Golden Triangle & the Giant Panda
Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu. A morning at the panda breeding base and Sichuan cooking after dark.
The short answer
Golden Triangle & the Giant Panda is a ten-day trip through Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu, joined by high-speed rail rather than flights. The pandas come first thing in the morning at the Chengdu Research Base, before the coach parties arrive, and the route also takes in the Mutianyu Great Wall, the Terracotta Army and two Sichuan dinners cooked in a working kitchen. Groups stay small, at 2–12 travellers, and you choose your own departure date. It suits families and anyone who wants the pandas in the trip.
- Pandas at feeding time at the Chengdu Research Base, arriving at opening around 07:30
- Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu all linked by high-speed rail — no internal flights
- Two dinners cooked in a Sichuan kitchen, not a tour restaurant
- Ten days gives room for an afternoon in a Chengdu teahouse rather than a timetable
- Returns to Chengdu, so you can add Jiuzhaigou or Mount Emei if you have more time
Day by day
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Day 1 · Beijing
Arrival in Beijing
Private transfer from the airport to a four-star hotel near Wangfujing. An easy evening is the hutong lanes around Shichahai, where the lake is a 20-minute walk from the hotel. Your guide hands over a SIM card and a day-by-day plan.
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Day 2 · Beijing
Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City
Enter the Forbidden City through the Meridian Gate and spend three hours among its 980 buildings. Climb Jingshan Park afterwards for the classic view over the roofs, then continue on foot to the Drum and Bell towers. This is a 7 km (4.3 miles) walking day.
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Day 3 · Beijing
Mutianyu Great Wall
A 70 km (43 miles) drive to Mutianyu, quieter than Badaling and set in wooded hills. Cable car up, 2.4 km (1.5 miles) of restored wall on foot, then the toboggan down. Back in the city in time for a Peking duck dinner, ordered in advance.
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Day 4 · Beijing to Xi'an
Temple of Heaven, then rail to Xi'an
Start at the Temple of Heaven, where the park fills with taiji and card games from 07:00. Transfer to Beijing West for the 4h30 high-speed train to Xi'an North, running at up to 300 km/h (186 mph). Dinner in the Muslim Quarter food street on arrival.
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Day 5 · Xi'an
The Terracotta Army and the city wall
Drive 40 km (25 miles) east to the Terracotta Army and reach Pit 1 before the 10:00 coaches. Return for the Shaanxi History Museum, then cycle the 13.7 km (8.5 miles) Ming city wall in about 90 minutes. The old town is level and easy to walk in the evening.
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Day 6 · Xi'an to Chengdu
High-speed rail through the Qinling mountains
The 4h rail line to Chengdu cuts through the Qinling range, with around 80% of the route in tunnel. Afternoon on arrival in Chengdu for the Jinli old street and a first taste of Sichuan food at a local restaurant. Early night ahead of the pandas.
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Day 7 · Chengdu
Pandas and a Sichuan cooking class
Reach the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding at opening, around 07:30, when the pandas feed and are most active. The morning is free for the nursery and the red-panda enclosure. In the afternoon, shop a neighbourhood market and cook two dishes in a working Sichuan kitchen.
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Day 8 · Chengdu
Leshan Giant Buddha or a teahouse day
Either a day trip to the 71 m (233 ft) Leshan Giant Buddha, carved into the cliff above the Min and Dadu rivers, or a slower day at the People's Park teahouse with a bowl of jasmine tea and an ear clean. The choice is yours; both are included in the plan.
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Day 9 · Chengdu
Wuhou Shrine and hotpot
A morning at the Wuhou Shrine and its bamboo-lined Red Wall path, then the Du Fu Thatched Cottage if time allows. The final dinner is a proper Chengdu hotpot, with a mild broth if you ask. Sichuan opera face-changing makes a good last evening.
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Day 10 · Chengdu
Departure
Transfer to Chengdu Tianfu or Shuangliu for the flight home, usually via Beijing, Shanghai or Doha. Direct services to LHR operate several days a week, so some departures avoid a connection altogether.
What stands out
Chengdu Research Base
Around 200 giant pandas; arrive at opening, about 07:30, for feeding time before the coaches arrive.
Sichuan cooking class
Buy the ingredients in a local market, then cook two dishes in a working kitchen and eat what you make.
Leshan Giant Buddha
A 71 m (233 ft) figure carved into the cliff around 800 AD, reached by a cliff path or a short river boat.
Xi'an–Chengdu by rail
Four hours through the Qinling mountains, mostly in tunnel, connecting the Terracotta Army to the pandas.
People's Park teahouse
A covered teahouse from 1923, serving jasmine tea by the thermos, with an afternoon of nothing to do.
Practical
| High-speed rail legs | Beijing–Xi'an 4h30, Xi'an–Chengdu 4h, Beijing–Chengdu direct 7h30 |
|---|---|
| Best months | March–May and September–November |
| Internal flights | None required |
| Panda base opening | About 07:30; go early, the pandas sleep by midday |
| Walking per day | 5–9 km (3–5.5 miles) |
| Group size | 2–12 travellers |
| Trip length | 10 days / 9 nights |
| Altitude | Chengdu 500 m (1,640 ft); no acclimatisation needed |
What's included
- Nine nights in four-star hotels, twin share
- Daily breakfast, two Sichuan dinners and one Peking duck dinner
- All intercity high-speed rail tickets, second class
- Private airport and station transfers
- English-speaking guide in each city
- Entrance fees to the panda base, Terracotta Army and Great Wall
- Sichuan market visit and cooking class, including ingredients
- 24-hour support line in the UK and China
Not included
- International flights to and from China
- Chinese visa, only if your stay needs one (UK passports are visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026)
- Travel insurance
- Lunches, and dinners not listed
- Personal spending and drinks
- Tips for guides and drivers