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This 5-day, 4-night journey through western Sichuan threads the everyday bustle of Chengdu together with the fairyland scenery of Jiuzhaigou, at an easy pace and with none of the box-ticking rush. Private transfers run throughout, with thoughtful service from arrival to departure — land with nothing to worry about and fly home with nothing left to arrange.
Along the way you meet the adorable national treasure, an ancient town a thousand years old, fairyland waters and the city's photo-ready landmarks: the healing grandeur of nature on one hand, the easy slow life and old culture of Sichuan on the other. Activity and calm in balance — a trip that scores top marks for both experience and comfort.
Sichuan food is a must on any visit to the province. Famous for its numbing-spicy, fresh, fragrant and wonderfully varied flavours, the kitchen excels at quick stir-fries, dry-frying and poaching, with real skill over the heat and plenty of oil and aroma without ever turning cloying. Local fresh chillies, fermented broad-bean paste and Sichuan peppercorn do the seasoning: one bite is numbing and moreish, rich and rounded. There is the fiery, appetising warmth of the streets, and underneath it the true taste of Chengdu — an experience no visitor to Sichuan should miss.
Step into a healing world of national treasures and meet the soft, endearing giant pandas up close. Time your visit for the best viewing hours and, with a little luck, you may even run into the internet-famous panda Huahua. A fully immersive photo stop with these endlessly charming creatures.
Come in autumn and you see Jiuzhaigou at its most beautiful — the moment the valley looks like a palette knocked over by nature. Forested slopes are dipped layer upon layer in gold, scarlet and deep green, and the brilliant hillsides are mirrored in clear blue lakes, water and mountain setting each other off. It is the ceiling of autumn travel in China.
Pass through the thousand-year-old town of Songpan, strolling its Ming-dynasty walls and the old Tea-Horse trading street with flagstones winding underfoot, and step into the simple homes of local people for an immersive encounter with a western-Sichuan intangible-heritage string instrument — the Songpan pipa. Pluck the willow-leaf-shaped old strings yourself and listen to the gentle, lilting local melodies; in those lingering notes you feel the rare human depth of a place where Tibetan, Qiang, Hui and Han cultures meet, and meet the softest of the old town's heritage charms.
Visit one of Chengdu's classic leisure landmarks and settle into a century-old teahouse. Brew a fragrant bowl of gaiwan tea and sit in the courtyard chatting in the breeze — the easy daily ritual of tea and leisure that old Chengdu has always known, and an immersive taste of this city's relaxed, unhurried street life.
Wander Chengdu's core photogenic districts, where contemporary architecture sits alongside the charm of old monasteries and the streets are stylish, lively and full of atmosphere. Tick off the trending spots and stroll the fashionable lanes to unlock the brilliance of modern Chengdu and feel the allure of a city where old and new meet.
On arrival at Chengdu airport a private car meets you with full door-to-door care — no long waits, no rushing about, straight to the hotel for a quick check-in. There is no tight schedule today: rest and adjust to the local climate, and if you feel like it, wander the nearby lanes and catch a first glimpse of Chengdu's unhurried street life. An easy start to the journey.
Spend the morning at the Chengdu Panda Base, watching the soft, adorable national treasures up close and taking plenty of photos — pure healing. Afterwards, set off for Jiuzhaigou. The way you travel is flexible: parties travelling together can take a comfortable private car, while solo or small-group travellers can take the convenient high-speed train. The whole way unfolds the open landscapes of western Sichuan, arriving at a Jiuzhaigou guesthouse in the evening to rest.
Chengdu Panda BaseA full day given over to Jiuzhaigou, with none of the box-ticking rush. With generous time you can slowly walk the three core valleys of the Y-shaped scenic area and savour flagship sights such as Five Flower Lake, Nuorilang Waterfall and Pearl Shoal — clear water, tumbling cascades and forests of colour at every turn. Take in the vividness and scale of Jiuzhaigou and unlock in depth the beauty of this fairytale land on earth.
Jiuzhaigou Valley
Five Flower Lake
Long LakeLeave the fairyland of Jiuzhaigou in the morning, passing Chuanzhusi on the way, and explore the richly layered Songpan Ancient Town in depth — stroll the Tea-Horse street and take in the distinctive human warmth of western Sichuan's many cultures and its long history. Then back to Chengdu: a private car for comfort and ease, or the high-speed train for speed, whichever suits you. A relaxed end to the journey through western Sichuan's scenery and culture.
Songpan Ancient TownSpend the whole day immersed in Chengdu's core photo-ready landmarks. Take your ease over tea at People's Park, catch the artistic retro current at Eastern Suburb Memory, wander Kuanzhai Alley tasting genuine Sichuan food, stroll Taikoo Li for a sense of the city's bustle, and watch the brilliant night lights of Jiuyan Bridge in the evening — Chengdu by day and by night at a glance. Afterwards a private car transfers you to the airport, bringing this restorative western Sichuan journey to a warm close.
Kuanzhai Alley
Taikoo LiThroughout the trip we select high-quality, comfortable accommodation in excellent locations with quiet, liveable settings, safeguarding rest at every stage. The Chengdu hotel sits in the core business district beside the city's main landmarks, making it easy to get around, eat and shop; rooms are neat and elegant with full facilities. In Jiuzhaigou the accommodation is close to the scenic area, avoiding long transfers, and the surroundings are quiet and clean. Quality is consistent throughout, so every leg of the journey lets you shed your tiredness and rest easy.
