Momenti salienti privati di Chengdu: gita di un giorno in Panda Base e città da Xi'an in treno

We had a fantastic tour, Wells speaks perfect English and attended to our every need! We visited the Panda park, a Chengdu monastery and ate a genuine Sichuan meal. The sweet water noodles were delicious! We rode the high speed train without a hitch! Our driver picked us up and delivered us back to our hotel in great comfort! We saw a multitude of Pandas!

We were on an escorted holiday around China, but booked this independent tour from Xi'an as we didn't want to do our optional tour offered that day, and wanted to see pandas. Although a long distance away, the arrangements for transfers and the bullet train went very smoothly, and our Chengdu guide, Silvia spoke really good English. Silvia also knew how to navigate the panda breeding centre in order to make the best of our time. It was too hot for them to be outside, but we saw many. We also enjoyed the Buddhist monastery, lunch, the park and tea house. Silvia was very knowledgeable and we would fully recommend this tour!

This is a long one lol. Overall this was a great experience. It depends are your starting point. We originated from Xi’an and the tour is attractive because it combines another city, bullet train, and Pandas in one day. From Xi’an is a long day. Up to a 17 hr day door to door. If you’re already in Chengdu then a half day. So think about your starting point before you book. In our case the tour operator, Sam, communicated well but left out some details that would have made our start smoother and less stressful. The service was first rather hotel pick up at 6 am straight to train station. Tip, ask tour operator for detailed instructions. The driver gave us a picture of, we thought, a place to go like we were to meet someone. At the entrance of the train station locals q’d up to get in. They either had a ticket or their countries id card which we had neither to physically get into the station. Stress building we observed foreigners entering by scanning passport. We followed the same and got into station. Looking around we could not find the sign of the pic the driver gave us. We texted Sam and he instructed us to find gate which we did. We told him how do we get on the train with no ticket. He finally shared that our passports are our ticket. That explains a lot and would have been useful before we started. We finally get on the train and we were booked in 2nd class, it’s like economy on airplanes. Not bad but crowded and for the next 3.5-4 hrs it wasn’t gonna be pretty. Fortunately, we asked and train steward was able to upgrade to business class. Tip, in China business class is above first class. Cost class was more space and would have been acceptable. We were lucky to get into business class as it was more comfortable, offered food and beverage and the cost was very reasonable. Tip is if your taking a train to Chengdu go first class or better with business. It made the ride go by quickly, better view both ways. It paid off especially coming back. Once we arrived in Chengdu getting out of the station and finding guide, Wells who was awesome, was easy enough. Wells spoke good English and our stress level came down. We realized this was gonna be a long day so before we left the station Wells helped us get an earlier train back in business like I said earlier. Tip, definitely a must if you can do it. We had spoken to Wells and we travel enough to know what we like and what we could save time on. So Wells customized the day so we could do what we liked and get back to catch our train to make it a 15 hr day instead of a 17 hr day lol. Like our morning pick up the driver and car was first rate. Once at the Panda center Wells taught us everything we needed to know about those cute animals. Tip is that Pandas don’t hunt so they need to conserve energy. They either sleep or eat and not much else. Most of the Pandas were asleep of course. We mages to see a few active. Either way it was worth the travel to see them. Tip, the Panda center is huge, like a zoo. Plan on walking. Best time to go is after first weekend in September as local schools start and crowds are down. Our abbreviated day continued with lunch for a Chengdu signature lunch called “hotpot”. Ask for no spice as it is both steam hot and spicy hot but delicious and we got something so different than other parts of China. After lunch we had enough time to stroll through an OG alley which was cute and nostalgic. Wells kept us on time and delivered us to train station to catch our return home. Can’t say enough about Wells. He was well spoken and thoughtful about our day going well. He adjusted and it all worked out. We give him 5 stars of course. Wells’s a local born and raised and was part of the one child policy. It was interesting to hear his perspective on a lifestyle in China. We think the people are warm and curious and helpful. We made our earlier train, watched the land go by at 250 mph, had a warm meal and slept until we arrived back. Tip, It’s now 9.pm and for us it was a long day just saying. The tour driver picked us from the train station and back to our hotel. A great door to door service actually. Kudos to tour operator, Sam. It was a 4/5 star tour and experience. Well worth doing because it more than just Pandas.

Absolutely fantastic tour and highly recommend for those in Xi’an who aren’t able to spend more time in Chengdu. The tour gave an excellent introduction to Chengdu - of course the Pandas were amazing - but the tour showed so much more of what Chengdu has to offer. The Sichuan food was delicious and the Tea was a great experience. Silvia was an excellent host - her English was excellent, her knowledges of everything we saw was very deep - but above all - she was a lovely, bubbly person who was very interesting to talk to and she gave us a great and positive insight into everyday life in Chengdu. Yes - the trip does involve a long train journey - but this was seamlessly organised on both sides and was very much part a positive part of the experience.