What300-year-old Manchu-era neighborhood of restored courtyard houses (四合院 sìhéyuàn). Three parallel lanes — 宽巷子 (wide), 窄巷子 (narrow), 井巷子 (well).
Why we goMost concentrated slice of "old Chengdu" — stone-paved lanes, teahouses, souvenir shops, street snacks. Best before 10am (calm) or after dark (lanterns lit).
Tips① Skip the "tea ceremony invitation" touts near the entrance — they lead to ¥200+ scam shops. ② Try 三大炮 (¥10) at any cart — the chef throws glutinous rice balls against a drum. ③ 糖油果子 (¥5) is the sesame-coated fried dough classic. ④ Real teahouse is 鹤鸣茶社 Hèmíng Cháshè in People's Park next door — not here. ⑤ Bring cash (¥50) for snacks even though you can pay by phone.
How to say it"请问宽窄巷子怎么走？" (Where is Wide-Narrow Alleys?) · Metro Line 4 to 宽窄巷子站
Option B — shopping + photo
春熙路 Chūnxi Lù + 太古里 Tàigǔlǐ + IFS 熊猫 Pándà
春熙路 = Spring Sunshine Road · 太古里 = Taikoo Li · IFS = International Finance Square · 熊猫 = panda
WhatChunxi Road is Chengdu's main shopping strip — neon, crowds, flagship stores. Adjacent 太古里 Tàigǔlǐ is an open-air luxury mall built around the 1,600yr 大慈寺 temple. IFS mall has a giant climbing panda sculpture on its rooftop.
Why we go① The panda sculpture is Chengdu's most-photographed icon. ② 太古里's mix of old temple + modern mall is uniquely Chengdu. ③ Window-shopping, not buying.
Tips① IFS panda: take elevator to 7F rooftop garden (free) for the front-facing shot. Street-level view = panda BUTT only — the most common Chengdu photo fail. ② 太古里 night lights up after 8pm — best photos. ③ Avoid 蛋烘糕 dànhōnggāo carts here (¥15, inflated); better ¥5–8 at People's Park. ④ 大慈寺 Dàcísì temple inside 太古里 is FREE and often overlooked — red walls, no crowds, 5min stop.
How to say it"请问 IFS 楼顶熊猫怎么上去？" (How do I get to the IFS rooftop panda?) · Metro Line 2/3 to 春熙路站
🍽️ Day 1 Food — keep it simple (jet lag)
Lunch龙抄手 Lóng Chāoshǒu (Chunxi Road) — classic Chengdu wontons, cheap, central. Photo it before you eat — legend has it the calligraphy was hung backwards when the shop opened.
Dinner宽窄巷子 street food: 三大炮 (¥10), 糖油果子 (¥5), 三大炮 冰粉 bīngfěn (¥8, sweet jelly, the Sichuan palate-cooler).
SkipHotpot on Day 1 — your stomach's been on a 4am plane. Save it for Day 11 after Emei's hardest days.
RouteChengdu (500m) → 叠溪海子 (2,200m, 4h) → 黄龙 (3,500m, 1h) → 九寨沟口 (2,000m, 2h) — same-day 3,000m climb, the hardest day of the trip
PackDown jacket · sunglasses · sunscreen · motion-sickness pills (just in case) · light snacks for the coach
Phrase to driver"我们想上厕所" (we need the toilet) · "可以停车拍照吗？" (can we stop for photos?)
Stop 1 — 30 min photo
叠溪海子 Diéxī Hǎizi (Diexi Lake)
叠溪 = overlapping streams · 海子 = local word for "lake" (literally "sea child") · 地震 = earthquake · 堰塞湖 yānsè hú = landslide-dammed lake
WhatThree turquoise landslide-dammed lakes formed when a 1933 magnitude 7.5 earthquake collapsed a mountain into the Min River, killing ~9,300 people and submerging the entire old town of Diexi.
Why we stop① En-route photo stop — pretty mountain backdrop, jade-green water. ② Geological/historical weight. ③ A bathroom break (tour coach toilets are rare on mountain roads).
Tips① Walk the short path on the left side — different angle than the main viewpoint. ② Buy yak jerky here if you want — ~¥30/bag, fresher than city. ③ Cold wind off the lake — keep the jacket on. ④ Don't try to feed the local guard dogs.
Stop 2 — 3 to 4 hours
黄龙 Huánglóng (Yellow Dragon) Scenic Area
黄龙 = Yellow Dragon · 索道 = cable car (UPLINE INCLUDED ✓) · 五彩池 = Five-Color Pool · 钙华 = travertine · 海拔 = altitude
WhatUNESCO World Heritage. A 3.5km-long valley of terraced travertine (calcium carbonate) pools — bright blue, turquoise, yellow, white — running down a mountain at 3,000–3,500m. Looks like a giant's staircase of color.
Why we go① The only natural travertine landscape of this scale in the world. ② 2 hours up the cable car → 3 hours walking DOWN the boardwalk — easy physical demand. ③ Five-Color Pool (五彩池) at the top is the iconic shot.
Sights along the way迎宾池 Yíngbīn Chí (Welcome Pools, lower) → 飞瀑流辉 Fēipù Liúhuī (Flying-Waterfall Glow) → 争艳池 Zhēngyàn Chí (Competing-Color Pools) → 黄龙洞 Huánglóng Dòng (Yellow Dragon Cave, dry) → 映月彩池 Yìngyuè Cǎichí (Moon-Reflecting Pools) → 五彩池 Wǔcǎi Chí (Five-Color Pool, top — the postcard)
Tips① Take the cable car UPLINE (included). ② Walk DOWN the 5km boardwalk — never up at altitude. ③ WALK SLOWLY. 3,500m + same-day climb from 500m = mild breathlessness is normal. ④ Oxygen cans at the entrance ¥20–30 — buy one even if you feel fine. ⑤ Light down jacket essential — 5–15°C up top vs 25°C Chengdu. ⑥ Five-Color Pool's color comes from mineral content + sunlight angle — best photos between 11am–2pm. ⑦ Don't touch the water — it's the travertine deposition that builds these pools.
WhatTourist-arranged evening in a Tibetan family's courtyard. Hotpot cooked in a copper pot over charcoal, then 锅庄 (folk circle dance) around a 篝火 bonfire. Drinks served.
Why we go① Most immersive cultural experience the tour offers. ② The hotpot is genuinely good (yak meat, wild mushrooms, hand-pulled noodles). ③ The dance is participatory — not a staged show.
Tips① Join the dance, even if awkward — the family loves when foreigners try. ② 青稞酒 Qīngkē Jiǔ (highland barley wine) is offered — sip politely, don't down it (deceptively strong, ~40% ABV). ③ They may put a white 哈达 Hādá scarf around your neck and ask for a photo with you — accept, it's their welcome. ④ Souvenirs will be on sale after (yak butter, Tibetan knives) — browse, don't buy.
🏨 Overnight — 九寨沟口 Jiǔzhàigōu Kǒu Jiuzhaigou
沟口 = valley entrance town · 温泉酒店 = hot-spring hotel (upgraded ✓)
Altitude~2,300m. Sleep arrives fast after a 12h day.
RecoveryHot spring at the hotel (if upgraded ✓) is the best altitude-medicine. Soak 30min, no hotter than 40°C.
Day 3 of 15 · Tour
16th September 2026 (Wednesday)
九寨沟 Jiǔzhàigōu Full Day + 千古情 Qiāngǔqíng Jiuzhaigou
☀️ Crisp mountain morning · 8–18°C
🏞️ Jiuzhaigou Valley — the big day
九寨沟 = Nine Villages Valley · 海 = lake (literally "sea") · 瀑布 = waterfall · 滩 = shoal · 观光车 = sightseeing bus (INCLUDED ✓) · 镜海 = Mirror Lake · 长海 = Long Lake
WhatUNESCO World Heritage. A Y-shaped valley of 108+ glacial lakes and waterfalls at 2,000–3,100m. Water is the unreal part — turquoise, jade, emerald, cobalt — colored by dissolved carbonate and travertine.
Why we go① Often called "the most beautiful valley in the world" — not an exaggeration. ② Y-shaped: take sightseeing bus to the top of either branch, walk down, switch to the other branch. ③ 4.1万 visitor cap per day — Sep is shoulder season (early autumn colors just starting), not crowded.
LayoutBus from 沟口 (entrance) → 树正沟 Shùzhèng Valley (right branch) → mirror lakes / 诺日朗 transfer → 则查洼沟 Zécháwā Valley (left branch, top: 长海/五彩池) → bus back. ~6–8h total.
MealsBreakfast + Dinner included · Lunch NOT included (~¥50–80 inside valley or carry snacks)
📷 Photo strategy — get this right
🚌 Shuttle routing + best-light windows
五花海 = Five-Flower Lake · 镜海 = Mirror Lake · 倒影 = reflection · 最佳光线 = best light
Routing trickTake the first bus to 长海 Cháng Hǎi (the furthest point), then work backwards down the valley. You walk AGAINST the crowd all day — every viewpoint is empty when you arrive.
镜海 rule镜海 Jìnghǎi (Mirror Lake) is the famous reflection lake. Reflections die after ~10am when wind picks up. Hit it FIRST thing, before any other stop.
五花海 light五花海 Wǔhuā Hǎi (Five-Flower Lake) is the postcard. Mid-morning sun = colors pop. Late afternoon = underwhelming.
September bonusEarly autumn color at higher elevations — maples starting to turn red, greens + golds mix. Lower elevations still summer-green.
⚠️ Lunch gap — solve before you enter
🍱 Lunch on your own inside the valley
诺日朗服务中心 = Nuorilang Service Center · 自助餐 = buffet · 方便面 = instant noodles
Option 1诺日朗服务中心 Nuòrìlǎng Service Center cafeteria — convenient but tourist-priced (~¥50–80). Buffet noodles + rice + small Sichuan dishes.
Option 2 (recommended)Grab extra breakfast pastries + snacks at the hotel BEFORE entering. The valley itself is the show — don't waste an hour of light at a cafeteria.
🎭 Evening — booked!
《九寨千古情》Jiǔzhài Qiāngǔqíng — agency book ¥200/pp ✓
千古情 = "Song of Eternity" · 宋城演艺 = Songcheng Performance Group · 藏羌 = Tibetan & Qiang ethnic groups
What70-minute spectacular by 宋城演艺 (Songcheng) — large-scale stage show covering the history, mythology and culture of the Tibetan and Qiang peoples of Jiuzhaigou. Big cast, real horses, flying rigs, smoke effects, audience participation.
Why we go① The single best stage show in Sichuan. ② Perfect after a full-day valley walk — sit down, get fed cultural context you didn't get on the trail. ③ Same franchise as Xi'an's 西安千古情 — but different content. This one is about Tibetan/Qiang, not Tang dynasty.
Price¥200/pp through agency (vs ¥280–320 on 美团 Měituán / 大众点评 Dàzhòng Diǎnpíng) — agency is cheaper, take it
TimingTonight. You sleep at 沟口 Gōukǒu, show is ~20 min away. Agent confirmed it fits the schedule.
Tips① Doors open 30min before — get there early, front-center seats are unassigned. ② Show is in Chinese with no English subtitles — but the visuals carry it. ③ Don't leave early — the finale is the strongest part. ④ No photos/video during the show (staff enforce).
🏨 Overnight — 九寨沟口温泉酒店 Hot-Spring Hotel Jiuzhaigou
Day 4 of 15 · Tour
17th September 2026 (Thursday)
岷江源头 → 藏寨 → 古羌城 → 松潘古城 → Chengdu Chengdu
☀️ Mountain pass morning · highway day
🚌 Return leg — culture + shopping stops
岷江源头 = Min River source · 藏寨 = Tibetan village · 古羌城 = Ancient Qiang City · 松潘古城 = Songpan Ancient Town · 碉楼 = watchtower · 茶马古道 = Tea-Horse Road
What today isLong coach ride (~7–8h) from Jiuzhaigou back to Chengdu, with 3 culture stops + 2 unavoidable shopping breaks. Light physical demand (mostly coach time + short walks).
MealsBreakfast · Lunch included
Stop 1 — 20 min
岷江源头 Mínjiāng Yuántóu (Min River Source)
岷江 = Min River (a major Yangtze tributary) · 源头 = source/headwater · 海拔 = altitude
WhatA roadside monument and short boardwalk marking the geographic source of the Min River, one of the Yangtze's main tributaries. Mountain spring, prayer flags, view of the surrounding 3,500m+ peaks.
Why we stop① Geographic significance — the Min has irrigated Chengdu for 2,300 years via 都江堰 (which you'll see Day 7). ② Pretty alpine scenery. ③ Bathroom break.
Tips① Walk to the prayer-flag pole for the postcard shot. ② Cold wind — keep the jacket on, you're still at 3,500m. ③ Don't drink the spring water without boiling.
Stop 2 — 40 to 60 min (includes shopping)
藏寨 Zàngzhài (Tibetan Village)
藏寨 = Tibetan village · 碉楼 = stone watchtower (Qiang-style) · 银饰 = silver jewelry · 藏药 = Tibetan traditional medicine
WhatA preserved Tibetan/Qiang mountain village — stone houses, prayer flags, carved watchtowers. The tour visits it, and the village operates a co-op shop selling Tibetan silver jewelry and traditional medicine.
Why we go① Authentic Tibetan-Qiang architecture and atmosphere — beautiful. ② Brief insight into minority culture.
⚠️ Shopping realityThe "cultural visit" segues into a 30–45min silver/tibetan-medicine shop stop. Agent-confirmed 40–60 min total in this stop. Buy nothing — prices are 3–5x market, and the products are not what they claim.
Tips① Smile, take photos of the village exterior, follow the group. ② Don't sit down for "free tea ceremony" — that's the high-pressure upsell. ③ Genuine yak jerky (牦牛肉干) is sometimes sold at street stalls nearby for ¥30–50/bag — fine to buy.
Stop 3 — 40 to 60 min (includes shopping)
古羌城 Gǔqiāng Chéng (Ancient Qiang City)
羌族 = Qiang ethnic group (one of China's oldest minorities) · 碉楼 = stone watchtower · 释比 = Qiang shaman
WhatA recreated/preserved Qiang ethnic village in 茂县 Mao County. Qiang are one of China's oldest minorities — Tibetan-related but distinct. Stone watchtowers (碉楼, UNESCO-listed in their own right), traditional homes, Qiang folk performances.
Why we go① See Qiang culture that you wouldn't otherwise encounter. ② Watchtower photo ops. ③ Folk dance performance (often included).
⚠️ Shopping realitySame pattern — another co-op shop stop, usually silversmith or local crafts. Another 30–40 min you're not choosing to spend. Stay polite, browse, buy nothing.
Tips① Watchtower at the village center = best photo. ② Catch the Qiang dance performance if scheduled — short and authentic. ③ Skip the herbal medicine demonstrations.
Stop 4 — 1 hour lunch + walk
松潘古城 Sōngpān Gǔchéng (Songpan Ancient Town)
松潘 = Songpan · 古城 = ancient town · 茶马古道 = Tea-Horse Road · 城门 = city gate
WhatA 1,300-year-old frontier garrison town on the historical Tea-Horse Road — the trade route that carried Sichuan tea to Tibet on horseback. Three intact gates, stone walls, restored old streets with Tibetan and Han shops.
Why we go① Lunch stop, but the town is the reason to linger. ② Real (not reconstructed) ancient walls — you can walk on them. ③ The 汉藏 和睦 (Han-Tibetan harmony) stone arch is the iconic shot. ④ Lunch is usually a simple Tibetan/Han hotpot or noodles here — fresh yak meat, mushrooms.
Tips① Walk the gate tower — climb the 100+ wooden steps for the view (no elevator, but easy). ② Try yak meat hotpot for lunch — leaner than beef, gamey. ③ Buy any 牛肉干 / 藏红花 from the old-street stalls — ¥30–50 a bag, real product. ④ 1 hour total — don't wander far from the gate.
🏨 Overnight — Chengdu Chengdu
Tomorrow: Emei day — another early coach. Repack tonight, charge devices.
Day 5 of 15 · Tour
18th September 2026 (Friday)
峨眉山 Éméi Shān — 金顶 Jīndǐng + 半山 Bànshān Emeishan
🌤️ Summit 5–12°C · cloud sea chances good
🚌 The day in one line
峨眉山 = Mount Emei ("Eyebrow Mountain") · 金顶 = Golden Summit · 半山 = mid-mountain · 索道 = cable car · 观光车 = sightseeing bus · 云海 = sea of clouds · 佛光 = Buddha's halo
RouteChengdu (500m) → 报国寺 Bàoguósì Emei base (550m, 2.5h) → 雷洞坪 Léidòngpíng (2,400m, sightseeing bus) → 接引殿 Jiēyǐndiàn (2,600m, cable car up) → 金顶 Jīndǐng (3,099m) → back down to 半山 → Emeishan town hotel
What's includedEmei entrance ticket · 全山观光车 (full-mountain sightseeing bus) · 金顶索道上行 (cable car UP to Golden Summit) ✓. The DOWN cable car is ~¥55 extra — buy on-site or walk down the steps (~1.5h).
PackDown jacket · raincoat (mountain weather flips fast) · warm socks · gloves (helps with cold + monkey issues) · powerbank · small snacks · cash for cable car down
Phrase to driver"请问报国寺客运中心怎么走？" (Where is the Baoguosi passenger center?)
Stop 1 — 2 to 3 hours at the top
⛰️ 金顶 Jīndǐng (Golden Summit)
金顶 = Golden Summit · 十方普贤 = Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (one of the four great Buddhist bodhisattvas) · 金银铜殿 = Gold, Silver, Bronze Halls · 云海 = sea of clouds · 佛光 = Buddha's halo (a rainbow-ring around your shadow on fog) · 华藏寺 = Huazang Temple · 卧云禅院 = Woyun Zen Monastery
WhatThe 3,099m summit of Mount Emei — UNESCO World Heritage and one of Buddhism's Four Sacred Mountains of China (the others are Wutai, Putuo, Jiuhua). Home to a 48m golden statue of Samantabhadra, the Gold/Silver/Bronze Halls, and the famous 云海 (sea of clouds) and 佛光 (Buddha's halo — a rainbow ring around your shadow on fog below).
Why we go① Mount Emei is one of China's four most sacred Buddhist mountains — pilgrims climb it for thousands of years. ② The Golden Summit is one of China's most-photographed peaks. ③ Best chance in Sichuan to see 云海 (sea of clouds). ④ September = low crowds, good visibility window.
What's at the top48m 十方普贤 Shífāng Pǔxián golden statue · 金殿 Jīn Diàn (Gold Hall) · 银殿 Yín Diàn (Silver Hall) · 铜殿 Tóng Diàn (Bronze Hall) · 华藏寺 Huázàng Sì · 卧云禅院 Wòyún Chányuàn · the 舍身崖 Shèshēn Yá (cliff-edge photo platform — don't get too close)
Tips① Take the cable car UP — never climb at 3,099m. ② Walk DOWN to 接引殿 (~1.5h on stone steps) for the savings, OR take the cable car down (~¥55). ③ Cloud-sea = clearest early morning or after rain; afternoon clouds build. ④ 佛光 (Buddha's halo) only appears with low cloud + sun behind you — not guaranteed, no point chasing. ⑤ Wind at the top is brutal — hat + gloves essential. ⑥ Don't take photos near the cliff edge — wind gusts.
WhatAfter coming down from the Golden Summit, the sightseeing bus drops you at 清音阁 area — the classic mid-mountain Emei loop. Twin bridges over a stream, a narrow gorge, a cliff-hugging plank trail, and the famous wild monkey zone.
Why we go① The mid-mountain is the spiritual heart of Emei — most Buddhist monasteries, the best scenery, manageable walking. ② 清音阁 alone is worth the trip. ③ The monkeys are unforgettable.
⚠️ Monkey rules① NO plastic bags visible — monkeys associate them with food and WILL grab them. ② NO loose phones / food in hand. ③ Don't make direct eye contact (challenge). ④ If a monkey jumps on you, drop whatever you're holding — they'll grab and run. ⑤ Buy ¥5 monkey food only if you want the chaos experience — they take it aggressively.
Tips① Walking order: 清音阁 first, then 一线天, then 栈道, then 猴区 — this is the natural descent. ② 清音阁's twin bridges + waterfall = the iconic Emei photo. ③ 猴区 has staff with slingshots — listen to them. ④ Total walking: ~3km, mostly downhill. ⑤ Lots of teahouses on the loop — stop for one mid-walk.
🏨 Overnight — 峨眉山温泉酒店 Hot-Spring Hotel Emeishan
温泉酒店 = hot-spring hotel (upgraded ✓)
RecoveryAfter 2 altitude jumps in 4 days, soak 30min. Don't combine with alcohol — altitude amplifies both.
Day 6 of 15 · Tour
19th September 2026 (Saturday)
乐山大佛 Lèshān Dàfó — "山是一尊佛" Leshan
☁️ Overcast · 25°C
🚌 The day in one line
乐山大佛 = Leshan Great Buddha · 凌云寺 = Lingyun Temple · 九曲栈道 = Nine-Turn Cliff Stairway · 三江汇流 = confluence of three rivers · 灵宝塔 = Lingbao Pagoda · 岷江 = Min River · 青衣江 = Qingyi River · 大渡河 = Dadu River
RouteEmeishan (550m) → Leshan (~1.5h coach) → 乐山大佛景区 Lèshān Dàfó Scenic Area → back to Chengdu (~2h coach). Long-ish day but lighter than Day 2 / Day 5.
What's includedLeshan entrance ticket ✓ (no extra fees inside,). No boat trip needed unless you want the river view (¥70 extra, optional).
PackComfortable walking shoes (lots of steps) · sunscreen · water · light raincoat if forecast wet
⚠️ SaturdaySaturday = domestic tourism peak day. Arrive early (which the tour will).
Main attraction — 2 to 3 hours
🗿 乐山大佛 Lèshān Dàfó (Leshan Giant Buddha)
大佛 = Great Buddha · 凌云寺 = Lingyun Temple ("Cloud-Soaring") · 大雄宝殿 = Great Hero Hall (main Buddha hall) · 九曲栈道 = Nine-Turn Plank Path · 三江汇流 = three-river confluence
WhatA 71m-tall stone Buddha carved into the cliff face where the Min, Qingyi, and Dadu rivers meet. Carved 713–803 AD (Tang Dynasty). The largest stone Buddha in the world, and one of the largest Buddha statues of any kind. The cliff stairway 九曲栈道 lets you descend from the head all the way down to the feet.
Why we go① Largest stone Buddha in the world. ② The 三江汇流 (three-river confluence) is dramatic in its own right. ③ The 九曲栈道 is one of China's great stairway walks. ④ UNESCO World Heritage. ⑤ Visible from the river, from the cliff, from the side — three completely different views.
Route through the site凌云寺 Língyún Sì (Lingyun Temple, top of hill) → 大雄宝殿 Dàxióng Bǎodiàn (Main Buddha Hall) → 九曲栈道 Jiǔqū Zhàndào (Nine-Turn Stairway, descend from Buddha's head down to his feet, beside the Buddha) → riverside base → 灵宝塔 Língbǎo Tǎ (Lingbao Pagoda, opposite bank view)
Surrounding sights凌云寺 Língyún Sì (Lingyun Temple) · 大雄宝殿 Dàxióng Bǎodiàn (Main Buddha Hall) · 九曲栈道 Jiǔqū Zhàndào (Nine-Turn Cliff Stairway — the famous walk down) · 三江汇流 Sānjiāng Huìliú (the 3-river confluence — best view from the cliff) · 灵宝塔 Língbǎo Tǎ (Lingbao Pagoda)
Tips① Go DOWN the 九曲栈道 first (queue is shorter), then back up via the temple — opposite of instinct, beats the Saturday crowd. ② The 九曲栈道 is single-file and steep. Allow 1 hour for descent + ascent + photos. ③ Each toe of the Buddha is large enough to seat a person — get a photo from the bottom. ④ The river-side view of the Buddha's full face is the iconic shot — cross to the 灵宝塔 观景台 if your tour allows. ⑤ Don't feed the river monkeys (different species than Emei's, less aggressive but present).
Phrase to show"请问乐山大佛景区怎么走？" (Where is the Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area?)
Back in Chengdu
🌆 Evening — first proper free evening
Option玉林路 Yùlín Lù food street or rest. Tonight: try 蜀大侠火锅 Shǔ Dàxiá Huǒguō (group hotpot experience) or 玉林串串香 Yùlín Chuànchuàn Xiāng (skewers, cheaper) — your reward for the altitude week.
Leshan food?If the tour lunch stop in Leshan allows, try 甜皮鸭 Tiánpí Yā / 钵钵鸡 Bōbō Jī — see Things to Consider page for the hit list (赵鸭子 Zhào Yāzi etc.).
🏨 Overnight — Chengdu Chengdu
Day 7 of 15 · Tour
20th September 2026 (Sunday)
青城山 Qīngchéng Shān AM + 都江堰 Dūjiāngyàn PM Chengdu
☁️ Misty mountain AM · 24°C
🚌 The day in one line
青城山 = Green-City Mountain (Taoist sacred mountain) · 都江堰 = Dujiangyan Irrigation System · 世界文化遗产 = UNESCO World Heritage · 世界自然遗产 = World Natural Heritage
What's includedBoth entrance tickets ✓. Note: optional 青城山索道 (cable car, ~¥60) and 都江堰游船 (boat, ~¥20) are NOT included — your choice on the day.
⚠️ Sep 20 bonusSep 20 is a national make-up workday — locals at work, noticeably quieter than a normal Sunday. Free gift.
PackWalking shoes · raincoat (Qingcheng is misty 300 days/year, they call it "青城天下幽" — the most serene) · mosquito repellent
AM — 2 to 3 hours
⛰️ 青城山 Qīngchéng Shān (Green-City Mountain) ✓
青城山 = Green-City Mountain · "青城天下幽" = "Qingcheng, the most serene under heaven" · 道教 = Taoism · 天师 = Celestial Master (Taoist priest) · 祖师殿 = Ancestral Hall
WhatUNESCO World Heritage. One of China's most sacred Taoist mountains — birthplace of the religious Taoism movement (张道陵 Zhāng Dàolíng founded the 天师道 Tiānshī Dào "Way of the Celestial Masters" here in 142 AD). Quiet ancient forests, mist, dozens of Taoist temples.
Why we go① Active Taoist site — you'll see priests in robes, incense rituals, the original 阴阳 yīnyáng balance philosophy in architecture. ② The most serene ("幽 yōu") of all Chinese mountains — quiet, dripping moss, bird song. ③ Pair with 都江堰 (built together in 256 BC) for a complete UNESCO day.
Front vs BackTour visits 前山 qián shān (front mountain, temples, easy paths, ~3h). 后山 hòu shān (back mountain, harder hikes, waterfalls, ~5–6h) is for return trips.
Tips① Front mountain takes 2–3h at moderate pace. ② Cable car (~¥60 round trip) saves the last 30min climb to 上清宫 — take it if legs are tired after Emei/Leshan. ③ Skip the back mountain if pressed for time. ④ The mist IS the attraction — don't complain about no view. ⑤ Temple etiquette: don't photograph priests during rituals; step OVER the wooden threshold (never on it). ⑥ Taoist priests sell talismans at 天师洞 — interesting souvenir if you want one (~¥50).
Phrase to show"请问青城山前山怎么走？" (How do I get to Qingcheng front mountain?)
WhatUNESCO World Heritage. A 2,300-year-old (256 BC, Qin Dynasty) water management system on the Min River — still operational, still irrigating 5,300km² of farmland. Built by 李冰 Lǐ Bīng (the Qin governor) and his son, WITHOUT A DAM. Pure gravity-fed engineering genius.
Why we go① One of the oldest functioning water projects on Earth. ② The "fish mouth" 鱼嘴 design splits the river 60/40 automatically — no gates, no power. ③ Pairs perfectly with 青城山 (same engineer, same era). ④ Real engineering you can walk across, not a museum piece.
What's at the site鱼嘴分水堤 Yúzuǐ Fēnshuǐ Dī (Fish Mouth Levee — the iconic split) · 飞沙堰泄洪道 Fēishāyàn Xièhóngdào (Flying-Sand Weir — auto-flush flood channel) · 宝瓶口 Bǎopíng Kǒu (Bottle-Neck Channel — the final flow control) · 安澜索桥 Ānlán Suǒqiáo (Anlan Rope Bridge, wobbly suspension bridge — the famous photo) · 二王庙 Èrwáng Miào (Two-Kings Temple, dedicated to Lǐ Bīng and his son)
Tips① Walk across 安澜索桥 Ānlán Suǒqiáo — it's the iconic wobbly suspension bridge, free, 5min round trip. ② 二王庙 view of the fish-mouth is the classic photo. ③ 西游记 (Journey to the West) filming site — the path along the canal. ④ Don't try to understand the engineering in 2 minutes — the explanatory signs are genuinely good. Read at least the "fish mouth" panel. ⑤ Souvenirs on the bridge are overpriced; skip.
Phrase to show"请问鱼嘴分水堤在哪？" (Where is the Fish-Mouth Levee?)
🏨 Overnight — Chengdu Chengdu
Tour ends tomorrow! Tomorrow morning after breakfast, you get dropped back at your own Chengdu hotel — agency handles it. Then 7 DIY days + Sep 28 agency pickup to TFU.
Day 8 of 15 · Tour ends · DIY starts
21st September 2026 (Monday)
Tour ends — back in Chengdu Chengdu
Tour ends
🚌 Breakfast → back to your Chengdu hotel
送回成都酒店 = drop-off at Chengdu hotel (not airport) ✓
WhatAfter breakfast, the agency coach drops you at your own Chengdu hotel. Tour is done — agency handled pickup Sep 14 → hotel, now handles hotel → drop-off Sep 21.
MealsBreakfast included · Last tour meal
Recovery day
😴 Slow start after 7 tour days
AMSleep in. You've earned it — 7 consecutive tour days with 3 altitude jumps.
MooncakesEverywhere today — accept them; egg-yolk lotus ones are the good ones
Book dinnerMid-Autumn = restaurants full. Reserve or eat early.
⚠️ HolidaySep 25–27 (Fri–Sun) is the official 3-day Mid-Autumn national holiday — crowds everywhere. Book museums (成都博物馆 Chéngdū Bówùguǎn needs reservation), panda base, shows NOW for these 3 days.
🏨 Overnight — Chengdu Chengdu
Day 13 of 15 · DIY
26th September 2026 (Saturday)
新世纪环球中心 Xīnshìjì Huánqiú Zhōngxīn + Last Show Chengdu
🏆 The world's largest building — don't miss it
🌐 新世纪环球中心 Xīnshìjì Huánqiú Zhōngxīn (New Century Global Center)
新世纪 = New Century · 环球中心 = Global Center · 天堂岛海洋乐园 = Paradise Island Ocean Park (indoor!) · 锦城广场 = Jincheng Plaza (metro)
Why1.76M m² — the WORLD'S LARGEST building by floor area (Guinness). You'll see it from the metro — the dome is 500m long.
Inside天堂岛海洋乐园 Tiāntángdǎo Hǎiyáng Lèyuán — huge INDOOR water park + wave pool under a glass dome (¥130–180) · IMAX · skating rink · InterContinental hotel · 600+ shops
Best forIndoor beach vibe — perfect escape if weather turns, and it's a mall so shopping + lunch + AC all in one
Getting thereMetro Line 1 → 锦城广场站 Jǐnchéng Guǎngchǎng Zhàn (Jincheng Plaza) — the station opens DIRECTLY into the building
TimeHalf day to full day. Water park ~2–3h, rest is mall.
Last full weekend day
📋 Finish the list
UnfinishedWhatever you missed — 三星堆 Sānxīngduī, pandas, 武侯祠 Wǔhóu Cí — today's the buffer
Tea彭镇老茶馆 Péngzhèn Lǎo Cháguǎn if not yet done — the authentic one
Wet market菜市场 Càishìchǎng 7–9am — real local life, cheap fruit, great photos
Odd1,600yr temple INSIDE Taikoo Li mall. Red walls, no crowds, wild contrast.
武侯祠 + 锦里 Wǔhóu Cí + Jǐnlǐ
TrickRed wall alley at 8am opening or queue 30min. 锦里 Jǐnlǐ at NIGHT (lanterns) — Kuanzhai at 9am instead.
IFS climbing panda 🐼
TrickElevator to 7F rooftop garden = front-facing shot. Street level = panda butt only.
东郊记忆 + 安顺廊桥 Dōngjiāo Jìyì + Ānshùn Lángqiáo
EveningIndustrial-chic park (pair with 大戏台茶馆 Dàxìtái Cháguǎn opera) then riverside night walk, bridge lit gold.
🌐 新世纪环球中心 Xīnshìjì Huánqiú Zhōngxīn — the WORLD'S LARGEST BUILDING
Must1.76M m² Guinness record holder. Metro Line 1 锦城广场站 Jǐnchéng Guǎngchǎng Zhàn opens straight into it. Indoor water park 天堂岛 Tiāntángdǎo + IMAX + 600 shops. Half day.
💎 Hidden Gems (local research)
彭镇老茶馆 Péngzhèn Lǎo Cháguǎn
WhatCoal-stove locals tea house · ¥10–15 all day · 30–40min out · zero tourists