Customized Chengdu City Highlights (L)

Yangtze River Bridge Chongqing - Meet the tour guide in the lobby of the Chongqing hotel, board a private air-conditioned vehicle, and embark on a personalized tour of the city’s attractions. Discuss the historical highlights and sights of interest with the knowledgeable guide, who will assist in planning an itinerary tailored to specific interests. Begin the adventure with a unique experience by taking the cable car across the Yangtze River.

During the 5-minute cable car ride, enjoy panoramic views of the Yangtze River and admire the city’s modern architecture. Learn about Chongqing’s fascinating culture and history from the tour guide.

People’s Assembly Hall - Proceed to People’s Assembly Hall.

People’s Assembly Hall is a building styled after the Ming and Qing Dynasties, combined with Western architectural influences, designed to host important guests from home and abroad.

Three Gorges Museum - Cross the road to continue exploring the Three Gorges Museum.

The Three Gorges Museum is the largest monographic museum, dedicated to the preservation, education, and scientific research of cultural relics and the natural environment of Chongqing and the Three Gorges area.

Follow the tour guide to explore four different displays housing more than 180,000 collections.

Ciqikou (Porcelain Port) - Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then head to Ciqikou.

With a history of 1,700 years, Ciqikou is renowned for its porcelain production during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Take time to stroll around the village with the tour guide, who will explain the histories and stories along the way. Discover three notable attractions of the village: tea bars, artists’ studios, and Shu Embroidery workshops. Purchase unique souvenirs, with the tour guide offering advice on negotiating prices.

Jiefangbei Square - Conclude the tour in the lively nightlife district of Jiefangbei Square. As the busiest and most prosperous business district in West China, Jiefangbei Square is a multifunctional dining, retail, and entertainment center filled with restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and bars of international standards. Follow the tour guide to explore the area and feel free to taste delicious snacks at the food street.

If some of these places have been visited before and there’s a desire for something different, feel free to discuss alternative destinations with the tour guide. Options include Chongqing Zoo, Hongya Cave, E’ling Park, General Joseph W. Stilwell Museum, or Chaotianmen Square.

After the tour, return to the hotel in Chongqing.

Chongqing - Dazu Rock Carvings (L)

The Dazu Rock Carvings - Meet in the lobby of the Chongqing Downtown hotel in the morning, greeted by a knowledgeable and friendly personal guide, then travel by air-conditioned vehicle to the Dazu Rock Carvings (approximately 2 hours). Relax and enjoy the beautiful countryside views along the way.

Listed as a UNESCO Site, the construction of the Dazu Rock Carvings began in 650 and continued into the 17th century. The rock carvings are an outstanding example of China’s grotto art from the middle and late periods of ancient China.

To date, 50,000 statues and 100,000 inscriptions with Chinese characters have been identified. The cliff statues are large, well-carved, and among the best-preserved examples of this form of Chinese cave temple art.

The Dazu Rock Carvings hold a significant place in the history of China’s grotto art. They include not only Buddhist figures but also Taoist and Confucian figures, distinguishing them from earlier grottoes. The statues exhibit strong national and secular features, depicting the daily lives of ancient people. They mark the completion of the localization process of China’s grotto art and reflect significant changes and developments in China’s folk religion and grotto art.

Dazu Rock Carvings Beishan Site - Baodingshan and Beishan carvings are the most renowned and popular sites, showcasing marvelous carving skills, magnificent scales, various religious themes, and lifelike statues.

Follow the tour guide to explore the Beishan Site, which features the ‘Assembly of Oriental Beauties.’ View the graceful statue of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva and learn about the carvings that reveal the common Buddhist faith.

Art Museum of Cliffside Images in Dazu, Chongqing - Then, proceed to the Art Museum of Cliffside Images in Dazu. Gain more insights into the Dazu Rock Carvings with the tour guide.

Baoding Mountain Carved Stone - Continue to Baodingshan Rock Carving, where 13 groups of stone carving figures, totaling nearly 10,000 cliffside figures, can be found.

Admire Song dynasty sculptural art, and let the tour guide point out different stories: the birth of Buddha, the nature of change, heaven, hell, cause and effect, and especially about people. Normal people, including farmers, are depicted working in the carvings, as well as singing, dancing, drinking wine, and engaging in various daily life activities.

Also, see the “Thousand-Arm Goddess of Mercy,” the Sleeping Buddha, and other carvings.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, and afterward, return to the hotel in Chongqing.

• Lunch included
• Guidance from an English-speaking tour guide
• Transportation by private vehicle
• Convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off service
• All entrance fees covered
• Complimentary bottled water

• Gratuites
• Accommodation

There are so many things to see in Chongqing, and it can be hard for first-time visitors to know where to start. Take the guesswork out of the sightseeing process on this private 2-day tour of the city, which includes guided visits to must-see attractions like Ancient Town of Ciqikou, People’s Assembly Hall; Experience the Yangtze River cable car for the panoramic views of the sprawling city; venture into the Three Gorges Museum and finish in the lively nightlife district of Jiefangbei Square. Explore the extraordinary structures carved into the Beishan and Baodingshan centuries ago at the UNESCO-designated site of Dazu Rock Carvings. Tour includes all entrance fees, lunch, transportation, and of course a private guide to provide information and take you through Chengdu.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.