All Inclusive Private Trip to Chengdu Giant Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha

Recommended by 100% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Chengdu, China

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

9 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Group discounts
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0

· Maria_F ·

Nov 2025

Great experience. Lovely day. Eventful but comfortable. Great food. Very nice guide. Highly recommended.

· Alicia_D ·

May 2025

Great day trip if you're short on time in Chengdu, my guide Lucy + our driver were both excellent. She knew the best ways to see as many pandas as possible in the time we had, and it was wonderful to have someone handling translations, tickets, food ordering, etc. Highly recommend!

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Overview

Combine a trip to the Chengdu Giant Panda Base with a visit to the Leshan Giant Buddha on this full-day private tour from Chengdu, which saves you the hassle of arranging your own tickets and transportation. With a private guide, overcome the language barrier and learn more about pandas and Buddhism than you would from the guidebook alone.

Check off plenty of Chengdu attractions in one convenient tour
This private tour is for just you and your party
Explore at your own pace rather than rushing in a large group
Travel in private, air-conditioned comfort rather than taking public transportation

What's Included

Tasty lunch in local restaurant
Experienced local English speaking guide service
Private transportation for you and your party only
Entrance fee

Personal expense
Gratuities for your guide and driver (recommended)
River cruise ticket

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We will pick all travelers directly from where they stay in Chengdu Please advise your hotel name&address at the time of booking.

Arranged start time

Confirm time with the local provider in advance of your experience.

01/01/2023 - 01/31/2028
Monday - Sunday : 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Itinerary

Be ready bright and early for pickup at your Chengdu hotel, where you’ll meet your private guide and take off for the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center. During your time there, you will get to see a variety of pandas, from infant to adulthood, and learn about the center’s mission to save and rehabilitate pandas.

Then head to the Leshan Giant Buddha Park, where you will sit down for a Sichuan-style lunch before exploring.

After lunch, climb Lingyun Hill to visit the statue, which is 233 feet (71 meters) tall and carved out of a cliff, overlooking the confluence of the Qingyi, Dadu, and Min rivers. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest stone Buddha in the world.

Walk down the Red Sand Cliff Road to see the Buddha’s profile from the bottom, then take the path over to the Mahao Grottoes, cave formations that are over 2000 years old.

Please note: on the weekends or holidays, there can be a long wait to see the Buddha. If you wish to skip the climb, you can go on a river cruise and see the Buddha from there.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Leshan Giant Buddha (Da Fo)

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

5.0

based on 37 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Private Tour to the Panda Base and Giant Buddha

Katja_D, Apr 2026

The tour to the Panda Base and the Giant Buddha with Ling was fantastic! First, Ling guided us through the Panda Base in Chengdu and gave us interesting insights into the pandas’ lives. She took us right to the spots where we could observe the animals up close. Afterwards, Ling tailored our lunch at a lovely local restaurant to our individual preferences. We then drove to the Giant Buddha. The driver was very experienced, so we were able to avoid long traffic jams. Ling’s explanations on site were comprehensive and very easy to understand. She repeatedly pointed out various photo opportunities and provided an interesting historical insight into the history of the historic site. Ling also told us a lot about her hometown of Chengdu and gave us valuable tips on sights throughout the country. Thank you, Ling, for your dedication and kindness. We would gladly give you and the driver a 10 out of 10 if that were possible and recommend the tour 100%.

A highlight of our trip to China!

Shaun_B, Jan 2026

This tour was one of the best days of the trip! The panda base was amazing and we saw 3 month old baby pandas - so cute! The trip to the giant Buddha is well worth it. The journey is about 2 hours each way but the transport was so comfortable that it went by really quickly. We opted for the river cruise option and it was really enjoyable. The lunch in Leshan was brilliant too - crab dumplings one of the best things I’ve eaten this trip. What really made this tour stand out for us was our guide Fifi (sorry if I have spelt her name wrong). She was wonderful. She was incredibly friendly, funny and knowledgable. She provided everything you’d expect from a professional guide but made us feel so welcome it felt like we were hanging out with a friend for the day. Thank you Fifi!

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Hi Bennett, I am glad you had a wonderful day with Fifi and Mr.Zhou. We value our clients' experience and thank you so much for choosing our trip! May you a great stay in China! Best Regards Lily Chen

Great private tour in Chengdu!

Roberto_O, Dec 2025

My wife and I had a great experience with this tour at Chengdu. Even before it started, there was great communication from Lily, our tour operator. She also followed-up with us during the tour to ensure everything was going well. It went well indeed. It was great! Amber, our guide, did an awesome job! She was super nice an professional. We went first to one of the Panda's bases, the one in the city. She knew exactly were to take us and at what time to avoid the crowds. She was very knowledgeable and friendly. After a little shopping time, we went to Lashan. She gave us very interesting commentary during the 2 hr ride as well as rest time. Once in Lashan, she took us to a very nice restaurant for lunch where she order some regional dishes. It was one of the best meals we had in our China trip. We went then to visit the giant Buddah on a boat ride. It was very nice and interesting. She did, again, a great job with a lot of historic explanations. Mr. Zhou, our driver, did also an awesome job in a very nice and comfortable car. He was too very professional and friendly. So in summary, it was a great private tour and a day that will bring fond memories for life. Highly, highly recommended! If we return to Chengdu, we will look again for Lily and Amber! The way all tours should be!

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Dear Roberto It's our great pleasure to arrange your trip in our hometown. Your satisfaction made our work meaningful and rewarding. We want to offer great experience to all our clients who come such a long way to our mother land. All the best to you and your family! Merry Christmas and happy new year!!! Best Regards Lily,Amber,Mr.Zhou

The Panda Experience

Graham_A, Nov 2025

I have given this 5 stars purely on the basis of the visit you the panda sanctuary which was great. However we also saw the stone Buddha which was a two hour drive away in another province and it was just too much to do in one day. Just stick to seeing the pandas.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Thank you for your feedback! Leshan Giant Buddha is out of Chengdu in Leshan city,however it's also one of the highlight .

Great experience

Maria_F, Nov 2025

Great experience. Lovely day. Eventful but comfortable. Great food. Very nice guide. Highly recommended.

It would be good to have a slightly close up to the baby panda.

WaiLanAnnie_N, Oct 2025

For people who can not walk fast and long distance. The shuttle bus is useful. But still have a distance to walk to where the panda are. They have disable friendly slope, who can not walk down the stairs. Good facility

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Dear Annie, Yes, Chengdu panda base has very good facilities to meet travelers needs. Next time welcome you back to do panda volunteer. Best Regards Lily Chen

Great trip!!

Heather_T, Jul 2025

Booked our trip with Lilly - who was fantastic at communicating with us. Yana was our tour guide and she was fabulous. She was very knowledgeable and knew where to take us to see the Pandas and got great photos at the Buddha. Also - the lunch was one of the best - we told her what types of food we liked and she orders an amazing meal for us - we even tried the preserved eggs. Highly recommend this tour!

Great guide and smoothly experience

Jorge_L, Jul 2025

We had a great experience with our tour guide and driver. Lin (Amber) is a very sympathetic person, very knowledgeable and patient. With her deep experience, she helped us to going through the mobs smoothly. Panda experience was unforgettable since we could see some of them eating and playing outside. The Giant Buddha was also very interesting, despite the distance that we had to go through (almost 2 hours). Considering the distance of the 2 attractions, I recommend the tour, which makes possible to see both in the same day.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Dear Jorge, Thank you for sharing your travel experience and glad to know you had a great time with our guide Amber and driver Mr.Chen. Thank you for choosing our service and may you a great stay in China! Best Regards Lily Chen

Great way to spend a day

Alicia_D, May 2025

Best way to visit pandas and giant Buddha

Ruchel_C, May 2025

Our sweet guide was really so informative and helpful in making our visit to the panda park and the giant Buddha more thank a five star experience. We definitely recommend our guide and this tour - we loved the personalized attention as wel

Response from Host, May 2025

Dear Ruchel, Thank you for your affirmation of our service and glad you enjoyed your time in our hometown Chengdu! All the best to you and your family! Best Regards Lily Chen

Great full day Panda and Buddha tour!

Ian_A, Dec 2024

Wonderful full day tour to see the highlights of the surrounding area. We went in the morning to see the pandas which were adorable. There was even a 4 month old out soaking up the sunshine. Then we had a spectacular local lunch in Leshan followed by a hike of the magnificent giant Buddha. Our guide Sharlene couldn’t have been more lovely. Her English was excellent and we learned a lot at each step of the journey. Her food recommendations for lunch were also very helpful and we learned a lot about local delicacies as an added bonus!

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Thank you Ian for your great view and really glad that you had a great time with Sharlene:) Best Regards Lily Chen

So many adorable pandas

Jie_D, Jun 2024

Chengdu Giant Panda Base is the closest one to the city center, as compared to a few others (e.g., Dujiangyan and Wolong), with plenty of cute pandas to observe. I went on a rainy day and many pandas were out and about, super adorable. Observed two panda cubs feeding on the mom and mom got tired of them and tried to push them off, very cute. Compared to the panda base, the giant buddha is a much longer drive (2+ hours) and not as memorable, but still a must-see. Guide Rosa is very knowledgeable and demonstrated a genuine fondness for the pandas, even after years of guiding guests to the different panda bases.

Wonderful

Orania_S, Apr 2024

We had an amazing day with our tour guide Cassie showing us the wonderful Pandas and the Leshan Buddha She was wonderful and very enthusiastic with her knowledge and history of the places Cassie took us to a great cultural lunch which we highly enjoyed I highly recommend having Cassie as a tour guide Thank you

Response from Host, May 2024

Thank you so much for leaving review for our service and welcome you back to China at anytime!

Wonderful trip to see the Giant Pandas & Leshan Buddha

RomitShridhar_K, Sep 2023

Just wanted to inform you that the tour was fantastic. We were able to see the Giant Pandas very well. Also, the Leshan Giant Buddha tour was amazing. We had a wonderful view from the boat and some amazing pictures. Sammi is an amazing and very knowledgable guide. Thanks for arranging this nice experience. Kind Regards -Romit Katdare

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear Romit, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave review for us! Thank you again for choosing our service and welcome you to our lovely motherland-China!

Great way to see both the Pandas and Leshan in 1 day

Joseph_S, Dec 2019

I really loved the trip, it was very well organized and the only trip offering both attractions in 1 day. Sharleen was my guide and she was patient, informative and a pleasure to be around. The bears are terribly cute and a joy to see. Lunch was excellent and seeing the grandness of the Buddha was very memorable. Overall a great day and highly recommend.

My wife, myself and our 2 year old...

Felipe S, May 2018

My wife, myself and our 2 year old son had a fantastic experience visiting the panda base and the Leshan Buddha. Our guide Ivy was very knowledgeable and always ready to help, which just contributed to make that an unforgettable day. We highly recommend Ivy and this tour.

Best tour ever! And best tour guide...

Avinash P, Nov 2017

Best tour ever! And best tour guide ever!!! So glad that I had Amy as my tour guide. She was so easy to connect to that it felt as if I am accompanied by a friend and not a tour guide. Amy picked me up sharp at 7.45 am from my hotel and we hoped into the travel company car and reached Giant Panda Base. Since we reached there at around 8.15, which was pretty early, we avoided all the rush and got good view of all sizes of Pandas one red panda actually walked past me casually!!. Amy also helped me pick up the right souvenirs. We left the Panda base at around 10.45 am and went to South Chengdu Station to catch the high speed train to Leshan scheduled for 11.40 am. Amy shared more information about Chengdu and Leshan during the 1 hour train journey. We then headed to a local restaurant where I had some delicious food. Tofu soup was the best!! I opted to take a 30 min boat ride to see the Giant Buddha as I felt it was wiser than spending time and energy in queues to reach the Giant Buddha. Hiking trip takes you too close to the statue that you dont get a good view. The view from the boat was amazing and I would highly recommend doing that. You also get a Sleeping Buddha View if you do a boat trip. We then took a return train to Chengdu at 4.10 pm. This one took a little more time than the morning train but we were back to Chengdu South Railway Station by 5.30 pm. I was then dropped back to my hotel with some recommendations on where to have dinner. I am definitely going to visit Chengdu again for a longer duration next time to explore more of Sichuan heritage and I will contact West China Go and Amy again. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOLKS!!

My wife and I were led by Jamie Jing...

KokChin_L, Oct 2017

My wife and I were led by Jamie Jing of West China Go Travel Service on this tour. We enjoyed a good time in both the Panda Base and Leshan Giant Buddha due to Jamie's professional planning as we started early in the morning visiting the Panda Base due to the potential pre-National Day crowd. We were fortunate to see very active Panda having their breakfast and manage to mingle with a red Panda who came right up to our feet. We were blessed to see these cute animals in their natural habitat. For lunch Jamie took us to an old reputable restaurant in Leshan that serve all the popular food in Chengdu. We took the ferry to view the Giant Buddha from the river instead of walking/climbing the stairs jostling with the crowd and not able to view the full Buddha. It was a wise decision that travelers should consider when visiting Leshan Giant Buddha.

Lily was a great guide which was...

Eben C, Mar 2017

Lily was a great guide which was full of knowledge and very friendly. This tour not only gave us enough time to enjoy the Pandas in the morning, but by taking the high speed train, we were able to visit Leshan and the Giant Buddha in the same day without rushing. I highly recommend this tour if you need to fit in both these great locations in one day.

Uma experiência...

Adriana_L, Apr 2025

Uma experiência inesquecível! A visita à base dos Panda Gigantes de manhã cedo permitiu observar muitos ursos em atividade e se alimentando. Apesar de termos feito a visita durante um feriado, a nossa guia organizou o passeio de modo a evitar, sempre que possível, as filas. O passeio da tarde ao Buda de Leshan vale muito a pena, mas a viagem de Chengdu a Leshan pode se alongar muito se for feita em dia feriado. Recomendo planejar a viagem com antecedência para evitar complicações! Graças à nossa guia, Sharlene, tudo funcionou muito bem!