Organizing our days in Chengdu and Chongqing

Question

Hello!

the last 6 days of our 18 days trip to China will be spent between Chongqing and Chengdu.

After 5 days in Bejing, 3 in Zhangjiajie and 3 in Guilin/Yangshou, we plan to take a morning train from here to Chongqing.

Then I need to organize the rest between those two cities.

I was thinking something like:

1)Morning train from Guilin to Chongqing

2)Visit of Wulong Karst cave (to understand if it is a full or half day trip)

3)Full day in Chongqing city

4)Morning train to Chengdu and visit of the city

5-6)2 full days to spend in Chengdu between Pandas, Leshan, wandering around the city or visit to one of the surrounding mountains (Eme or Qingcheng).

Any thoughts? Would you instead reccomend less time in Chongqing and a full 3 days stay in Chengdu? (Therefore taking the train on late afternoon of day 3)

Thanks!

Answer

Your proposed itinerary for the last 6 days between Chongqing and Chengdu is workable, but it could be slightly optimized depending on what you prioritize: urban exploration, cultural sites, or natural scenery.

Here’s an analysis of your plan:

Day 1 – Morning train Guilin to Chongqing: This is fine. High-speed trains take about 5–6 hours, so you will arrive around early afternoon. You may have time for a short city exploration in Chongqing depending on train timing.
Day 2 – Wulong Karst: Visiting Wulong (Three Natural Bridges & Furong Cave) usually takes a full day, including travel time from Chongqing. It can be done as a day trip if you hire a private driver or join a tour early in the morning. Public transport options exist but take longer and can be exhausting.
Day 3 – Chongqing city: One full day in Chongqing city is reasonable. You can explore Ciqikou old town, Hongya Cave, Jiefangbei pedestrian street, and take a Yangtze river cruise if interested.
Day 4 – Morning train to Chengdu: High-speed trains from Chongqing to Chengdu take 2–3 hours. You can spend the afternoon visiting Chengdu city highlights, such as Jinli Street, Wuhou Shrine, or Sichuan Opera (face-changing show).
Days 5–6 – Chengdu & surroundings: Two full days are enough for visiting the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Leshan Giant Buddha, and possibly one nearby mountain (Emei or Qingchengshan). You will need to plan transportation carefully, as Leshan is around 2 hours from Chengdu by car/train, and Emei is even further.

Alternative suggestion:

Spend less time in Chongqing (just 1.5 days), especially if Wulong is not a must-see for you. You could take the late afternoon or evening train to Chengdu on Day 2, then have 3 full days in Chengdu and surroundings. This gives you a more relaxed schedule and reduces travel fatigue.
If you want to fully experience Wulong, your original plan is better, but expect long travel times and early mornings.

Other tips:

Book high-speed train tickets in advance to secure seats.
Consider hiring a driver for Wulong to save time.
Check opening hours and ticketing for Leshan and Emei/Chengdu sites in advance.
Weather in April can be mild but occasionally rainy, so plan accordingly for outdoor excursions.

In summary, your itinerary is feasible, but if you prefer a less rushed schedule, prioritizing Chengdu for 3 full days and limiting Chongqing to 1–1.5 days might be more enjoyable.

Organizing our days in Chengdu and Chongqing

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