5-day Shanghai Chengdu Highlights Tour, Best Chengdu Shanghai Itinerary

Itinerary Summary

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Dates	Destinations	Itinerary Brief	Meals Included
Day1	Shanghai	Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.	B
Day2	Shanghai	Tour Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market, Shanghai World Financial Center, Nanjing Road, and the Bund.	B
Day3	Shanghai/Chengdu	Tour Zhujiajiao Water Town. Fly to Chengdu.	B
Day4	Chengdu	Tour Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, People's Park, and Jinli Old Street.	B
Day5	Chengdu	Visit Jinsha Site Museum and drop off at the airport.	B

Day by Day Itinerary

Day1 Shanghai

Transfer via: Flight – your arrangement

Activities for today: Airport transfer

Upon arrival at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed and transferred to your hotel by private car.

Shanghai Museum

Shanghai Nanjing Road

The Bund Shanghai
Day2 Shanghai

Activities for today: Shanghai Museum, Yu Garden, Yuyuan Market, Shanghai World Financial Center, Nanjing Road, the Bund

Today, your first stop is the Shanghai Museum, one of the "Four Best Museums in China." This modern museum features a round top and a square base, symbolizing the ancient Chinese perception of the world as "round sky, square earth." It houses an internationally acclaimed collection of bronzes, paintings, calligraphy, sculptures, ceramics, and jade artifacts dating from over 5,000 years ago through the Qing Dynasty.

Next, you'll enjoy a fascinating visit to Yu Garden, a shining star among classical Chinese gardens in Jiangnan. The garden perfectly embodies traditional Chinese architecture, with jagged pavilions featuring elegant decorations, glittering ponds filled with roaming fish, and towering pine trees — all designed to refresh your mood and spirit. Adjacent to the garden is the Yuyuan Bazaar, where you can savor delicious local snacks and explore exquisite traditional Chinese handicrafts and artworks.

Afterward, you'll drive several kilometers to take in a panoramic view of modern Shanghai from the 100th floor (474 meters) of the "Eye of Shanghai" — the Shanghai World Financial Center. You'll then be transferred to another famous Shanghai landmark, Nanjing Road — a shopper's paradise and a wonderful place for a stroll to experience the city's modern atmosphere.

Finally, you'll stop at the Bund, originally a simple towpath for transporting goods but now transformed into a bustling commercial district. As you stroll along the Bund, you'll witness the perfect fusion of Chinese and Western cultures while taking in the stunning Shanghai skyline with your own eyes.

Shanghai Yu Garden

Yuyuan Market Shanghai

Shanghai World Financial Center
Day3 Shanghai/Chengdu

Transfer via: Flight - your arrangement

Activities for today: Zhujiajiao Water Town, airport transfer (Shanghai, Chengdu)

After breakfast, we will drive approximately one hour to Zhujiajiao. Known as the "Venice of Shanghai," Zhujiajiao boasts a history of 1,700 years and is a well-preserved ancient water town. You'll stroll along the century-old North Street, take stunning photos on the Fangsheng Bridge, and enjoy a panoramic view of the town from Yuanjin Buddhist Temple. A relaxing sampan ride along the canals will offer you glimpses of old residences, shops, and bridges showcasing classic architectural styles from the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 AD – 1911 AD). At 14:00, we will drive to Shanghai Pudong International Airport for your flight to Chengdu.

Zhujiajiao Water Town

Zhujiajiao Water Town

Zhujiajiao Water Town Shanghai
Day4 Chengdu

Activities for today: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, People's Park, Jinli Old Street

Get up early and drive about an hour to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This base is not only the world's most important panda scientific research center but also home to over 100 giant pandas. You'll walk leisurely along bamboo-framed paths and closely observe giant pandas of different ages eating bamboo, playing with each other, tumbling, and climbing trees. Be sure not to miss the chance to watch female pandas nursing their cubs in the nursery rooms! The base also features a highly informative Panda Museum, where you can learn more scientific facts about giant pandas.

Chengdu has long been known as China's "Leisure City," and you'll then head to People's Park to experience its relaxed, slow-paced lifestyle. Simply sit down, order a pot of tea, have a casual chat with your friends, and watch locals indulge in various forms of folk entertainment — napping, playing mahjong, disco dancing, and giving neck massages.

Later, you'll make an impressive visit to the famous Jinli Old Street. Time will slip away as you quietly wander through the lively streets filled with delicious local snacks, exquisite handicrafts, interesting folk performances, and other engaging activities.

Notes:

1. We recommend starting your tour at 7:00 AM, as pandas are most active between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM — they play and eat breakfast in their houses and gardens. If you arrive too late, the pandas will be asleep.

2. Holding a panda at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding costs RMB 1,800 for 15 seconds. This is an optional activity for visitors.

3. For an optional evening activity, we highly recommend Sichuan Opera. The opera features a delightful mix of folk opera, face changing, fire spitting, rolling lights, and other entertaining acts (performance time: 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM).

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

Chengdu People's Park

Jinli Old Street
Day5 Chengdu

Transfer via: Flight – your arrangement

Activities for today: Jinsha Site Museum, airport transfer

After breakfast, drive to visit the Jinsha Site Museum. Built on the actual Jinsha archaeological site, the museum showcases the unique bronze civilization of the mysterious ancient Shu Kingdom (1200–650 BC). It preserves original features such as palace foundations, sacrificial areas, residential zones, and burial sites, along with numerous cultural relics including ivory tusks, gold artifacts, bronze items, and jade and stone pieces. Among these treasures is the Golden Sun and Immortal Bird, which has become the symbol of China's cultural heritage. Around 14:00, your private guide and driver will escort you to the airport for your onward journey.

Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum

Jinsha Site Museum Chengdu

Jinsha Site Museum

Price Details

---- Price Includes

Private Transfers:: Between airports / railway station, hotels and scenic spots while sightseeing in the cities specified in the itinerary by the private air conditioned vehicle with driver and English-speaking guide. Separate arrivals and departures will incur extra charges.
Entrance fees:: All entrance fees to scenic spots as listed above in the itinerary. The final arrangement will be determined by local tour guides based on the local circumstances which are beyond the control of LocalChengduTours. ZTG will adhere to the original itinerary as accurately as possible.
Meals:: All meals as specified in the itinerary. “B” stands for western breakfast “L” for Chinese Lunch in local Chinese restaurant. “D” for Chinese dinner in local Chinese restaurant. The quotation is basic on the above normal meals. If you have any special request about meals, like vegetarian, or Indian food etc, please inform us in advance.
Private tour escort for Sightseeing:: Normal sightseeing activities as outlined in the Itinerary will be escorted with English-speaking guide.; The English-speaking guide and driver of each city accompany you throughout the entire tour in that city. They do not fly with you from one city to another.
Accommodation (if include Yangtze Cruiser):: Service based on two adults sharing on one standard twin/double-bed room (cabin); solo travelers or those who want to occupy one twin/double-bed room/cabin of their own are required to pay additional charge of single supplement rate. A single room (cabin) is subject to availability based on prior request at an additional cost; if the recommended hotel is not available, it will be substituted by a similar class one.; All hotels as listed in the above itinerary serve daily western or Chinese breakfast. All rooms are air-conditioned with private facilities unless specified.
Transportation:: All the domestic airfare of economy class with airport tax/ or train ticket(s) as specified in the itinerary.
Service Charge & Government Taxes
Arrangements:: The tour cost includes the planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

---- Price Excludes

Entry or Exit China International Airfare or train tickets, unless other wise noted.
Visa Fees, passport application or renewal fee.
Excess Baggage Charges.
Personal Expenses:: Expenses of a purely personal nature such as excess luggage fees, laundry, drinks, fax, telephone call, optional activities (shows) and meals, beverages...
Meals:: Any meals which are not specified in the itinerary with “B”, “L” or “D”.; Any extra cost caused by changes of natural disasters, fires, weather, governmental and local authority orders, political change, strikes, war, riots, quarantine, custom regulations, damages or injury caused by accident beyond the control of LocalChengduTours and that has incurred due to the tourist action violating the laws.
Gratuities:: Tips to guides, escort, drivers bellman, etc.