Chengdu, Leshan, Emei & Jiuzhaigou: A 6-Day Sichuan Route

Sichuan is China’s most scenically diverse province — pandas in Chengdu, the world’s largest Buddha at Leshan, a holy mountain sunrise on Emei, and the impossibly blue lakes of Jiuzhaigou. This six-day loop packs them all in without making any one day a marathon.

The route at a glance

Day 1 — Arrive in Chengdu

• Morning: if you land early, go straight to the Giant Panda Research Base — pandas nap by mid-morning, so arrive at opening.
• Afternoon: a teahouse in People’s Park to ease into Sichuan pace.
• Evening: your first hotpot — start mild if you’re new to the numbing spice. Full guide: Chengdu.

Day 2 — Old Chengdu

• Morning: Jinli Street and the Wuhou Shrine.
• Afternoon: the food lanes around Kuanzhai Alley, or a panda base repeat if you skipped it.
• Evening: stock up and pack for tomorrow’s early start.

Day 3 — Leshan & up Mount Emei

• Morning: high-speed rail from Chengdu to Leshan (about 1 hour), then the Giant Buddha — the riverside walkway and the boat view. See our Leshan guide.
• Afternoon: onward to Mount Emei’s base (about 30 minutes), then take the cable car up to the summit area.
• Night: stay near the summit so you’re in place for sunrise. Full guide: Mount Emei.

Day 4 — Emei sunrise & back to Chengdu

• Dawn: the Golden Summit — the cloud sea and, on clear days, snow peaks far beyond.
• Morning: descend past Wannian Temple and the monkeys, and catch a train or afternoon flight back to Chengdu.
• Evening: fly to Jiuzhaigou Huanglong or take the evening flight the next morning.

Day 5 — Jiuzhaigou valley

• Morning: into the park early — shuttle to Long Lake first, then work down through Five Flower Lake and the classic stretches. See our Jiuzhaigou guide.
• Evening: stay in Zhangzha town just outside the park entrance.

Day 6 — A second pass, then home

• Morning: cover the Nuorilang Waterfall and the lower valley if you didn’t see them yesterday.
• Afternoon: shuttle to the airport and fly back to Chengdu for your onward connection — or, with more time, continue to Chongqing.

Short on time? Cut the second Jiuzhaigou day and do the valley in one efficient day. With less time still, drop Emei and see the Buddha as a day trip from Chengdu.

Practical tips

• Book the Emei cable car and summit hotel ahead — both sell out in peak season.
• Altitude: Jiuzhaigou sits around 2,000–3,100m. Most people are fine, but go slowly and hydrate. See our altitude notes in the Jiuzhaigou guide.
• Trains and flights: book rail with your passport via Trip.com; the Chengdu–Jiuzhaigou flight is the time-saver on this route. How to book trains.
• Payment and data: set up Alipay and an eSIM before you leave — Alipay and eSIM.

Where this route fits

Sichuan is a fantastic add-on to the classic Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai line — see the 10-day golden triangle with Chengdu or the full 14-day route. For the whole picture of the province, see the Sichuan guide.

FAQ highlights

• Is 6 days too packed? It’s full but not rushed — the only long travel day is the flight to Jiuzhaigou.
• Do I need hiking gear? Emei involves stairs; Jiuzhaigou is flat boardwalks. Good shoes are enough.
• Can I skip Jiuzhaigou? If you’d rather trade it for a slower Chengdu/Leshan/Emei pace, that works too — Jiuzhaigou is the most travel-heavy stop.

Last updated: August 2026. Flight and cable car schedules change — confirm before you travel.