After Watt invented the steam engine in 1765, the entire world began to accelerate. In 1856, the British came to China with a steam train. By 1988, China stopped producing steam locomotives. Chinese trains were monopolized by steam locomotives for more than a hundred years. In this era of high-speed rail speeding, it is difficult to imagine that there was once such a type of train burning coals, smoking thick white smoke, and crawling on the tracks. Unexpectedly, there is still a steam train operating in Qianwei County whose name is Jiayang Steam Train. It has been running for more than 70 years, and currently is mainly used for local villagers to connect outside world as well as for travelers to experience a unique steam train experience of "living fossils of the industrial revolution" and "out-of-print landscape of the industrial revolution". What makes Jiayang Steam Train popular is that you can ride the steam train to savor at amazing sea of flowers especially canola flowers in March and sunflowers in August~September.
Jiayang Steam Train is only about 55 km’s driving from Leshan Giant Buddha. Our private tour package will take you to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site first, and stay a comfortable night in Leshan city, then go to ride the steam train next morning when the air is fresh and surrounding is beautiful. It is recommended for all kinds of travelers as a visual feast of both culture and nature.
Day 1 Chengdu - Leshan Giant Buddha - Leshan (L)
Today's highlights: Leshan Giant Buddha In-depth Exploration
This morning you will make a stirring visit to Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding which is not only the most important panda scientific research center, but also dwelling home for more than 100 Giant Pandas. Walk at leisure through the bamboo framed paths, and closely observe giant pandas of different ages eating bamboos, playing with each other, tumbling, climbing trees, etc. Be sure to not miss the chance to visit the most adorable panda babies in the nursery rooms and panda kindergartens. There is also a very informative Panda Museum for you to learn more scientific facts about Giant Pandas.
Following the pandas, you will drive about 2 hours from Chengdu to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site - Leshan Giant Buddha which is the largest and tallest stone-carved statue of Buddha in the world. It was carved during AD713~803 on a mountain rock cliff by the river, with its head reaching to the mountain top and its feet standing next to the river. The total height is 71m; while the head is 14.7m high and 10m wide, ear is 7meters high, 28 meters between knees and insteps. Its insteps can hold over a hundred people. You may be wondering why such a giant Buddha was built? It is said to have been built to calm the turbulent waters that plagued passing boats and killed many people each year in ancient time. On the right cliff of the Giant Buddha, there is a plank road built along with the Giant Buddha. From the top to foot, the plank road has nine turns, thus it’s called Nine Bends Plank Road. The widest part of the road is 1.45m and the narrowest part is only 0.6m, and there are 217 stone steps in total. You will walk down the plank road to the feet of the Giant Buddha for a closer view.
After the Buddha visit, drive to check in your hotel in Leshan downtown.
Recommended Optional Activities: 1) take a 30 minutes’ sightseeing boat to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the Giant Buddha on the river;
Watching Leshan Giant Buddha from the River
Day 2 Leshan - Jiayang Steam Train - Chengdu (B, L)
Today's highlights: Jiayang Steam Train
Today after breakfast, you will drive about 1.5hrs from Leshan city to Qianwei County to enjoy a unique Jiayang Steam Train experience.
Jiayang Steam Train is a passenger steam train that is still operating in China. Built in 1958 and with a total length of 19.8 kilometers, it is reputed as "the living fossils of the industrial revolution" and "out-of-print landscape of the industrial revolution". What makes Jiayang steam train so famous and special is not the train itself but the vast terraces of canola flower. When every March of Spring season comes, this long and narrow valley is dyed golden with canola flowers, and the old green leather steam train always arrives as scheduled, spraying white steam with black smoke, slowly and steadily crawling across the field, climbing up the hillside, through the tunnel, passing by the farmhouse, slowly and carelessly broking into the sea of golden canola flower.
There are two best periods of time to experience Jiayang Steam Train: 1) the beginning of March to the middle of March when the canola flowers bloom; 2) August to September when sunflowers bloom. The actual blooming seasons of canola flowers and sunflowers may be subject to change slightly by years. You’d better inquire us the latest weather information before your trip.
Your tour guide will take you to board one of the steam train, ride through terraces, forests and villages to upper destination of the railway, then ride the same way back, which is a pleasant and scenic journey. During the train trip, you will have several chances to go out of the train to take photos. After the train ride, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Chengdu or go to catch your departing flight (train). Tour ends.
Jiayang Steam Train passing through canola flowers in mid March
There is an old saying that "once you visited Jiuzhaigou, there is no need for you to see any other waterscape". Jiuzhaigou and its neighbor Huanglong grant you a memorable experience of nature wonder of wondrous water world, as the words say.
You will take a 45-minute flight from Chengdu directly to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport in the early morning. In the afternoon, you’ll go to Huanglong National Park, where densely scatters thousands of travertine color-ponds and flow streams. You’ll marvel at Huanglong Temple and fabulous Five-Color Ponds. In the second day, you will visit three beautiful valleys in Jiuzhaigou National Park. The third day is for you to depart from Jiuzhaigou to Chengdu or other destinations.
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2023.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1= RMB 6.45. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.
Hi Wonder,
We are safely back in Guangzhou. Wonderful experience. All the planned events were highlights and the little extra side trips were a plus. Thank you for all your careful planning.
Hi Leo,
This is a very short customised arrangement during which the China border is not fully opened yet.
China Discovery charges a premium though, but it delivered without fail.
The VOA is very new to even the custom officers who were on duty when I cleared the immigration check at Shenzhen as well as the HK side. I must say that the agent did his professional service by always on the call to allow on-site changes of my arrival time because immigration clearance was so unpredictable. I can be assured that someone is just outside the arrival hall to pick me up and, I could tell the immigration officer that my local contact person is just waiting outside to pick me once I am cleared with this new procedure.
It is always safer to have a local contact to guide you and make arrangements for your local transfer when language ( Cantonese instead of Mandarin) is a problem in China .
Thx for the service . Thx to Matt too.
Rgds
Rita,
thank you for your arrangement. The tour and logistics were really good. We are very happy and look forward to the next trip in China with your company.
Dear Jack,
I have tried to leave the following review with tripadvisor several times now but somehow it is not accepted, I do not know why.
"Just back from our 9-day trip to Yunnan, long planned and waited for. It was our second time with China Discovery Tours. Once again they tailored the tour according to our ideas and interests - and succeeded in surprising us! Thanks to the local guides we learned a lot about history, traditions and customs, and, of course, food. We always felt in safe hands and the organization was just perfect with enough on spot flexibility. Big thanks to Jack who figured it all out so well and to the next time with China Discovery! Johannes (GER) & Elizabeth (GRC)"
Thanks again for an excellent trip, best regards, Johannes&Elizabeth
Hi Jack!
It's was great, we loved it! Our tour guide Frank was very kind, informative, and funny :) We loved how easy it was and how much we got to see in a day, I will definitely recommend to our friends!
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.
Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!
After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.
We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.
Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!
Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!
Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.
Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!
In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!
The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.
We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.
The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.
There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Head of Giant Buddha hides a drainage system
Watching Leshan Giant Buddha from the River
Jiayang Steam Train passing through sunflowers in August
Jiayang Steam Train passing through canola flowers in mid March
Based in Chengdu (only 2hrs driving from Leshan) with more than 1360 good reviews on Tripadvisor, we always master the first-hand travel information of Leshan Giant Buddha, Mount Emei and other beautiful places in Chengdu region. We know what is the best way to enjoy your own Giant Buddha vacation; Our private tour packages assure you the highest standards with great flexibility, comfort and personalized arrangement. You will your personal travel consultant, professional tour guide and a private vehicle which only serve for your party - nobody else. All-inclusive tour package to let you enjoy the best of Leshan as well as Mount Emei, Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, etc.
There are two ways to visit the Giant Buddha, one is walking from the entrance to the top area near the head and keeping walking down to the feet area of the Buddha along a zigzag plank road on the cliff, generally 1.5hrs~3hrs. This may require some waiting in line and large crowds but the view of looking up from the bottom is worthwhile. Another option is to take a boat to approach it and get a panoramic view, generally 30~45 minutes. This is a good option for those who want to avoid walking or waiting in crowds. Our tour guide will help you adjust accordingly based on your preference.
Leshan Giant Buddha is located in Leshan city which has no airport. Travelers usually get there from Chengdu (about 150km/2hrs’ driving). The road condition is very good but traffic jams may happen during holidays and some weekends. If you arrive at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport early, we can also book a high speed train ticket for you to get to the Buddha.
The Giant Buddha trip usually takes a half day. After that, you can transfer back to Chengdu, or traveling from Leshan to Mount Emei, which is a classic itinerary, and needs an extra day. You can stay a night at the foot of the mountain, then explore the mountain on the next day. If you come during March, August and September, you are suggested to experience Jiayang Steam Train and enjoy canola flowers/sunflowers. Leshan trip is usually a part of longer Sichuan trip which covers other popular destinations in Sichuan, such as Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou, Mount Qingcheng, etc. We can also design a tailor-made tour for you if you need.
Leshan city has abundant rainfall with four clear-cut seasons. Weather in Leshan is mild with an annual average temperature between 16.5℃ and 18℃. It is suitable for travel all year around. Generally speaking, the best times: March to June and September to November when it is comfortable and less -crowded. It's always a good idea to avoid public holidays. Opening hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in April to Oct and 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m in November to March. Try to arrive in the morning for the best views and smaller crowds.
What to wear in summer? - light, quick-dry and easy to wear clothes, hat, sunscreen, rain jacket and comfortable shoes. What to wear in winter? - double layer jacket, long underwear pants and tops, sweaters, long sleeve shirts, wool blend socks, boots, winter jacket, winter hat, winter gloves, winter scarf. What to wear in spring and autumn? - long underwear, fleece outer layer,, light hat, scarf.
Chengdu / Leshan Giant Buddha / Chengdu
Chengdu / Leshan / Mt. Emei / Chengdu
Chengdu / Mount Emei / Leshan Giant Buddha / Chengdu
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