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Teddy bears and tea houses If you have enough days to spend on holiday, this Chinese city is definitely a must-see! The climate in this area is pleasant, even in the winter time. |
| Duration: |
3 days / 2 nights |
Departure: | Daily |
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| Comfort level (1-5): | 3 (see accommodation) | Accommodation: | 2 nights in a hotel in Chengdu (accommodation only) |
| Price: | From £77 per person - based on 2 people sharing | Included: | Transfer, 2 nights hotel and Chengdu panda tour to Panda Research Centre including entrance fee |
| Transport: | Transfer airport - hotel | Excluded: | Meals and drinks, optional activities on location |
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Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu Whether you arrive by air plane or by train, one of our representatives will be waiting for you on your arrival and a transfer will take you to your hotel. |
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Day 2: Chengdu panda tour - Research Centre trip If you’d like to experience a panda encounter while in China, the best place to see them is at the Panda Research Centre. If you go on a day trip outside of Chengdu to the Wolong National Park to see pandas in the wild, it would be quite an expedition to reach the area and the chance that you’ll actually see the pandas is slim (even for professionals) since the animals are extremely shy. The research centre is a large bamboo filled park with a swan lake where pandas can be seen in large fenced in enclosures. We really enjoyed our visit here, especially because it’s the only opportunity to see these mystical creatures up close. Of course it’s still a zoo; however it’s a very responsible and well maintained zoo. Seeing these funny, eating, sleeping and playing giant pandas is extremely moving. The panda museum located at the centre is very informative. On this Chengdu panda tour, you’ll learn a lot about these animals, their breeding habits, their heritage and you’ll even see panda embryos. |
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Chengdu tea houses While in Chengdu try to visit one of the many Chinese tea houses for a few hours or so. China has the best tea houses in the World and Chengdu has the best tea houses in China. Much like the British have the pubs, the Dutch and the French have their cafés…. the Chinese have their tea houses. It’s their number one place to meet with friends and acquaintances and to catch up on what’s going on in their lives. The tea house in People's Park is the most famous tea house. On the shore of a lake, amidst green swaying trees you’ll be able to enjoy a cup of tea and the liveliness all around you. Most people drink Jasmine tea and cups are continuously being refilled. A cup of tea can easily turn into an enjoyable afternoon in a tea house this way, especially if you combine it with a game of Mah-jong or a card game. Travelling through China can be quite tiring and this may just be the way to relax and unwind during your trip. What better place to unwind than in a tea house, where you can sit amidst Chinese from all walks of life and just be? |
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Countryside tour Make reservations through our local agent for a trip to the fertile countryside of the Sichuan province. A driver will pick you up at your hotel around 7:30 in the morning. You’ll quickly leave the city and the morning rush hour behind you and the view from the car window will become greener. Around 9:30 you’ll have reached the country town of Huang Longxi, located on the banks of the Ming River which is scattered with terraces. Visit the local market for household articles, food etc…. you won’t know where to look first. Afterwards you’ll visit the temples and picturesque streets in town. At around 11:30 you’ll continue on through the countryside. You’ll eventually stop at a farm where you’ll have lunch with a farmer’s family. Your guide will be available as translator and ask the family any questions you may have about life on this Chinese farm. After lunch you’re free to help the farmer out on the land for a little while if you like. Depending on the time of year and what you would like to do you could for instance help harvest certain crops. This trip is available to you seven days a week and has a minimum of two participants. You’ll be accompanied by an English-speaking guide the entire trip. At around 17:00 you’ll be back at your hotel in Chengdu. The price of this countryside tour is £45 per person, which includes lunch on the farm. This trip can also be booked prior to departure to China. During low travel season, April 1st until October 31st, this excursion will only last half a day. |
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Sichuan cooking lessons Our local agent can arrange a fun morning or afternoon Sichuan cooking lessons for you in a centrally located guest house. The enthusiastic cook of the restaurant (if you like you can also go shopping for ingredients with her at the market prior to class) will help you create six delicious (and sometimes spicy) dishes for lunch or dinner within 3 hours. You’ll cook in small groups of 2-6 people on any day of the week. Be sure to sign up with our local agent as soon as possible. The cost of this cooking class is approximately 100 Yuan per person, which is about 10 Euros per person, and is incredibly easy to book on location. If you’re travel partner is less interested in cooking than you are, perhaps he or she can take a Mah-jong lesson (50 Yuan). After your visit to China you’ll not only come home with incredible pictures of your trip, you’ll also be able to cook up friends and family wonderfully exotic dishes and play a game of Mah-jong afterwards. |
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Sichuan opera Chengdu is the best place to become acquainted with Sichuan Opera. There are 1300 different Opera companies in China; however Chengdu is the home of this art form. Characteristics of Sichuan Opera are solo arias, the delicate movements of the actors, captivating percussion and humorous comedians performing (at least they are to Chinese audiences). There are also a mirage of changing masks and faces, fire eaters and unusual light arrangements; all this and more make these Operas worthwhile viewing during your stay. The shows are almost performed on a daily basis and usually begin around 19:30 and last until about 22:00. The entrance fee to the show, 70 – 100 Yuan per person depending on the Opera Company playing, must be paid in advance to our local agent. You’ll be picked up at your hotel and returned to your hotel after the show. |
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Day 3: Departure from Chengdu Are you excited about all of the possibilities during your stay in Chengdu? If so, let us suggest that you extend your stay here with one or more nights. |
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