There are many places to visit around Chengdu. Three days may seem like a lot of time, but if you really queue up, it can easily turn into a rush to get to the next attraction every day. A more comfortable idea is to put attractions in the same direction and with similar tour methods together: one day for the Panda Base and Sanxingdui, one day for Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain; the Leshan Giant Buddha can be alone for one day, or it can be combined with Mount Emei for two days and one night.
Here are the benefits of private chartering. Pick up from the hotel, B&B or designated location every day, and the scenic spots are connected by the same car. The departure time, dining location and final delivery location can be adjusted according to the status of the companions, so there is no need to re-examine transfers and how to put luggage every day.
The route below is a reference for easy understanding, not a fixed itinerary. Some people like history and culture, others want to see the mountains and rivers, and some people are bringing the elderly and children and hope to walk less every day. It will be more fun to choose the version that is closest to you first and then adjust the attractions than to cram in six or seven names.
It is my first time to visit Chengdu. A relatively balanced three-day combination is: Panda Base plus Sanxingdui on the first day, Dujiangyan plus Qingcheng Mountain on the second day, and Leshan Giant Buddha on the third day. Return to Chengdu after each day's tour. If Mount Emei is also the focus of this trip, you can change the last two days to Leshan Giant Buddha plus Mount Emei for two days and one night, and return to Chengdu from Mount Emei on the third day.
Choose a travel method first, three days will be a better combination
The first thing to decide on the three-day route is not which attractions are scheduled in the morning, but whether to return to Chengdu every day or stay one night in the direction of Leshan or Emeishan. After the accommodation method is determined, the order of attractions and luggage arrangements will be much clearer.
When coming to Chengdu for the first time, you can spend one day in each of the three directions; if you really want to go to the Golden Summit of Mount Emei, you can spend two days and one night in Leshan and Mount Emei; if you are bringing the elderly or children, you can keep the two favorite peripheral routes and return to Chengdu city on the third day, or reduce the double attractions to a single attraction.
You can experience pandas, ancient Shu culture, water conservancy and mountain scenery, and the Leshan Giant Buddha. You can still stay in Chengdu at night without having to change hotels frequently.
The day before we did a tour around Chengdu, and the next two days we went to Leshan and Mount Emei, and stayed one night near Mount Emei.
Decrease one attraction or add half a day in Chengdu city, leaving room for lunch, rest and temporary adjustments.
Combination 1: Return to Chengdu every day, and spend one day in each of the three directions
This itinerary is suitable for guests who are visiting Chengdu for the first time, have stayed in the hotel for three consecutive nights, and don’t want to pack their luggage midway. Departing from the same hotel every day and returning to Chengdu in the evening is more convenient for eating and resting.
The theme is different every day, and there are no detours between attractions. What you need to accept is that there is a round-trip drive every day. If you want to catch a flight or high-speed rail on the third day, the return time should be reserved in advance.
| days | Today's route | Tour highlights | stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| first day | Chengdu Hotel → Panda Base → Sanxingdui → Chengdu | Watch pandas in the morning and experience the ancient Shu civilization in the afternoon; the two attractions are connected during reservation time | Chengdu |
| the next day | Chengdu Hotel → Dujiangyan → Qingcheng Mountain → Chengdu | See the water conservancy project and the landscape along the river in Dujiangyan, and experience the mountains, forests and Taoist culture in Qingcheng Mountain | Chengdu |
| The third day | Chengdu Hotel → Leshan Giant Buddha → Chengdu or next stop | Spend the whole day mainly in Leshan, and choose mountain or river tours based on your physical strength and operational conditions on the day. | Chengdu or return |
Combination 2: Stay two days in Leshan and Mount Emei for a more complete tour
If you really want to go to the Golden Summit of Mount Emei this time, or want to walk more in Mount Emei, it is not suitable to squeeze the Leshan Giant Buddha, the high mountain area of Mount Emei, and Chengdu into the same day. Give Leshan and Emeishan two days and one night out of three days, and the overall situation will be much more natural.
The value of staying one night is that you don’t have to rush back to Chengdu from Leshan the next day, and you can spend most of your time in Mount Emei on the third day. The large luggage will be transferred with the vehicle, and the driver will take it to a hotel near Mount Emei, and then connect it from the hotel to the scenic spot connection location where the road allows traffic the next day.
| days | Today's route | Arrange ideas |
|---|---|---|
| first day | Chengdu → Dujiangyan → Qingcheng Mountain → Chengdu | First take a classic route around Chengdu, and then return to Chengdu to rest after the tour. |
| the next day | Chengdu → Leshan Giant Buddha → Emeishan Hotel | After visiting the Leshan Giant Buddha, continue to Emeishan for accommodation, and your luggage will be transferred with the car |
| The third day | Emeishan Hotel → Scenic Area Connection Point → Chengdu | Choose Jinding or other areas according to reservation, weather and physical strength, and then return to Chengdu or go to the next stop |
If you are traveling with the elderly and children, or if you don’t want to rush too much, you can substitute like this
It is not necessary to arrange two attractions every day for three days. The physical strength of the companions, the reservation time and the weather are more priorities. The Panda Base can be combined with the urban area for half a day, and Sanxingdui can be left alone for half a day or a full day. Although Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain can usually be visited on the same day, you can only reserve one of them depending on your physical strength.
Multi-day routes such as Jiuzhaigou Valley and West Sichuan Small Ring Road are different from one-day tours around Chengdu in terms of distance, road conditions and accommodation nodes. If you have decided to go to Jiuzhaigou or Western Sichuan in three days, it is more suitable to arrange it separately around that route, instead of adding Leshan, Emeishan and other scenic spots in different directions at the same time.
| Easy replacement | How can it be arranged? | Who is more suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Panda Base + Urban Area | Watch pandas in the morning, go back to Chengdu to rest in the afternoon, and then go to People’s Park, Jinli or your favorite restaurant | Parent-child family, first day after arriving in Chengdu |
| A day alone in Sanxingdui | Pick up from the hotel according to the scheduled time and return to Chengdu after the visit | Guests who are particularly interested in ancient Shu culture |
| Mainly Dujiangyan | Slowly watch the water conservancy project, Qingcheng Mountain changed to a relaxing meal or return early | Families with elderly people or those with limited mobility |
| Leshan replaces Emeishan | Make the Leshan Giant Buddha the highlight of the day and leave Mount Emei for two days and one night next time | Guests who only have one day and don’t want to leave early and come back late |
Three-day private charter, the convenience is not just about having a car between attractions
Three-day car charter will arrange the car use process continuously from departure to final delivery every day. The driver arrives at the hotel, B&B or designated location in advance as scheduled, and the guests can set off when they are ready; when they need to change hotels, their luggage can be continued in the same vehicle.
When getting on and off the vehicle, the driver can assist in opening and closing the doors and loading and unloading ordinary luggage; within the scope permitted by road and scenic area management, the driver will also try to choose a safe and convenient location for getting on and off the vehicle. If you need to eat or temporarily adjust the order on the way, you can refer to the driver's familiar routes and local suggestions. In the end, it is still up to the guest to decide according to his own preferences.
There is no need to go to a fixed meeting point first, the driver arrives in advance and can set off directly when ready.
If you want to leave early and play more, you can go to bed later. You can also adjust the attractions and rhythm of the day.
Go to Leshan and Emeishan to stay for one night, and large luggage will be connected in the same car.
Choose safe and convenient transfer points within the limits allowed by road and scenic area management.
Take care of the elderly and children when getting on and off the bus, assist in opening and closing car doors and loading and unloading ordinary luggage.
The driver can give some references based on familiar areas, and the guest can then decide based on taste and time.
Reduce the trouble of re-calling a taxi, transferring and confirming the meeting location for each section.
It can be sent back to the hotel, or delivered to a restaurant, airport, station or other agreed location.
Whether you can sit comfortably for three days or not depends on the car model.
The cost of a three-day charter is usually determined based on the car model, daily route, duration of the car, transfer location, whether you have off-site accommodation, as well as actual arrangements such as parking fees, tolls, and driver's food and accommodation. Scenic spot tickets, sightseeing cars, ropeways, cruises, meals and accommodation are usually not included in vehicle expenses. The final service scope shall be subject to the confirmation of both parties.
The car type depends on the number of people first, and also leaves room for luggage. When the number of people and seats is exactly equal, if there are large suitcases, strollers or photography equipment, the actual seating space may be tight. You can clearly state the number of luggage when communicating.
| Peer situation | Car models to consider | More suitable needs | Confirm by the way |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 people | Five-seat sedan or SUV | Small number of people, not much luggage, flexible daily routes | Large Suitcases and Children's Items quantity |
| 1-6 people | GL8, Odyssey and other MPVs | Three days is a long journey, so I hope the space will be more comfortable. | Is there enough luggage space when the seats are nearly full? |
| Multi-person small team | Coaster or minibus | Family groups, friends or small company groups traveling together | Accurate number of people, luggage and transfer locations |
| More people | bus | Group travel, team building or surrounding itineraries after meetings | Collection method, parking conditions and person in charge |
Before determining the route, it is enough to clearly explain the four types of information
When determining the itinerary, first mention the three days of departure, how many people will be traveling together, and the situation of the elderly, children, or people with limited mobility; then mention the two or three scenic spots that you most want to visit, so that the team can first determine which ones are suitable for the same day and which ones require a one-night stay.
Hotel location, third-day final delivery location and baggage quantity also affect the route and vehicle type. If you need to go to the airport or high-speed rail station on the third day, send the flight or train number together, and the return and drop-off times can be considered in the same itinerary.
On which three days will we set out, how many people will we travel with, and whether there will be any elderly people, children or people with limited mobility.
Let’s talk about must-see attractions first, and then arrange them in order according to direction, reservation and depth of tour.
Where to pick it up every day, and finally deliver it to a hotel, restaurant, airport or station on the third day.
How much luggage is there, whether there are any special items, and how comfortable you want the seats to be for three days.
Before setting off in 2026, pay attention to the arrangements of several scenic spots
The Panda Base implements online real-name reservations, and tickets can currently be purchased 14 days in advance. The three-day classic version usually places the Panda Base in the morning, which makes it convenient to continue connecting to Sanxingdui in the afternoon. Sanxingdui's admission time may be adjusted during holidays and summer. After booking the official reservation time, it will be more accurate to backtrack the departure time based on the hotel location.
Sightseeing buses in the high mountainous areas of Mount Emei are reserved according to time slots. There will be construction and capacity adjustments in the Golden Summit area in 2026. If you want to go to the Golden Summit, you must refer to the remaining tickets and the scenic spot announcement before departure, and allow time for queuing.
Leshan Giant Buddha's mountain tours and river tours may be affected by rainfall, water levels and on-site maintenance. If there are adjustments on the day, you can change the tour method or reduce a link, so there is no need to affect the return trip in order to meet the original plan.
- First complete the real-name reservation for the scenic spot, and then determine the daily departure time accordingly;
- Leave more time for queuing, parking and internal transportation within the scenic area during holidays and summer;
- When planning to go to the Golden Summit of Mount Emei, check the announcements about sightseeing buses, cableways and the Golden Summit area in the high mountain area before departure;
- Leshan Giant Buddha mountain tour or river tour is subject to the opening information of the day.
You don’t need to fit everything in for three days, it’s enough to play with what you like
When coming to Chengdu for the first time, you can use the Panda Base plus Sanxingdui, Dujiangyan plus Qingcheng Mountain, and Leshan Giant Buddha to cover the three classic directions; if you want to visit Mount Emei in depth, change the next two days to two days and one night in Leshan and Mount Emei. There is no single answer to the route. The key is to match the interests, physical strength, and return arrangements of the people traveling with you.
After the date is set, tell Baifen Fleet the number of people, hotel, must-see attractions, luggage and final destination on the third day. The driver arrives in advance as scheduled, picks up the car from the hotel, and finally delivers it to a restaurant, airport, station or other designated location. The same set of arrangements is provided for the three days.
Some frequently asked questions
Is it appropriate to put Panda Base and Sanxingdui on the same day?＋
Yes, this is a common cultural combination with Chengdu characteristics. Usually we go to the Panda Base first in the morning and then go to Sanxingdui. Both attractions must be arranged according to the reservation time period, and the departure time can be determined together after booking the tickets.
Can Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain be visited in one day?＋
One day is usually enough time, and we usually arrange two attractions on the same day. If you want to start earlier and play longer, you can; if you want to sleep later, you can also adjust the depth of the tour according to your physical strength and plan for the day.
Can I visit Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei in one day?＋
You can do a light tandem tour, but if you want to seriously visit the Leshan Giant Buddha and go to the Golden Summit of Mount Emei, one day will be tight. A more comfortable way to make the three-day itinerary is to arrange Leshan and Emeishan into two days and one night.
Is it okay to stay in Chengdu for three days?＋
Yes. The combination of Panda Base plus Sanxingdui, Dujiangyan plus Qingcheng Mountain and Leshan Giant Buddha can return to Chengdu every day. If you focus on Mount Emei, it is more suitable to stay one night near Mount Emei.
Can a private charter drive directly into the scenic spot?＋
It depends on the management regulations of the scenic spots and roads on that day. Drivers will choose convenient and safe transfer locations within the permitted traffic range; sightseeing buses, cableways, cruise ships or traffic control roads within the scenic area will still be used and passed according to the scenic area arrangements.
Can I send it directly to the airport or high-speed rail station on the third day?＋
Yes, as long as you take the flight or train time into consideration when arranging your route. The driver can pick you up from the scenic spot and send it directly to the airport or station, or you can first send it to a restaurant or hotel to pick up your luggage, and then go to the next stop.
How to quote a price for a three-day charter?＋
It will be confirmed based on the car type, daily route, driving time, transfer location, whether to stay in another place, parking fees, tolls and driver's food and accommodation. First send the approximate itinerary and number of people, and the team can organize the vehicles and cost plan accordingly.