7-Day Chongqing + Chengdu Itinerary 2026: Mountain Cities and Pandas
A 7-day southwestern itinerary combining Chongqing (mountain city, hot pot, Three Gorges cruise start) with Chengdu (pandas, Sichuan food).
Quick Answer
What is this 7-day itinerary like?
This 7-day itinerary covers 5 UNESCO sites, involves 25 km of walking, and offers a total cost of $1,180.
Day by day
Book this trip →Seven days: Day 1-3 Chongqing (Hongya Cave, Dazu Rock Carvings, Yangtze cruise start), Day 4-7 Chengdu (pandas, Mt. Emei, Sichuan food). HSR connects them in 1.5h. Most visa-free for 30 days.
Chongqing arrival
Arrive Chongqing Jiangbei (CKG) · Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street · Hongya Cave (free, lit at night) · Hotpot dinner
- 09:00Arrive Chongqing Jiangbei
CKG
- 11:00Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street
Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street
- 13:00Hongya Cave
free, lit at night
- 15:00Hotpot dinner
Hotpot dinner
Chongqing culture
Three Gorges Museum (free) · Ciqikou Old Town · White Emperor City · Yangtze River Cableway (¥20)
- 09:00Three Gorges Museum
free
- 11:00Ciqikou Old Town
Ciqikou Old Town
- 13:00White Emperor City
White Emperor City
- 15:00Yangtze River Cableway
¥20
Dazu Rock Carvings (UNESCO)
Day trip to Dazu (¥135) · Baodingshan carvings (10,000+ statues) · Return: Sichuan face-changing show
- 09:00Day trip to Dazu
¥135
- 11:00Baodingshan carvings
10,000+ statues
- 13:00Return: Sichuan face
changing show
Chongqing to Chengdu
HSR Chongqing → Chengdu (1.5h, ¥154) · Jinli Old Street · Evening: Sichuan opera
- 09:00HSR Chongqing → Chengdu
1.5h, ¥154
- 11:00Jinli Old Street
Jinli Old Street
- 13:00Evening: Sichuan opera
Evening: Sichuan opera
Chengdu pandas
Panda Base morning (¥55) · Wuhou Shrine (¥50) · People's Park tea house
- 09:00Panda Base morning
¥55
- 11:00Wuhou Shrine
¥50
- 13:00People's Park tea house
People's Park tea house
Mt. Emei day trip
HSR to Emei (1.5h) · Mt. Emei cable car (¥120) · Jinding Golden Summit sunset · Return to Chengdu by 9 PM
- 09:00HSR to Emei
1.5h
- 11:00Mt. Emei cable car
¥120
- 13:00Jinding Golden Summit sunset
Jinding Golden Summit sunset
- 15:00Return to Chengdu by 9 PM
Return to Chengdu by 9 PM
Leshan Buddha and departure
Morning: Leshan Buddha (¥80, UNESCO) · Return: Departure from Chengdu
- 09:00Morning: Leshan Buddha
¥80, UNESCO
- 11:00Return: Departure from Chengdu
Return: Departure from Chengdu
Book this trip
All routes →Top sight tickets and any private drivers sell out first; everything else can wait until a week before.
If 7 days isn’t quite right
All routes →
Beijing essentials
Forbidden City · Great Wall · Temple of Heaven. For short stopovers.
Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Imperial, ancient, and modern China on one HSR loop.
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai
Adds Sichuan pandas and Li River karst.
Lock in the essentials before you fly
We may earn a commission when you book through these links.
Itinerary FAQ
How far in advance should I book the main sights?
Book the top restricted-access sight 7 days before, at midnight local time, via the official channel. Same-day tickets are not sold at most major sites.
Is 5 days too long for a first trip?
No — {n} days is the sweet spot. Three days covers the highlights but you will be exhausted. Five lets you add a day trip and an unhurried afternoon without rushing.
Can I do this itinerary without speaking Chinese?
Yes. Install Pleco (offline dictionary) and a translation app before you fly. Metro and attraction signage is in English in major cities; international-hotel staff speak English.
What's the worst time of year to run this exact route?
Golden Week (October 1–7) — every timed entry is impossible to get. Also avoid the Spring Festival rush (late Jan/Feb) and Labor Day (May 1–5). Mid-July to mid-August is hot and crowded with domestic travelers.
How much cash do I actually need?
Almost none. Alipay (linked to a foreign Visa/Mastercard) covers 95% of vendors. Carry ¥500–800 in cash as backup for small stalls. Tipping is not expected.
Is this route safe for solo travelers?
Yes. The main risk is traffic — e-bikes and scooters use sidewalks. Stay alert at intersections, especially outside Beijing/Shanghai where drivers may not stop. Solo female travelers report no issues.