This morning, your private guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel at the appointed time and transfer you to the first stop of our Chengdu and Leshan tour, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which has made outstanding contributions to the conservation of the endangered giant panda by building a forested living environment imitating giant pandas’ wild habitats, nursery houses, feeding area, scientific research center, veterinary hospital, panda kitchen, etc., allowing the initial six giant pandas that had been rescued from the wild increase to over 200.

Upon arrival, follow your guide to meet giant pandas at different life stages, including baby pandas, during which you may encounter free-range lesser pandas on the way.

★ Explore the World’s Cutest “Five-star Kitchen”: Panda Kitchen

Through the glass, observe panda nutritionists in white coats making steamed cornbread, and giant steamers with a diameter of nearly 4 feet are steaming next to them. An adult panda eats 6-8 fist-sized steamed cornbread daily, equivalent to 40 steamed buns for humans. At the bamboo museum, learn about over 20 types of bamboo served for pandas, which vary in hardness levels, such as Sichuan arrow bamboo and square bamboo. The most eye-catching one is a thick bamboo tube with a diameter of 12 inches, which will serve as a cake with the inner wall spread with honey for picky pandas. Each panda has its dietary preferences: some only eat bamboo from specific mountains, some eat peeled apples exclusively, and some will secretly pick out the calcium powder in steam cornbread.

Then, we will arrive in Leshan City around noon after a two-hour drive. If you are hungry and wish to savor local cuisine, the guide will be happy to give you pertinent advice.

► Suggested Restaurant for Lunch (at your own expense)

One iconic delicacy in Leshan is Yepopo Bobo Chicken, combining bold Sichuan flavors with a fun DIY dining experience. “Bobo” refers to the clay pots traditionally used to soak cold skewers of meat and vegetables in a spicy broth. Among dozens of meat and vegetables, the top picks are slices of beef, crispy wood ear mushrooms, potatoes, lotus root, and bamboo shoots. After selecting your skewers, choose to pair them with red chili oil broth or green Sichuan pepper broth. Please inform the server if you prefer a milder or no-spice flavor.

Average Cost per Person: CNY 45 (USD 6)

Address: No. 41, East Street, Shizhong District, Leshan

After the short break, the guide will accompany you to the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest Maitreya Buddha statue in the world, standing 71 meters (233 feet) tall, and lead you on a cruise to appreciate the majestic panorama of the Buddha carved out of a cliff facing the Min River.

* Tip: Don’t worry whether you can’t see the Buddha up close on a ship. You can scan a QR code at the entrance to view the Buddha statue in an AR experience on your mobile device, bringing back the grandeur of the past. It allows you to zoom in on every detail in 360 degrees, immersing you in the solemnity of the Buddha statue, accompanied by sacred Buddhist music. Meanwhile, the guide will share interesting stories from various parts of the Buddha statue.

► Why did ancient people construct such a tremendous Buddha statue?

Located at the confluence of three rivers, Leshan had seen frequent shipwrecks due to the fierce turbulence. Thus, in 713 AD, a monk named Hai Tong from Lingyun Mountain, where the Buddha stands, made a great wish: “I must carve a Maitreya Buddha statue here to protect passing ships!” Over the next two decades, he traveled the country to raise funds. When the local officials embezzled the funds, he gouged out his eyes to demonstrate his determination, which deterred the corrupt officials and allowed for the continuous construction of the Buddha. Although it took 90 years, and Master Hai Tong passed away before the Buddha was even one-third complete, his wish had come true: the Leshan Giant Buddha has been blessing all with its smiling eyes for over 1,300 years.

Later in the afternoon, when we finish all visits, the guide and driver will escort you back to your hotel in Chengdu.