3 Days Tour of Chengdu and Panda Keeper Program

Pick up at flight/train station arrival. Then spend the afternoon time leisurely in the city center. Chengdu is a slow-pace and stress-free big city in China. Tea houses, restaurants and Majong room are easy to find at street and park. To touch real life of locals, we take a walk to the People’s Park which is a very typical and important entertainment park located in the west of Chengdu. The next stop is Jinli Street, a charming area restored from an old street with full of souvenir shops, wine bars, teahouses and snack stalls. Transfer back to hotel when tour ends. 

Guide will pick you up early in the morning and ensure to get there before 9:00am. On arrival, meet professional panda keeper and other fellow volunteers. Before the work starts, a short explanation session will be given to outline the itinerary and deliver precautions, how to care for pandas. To keep sanitation, you will dress volunteer clothing.

Panda Keeper Program starts from being a keeper to clean indoor and outdoor panda enclosures, record their behavior and weight for about two hours. Other activities include attending panda rescue exhibition, participation in preparing fruit, vegetables and special panda cakes and feeding them; watching documentary movie about pandas, joining in panda class to learn scientific knowledge, etc. You will get a Panda Keeper Certificate when work ends.

Tips: Hugging a Panda for pictures is not allowed anymore.

Before departure to the next destination, we will visit an important site of Chengdu-Giant Buddha. Located 1.5 hours drive journey south of Chengdu, it is the largest stone Buddha in the world carved out of a cliff at the confluences of the three big rivers near Leshan city. The statue is 71 meters tall, sitting with hands resting on his knees. Taking a river ferry, you will see the huge Buddha in the distance and stop at Buddha's foot. For the energetics, it is more interesting to appreciate the Buddha by foot (except public holidays). Walking through the park to the top of Lingyun Mountain, you will see numerous carvings, temples and shrines. Take some photos from head of the Buddha, then follow the line to descend via narrow steps to his toes and back. It takes more time and requires good physical condition, but you will be rewarded with a close visit of this gigantic stone artwork.

Tips: Check out before the tour start and bring along all your luggage. Driver will take care of them during your sightseeing.