Cuddly and Mysterious Kingdoms
40 kilometers north of central Chengdu, by the same highway as Chengdu's Giant Panda Breeding Base, the bronze-age Sanxingdui site is regarded one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
Thousands of rare treasures from two large sacrificial pits dating back to Shang Dynasty times (1600–1046 BC) have recently been supplemented with finds from six new sacrificial pits, which visitors can see being prepared for display in Sanxingdui Museum.
This tour not only takes you to visit the cuddly kingdom of giant pandas, but also the mysterious Kingdom of Shu (a.k.a. the Sanxingdui Civilization). The protected pandas and Sanxingdui's relics are both considered national treasures.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Witness Rare Treasures Only Seen in China
Sanxingdui Museum had held exhibitions in more than ten overseas countries over the last twenty years, but many treasures have only been exhibited in China (like the four below).
Discover Sanxingdui's "Alien" Civilization
The archeological finds of the Sanxingdui Civilization show it to be quite "alien" to the contemporary Shang Dynasty by the Yellow River, traditionally the cradle of China, down to the way they made bronze. The protruding eyes of its bronze heads tally with local Shu Kingdom records of their "alien-looking", bulging-eyed, founder Cancong.
A Morning Date with Active Pandas
It is best to go early in the morning to see the pandas feeding at around 9:30am, which is their most active time of the day.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Superstar pandas & superstar guide
Of all our guides, Helen from Chengdu was the “superstar”. She had such enthusiasm for the pandas you couldn’t help but have a great time. She got us around the crowds to get up close to get the best photos. And was generous in telling her story about growing up in China more
Mar 2025, CJ
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Chengdu - Panda Mania
We visited Chengdu for the pandas and we were not disappointed. The whole city is filled with panda mania. Our fantastic guide Helen made sure we were ready for our visit to the pandas by presenting us with panda accessories. She knows the place so well taking us through short cuts to the various enclosures and also the spots for the best photos. Apart from the pandas, we also visited the amazing giant Buddha. And to top it all, Helen brought us for the best Sichuan lunch, of gong bao ji ding and ma po toufu, that we have eaten. more
Mar 2025, Peter
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Evan was an amazing guide. Number 1 in chendgu
Evan was an amazing tour guide. Very friendly and english was perfect. He did a great job of explaining to us the history of china as well as his experience with his family and their traditions. We did the panda experience as well as the jiuzhaigou national park. We brought 3 kids with our group and we were a total of 7. He was patient with our kids and kept them entertained. Evan made a suggestion of visiting a local tea house since our itinerary was tight and he was incredibly thoughtful and made our experience seamless. more
Mar 2025, Ashley T
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Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
Your personal private guide will contact you a day in advance and arrange the starting time according to your preference.
Visiting the city's panda base can be a challenge as it is quite large and has various animals. We've designed a smart route to beat the crowds as much as possible while timing it to the pandas' active period for you.
After the short road trip on to Sanxingdui, you will be served with a Sichuan meal at the restaurant of Sanxingdui Museum.
Sanxingdui Museum, in the northeast corner of the Sanxingdui Ruins archeological site, is where the Shu Kingdom's 3,000-year-old treasures are displayed. Discover a unique part of China's history in this large modern thematic museum.
As this is a private tour, you can decide whether to spend more or less time in the different areas according to your interests. The schedule is flexible and only for your reference.
Price includes:
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English speaking local guide
- Activities and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour code: cd-87