11 Days Pedal Adventure for Pandas in Chengdu

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11

Cycling

DAYS
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Holiday Overview

Highlights

  • Leisure time in Chengdu
  • Leshan Giant Buddha: the World's Largest Stone Carved Buddha Statue
  • Mount E'mei Hiking
  • Dujiangyan Irrigation Project: With its long history and characteristic of water diversion without dams, it is the originator of world hydraulic culture
  • Panda in Dujiangyan Panda Base

Brief Itinerary

  • DAY 01 ARRIVE IN CHENGDU
  • DAY 02 BIKING TO CHENGDU PANDA BASE / DOWNTOWN
  • DAY 03 QINGSHEN / HANYANG ANCIENT TOWN / LESHAN GIANT BUDDHA / EMEISHAN
  • DAY 04 MOUNT EMEI HIKING
  • DAY 05 MOUNT EMEI / LIUJIANG ANCIENT TOWN / STAY IN HONGYA
  • DAY 06 HONGYA / CAOYUTAN OLD TOWN / YA'AN
  • DAY 07 SHANGLI ANCIENT TOWN / QIONGLAI
  • DAY 08 CHONGZHOU / MOUNT QINGCHENG
  • DAY 09 DUJIANGYAN PANDA BASE
  • DAY 10 MOUNT QINGCHENG / DUJIANGYAN / PIXIAN / BACK TO CHENGDU
  • DAY 11 DEPART FROM CHENGDU
 

Map & Itinerary

The geography and climate of Sichuan make this city especially attractive to bipedals who love bike pedals. As the homeland of giant pandas, Sichuan Province is best known for its fiery cuisine and beautiful natural landscapes. It has great differences in terrain, containing mountains from the west and green fertile land from the east. It is for this reason that we’ve picked Sichuan for our biking trip, the vast differences in landscape mean that you will never see the same thing, every activity we have picked out for you is guaranteed to offer you something different and new.

A few of the activities include the Chengdu panda base, the nearly 2000-year-old irrigation system, the World heritage Giant Buddha and the Ya’an where the first panda was discovered. So if you are an avid bike lover and want to see the best landscapes that Sichuan has to offer, join us for a 11-day exquisite scenery feast of rural Sichuan province. You will be biking 60km per day for seven days at a leisurely pace and passing by some of the most beautiful countryside roads and ancient villages in South and West Sichuan. Moreover, if you want to explore the real beauty and cultural essence of Mount Emei, hiking is the best way. Additionally there is a mix between popular tourist attractions and non-touristic sites, so you will get to see the tourist sites but also discover places that are not frequented by many people; therefore it is the perfect place to go biking. 

Note: All the time and distance shown here are approximate and indicative only, if there is inconsistency, it will depend on the weather, local road condition and other actual situation.


Holiday Itinerary

  • ARRIVE IN CHENGDU

    You will fly into Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in southwest China. Upon arrival, you will be met by your experienced guide and driver, and check in the hotel.

    After a break, you will start your sightseeing by visiting Wenshu (Manjushri) Monastery, an oasis of peace in the city, which is the best-preserved Buddhist temple in Chengdu. One of the highlights here is the cultural relics, of which over 500 pieces of precious painting and calligraphy have been stored here since the Tang and Song Dynasties. Surrounded by exquisite garden and solemn halls, we can enjoy tea in the Tea House while listening to music by folk artists as the sun goes down, and enjoy a special vegetarian dinner later. A trip orientation is planned at end the day.

    • Accommodation nice hotel in downtown of Chengdu

    • Meals L

  • BIKING TO CHENGDU PANDA BASE / DOWNTOWN

    In the morning after breakfast, jump on bikes and start our extraordinaire cycling tour to explore the landmarks of Chengdu, of which Chengdu Panda Breeding Centre would be the first destination, 10km away from downtown. It has been created and imitated the natural habitat in order that they might have the best possible environment for rearing and breeding. We will spend the whole morning visiting different panda rooms. Here, we can explore the daily life of the cute pandas, eating bamboo at their active time (from 9 o’clock to 11 o’clock), and other rare and endangered wild animals including with black-necked cranes, white storks etc.

    After lunch, we will cycle back to the city for another 2 hours leisure ride in downtown. Move on to Chengdu Renmin Park to experience the most authentic Chengdu local life such as playing Mahjong. Pass by Wuhou Temple, which in memory of the most famous Military strategist in the Three Kingdoms period. And going through the Wide & Narrow Alleys freely with your bike, where the elegant style of the architectures tells you what Sichuan looks like during the Qing Dynasty. In the evening, Sichuan Opera would be arranged as an option.

    • Accommodation nice hotel in downtown of Chengdu

    • Distance 30-40km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 2.5-3hrs biking

  • QINGSHEN / HANYANG ANCIENT TOWN / LESHAN GIANT BUDDHA / EMEISHAN

    We will drive about 1.5 hours early in the morning to Qingshen County, and start biking from Qingyi Square. We will bike along the Min River for 25km (approx. 2 hours) heading to an ancient town named Hanyang for lunch. As the road is well paved, the first section is very comfortable with beautiful river views and adorable tiny villages on the way that you may stop for pictures. After passing through a big shade of bamboos, we will arrive at our first destination, Hanyang Ancient Town to have a rest and relaxing around for a short while. The town was one of the most important heart water channels and ferry points of Sichuan in ancient times.

    After lunch, there’s another app­rox. 2-3 hours cycling tour to Leshan. As biking ahead, the cycle track goes up into the mountain area. It will be a challenge for us, but the view is fantastic when we overlook the river rushing through. This up and down section will last about another 20km before ending our trip in Leshan, where we will visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world, carved into the side of Mount Lingyun. After that, drive to Emeishan City to stay overnight.

    • Accommodation Emeishan Countyard Hotel

    • Distance 45km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 4hrs biking

  • MOUNT EMEI HIKING

    Today’s hiking will take us to challenge the stone-paved paths up and down, to meet the unexpected monasteries and temples, to get close touch the original wild living animals and plants on Mount Emei. Most of hiking trails built hundreds years ago are some narrow stone-paved walking paths from the foot of mountain to the summit, through forests.

    Early in the morning we may take a shuttle bus to Wuxiangang Station, and start our walk for about an hour to Qingyin Pavilion, the most beautiful landscape of Mount Emei. On the way we may follow the stream up, passing by local villages and a manmade lake. Then keep walking for another 1 hour up to the famous Ecological Monkey Area. Among those more than 3000 species of plants and animals here, the wild monkeys are the real hosts of this magic mountain mainly because of their naughtiness and cleverness. After that we walk down back to Qingyin Pavilion and start a 1 hour hiking to Wannian Temple at the middle of the mountain. It is one of the most ancient temples on Emei Mountain.

    After lunch, we will take a tour bus to Leidongping(雷洞坪). It will take about 2 hours for the tour. The final 2-3 hours hike from Leidongping to the Golden Summit (3077m) involved 7.5km up. You may also have the other option to walk up about 30 minutes to the cable car station and take the cable car up to the Golden Summit just for 10mins. Once you reach the Golden Summit, the top of Mt. Emei, you will be indulged by the giant golden Buddha Statue standing on the top and the breathtaking sunset from the summit.

    • Accommodation local hotel / guesthouse at the Golden Summit

    • Distance 12km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 4-5.5hrs hiking

  • MOUNT EMEI / LIUJIANG ANCIENT TOWN / STAY IN HONGYA

    If weather permits, we can get up early to witness the unforgettable sunrise at the top. After enjoying breakfast, take the cable car down and change the shuttle bus to Liujiang Ancient Town for lunch. Located 25km southwest of Hongya County, Liujiang (Willow River) Ancient Town is famous for its well-preserved traditional Chinese garden style residences. We may walk eastwards through the town, and will see a few very old large trees alongside the river. There are plenty of romantic places to relax and absorb the ancient and natural atmosphere.

    After that we hop on our bike and keep biking to Hongya County. As the road follows by the QIngyi River, we may have a refreshing river view on the way. Surrounded by rolling mountains, the road is covered by the bamboos, so it seems like that we cycle in the bamboo ocean. Hongya is our end point today, as it is located nearby the Min River, we are expecting the breathtaking view of the sunset this late afternoon.

    • Accommodation Hongzhou Hotel in Hongya County

    • Distance 30km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 2-3hrs biking

  • HONGYA / CAOYUTAN OLD TOWN / YA’AN

    Today’s biking is apparently easy for us since we will cycle along the river for the whole day until arriving at Ya'an. The road is well paved, less traffic. The grand mountain ranges on the right side of the biking track are covered in the mist, rise and fall. We will have lunch on our half way in a small ancient town named Caoyuntan, which lies on the upper reaches of the Qingyi River (Yangtze River). With a long history, the town together with the nearby mountains and the creeks running through compose a beautiful oily painting landscape picture. Then, continue with another relaxed biking tour to Ya’an with the humid, monsoon-like condition because of the subtropical climatic region, hence a nickname "Rain City".

    • Accommodation Stay in Ya’an

    • Distance 60km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 4-5hrs biking

  • SHANGLI ANCIENT TOWN / QIONGLAI

    This morning we continue cycling along the river to Shangli Old Town, which used to be an important dak of the ancient Tea Horse Route in history. Our first section is a village road with many tiny cute villages on the way. We will cycle about an hour before reaching the free way. After biking across a bridge, we will soon enter the Shangli Ancient Town. Surrounded by mountains and water, the town is noted for the wooden architecture of Ming and Qing Dynasties styles. After lunch in the town, we could wander around to observe the evergreen trees, wooden resident houses, stone-paved streets, ancient archways and historical stone bridges with long history and distinguished styles.

    Afterwards, we put our bikes in the truck for 40 minutes driving across the mountain pass, since the road is too deep to be dangerous. When we get to the other side of the mountain we start our biking again, the view along the way is fantastic as the locals raise Tea Farm. The charming layers of tea terrace and local scattering villages as well as river would take accompany with us until we reaching Qionglai City, on the western edge of the Chengdu Plain, and is bordered by the City of Ya'an to the west.

    • Accommodation Stay in Qionglai

    • Distance 50-60km

    • Meals 4-5hrs biking

    • Time BLD

  • CHONGZHOU / MOUNT QINGCHENG

    Today it is a long day for us since we will finally bike to Mt. Qingcheng. We will start biking to Chengdu Plain and will pass by some ancient towns and valleys on our way this afternoon. The geographical features will provide you with some opportunities to experience the local cultures and traditional lifestyles besides just enjoying the nature. One of the highlights today is that our biking track will take place on Chongqing Road, which is listed as the most beautiful country road in Sichuan since it is built in the mountain area. If time permits we would like to stop to take memorable pictures.

    Mount Qingcheng(Green Town), located in the southwest of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, is one of the most famous Taoist mountains in China. It is also a very attractive and intriguing scenic spot that is surrounded by countless peaks and covered by luxuriant trees, and is shaped like a city, thus it is dubbed 'the most peaceful and secluded mountain under heaven'. We will spend the night relaxing and recuperating at a hotel at the base of Mt. Qingcheng.

    • Accommodation Mount Qingcheng

    • Distance 60-70km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 5-8hrs biking

  • DUJIANGYAN PANDA BASE

    The whole day would be devoted to the Dujiangyan Base for the Panda Keeper Program. A series of volunteering tasks are designed to make a difference. During the program, you will learn more about this endangered species, and administer to these lovely animals in person as volunteers under the guidance of the staff. Activities may include cleaning the enclosure, preparing panda food, weighing and cleaning bamboo, feeding the pandas, watching films about pandas, visiting the Panda Center of Science and Education and attending panda classes. At the end of the program you will receive a panda keeper certificate. Activities are flexible, and the program can be redesigned according to the pandas' needs, participants' requirements and interests, and other factors. Lunch will be arranged at the canteen of Dujiangyan Panda Base. Due to the limited choices of restaurants, if you don't want to eat the meal at canteen, we can escort you to a simple local restaurant run by farmers near Dujiangyan Panda Base. You can order and pay for the meal at your own expense. After the program, drive back to your hotel in Mount Qingcheng.

    • Accommodation Mount Qingcheng

    • Meals BLD

  • MOUNT QINGCHENG / DUJIANGYAN / PIXIAN / BACK TO CHENGDU

    Today is our last day biking for the whole trip. In the morning after breakfast, we will go for a 1.5-hour ride to Dujiangyan along the mountain road, followed by another 3-hour biking trip towards Chengdu, ending in a local village of Pixian County. After all the labor and sweat, with a short 1-hour drive, you will be transported by car back to downtown of Chengdu. The rest of the day is left to you to enjoy free time and explore around. A farewell dinner is arranged at night. 

    • Accommodation nice hotel in downtown of Chengdu

    • Distance 60km

    • Meals BLD

    • Time 5-6hrs biking

  • DEPART FROM CHENGDU

    After breakfast at the hotel, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport in time and make sure everything goes smoothly before saying goodbye to Chengdu.

    • Meals B

 

Additional details

1. Before you pay deposit to book the tour, we haven’t made any reservation yet. The train, flight tickets and the hotel may different from the itinerary listed.

2. The visiting order of the scenic spots in the itinerary may change according to the traffic condition and other unforeseen things.

3. Tourist insurance is a must before going, please provide us the confirmation of insurance company when sign up.


The price includes

1. Entrance Fees: to scenic spots as listed in the itinerary

2. All the activities fee mentioned in the itinerary: Hutong rickshaw in Beijing; Sichuan Opera show in Chengdu;

3. Private Transfers: Transfers between airports, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing during the trip by private air conditioned vehicle with a driver.

4. Meals: All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner), include Peking duck dinner in Beijing; Hot pot dinner in Chengdu.

5. Guide: As outlined in the itinerary an English-speaking guide and driver will be provided in each city, who will remain with you throughout your time in that city. A new guide and a new driver will meet you at each city on your tour, to provide you with the best local knowledge available

6. Hotel: hotel fees are based on two people sharing one room with king-size bed. All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast

7. Internal flights
** Day 11/   Flight from Yichang to Shanghai (based on economy class);
8. Trains
** Day 04/   High speed train from Beijing to Xi’an (based on 2nd class);
** Day 06/   High speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu (based on 2nd class)
** Day 06/   High speed train from Chengdu to Chongqing (based on 2nd class)

9. Arrangements: the tour cost includes planning, handling, operational and communication charges

10. Travel Agency Liability insurance


The price does not include

1. International airfare or train tickets to enter or leave China

2. China entry visa fees

3. Excess baggage charges

4. The medicine for the sickness or accident while on the way

5. Personal expenses: expenses of a purely personal nature such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities, sightseeing or meals which are not included in the tour itinerary

6. Meals: any meals which are not specified in the tour itinerary

7. Single room supplement

8. Please notice that the price will be much higher during the festival of Labors’ Day, National Day, spring festival

9. Tips to tour guide and driver (recommended USD10-15/guest/day).

10. Tourist accident insurance. NB - you are strongly suggested to buy travel and health insurance before you start out from your home country.


Payment conditions

To confirm your reservation, you must pay a deposit of 30% of the total amount due via the payment link that your local agent will share. The balance is due 30 days prior to departure. The quoted exchange rate is valid for the next 7 days – if the deposit is not paid within this time, the quote will be re-calculated.


Terms and conditions for cancelation

i. Cancellation of the Tour by CAT (local agent):

CAT reserve the right to cancel the postpone tour at any time up to the date final payment is due under the following condition: in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. And in this case, all money paid by the participants will be refunded. If the tour is postponed, CAT will offer all those who have signed up the opportunity to have the same tour for a later time, but the price may be changed according to the season. We will notify you of any change, and give you a reasonable period

of time to make your decision. Consumers may, but are under no obligation to, take the tour under these new terms. After final payment has been made, we may cancel the tour only if, in our opinion, health and/or safety factors related to conditions in China would make the tour inadvisable. Since cancellation in this case involves factors which may arise suddenly and are entirely outside our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, civil unrest and epidemic disease, we cannot guarantee a full refund in this case. This is because payment will already have been made to finalize the arrangements and reservation.

ii. Cancellation of the Tour by Consumer:

Any cancellation must be made by sending an email to the local agent. The cancellation fee varies according to how many days prior to departure the cancellation is made:

   ·  More than 30 days prior to departure: 5% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Between 30 and 22 days prior to departure : 25% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Between 21 and 8 days prior to departure : 50% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Between 7 and 3 days prior to departure : 75% of the total holiday cost

   ·  Less than 3 days prior to departure and after the departure date: 100% of the total holiday cost

All cancellations must be in writing and will be effective upon receipt by CAT. No refund will be made to those participants who break the journey regardless of the portions of the package unused. If, owing to serious illness or injury, the participant withdraws from the tour, a refund will be subject to the consent of the local travel agent.

No refund will be made to those participants who have failed to secure valid travel documents such as passport or visas.

 

Holiday Information

 

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