1 Day Chengdu Panda Tour with Leisure Time in Renmin Park & Ancient Streets

In the morning, you will meet your guide early at the appointed time in your hotel lobby. Since pandas prefer cool weather and are more active in the morning, we advise you to arrive early at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Chengdu Panda Base), located only about 17 kilometers away from the city center. This is the closest panda base around Chengdu for you fulfill your panda dream.

Chengdu Panda Base is the base with the largest population of captive giant pandas in the world, accommodating over 100 pandas of different ages. You can watch pandas playing, eating, climbing, sleeping, and in autumn, even see the pink newborn giant panda cubs in the Sunshine Nursery House and the Moonlight Nursery House. Discover the charming panda stars at this base, such as Hua Hua, the most adored and celebrated panda who has captured the hearts of the nation, and Zhi Ma, the real-life inspiration behind the panda mascot of the World University Games. Besides giant pandas, the cute red pandas (rarer than giant pandas) at the Red Panda Playgrounds are also the highlight of the Chengdu Panda Base. Nowadays, the panda base has also become an urban birding spot for local birders and kids to search for Red-billed Leiothrix, Black-throated Tit, Chinese Blackbird, Spotted Dove, White-browed Laughingthrush, and more. If you’re interested, you can follow your guide to discover more about pandas’ secrets through the Chengdu Giant Panda Museum, which is free to enter but requires advance reservation, and closed on Mondays.

After lunch, it’s time to take a leisurely stroll inside Chengdu Renmin Park (Chengdu People’s Park) like a local and enjoy the city’s slow lifestyle. You can watch locals square dancing, practicing Taiji, singing Chinese folk songs, playing traditional Chinese musical instruments, as well as playing Chinese chess and boating on the lake. Don’t miss the blind date corner (a marriage market) where parents of unmarried adults flock to the park to find a partner for their daughter or son. Then, order a cup of fragrant jasmine green tea (a favorite of Chengdu locals) while sitting in a time-honored tea house, such as Heming Tea House. Chat with your friends, try Chengdu Ear Cleaning by professional ear cleaner, and see locals having fun playing mahjong.

Then, move on to explore Kuanzhai Alley (Wide and Narrow Alley), which is located 800m away from Chengdu Renmin Park. As a must-visit tourist destination in Chengdu, Kuanzhai Alley represents the old Chengdu and embodies the leisurely lifestyle cherished by the Chengdu people. Formerly known as Hutong, it was built in 1718 by Nian Gengyao (1679-1726), a General of the Qing Dynasty (the elder brother of Consort Hua in “Legend of Concubine Zhen Huan“). Kuanzhai Alley served as the military camp and residential area for the Eight Banners (a copy of Beijing Hutong). As you walk along the three parallel old-style streets and courtyards – Kuan Alley (Wide Alley), Zhai Alley (Narrow Alley), and Jin Alley (Well Alley) – you can imagine how, 300 years ago, officials resided in Kuan Alley, soldiers lived in Zhai Alley, and commoners and townsfolk inhabited Jin Alley. Today, Kuanzhai Alley not only reflects the history of Chengdu as an ancient yet vibrant city but also symbolizes the treasured memories of Chengdu locals. There are all kinds of Chengdu snacks, folk arts and crafts nightclubs, and coffee shops which make it one of the most active places in Chengdu.

When the sun sets, the nightlife on Jinli Street becomes even more charming. Known as the “Chengdu Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival Scroll” and ranked at the top of the world’s most beautiful streets by CNN Travel in 2021, Jinli Street was first built during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) and was then known as “Shu Jinli“. “Shu” refers to the Shu Kingdom (221-263) in Chinese, “Jin” means brocade, and ”Li” means street and alley. Indeed, Jinli was an ancient street that mainly produced and sold brocades 1,800 years ago. As time passed, Jinli gradually developed into a commercial center in the old city area of Chengdu. While modeled after the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms“, it also became one of the representatives of Chengdu’s culture and history. Walking on Jinli Street, you can appreciate the brilliant Chinese Traditional buildings of Qing Dynasty style (1616-1911), buy all kinds of souvenirs (Shu embroidery, lacquer products, folk handicrafts, calligraphy, and paintings), try delicious local snacks (Dan Dan Noodles, Egg Pancake, Bon Bon Chicken, Sweet Potato Noodles with Pork Intestines, Iced Jelly, Sour and Spicy Tofu Pudding), and discover intangible heritages like Sugar Painting, Shadow Puppy Play, Sichuan Opera Show…

Then, it is time to end your 1-day Chengdu tour. Your guide will escort you to your hotel or the airport/train station for your flight or high speed train to your next destination.

Thank you for choosing HelloChinaTrip for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia. Safe journey!