10-Day Chengdu Chongqing Zhangjiajie Tour: Pandas, Wulong & Avatar Mountains

Welcome to Chengdu, one of China's most charming cities and the gateway to your southwest China adventure. Upon arrival, your private driver will meet you at the airport or train station and transfer you comfortably to your hotel.

After settling in, enjoy free time to explore Chengdu's famous relaxed lifestyle. Known as the "Land of Abundance," Chengdu is a city where traditional tea houses, lively streets, and world-famous Sichuan cuisine blend naturally with modern urban life.

In the evening, you can choose an optional local food experience featuring authentic Chengdu specialties.

Begin your day at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, one of the world's most renowned panda conservation centers. Located among lush bamboo forests, observe giant pandas in a natural environment. Your guide will introduce the pandas' daily habits and conservation efforts.

Continue to the Sanxingdui Museum, one of China's most fascinating archaeological sites. The museum showcases the mysterious Shu Civilization that flourished more than 3,000 years ago, featuring extraordinary bronze masks, gold artifacts, and unique ritual objects.

Today, travel west of Chengdu to explore two UNESCO-listed cultural treasures that represent ancient Chinese wisdom and spiritual traditions. Visit the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, a remarkable engineering achievement built over 2,000 years ago and still functioning today. Unlike modern dams, this ancient water-control project uses natural landscapes and clever design to manage rivers and irrigate the fertile Chengdu Plain. 

Continue to Qingcheng Mountain, one of the birthplaces of Taoism and one of China's most famous Taoist mountains. Surrounded by dense forests, peaceful paths, and ancient temples, the mountain offers a tranquil atmosphere that perfectly reflects Taoist philosophy and the harmony between humans and nature. All entrance tickets and cable car rides are included for your convenience. 

In the evening, enjoy the beautiful Nanqiao Night View in Dujiangyan, where colorful lights illuminate the ancient bridge and riverside scenery.

After breakfast, your private driver transfers you to Chengdu Railway Station for a comfortable high-speed train to Chongqing — one of China's most distinctive cities. Built between mountains and rivers, Chongqing is famous for its dramatic terrain, layered streets, and vibrant urban atmosphere. 

Upon arrival, your local guide and driver will welcome you and take you to explore the iconic Hongya Cave Folk Custom Area, a riverside landmark that combines traditional Bayu-style architecture with modern city life. 

Built along the hillside overlooking the Jialing River, the illuminated buildings create one of Chongqing's most spectacular night scenes. Later, walk across or admire the view of Qiansimen Bridge, with Hongya Cave glowing beneath and skyscrapers rising around the rivers — a scene that perfectly captures Chongqing's unique charm as a "mountain city."

Today you will explore the unique urban landscape that makes Chongqing unlike any other city in China. Start with the famous Yangtze River Cableway, often called the "first air corridor over the Yangtze River," offering a unique perspective of Chongqing's skyline, bridges, and mountain terrain. Continue to Liziba Station, where the light rail famously passes directly through a residential building — a creative adaptation to the mountainous environment. 

Visit Baixiangju, a historic residential complex that has become a popular photography spot for its layered architecture and stunning city views. End your day at Huguang Guild Hall, a beautifully preserved historical complex that reflects Chongqing's role as an important trading center in ancient China. Your private guide accompanies you throughout, providing rich historical context at every stop.

Your private vehicle takes you to Wulong Karst National Geological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its spectacular natural formations. Explore the Three Natural Bridges, a breathtaking landscape featuring three enormous limestone arches naturally formed over thousands of years — among the largest natural bridges in the world. 

Continue to Longshuixia Fissure, a dramatic canyon known for its narrow passages, towering cliffs, waterfalls, and pristine natural environment. All entrance tickets and scenic area transportation are included. 

In the evening, your private driver transfers you to the station for a high-speed train to Zhangjiajie, where you'll be greeted and taken to your hotel.

Today explore Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, one of Zhangjiajie's most iconic attractions. Take the world-famous Tianmen Mountain cableway — one of the longest in the world at 7.5km — soaring from the city to the mountain summit with breathtaking views of surrounding peaks, valleys, and the winding 99-bend road below. All mountain transport is included: cable car, cliff escalators, and scenic shuttle buses — no extra charges. 

Walk along the thrilling glass skywalk, where transparent paths cling to the cliffside, offering an unforgettable experience above the clouds. The highlight is the spectacular Tianmen Cave, a massive natural arch carved into the mountain known as the "Gateway to Heaven." 

Walk down the legendary 999-step "Stairway to Heaven" facing the cave opening, or take the mountain escalator through the cave. Your guide will lead you to the best photo spots and share the fascinating legends behind this sacred mountain.

Spend a full day exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a UNESCO Global Geopark famous for its towering sandstone pillars and dramatic mountain scenery — the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. Take the Bailong Elevator — the world's highest outdoor sightseeing elevator with a vertical drop of 335 meters — to reach the top in just two minutes. 

Explore Yuanjiajie, home to the iconic "Southern Sky Column" (Hallelujah Mountain) where thousands of vertical peaks rise dramatically from deep valleys. 

Continue to Tianzi Mountain, known as the "King of the Peak Forest," offering vast panoramic views shaped by mist, clouds, and sunlight. End the day at Ten-Mile Gallery, a beautiful valley surrounded by strange rock formations, forests, and peaceful streams. Your guide handles all logistics — park maps, shuttle buses, and route planning — so you can focus entirely on the scenery.

Continue exploring Zhangjiajie's natural wonders with a visit to Golden Whip Stream, hailed as the "most beautiful canyon in Zhangjiajie." This 7.5-kilometer trail follows a crystal-clear stream through dense forests and beneath towering cliffs, offering a completely different perspective from the high mountain viewpoints. 

Watch wild macaques playing along the riverbank and enjoy the cool, refreshing air. Later, visit Huangshi Village, one of the best places to enjoy panoramic views of Zhangjiajie's famous sandstone peaks — an endless landscape of cliffs, forests, and valleys stretching across the national park. Your guide accompanies you throughout, ensuring you don't miss the best photo spots and hidden gems.

After breakfast, your private driver will transfer you to Zhangjiajie Airport according to your departure schedule. Your 10-day journey through Chengdu, Chongqing, Wulong, and Zhangjiajie comes to an end, leaving you with unforgettable memories of giant pandas, ancient civilizations, mountain cities, and some of China's most spectacular natural landscapes.