CHENGDU · DAY TRIPS
Day trips from Chengdu
Chengdu sits at the western edge of the Sichuan Basin, surrounded by mountains. Its day-trip options range from the pandas of Bifengxia to the Buddhist carvings at Leshan and the teahouse towns of Dujiangyan. High-speed rail now connects several destinations that previously took most of a day.
Destinations within reach
Leshan Giant Buddha
乐山大佛
- How to get there
- HSR from Chengdu East or Chengdu South to Leshan; then bus/taxi to the site
- What to see
- World's largest stone Buddha (71m) carved in the 8th century at the confluence of three rivers; viewable by cliff path or boat.
- Why go
- One of China's most visually striking UNESCO sites; the boat view looking up at the statue is memorable.
Mount Emei
峨眉山
- How to get there
- HSR from Chengdu; local bus from Emei station to cable car base
- What to see
- Sacred Buddhist mountain with multiple temple complexes; golden summit above the cloud line; resident Tibetan macaques.
- Why go
- A full-day with cable car access to the summit; combine with Leshan for a two-site Sichuan day.
Dujiangyan Panda Base
都江堰大熊猫基地
- How to get there
- HSR from Chengdu to Dujiangyan; shuttle bus to panda base
- What to see
- Giant panda conservation base with fewer visitors than the Chengdu city base; Dujiangyan irrigation system (UNESCO) nearby.
- Why go
- The panda-volunteering programme runs from here; the irrigation system is a 2,200-year-old engineering site worth pairing.
Qingcheng Mountain
青城山
- How to get there
- HSR to Dujiangyan; taxi to Qingcheng Mountain gate
- What to see
- Taoist sacred mountain with forested trails and multiple ancient temples; quieter and more atmospheric than Emei.
- Why go
- One of China's four sacred Taoist mountains; far fewer crowds than most comparable sites.
Jiuzhaigou
九寨沟
- How to get there
- Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport with daily flights from Chengdu; road trip viable but long
- What to see
- UNESCO-listed valley with turquoise multi-level lakes, calcite-streaked waterfalls, and Tibetan villages.
- Why go
- Best as an overnight or two-night stay rather than a day trip, but the short flight makes it feasible in a long day.
Huanglongxi Ancient Town
黄龙溪古镇
- How to get there
- Bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen station; or chartered car
- What to see
- Well-preserved Song dynasty water town with ancient banyan trees, teahouses, and river-fishing tradition.
- Why go
- A quieter and more authentic alternative to Jinli or Kuanzhai Alley for traditional architecture.
Luodai Ancient Town
洛带古镇
- How to get there
- Bus from Chengdu East Bus Station; or taxi
- What to see
- Hakka community town with four clan guild halls; traditional clay pottery and Hakka food stalls.
- Why go
- Insight into Hakka migration history; the clay-pot sculptures along the main street are distinctive.
Verified May 2026