From Chengdu to Chongqing / 6 days

 

 

Daily schedule

1 In the morning to panda breeding center, afternoon to Wenshu temple and Kuang and Zhai ancient streets. Overnight in Chengdu

2 Via Leshan, the biggest sitting stone Buddha in the world to Zigong. Overnight in Zigong

3 Zigong dinosaur museum, salt museum, secret tea house. Overnight in Zigong

4 Via the Rongxian Buddha to Dazu. Overnight in Dazu

5 Dazu grottoes sightseeing. Overnight in Dazu

6 To Chongqing 

 

Itinerary:

Day 1: We start the day by going to one of China’s most famous attractions: the Panda bear. We go to the panda breeding center just outside the city to enjoy the pandas playing and we can see how they are fed. After that we go to the Wenshu temple and we end the afternoon by walking around in the Zhai and Kuang old streets.

Day 2: Today we drive from Chengdu to Zigong, on the way stopping to enjoy the wonderful Big Buddha in Leshan, the biggest sitting stone Buddha in the world. This Maitreya Buddha is 71 meters high, carved out of a cliff face along the river. We first admire the Buddha from the river by boat. We then go up the mountain to see the Buddha from close by. We also visit the temple on top of the mountain, dedicated to monk Haitong who led the construction of the Buddha in 713 AD. The aim of the construction was that the Buddha would calm the rivers that disturbed the ships. When funding for the project was threatened, he is said to have gouged out his own eyes to show his piety and sincerity. Construction was completed by his disciples ninety years later and it deed indeed calm the waters. Continue to Zigong where we spend the night.

Day 3: We go to the Zigong Dinosaur Museum, one of the three top dinosaur museums in the world. After that we see the salt museum, located in a great guilt house with a stunning entrance gate. Salt has been found and produced around Zigong for a period of more than 2000 years, and the museum nicely shows the interesting history of Zigong salt. Then we drink tea in a secret tea house!!!

Day 4: We first go to the nearby city of Rongxian, to see the amazing Buddha carved out of stone. We then continue to Dazu, famous for its amazing rock carvings. Today we will see the rock carvings at Beishan. A relatively small group of rock carvings compared to baodingshan, but of exquisite quality! Really a jewel for the eye.

Day 5: Today we have the whole day to unhurriedly see all the carvings in the Baodingshan area. The sculptures were completed between 1179 and 1249. There are many very large statues, such as the reclining Buddha and the statue of Avoloketeshwara, Buddha of Compassion. There are many many smaller statues to be seen, Buddhist as well as Taoist.
 

Day 6: Today we drive to Chongqing, the largest city of China.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'