliff in the afternoon

A full-day private tour of Chengdu pairs the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding with the Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your guide and driver pick you up at your hotel at 8 a.m., spend the morning watching pandas eat and play, including baby pandas, then drive two hours to Leshan for lunch at a local restaurant and an afternoon visit to the Buddha, where you can take a boat for the full view or walk the park. The tour ends with drop-off back at your hotel.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding3h · entry included
2. Leshan Giant Buddha5h · entry included

Visit Chengdu Panda Center and Leshan Buddha

• Meet guide and driver at hotel
• Drive 30 minutes to Chengdu Panda Center
• See giant pandas and baby pandas
• Drive 2 hours to Leshan
• Have lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Leshan Giant Buddha
• Take boat to view Buddha
• Enter park to visit Buddha
• Return to Chengdu hotel

The experience

The pandas are most active early, so the 8 a.m. pickup gets you to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding while they're feeding and playing. You'll see pandas of all ages, from the tiny pink newborns to the 100-kilogram adults, and the center has documents and photos showing how they grow. A 30-minute drive from the city center means you're there when the animals are most engaged.

After the panda center, the drive to Leshan takes two hours. You'll have lunch at a popular local restaurant in Leshan before heading to the Giant Buddha. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage designation, and the afternoon gives you a choice: take a boat out on the river to see the whole carved figure from the water, or walk into the park to view it up close. The Buddha faces the river with a symmetrical posture carved into the cliff face itself.

Your private guide handles all the commentary in English, and the driver manages the route and timing. Hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day, along with bottled water, entrance tickets and lunch. The main logistics are covered so you focus on the two sites.

What’s included

• Private transportation and driver for the full day.
• hotel pickup at 8 a.m. and drop-off after the tour.
• English-speaking guide.
• entrance tickets to both the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Leshan Giant Buddha.
• lunch at a local restaurant in Leshan.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• fuel surcharge and tax.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

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 today

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by TravofChina

Is this one for you?Book this if you want an English-speaking guide to explain the panda breeding program and Buddha site history as you move between them, rather than relying on written placards or a guide in another language.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start and when does it end?

Pickup is at 8 a.m. from your hotel lobby. The full tour runs eight to nine hours, with drop-off back at your hotel in the late afternoon after the Leshan Giant Buddha visit.

Why is the panda center visit in the morning?

Giant pandas are most active and engaged early in the day, so the 8 a.m. start means you'll see them eating and playing rather than resting. The center also houses baby pandas, which are easier to spot during morning hours.

Can I choose between the boat view and the park walk at Leshan Giant Buddha?

Yes. When you arrive at the Leshan Giant Buddha, you can take a boat on the river to see the entire carved figure from the water, or walk into the park to view it from different angles on land. Both options are available during the afternoon portion of the tour.

What's included in the lunch at Leshan?

Lunch is at a popular local restaurant in Leshan and is included in the tour price. The guide can advise on the menu, though specific dishes depend on the restaurant's daily offerings.

How far is the drive from Chengdu to Leshan?

The drive to Leshan takes approximately two hours. After the panda center visit and the drive, you'll arrive in time for lunch before the afternoon visit to the Giant Buddha.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The panda center involves walking through the breeding grounds, and the Leshan Giant Buddha visit includes either a boat ride or walking through the park, depending on which option you choose.