Chengdu, Emei, Jiuzhaigou 8 days 7 nights tour

TOUR ITINERARY Tour code: GWAC-CD-05 Day Activities   DAY 01 Arrive in Chengdu-Mt. Emei (L, D) You will either fly or take the train into Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in southwest China. Upon arrival you’ll be met by your English-speaking travel guide. After your arrival we will make the short drive outside of Chengdu in order to visit Mt. Emei. It is one of the most well-known summer destinations in China thanks to its pleasant weather, congenial atmosphere, the inspiring natural scenery and the influence of the Buddhist culture. The mountain is characterized by lofty ancient trees, impressive waterfalls, pristine brooks and numerous Buddhist temples. Mt. Emei is a sacred Buddhist haven. It is one of the four most divine Buddhist mountains in China. This Buddhist legacy mainly contained in the numerous temples and the buildings bears witness to the unusual historical role of the mountain in Buddhism development since the religion was introduced to China over 2,000 years ago. After we arrive we will first go on over to the Baogou temple, which is located at the foot of Mt. Emei. The temple was built during the years of Wanli period in the Ming Dynasty. The horizontal tablet of "Baoguo Temple" was written by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. It is the place where the Mt. Emei Buddhist Society is located. The Baoguo Temple is originally named Huizong Hall, which has the meaning of blending the three religions of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism into one. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty granted the name of "Baoguo Temple", which adopts the meaning that dedicating to the service of the country comes first in "repaying four kindness" in the sutra. We will then spend the evening at an inn near Mt. Emei. DAY 02 Mt. Emei-Leshan Buddha (B, L) Following breakfast we’ll set out to explore more of Mt. Emei. Here is some of the highlights you’ll find: Gold Summit: The number of the Buddhist temples dotting the mountain is quite inspiring but the views from the Golden Summit at an elevation of 3,077 meters above sea level steals the glory. The Gold Summit is an extravagance of natural wonders and Buddhism spiritualism, which comprise of four marvelous spectacles of Sunrise, Cloud Sea, Buddhist Light and sacred lamp. The scenery of a red glowing sun dancing over the sea of clouds in the east is fabulous. A few lucky visitors will encounter the Buddhist Light which only occurs 14 times a year. On these occasions, your shadow is cast before you in the mist and a colorfully glowing lights circle you as if you are attained enlightenment. Fuhu Temple: At the foot of Fuhu Hill, Fuhu Temple is located o­ne kilometer west of Baoguo Temple and is o­ne of the largest in the mountain area. It was rebuilt in 1651, the eighth year of the reign of Qing Emperor Shunzhi. It covers an area of 13,000 square meters and isaccessible from the highway. "Crouching Tiger Monastery", as it is known in Chinese, is sunk in the forest. Inside is a seven-meter-high copper pagoda inscribed with Buddhist images and texts. Fuhu Temple, the biggest Buddhist temple o­n the mountain, has 13 halls. In the temple, a 6-meter 17-storeyed bronze tower made in the Yuan Dynasty(1271-1368) has some 4,700 engraved Buddhist figurines o­n it. The 20,000-character Huayan Sutras are well preserved in the temple. Following our visit to Mt. Emei we’ll set out for the Leshan Buddha, and the drive we’ll take a little over an hour. The largest representation of the Buddha in the world, the statue is of Maitreya (a Bodhisattva usually represented as a very stout monk with a broad smile on his face and with his naked breast and paunch exposed to view) in sitting posture. The Buddha is located to the east of Leshan Buddha City, Sichuan Province, at the confluence of three rivers, namely, Min River, Qingyi River, and Dadu River. The statue makes itself the most renowned scenic spot in Leshan City. In December, 1996, the location of the Buddha was included by UNESCO on the list of the World Heritage sites. Begun in the year 713 in the Tang Dynasty, and finished in the year 803, the statue took people more than 90 years to carve. During these years, thousands of workers had expended their efforts and wisdom on the project. As the biggest carved stone Buddha in the world, Leshan Giant Buddha is featured in poetry, song and story. Our visit to the Leshan Buddha will be complete with a river cruise, giving you a glorious vantage point (and photo op!) of which to view the Buddha. In the late afternoon you’ll be driven back to Chengdu, and you’ll be able to spend the night at your own leisure. From traditional teahouses, theaters to modern pubs and clubs, Chengdu people know how to enjoy the night. Every corner in Chengdu offers the warmest welcome, and you are sure to find something to pique your interest during your time on the town. DAY 03 Chengdu (B, L) Today will be a full day of touring within the city of Chengdu. After breakfast, we’ll get started with a visit to the Dufu Cottage. Du Fu, a very famous poet, lived in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Just as its name implies, the Thatched Cottage of Du Fu was his home more than a thousand years ago. u Fu was born in Gongyi City, Henan Province in 712. In 746, he took the official examination in Chang'an (now known as Xian) and continued to live there for more than ten years after the failure. But, in order to get away from the An-Shi Rebellion breaking out in 758, Du Fu fled to Chengdu in 759. With the help of friends, the thatched cottage was built in 760 beside the Flower Bathing Brook on the western outskirts of Chengdu. During his four years there, Du Fu composed more than 240 poems that are considered to be precious national treasures. After Du Fu's departure from Chengdu, the cottage was abandoned for a long time and became dilapidated. Hundreds of years later in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) a new temple was built on the original site of the thatched cottage to commemorate this outstanding person in Chinese literature. From then on, it was renovated and enlarged repeatedly. There were two very important reconstructions in 1500 and 1811 respectively, both of which set the scale and structure of the present thatched cottage. Today, it is a shrine to Chinese literature and a commemorative museum in the form of a traditional garden. Then it is off to Wangjiang Park, which is located two kilometers east of Chengdu, on the south bank of the Jinjiang River. The park is renowned because the famous poet, Xue Tao (768-831), once lived here. She originally came from Chang'an and later moved to Chengdu with her father. The park is also famous for it's lush density of bamboo. We’ll cap off your time in Chengdu with undoubtedly the city’s top attraction, the Bifeng Gorge Panda Reserve. In the May 12th 2008 the Wenchuan Earthquake dealt the pandas a crushing blow and over fifty giant pandas living in captivity became completely homeless. In order to save these national treasures, the Wolong National Natural Reserve has, since May 15th, carried out an evacuation plan. Twenty-seven giant pandas were transferred in batches to Chengdu, Fuzhou and Beijng, and the rest were moved to Bifeng Gorge Base of China Panda Protection and Research Center, located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu. The pandas are assured of healthy growth in their new home, and good news continually flows from Bifeng Gorge Base. In the morning on July 6th, 2008, the panda "Guo Guo" gave birth to the first twin cubs in the base. Guo Guo, the great panda mother, came to the base on June 24th when she was 119 days pregnant. She was really strong and brave to have these baby pandas after surviving the big earthquake, overcoming the difficulties of bumping and shaking on the long journey, and adjusting herself to the new environment. The center is divided into the giant panda breeding zone, baby giant panda care zone, research center, bamboo woods and office area. You’ll then be taken back to your hotel, where you can spend the rest of your night at your own discretion. DAY 04 Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou (B, L, D) Today we will make the drive to Jiuzhaigou natural park, and the drive will take up most of our day, although we will drive by some incredible scenery. Upon arrival you’ll be taken to your hotel and the rest of the night can be spent at your discretion. DAY 05 Jiuzhaigou (B, L, D) Jiuzhaiguo means ‘Valley of the Nine Villages’, and the nine villages remain spread around the valley within the Park, home to about 110 Tibetan and Qiang families. Agriculture is not permitted so the locals mostly work either for the Park itself, or with the nearby hotels. The Park covers a little over 700 sq km and there’s a further buffer zone of just under 600 sq km. It lies on the northern border of Sichuan Province, and is part of the magnificent Min Shan mountains on the edge of the Tibetan plateau. Jiuzhai Valley first became a Park in 1978, although it would be 14 years before it earned World Heritage listing, during which time work was aimed mainly at restoration and halting logging activities. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, and in 1997 awarded the status of UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve, and has since received many other, well-deserved listings. Following breakfast we will take the day to leisurely stroll around while enjoying the majestic and beautiful scenery. DAY 06 Jiuzhaigou (B, L, D) Today we will take the day to admire the mineral ponds and lush forests that abound in Jiuzhaigou. Some of the highlights will include a trip through Shuzheng Valley. Shuzheng valley is the major tour route to Jiuzhaigou. More than 40% of the lakes and ponds are situated in the valley. Double-Dragon Lake, Bonsai Beach, Reed Lake, Sparking Lake, Tiger Lake, Shuzheng Waterfall, Rhinoceros Lake, and the Nuorilang Waterfall are all contained in the valley. DAY 07 Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong-Chengdu (B, L, D) Following breakfast we’ll make the 128km drive to Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) scenic area. Located on the easternmost of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. it belongs to Songpan county, Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province. The Huanglong scenic and historic area is famous for its colorful lakes, snow clad mountains, valleys and virgin forest. Huanglong is regarded as the "world wonder and fairly land on earth." Huanglong got its name for its special geographical features, which seems like a golden dragon winding its way through the virgin forest, stone mountains and glaciers. There are numerous ponds and lakes with different shapes and colors. Every lake is a beautiful picture and each pond can be an imagined image. Another special scenic in Huanglong is its calcium carbonate (travertine) formation in every corner of the park. You will find every lake, pond, spring, waterfall was held by the travertine. The water is so crystal clear that you can see the bottom of the pond and lake by your naked eyes. With the colorful plants around them, every pond and lake is a beautiful picture that can not be describe by words. Walking in the valley, you will feel like your dreaming with all the wonderful scenery before you. Famous ponds include the Yingbin (welcoming guests) Colored Ponds, Feipuliuhui (glowing waterfall), Xishen (washing body) Cave, Penjing (miniascape) Ponds, Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Temple, Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Cave, Shitazhenhai and Zhuanhua (whirling flower) Pond, etc. After our time in Huanglong we will proceed back to Chengdu, where you’ll be taken to your hotel. The rest of the night is up to your own leisure. From traditional teahouses, theaters to modern pubs and clubs, Chengdu people know how to enjoy the night. Every corner in Chengdu offers the warmest welcome, and you are sure to find something to pique your interest during your time on the town. DAY 08 Chengdu-departure (B) After breakfast in the hotel, you will be taken to either the airport or the train station, and you will depart for your next destination.

Tour Inclusions：

1. Hotels with daily western breakfasts;
2. Meals in accordance with that listed on the itinerary.
3. professional local guide & driver;
4. Private air-conditioned car or van for transportation;
5. Admission of the first gate.
6. Two bottles of mineral water per day.

Tour  Exclusions：

1. Tip of the guide
2. Personal costs