Overview
This route brings together some of our favorite places for a first trip to this part of China, with a nice mix of city life, mountains, nature and local culture.
Your journey starts in Chongqing, where you’ll enjoy the city’s lively streets and riverside views, then take the train to Zhangjiajie for the dramatic stone pillars and landscapes that inspired Avatar. From there, you’ll continue to Chengdu for pandas, Sichuan food and relaxed city life, with time to explore the beautiful Jiuzhaigou, the Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei. High-speed trains connect the main destinations, making the longer journeys comfortable and easy.
It’s a great choice for first-time visitors who want to experience a lot of China while still leaving room to slow down, wander, rest and enjoy each destination. It also works especially well for travelers who enter China through Chongqing and leave from Chengdu, without needing to backtrack.
Highlights
- Explore Chongqing’s famous mountain cityscape with its layered streets, riverside views and lively night atmosphere.
- See Zhangjiajie’s Avatar-inspired scenery among towering sandstone pillars.
- Take the cable car up Tianmen Mountain for spectacular views.
- Meet giant pandas in Chengdu and taste authentic Sichuan food.
- Discover Jiuzhaigou’s turquoise lakes and waterfalls.
- Stand before the world’s largest stone Buddha statue.
- Experience Mount Emei, one of China’s most famous Buddhist mountains.
Itinerary
Day 1: Chongqing Arrival → Hotel Check-in → Free Time
The Experience:
Welcome to Chongqing! Once you arrive, we’ll arrange a private transfer from the airport or train station to your hotel in the city center. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to settle in and recover from your journey.
If you still have some energy, Chongqing is a fun city to start exploring on your own. You might take an easy walk around your neighborhood, find a local noodle shop or try your first Chongqing hotpot. There’s no need to plan too much today. The city’s steep streets, layered buildings and bright lights are already part of the experience.
We recommend keeping the evening relaxed, especially if you have arrived after a long international flight. Our local team will also make sure you have everything you need for the days ahead.
Highlights
- Arrive in Chongqing and settle into your centrally located hotel
Tips
- Keep your first evening flexible after a long journey
- Overnight: Chongqing
Day 2: Chongqing | Liziba → Ciqikou → Hongya Cave
The Experience:
Today we’ll explore some of the places that make Chongqing so different from other Chinese cities. After breakfast, we’ll start with Liziba, where you can watch a metro train pass directly through a residential building. It sounds unusual on paper, but seeing it in person gives you a quick introduction to Chongqing’s vertical way of life.
We’ll then continue to Ciqikou Ancient Town, a historic neighborhood with narrow lanes, old-style buildings and plenty of local snacks. It’s a good place to slow down, browse small shops and see a more traditional side of the city.
Later, we’ll head toward Jiefangbei and Hongya Cave. As evening approaches, the riverside lights come on and Chongqing becomes especially atmospheric. We can enjoy dinner nearby before returning to the hotel.
Highlights
- Watch the famous Liziba monorail pass through a building
- Explore historic Ciqikou and try local Chongqing snacks
- See Hongya Cave and the city lights at night
Tips
- Chongqing involves plenty of stairs and slopes, so wear comfortable shoes
- Try Chongqing noodles or hotpot if you enjoy spicy food
- Overnight: Chongqing
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Chongqing → Zhangjiajie by High-Speed Train → Wulingyuan
The Experience:
After breakfast, we’ll head to the railway station for your train to Zhangjiajie. The journey takes about 3-4 hours, but traveling by train is a comfortable way to cover the distance without spending part of the day at an airport.
When you arrive in Zhangjiajie, our driver will meet you at the station and take you to your hotel in Wulingyuan, the most convenient base for exploring Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. After checking in, you can take the rest of the afternoon to relax or have an easy walk around the town.
Wulingyuan has a much quieter feel than a large city, with mountains rising around the area. It’s also a good place to try some local Hunan dishes before tomorrow’s mountain adventure. We recommend an early night so you’re ready for a full day outdoors.
Highlights
- Comfortable high-speed train journey from Chongqing to Zhangjiajie
Tips
- Have a good rest at night and prepare for tomorrow’s walking
- Overnight: Zhangjiajie
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Zhangjiajie | Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
The Experience:
Today is one of the most spectacular days of the journey as you enter the legendary Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.
In the morning, we’ll take the famous Bailong Elevator, the world’s highest outdoor elevator, rising along a sheer cliff and carrying you quickly from the valley into the heart of Zhangjiajie’s sandstone mountains.
From the top, we’ll explore Yuanjiajie, where towering stone pillars rise from deep green valleys and often disappear into drifting clouds. This is the landscape that inspired the “Hallelujah Mountains” in Avatar. From the cliffside viewpoints, you’ll get some of the most impressive views in the park.
We’ll then continue to Yangjiajie, where the scenery feels more rugged and the trails are generally quieter. The narrow peaks and steep cliffs here give you a different perspective on Zhangjiajie’s extraordinary landscape.
Later, we’ll make our way to Tianzi Mountain, famous for its sweeping views across a vast sea of sandstone peaks. Depending on the weather, you may see layers of mountains stretching into the distance or clouds drifting between the valleys.
After enjoying the mountain scenery, we’ll descend from the scenic area and leave the park. Our private vehicle will take you to Zhangjiajie City, where you’ll check in to your hotel and have the evening to rest.
Highlights
- Ride the world-famous Bailong Elevator
- See the real-life Avatar-inspired landscapes of Yuanjiajie
- Explore the rugged scenery of Yangjiajie and panoramic Tianzi Mountain
Tips
- Comfortable walking shoes are essential, as we’ll spend several hours walking inside the park
- Start early for a more comfortable visit and better chances of avoiding the busiest periods
- Overnight: Zhangjiajie
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Zhangjiajie | Tianmen Mountain
The Experience:
Today we’ll head from Zhangjiajie City to Tianmen Mountain, one of the area’s most iconic natural landmarks.
In the morning, from the city, we’ll take the famous Tianmen Mountain Cable Car, one of the world’s longest cable car rides. You’ll see the landscape change from buildings and farmland to steep cliffs and forested mountain slopes. On a clear day, the views along the way are spectacular.
At the top, we’ll explore the mountain trails and walk along the glass skywalk, where you can look straight down through the transparent floor to the cliffs below. We’ll then make our way to Tianmen Cave, the enormous natural opening in the mountain known as “Heaven’s Gate.” After exploring the area, we’ll descend by cable car or the mountain’s escalator system and return to Zhangjiajie City.
In the evening, we’ll visit 72 Qilou, a recently developed landmark inspired by traditional Tujia-style architecture. The buildings light up after dark, making this a lively place for an evening walk, local snacks and photos.
Highlights
- Ride the spectacular Tianmen Mountain Cable Car from Zhangjiajie City
- Visit the dramatic Tianmen Cave, known as “Heaven’s Gate”
- See 72 Qilou illuminated at night
Tips
- Cable cars and mountain routes can be affected by weather, so the exact route may change
- Wear comfortable shoes, especially for the mountain paths and steps
- Visit 72 Qilou after dark when the buildings are illuminated
- Overnight: Zhangjiajie
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Zhangjiajie → Chengdu by High-Speed Train
The Experience:
After breakfast, we’ll leave Zhangjiajie and transfer to the railway station for your high-speed train to Chengdu. It takes about 4.5-5 hours on the train.
Once we arrive in Chengdu, our driver will meet you at the station and take you to your hotel in downtown.
The rest of the day is flexible for rest or exploration on your own. You can find a neighborhood restaurant or sit down in a local teahouse. Otherwise, enjoy a quiet evening at the hotel.
Tips
- Take it easy tonight after the longer journey
- Overnight: Chengdu
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Chengdu | Chengdu Panda Base
The Experience:
We’ll start early today and head to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The morning, around 09:00-10:30 AM, is the best time to see pandas eating, climbing, and moving around. Besides giant pandas, the base is also home to red pandas and other animals.
After visiting the panda base, we’ll return to central Chengdu. The afternoon is intentionally free. You might want to take a city walk along ancient streets, have a cup of tea in a teahouse, explore the street snacks in a neighborhood, or arrange a slow dinner of Sichuan hotpot. Chengdu is famous for its relaxed pace, and this free time is a chance to experience that side of the city rather than filling every hour with attractions.
Highlights
- See giant pandas during their active morning hours
- Experience Chengdu’s slow life
Tips
- Arrive early at the panda base
- Slow down. No rush
- Overnight: Chengdu
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou by High-Speed Train
The Experience:
Today we’ll leave Chengdu and travel north toward Jiuzhaigou.
After breakfast, we’ll transfer to Chengdu’s railway station and take the high-speed train to Huanglongjiuzhai Station. The train takes about 1.5-3 hours.
After arriving at Huanglongjiuzhai Station, we’ll continue by private transfer to your hotel in the Jiuzhaigou area. The transfer takes about 2 hours.
Once we reach Jiuzhaigou, you can check in and enjoy a quiet rest. We won’t add major sightseeing today because tomorrow is your full day inside the national park. At this altitude, taking some time to rest and stay hydrated is particularly useful.
Tips
- Drink plenty of water and take it easy after arriving
- Keep warm layers accessible
- Avoid strenuous exercise tonight
- Overnight: Jiuzhaigou
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Jiuzhaigou | Jiuzhaigou National Park
The Experience:
Today is a full day to explore Jiuzhaigou National Park, following its famous Y-shaped scenic route by sightseeing shuttle bus.
After an early breakfast, we’ll enter the park and take the shuttle bus toward the upper valleys. The Y-shaped route covers three main branches, each offering a different side of Jiuzhaigou’s scenery:
Rize Valley (right branch): Five Flower Lake, Nuorilang Waterfall
Zechawa Valley (left branch): Long Lake, Five Colored Pool
Shuzheng Valley (bottom branch): Shuzheng Waterfalls/Lakes, Reed Lakes
Rather than walking the entire route, we’ll use the park buses between the main areas and get off at selected stops for short walks and viewpoints.
We’ll return to the park entrance in the late afternoon and head back to the hotel for a relaxed evening.
Highlights
- Follow Jiuzhaigou’s Y-shaped scenic route by shuttle bus
Tips
- Start early to make the most of your full day in the park
- Overnight: Jiuzhaigou
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Jiuzhaigou → Chengdu by High-Speed Train
The Experience:
After breakfast, we’ll leave Jiuzhaigou and travel back toward Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station by road. From there, we’ll take the high-speed train back to Chengdu.
After arriving in Chengdu, our driver will take you back to your hotel. The evening is completely free, so you can have dinner near the hotel, take a walk through the city or simply rest.
- Overnight: Chengdu
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Chengdu | Free Time
The Experience:
Today belongs entirely to you. After several sightseeing days and two mountain destinations, we deliberately leave a full day in Chengdu with no fixed schedule.
You can sleep in, enjoy a slow breakfast and decide what you feel like doing.
Chengdu is particularly good for an unplanned day: you might spend hours in a traditional teahouse, browse local shops, explore a neighborhood on foot or settle into a restaurant for a long Sichuan lunch. If you enjoy shopping, you can also spend the time on Chunxi Road, Taikoo Li, or Global Center, which are famous shopping malls in this city.
For travelers who prefer a little more sightseeing, we can arrange an optional visit to places such as Wenshu Monastery or People’s Park. Otherwise, simply enjoy Chengdu at your own pace. This is one of the days that keeps the overall itinerary comfortable rather than rushed.
Highlights
- A full day to experience Chengdu at your own pace
Tips
- We are glad to give local food and shopping recommendations if needed
- Overnight: Chengdu
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 12: Chengdu → Leshan → Mount Emei
The Experience:
We’ll leave Chengdu after breakfast by private vehicle and drive to Leshan. It takes about 2 hours.
Leshan Giant Buddha is a statue that carved into the red sandstone cliffs beside the Min River. The project begun in the Tang Dynasty and was created to help calm the dangerous waters where three rivers meet.
We’ll spend a few hours exploring the site and seeing the Giant Buddha from different perspectives. You can walk down the cliffside steps to stand close to the statue’s enormous feet and look up at the full 71-meter figure, or take a boat on the river for a wider view of the Buddha carved into the cliff. Each option gives you a very different sense of its scale.
For lunch, we’ll try some of Leshan’s local specialties. Leshan is known for its sweet-skinned duck, beef noodles and bobo chicken, so this is a good chance to taste Sichuan food beyond the usual Chengdu dishes.
After lunch, we’ll continue by private vehicle toward Mount Emei and check in the hotel there.
Highlights
- Visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, a remarkable Tang Dynasty stone carving
- Explore Leshan local food
Tips
- The walk down to the Giant Buddha and back up involves quite a few steps, so it requires some energy; choose the boat option if you prefer a more relaxed visit.
- Overnight: Emei
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Mount Emei → Chengdu
The Experience:
Today we’ll explore Mount Emei, one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains and a place where dramatic natural scenery and centuries of Buddhist tradition come together.
After breakfast, we’ll enter the scenic area and take the park’s sightseeing bus through the mountain forests toward the upper section of Mount Emei. From there, we’ll continue by cable car to the Golden Summit, the highest and most famous part of the mountain. As you reach the summit, the landscape opens up to sweeping views over the surrounding peaks, and on a clear day, you may see a vast sea of clouds stretching across the mountains.
At the summit, we’ll visit the Golden Summit Huazang Temple and see the impressive golden statue of Samantabhadra, the bodhisattva closely associated with Mount Emei. Then, we’ll take the cable car back down and continuing by sightseeing bus.
In the afternoon, we’ll leave Mount Emei and drive back to Chengdu by private vehicle, arriving in time for a relaxed final evening.
Highlights
- Explore one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains
- Visit the Golden Summit
Tips
- Bring warm layers, as the Golden Summit is much colder than Chengdu, even in summer
- Weather can change quickly at the summit, and clouds may affect visibility
- Overnight: Chengdu
- Meals: Breakfast
Day 14: Chengdu | Departure
The Experience:
Your China journey comes to an end today.
After breakfast, you’ll have some final time in Chengdu depending on your flight schedule.
We’ll arrange a private transfer from your hotel to Chengdu airport or railway station. We’ll make sure you have enough time for check-in and departure, so there’s no need to worry about navigating the city with your luggage.
We hope you have a nice journey in China with us.
Highlights
- Private departure transfer according to your schedule
Tips
- Check your luggage carefully for personal belongings
- Allow extra time for airport procedures and traffic
- Keep your passport and travel documents easily accessible
- Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation
- Chongqing: 2 Nights
- Zhangjiajie: 3 Nights
- Chengdu: 5 Nights
- Jiuzhaigou: 2 Nights
- Emei: 1 Night
We choose hotels based on more than just their star rating. For every route, we look for clean, comfortable rooms, good locations, reliable service, and easy access to the places you’ll be visiting. We also consider each destination’s character and practical needs.
For this route, we choose centrally located hotels in Chongqing and Chengdu for easy access to restaurants, shops and city attractions. In Zhangjiajie and Jiuzhaigou, we stay closer to the national parks, making it easier to reach the entrances and spend more time enjoying the scenery.
All of our routes are fully customizable, including accommodation. We can tailor your hotels to suit your travel style and budget, from well-priced 3-star hotels and comfortable 4-star stays to boutique properties and 5-star luxury hotels. If you have a preferred hotel, room type, hotel brand or location, we’re happy to include it in your itinerary.
Cost
Included
- High-speed train tickets (Chongqing – Zhangjiajie – Chengdu – Huanglongjiuzhai – Chengdu).
- Private air-conditioned vehicle for all local transfers.
- Expert English-speaking local guide.
- All entrance fees for attractions listed in the itinerary.
- Park sightseeing buses and cable cars listed in the itinerary.
- 13 nights of hand-picked accommodation with breakfast.
Excluded
- International or domestic flights to Chongqing.
- Lunches and dinners (freedom to explore local tastes).
- Personal expenses.
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary.
- Gratuities for guide and driver.
Transportation
This route combines high-speed rail and private transfers for a comfortable and efficient journey between destinations.
- Chongqing → Zhangjiajie → Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou: High-speed train
- Chengdu → Leshan → Emei → Chengdu: Private transfer
- All local sightseeing: Private transfer
Essential Tips
- Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable seasons.
- Pack comfortable walking shoes.
- Bring layers for the mountains
- We can adjust the route to your travel style.
Gallery
FAQ
Is 14 days enough for Chongqing, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou?
Yes. Two weeks is enough to visit these destinations at a relatively comfortable pace, especially when using high-speed trains for the longer journeys. This itinerary also includes free time in Chengdu rather than filling every day with sightseeing.
Is this a relaxed 14-day China itinerary?
Yes. Compared with many two-week China itineraries, this route is deliberately slower. It includes several free-time periods and avoids changing hotels every day. You spend two nights in Chongqing, three nights in Zhangjiajie, five nights in Chengdu and two nights in Jiuzhaigou.
Is one full day enough for Jiuzhaigou National Park?
Yes, one full day allows you to see many of Jiuzhaigou’s main valleys and famous lakes. However, because the park is large, it is best to start early and plan your route carefully. We can also extend the stay if you prefer a slower visit.
Is Mount Emei suitable for a day trip?
Yes, it is possible to visit Mount Emei in one day when staying nearby the previous night. The itinerary visits Leshan first, then stays near Mount Emei before spending the following day on the mountain and returning to Chengdu.
Can I customize this Chongqing, Zhangjiajie and Sichuan itinerary?
Absolutely. This route is designed as a starting point and can be fully customized. We can change the hotel category, add more free time, include private guides throughout, add Chongqing food experiences, extend Jiuzhaigou or adjust the route around your international flights.
