7 Days in Deyang

Book the timed ticket on the official WeChat account a few days ahead; start with the bronze masks hall before the crowds arrive.

1. Sanxingdui Museum (Guanghan)

Morning at the Confucian Temple complex, then an easy walk along Jinghu Lake; head up Donghu Hill Park for a city view at dusk.

1. Deyang Confucian Temple
2. Jinghu Lake riverside
3. Donghu Hill Park

Watch artisans print woodblock New Year paintings, then try Jiannanchun liquor culture on Jiannan Old Street before returning to Deyang.

1. Mianzhu New Year Painting Village
2. Jiannan Old Street

A short bus or taxi ride to Luojiang for the old Baima Pass and the shrine of strategist Pang Tong; combine with a countryside lunch.

1. Baima Pass (Luojiang)
2. Pang Tong Shrine

High-speed rail reaches Chengdu in about half an hour; tea house morning, Kuanzhai Alleys and Jinli afternoon, back to Deyang for the night.

1. People's Park (Chengdu)
2. Kuanzhai Alleys
3. Jinli Street

Go at opening time when pandas are most active, then keep the afternoon light with a riverside walk back in Deyang.

1. Chengdu Panda Base

Connect through Chengdu by rail (about 1.5 hours each way); queue early for the cliff stairway down to the Buddha's feet.

1. Leshan Giant Buddha