APRIL 2026 · 8 DAYS

China’s Wild West:

Giant Pandas, Buddhas, and Peaks

Join us on an adventure through Sichuan’s most breathtaking landscapes and cultural treasures. Begin in Chengdu, where you’ll savor fiery Sichuan flavors at the Sichuan Cuisine Museum and meet adorable giants at the Chengdu Panda Breeding Center. Next, journey to Ya’an for close-up panda encounters at Bifengxia Panda Base, sip tea atop Mengding Mountain, and immerse in Tibetan culture at Labuling Village and the Ming-era Shangli Ancient Town. Stand in awe before the towering Leshan Giant Buddha, then hike Emeishan’s sacred trails, where Buddhism took root amid misty peaks. Finally, lose yourself in the ethereal beauty of Jiuzhaigou, where turquoise lakes, cascading waterfalls, and alpine hikes await in this UNESCO World Heritage wonderland.

Who This Experience Is For

Foodie

Food is your love language. From traditional family recipes at street stalls to new creations at innovative restaurants, you will experience Sichuan's culinary scene authentically. Moderate spice tolerance is highly recommended (less spicy options available).

Culture & History Buff

We will bring you to a variety of places, ranging from China's birthplace of Buddhism to small Tibetan villages. If you have endless curiosity and like to ask questions and reflect on what you've learned even beyond the trip, this is perfect for you.

Animal & Nature Lover

This trip will bring you to Sichuan province but beyond just the cities. Two of China's most important panda reserves will be our destinations. For most of the trip, we will be surrounded by alpine mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and forests for most of the trip. Moderate physical fitness is highly recommended.

Note: Itinerary may change, changes will be communicated to travelers in advance when possible.

This itinerary DOES fall under the 10-day visa free policy if you have a ticket to a 3rd country.

Itinerary

Get oriented on your first day in China. Get to know your fellow travelers!

On Day 1, visit the Sichuan Cuisine Museum, where we will dive into understanding Sichuan ingredients and cooking methods before engaging in a Sichuan cooking class.

On Day 2, we will visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which focuses on breeding critically endangered giant pandas in Chengdu. In the beautiful park, you will see adult pandas and the newborn babies, red pandas, eating bamboo, climbing trees, and playfully enjoying each other's company.

In the evening, we will gather together for a family style quintessential Sichuan dinner. Don't worry, if you don't have a high spice tolerance, we will make sure that your needs are accommodated so that you can still enjoy dinner with us.
We will start our time in Ya'an with a trip to the Bifengxia Panda Base, one of China’s most important panda reserves. There, you can observe giant pandas in a semi-wild environment and learn about conservation efforts. Optional: Walk along the scenic Bifeng Gorge trails for waterfalls and lush greenery.

Ya'an is the birthplace of Tibetan tea (边茶) and a key hub on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road. At Mengding Mountain, we will tour tea plantations, learn about tea processing, and enjoy a traditional tea ceremony.

On Day 4, we will go to the Labuling Tibetan Village to experience Tibetan hospitality, visit a local monastery, and learn about their traditions. Try Tibetan butter tea, tsampa (糌粑), and yak meat dishes.

Then, we will go to visit Shangli Ancient Town, a well-preserved Ming-Qing era village with tea-horse road history.
Hike Emeishan (Mount Emei) and the Leshan Giant Buddha. Emeishan is where Buddhism first became established on Chinese territory. The first Buddhist temple in China was built on the summit of Mount Emei in the 1st Century CE. Leshan Giant Buddha is a 71 meter tall giant statue of Buddha and the largest statue of Buddha in the world.

At Emeishan, we will trek from the Qingying Pavilion to Wannian Temple, founded in the 4th century containing the 7.85m high Puxian bronze Buddha of the 10th century.

Note: Hiking this route is doable for moderate hikers and would be easy for experienced hikers. If you would like to do a more strenuous hike, inform us and we can design the itinerary to include that for you.
Juizhaigou Valley National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has exceptional natural beauty found in its crystal clear lakes, pools, and waterfalls surrounded by limestone terraces, alpine mountains, and endless forests. The cost of your admission and shuttle buses is covered in the trip cost.

On the first day, we will visit a variety of lakes and waterfalls in Rize Valley (Arrow Bamboo Lake, Panda Lake, Five Flower Lake, Pearl Shoal Falls, Mirror Lake, Nuorilang Falls, and/or Shuzheng Lakes).

On the second day, we will visit Zechawa Valley (Long Lake, Five-Color Pond, and/or Seasonal Lakes).

Grace & Yongjian will accompany you on entire experience (except to/from airport and during free time).

We LOVE sharing the beauties of China with our friends and encourage you to ask any questions!

Whenever necessary, we will have local guides and drivers accompanying us as well.
For all our experiences, we strive to pick accommodations that are clean and authentic.

Whenever possible, we choose to support small, local guesthouses run by people from the community.

Costs differ between single and double occupancy, please review the costs below
Every night, you will try different traditional dishes of the region we are in. Family style means you will share food with your fellow travelers. Both of us are HUGE foodies and we can vouch for the quality of the food we pick!

If you have any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, etc.) or food allergies, please inform us in advance of the trip so we can make this trip enjoyable and safe for you.
In this virtual pre-departure orientation, we will cover essential apps (payment, maps, VPNs, eSIMs) and practical on the ground tips that will help you navigate China like a local.

It's also an opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers and ask us any questions!
For any sites mentioned in the itinerary that require an entrance ticket, the cost of the ticket for each traveler will be covered.

Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
All overland transportation, including high speed trains, buses, and rideshares.

Metro rides within cities are not covered.

Transportation during free time is not covered.

Any transportation to Chengdu (flight or train) before the trip begins is not covered and any transportation after Day 8 is not covered.
To remember your trip, you will receive a From Roots to Bridges themed goodie bag! Inform us of your t-shirt size prior to the trip.

What Is Included

What Is Not Included

- Travel Insurance (REQUIRED for every traveler)

- Chinese Tourist Visa (if required)

- Meals Not Included in the Itinerary

- Breakfast, lunch, and alcoholic drinks

- Personal Expenses (souvenirs, gifts, etc.)

- Room service, laundry, incidentals

- Activities not a part of the itinerary

- Hospital bills and related medical expenses
- Damaged or lost personal possessions

Costs

Single Occupancy

$2500 USD (includes VAT)

You will have a room and bathroom to yourself

Screenshot 2025-05-15 at 10.41.04 AM.png

Double Occupancy

$2000 USD (includes VAT)

You will share a room with a person of the same gender or your requested roommate

Highlights

Sichuan Cooking Class

Learn how to make Sichuan's spicy classic dishes in the Sichuan Cuisine Museum!

Admire a Variety of Pandas

Red pandas, giant pandas, baby pandas, and more await in Sichuan's panda breeding bases

Hike Emeishan & Jiuzhaigou

2 day, 1 night hike through China's most breathtaking hiking trails

What Our Travelers Say

Jurrien & Sandra

Together with Grace and Yongjian, we travelled for almost 2 weeks through the province of Yunnan. Having never been to China, we felt a bit overwhelmed with the required preparations for this huge country. Even before we crossed the border from Vietnam to China, they prepared us in every possible way. From how to use Alipay and WeChat, to buying SIM Cards and setting up a VPN. Their knowledge about the area was astounding. Especially on the topics on (local) cuisine and culture, they introduced us to so much we didn't know. The itinerary chosen, suited well with our interests and the execution went very well.

Sebastien

China wasn’t on my travel list until Yongjian and Grace's captivating passion and deep knowledge opened my eyes to its wonders. Their guidance was essential in securing a SIM card, managing payments, booking trains and ordering food. This allowed me to fully embrace Yunnan’s rich diversity, from vibrant markets and museums to stunning landscapes and historical sites. The region’s varied ethnic groups and incredible cuisine enriched every moment. This trip not only left me with precious memories and a new perspective on travel and China but also the gift of friendship with two remarkable people I now call friends.

Angela & Yang

During our trip to China, especially in Fuzhou, Grace and Yongjian made our experience truly unforgettable. Although we have visited China several times before and speak the language (more or less), it can still be challenging to navigate the country, as everything changes so quickly. What made the journey even more special were the fascinating stories they shared about their own trips and the history and culture of the region. Touring with Grace and Yongjian was an absolute pleasure, and I would highly recommend their services to anyone, who want an effortless and memorable trip!

Matt

I've lived in mainland China for over seven years and I was thrilled to join Yongjian and Grace for my first visit to Fujian Province. Together the three of us made stops at the historic district of the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Xichan Temple, and the Overseas Chinese Museum. It was a pleasure touring Fuzhou with Yongjian and Grace, who were kind enough to introduce local delicacies and locate vegetarian restaurants to accommodate my dietary restrictions. I would wholeheartedly recommend booking a tour with Yongjian and Grace--you will not be disappointed!

Ted

I had a wonderful time traveling with Yongjian and Grace. They created a comprehensive itinerary with unique, hard-to-find experiences while remaining flexible and open throughout the trip. Their approach to travel planning reflects their commitment to cultural authenticity and meaningful engagement

with the communities they visit.

I would definitely go on another trip with them!

Frequently Asked Questions

This group experience is designed for adults, 21 years and older.

If you have minors who would like to join an experience like this, we can arrange a private experience specifically for your family.

Please note that each minor requires at least one adult 21+ years old to accompany them.

Refer to our Private Experiences to learn more.
Enter in our Interest Form where you are interested in going and if there is enough interest in visiting that destination, we will consider adding it to the itinerary if possible.

The cost of the experience may change.

Alternatively, we can host a private experience for you and anyone you want to bring along.
Yes, we generally advise our travelers coming to China to get a Chinese tourist visa in your country of residency. If you have confirmed that your trip to China can be done under the 10 or 30 day visa free policy, then you do not need to apply for a Chinese tourist visa.

Visa-Free Entry Policies

10-Day Visa-Free Transit: Travelers from many countries (e.g., US, UK, Canada) can stay up to 10 days in certain Chinese cities (like Beijing or Shanghai) if transiting to a third country (proof of onward ticket required).

30-Day Visa-Free Access: Citizens of 38 countries (e.g. France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan and Negara Brunei Darussalam) can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under mutual agreements.

Note: Policies may change—always verify with this official webpage before travel.

From Roots to Bridges will not accept responsibility if you are refused entry to China because you lack the correct visa documentation.
Book your departure flight from your home country to Shuangliu International Airport Chengdu and your return flight from Chengdu as well.

On Day 9, you will take a train from the Huanglongjiuzhai Station at Juizhaigou to Chengdu before departing from the Chengdu Airport.
Prior to traveling to China WeChat (communication and payments) and AliPay (payments and more).

If you need to use Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, or Google Apps during the trip, download a VPN.

Refer to our China Apps guide to see which other apps are required and recommended.
Prior to traveling to China, we recommend you to buy a 3HK E-SIM.

If you would prefer to get a physical SIM card, we will bring you to a physical store in China to get a SIM card.
Please refer to these CDC Guidelines for what vaccines to get prior to traveling to China.

For this experience*, our cancellation policy is below. To cancel your spot, you must email us at hello@graceandyj.com. If applicable, you will receive a refund to your original form of payment between 5-14 business days, excluding bank transaction fees.

More than 60 days prior to departure: Cancellation fee of 20% of total price (deposit)

Between 45 – 60 days prior to departure: Cancellation fee of 40% of the total price

Between 30 – 45 Days: Cancellation fee of 60% of the total price

Less than 30 days prior to departure: No refund

After trip departure: No refund

*Note: Different experiences may have different deposit amounts and cancellation policies. Please refer to each experience page for the most up to date information.
We understand that medical emergencies may cause you to not be able to attend this trip or cut the trip short.

Therefore, we require our travelers to buy travel insurance before the trip begins to cover unforeseen cancellations.

Our Travel Philosophy

We started traveling around China in 2023 with a desire to reconnect with our ancestral homeland. From then to now, we have traveled to half of China's provinces & regions. In the process, we realized that the beauty, history, and cultural diversity of China goes well beyond the typical path that tourists take (Beijing, Shanghai, etc). We want to show you the real China, from the cities to village in China's undiscovered provinces and regions. Whether or not you can speak Chinese, we want to help you navigate all the complexities that come with traveling around China and foster an environment that allows you to connect on a deeper level with Chinese culture, people, language, and food. Learn more from our videos!

Helpful Resources

How to Apply for a Chinese Visa
[for Americans] [free]

The first step to traveling to China is applying for a Chinese visa. We know that paperwork can be daunting and want to streamline the process for you in our step-by-step guide!

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Travel Packing List [free]

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