Private Day Trip: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Leshan Grand Buddha

Meet your private guide in your hotel lobby around 7:30am. From here, it's about 30 minutes drive by private vehicle to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
Established in 1987 with just six pandas rescued from the wild, this conservation facility has grown over the years into one of the world's most important panda breeding centers. Giant pandas are more active in the early morning and late afternoon, so 8am is a good time to catch pandas of all ages eating and playing.
Your guide will lead you round the landscaped grounds which include some fascinating museums and panda exhibits, where you can learn how this once-endangered species is being preserved for the future.
Lunch is at your own expense: choose whether to enjoy it in Chengdu or in Leshan. Your guide will help you navigate the menu and recommend local specialties to try.
It's about two hours drive to Leshan, and the UNESCO-listed Leshan Grand Buddha, the largest Buddha in the world. Admire the 233-foot (71-meter) statue that towers above the confluence of three rivers as your guide explains the story of its origins.
You can choose whether to see the Buddha on foot, by boat, or (time depending) both. Should you opt for a boat ride, the fee is around USD $12 per person, payable at Leshan in renmimbi.
You'll leave Leshan around 3:30pm, arriving back at your hotel around 5:30pm. If you'd like to be dropped at the airport, please contact your local tour operator after booking: a surcharge may apply.