7 Days in Chengdu & Sichuan: Pandas, Buddha, Mountains, and Hotpot

TL;DR

Best season: March–May and late September–November. Avoid the July–August rainy/school-holiday peak at Mount Emei 峨眉山.
Pace: Moderate–active. Three early-morning starts (panda base, Emei sunrise, Buddha) and two long day trips.
Total budget (2026 estimate, per person, mid-range): ¥3,500–5,500 / US$480–760, excluding international flights. Budget backpackers can do it on ¥1,800; comfort travelers ¥7,000+.
Big four anchors: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding 成都大熊猫繁育研究基地, Leshan Giant Buddha 乐山大佛, Mount Emei 峨眉山, Dujiangyan 都江堰.
Book in advance: Emei cable car tickets, the panda base entry slot, and any Chengdu–Emeishan high-speed train (verify with 12306).

Morning: Land at Chengdu Tianfu TFU or Shuangliu CTU. Metro Line 18 from Tianfu (verify with Chengdu Metro) reaches downtown in ~40 min; Line 10 from Shuangliu ~25 min. Hotel drop-off, then a walk through People's Park 人民公园 to recalibrate.
Afternoon: Kuanzhai Alley 宽窄巷子 for teahouse time and a Sichuan opera face-changing show. Entry to the alley is free; teahouse ¥30–80.
Evening: Hotpot dinner near Chunxi Road 春熙路 (Shu Da Xia 蜀大侠 or Xiaolongkan 小龙坎; expect ¥100–160 per person). Nightcap at Lan Kwai Fong–style bar street in Jiu Yan Qiao 九眼桥.

Morning (06:30–10:30): Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding 成都大熊猫繁育研究基地. Tickets ¥55, advance reservation required via the official WeChat mini-program. Take Metro Line 3 to Panda Avenue, then bus 198 or taxi (¥15).
Afternoon: Wuhou Shrine 武侯祠 (¥50) and adjoining Jinli Street 锦里. Allow 2.5 hours combined.
Evening: Try Sichuan snacks at Jinli (¥40–60) or head back to downtown for mapo tofu at Chen Mapo 陈麻婆豆腐 (¥60–90).

Morning (07:00): Chengdu South Station 成都南站 → Leshan Station 乐山站 by high-speed train, 1 h 5 min, ~¥54 one way. Bus 3 or K1 to the Buddha.
Midday: Descend the cliff-side plank path ("Nine Turns" 九曲栈道) along the Buddha's right side; the full loop takes 2.5–3 h and closes in heavy rain. Ticket ¥80 (verify with the official Leshan Buddha site).
Afternoon: Optional Lingyun Temple 凌云寺 and the Mahai Tomb Museum 麻浩崖墓. Or take a 30-min boat (¥70) for the full frontal Buddha view.
Evening: Eat local Qiaojiao beef 跷脚牛肉 in Leshan's old town, then train back to Chengdu (last departures around 21:00; check schedule at 12306).

Morning (07:30 train): Chengdu South → Emeishan Station 峨眉山站, ~1 h 20 min, ¥65. Bus to Baoguo Temple 报国寺 area (~30 min, ¥10).
Afternoon: Baoguo Temple 报国寺 (¥8) and Fuhu Temple 伏虎寺. Stay at a Baoguo foothill hotel (¥300–500/night) or push up to Qingyin Pavilion 清音阁 (¥260–400).
Evening: Light mountain-vegetable dinner; sleep by 21:00 for a sunrise start.

Morning (05:00): Shuttle bus to Jieyin Hall 接引殿 (¥90 round trip), then Jieyin Cable Car 索道 to Golden Summit (¥65 up / ¥55 down; book online). Sunrise roughly 06:20 in spring, 05:50 in autumn.
Midday: Golden Summit 3079 m — Huazang Temple 华藏寺, Samantabhadra statue, and the sea-of-clouds viewing platform. Cold even in summer: bring a windproof layer.
Afternoon: Descend to Wannian Temple 万年寺 area via the Wannian Cable Car (¥65 up / ¥45 down) and walk back to Baoguo through the ecological monkey zone.
Evening: Train to Chengdu (last services ~21:30); late dinner near your hotel.

Morning (08:00): Chengdu Xipu Station 犀浦站 → Dujiangyan Station 都江堰站, 25 min, ¥15 (frequent, 10–20 min service). Bus 4 or taxi to the park.
Midday: Dujiangyan Irrigation System 都江堰水利工程 (¥80) — Yuzui 鱼嘴, Feishayan 飞沙堰, Baopingkou 宝瓶口. Allow 2.5 h; English audio guide ¥20 at the gate.
Afternoon: Walk the old streets of Guanxian 灌县 and climb Mount Qingcheng 青城山 (front mountain ¥80) if energy allows, or just relax in town.
Evening: Return to Chengdu; casual dinner of dan dan noodles 担担面 and cold rabbit 冷吃兔.

Morning: Jinsha Site Museum 金沙遗址博物馆 (¥70, metro Line 7 to Jinsha Site Station). The Sun and Immortal Bird gold foil and jade Cong are the highlights; budget 2.5 h.
Afternoon: If time allows, Taikoo Li 太古里 for souvenirs, or a Sichuan cooking class (¥250–400, half-day, book via HelloChengdu or Trip.com).
Evening: Airport transfer; Tianfu is ~50 min by metro, Shuangliu ~30 min.

Transit: Use 12306 for trains, Alipay/WeChat Pay for metro and buses. Chengdu Metro covers 95% of in-city needs.
Where to stay: Chunxi Road/Taikoo Li area for first-timers (¥400–800/night, mid-range). Near Chengdu East Station 成都东站 is convenient for train days.
Food safety & spice: Specify 微微辣 (mild), 小辣 (small), or 微辣特辣 at hotpot. Outside Chengdu, spice drops noticeably.
Altitude & weather: Emei summit is 3,000+ m. Move slowly, hydrate, and bring a light down jacket even in May. Check the Emei weather station the day before — cable cars close in winds above 40 km/h or icy conditions.
Tickets & reservations: Panda base, Emei cable cars, and the Buddha's cliff path all require ID matching the booking. Foreign passports accepted; register a 12306 account with your passport early.
Connectivity: Buy an eSIM (Airalo China, Holafly) or pocket WiFi before arrival; Google and Instagram need a VPN.
Cash: Almost everything is mobile-pay, but keep ¥200 cash for rural mountain buses and temple donations.