3 Days Best Chongqing Private Tour with Dazu

After breakfast, your private guide and the driver will accompany you on a 2-hour private drive to the UNESCO-listed Dazu Rock Carvings, the general name for 141 cliff carvings in Dazu District, among which the most famous and exquisite one is at Baoding Mountain, our final destination, where over 1,300 statues were carved from the rocks along the cliff. Created from the early Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD) and reaching its peak at the Song Dynasty (960 - 1127 AD), Dazu Carvings integrate the cultures of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, which is very rare in other Chinese carvings. The unmissable highlights include the well-preserved gold Thousand Hands of Buddha, whose dense and layered arms demonstrate exquisite craftsmanship; Dazu’s largest statue, a 32-meter-long (105-foot) half-body reclining Buddha, highlighting the immeasurable nature and infinity of the Buddha; and the giant ‘Three Sages of the Huayan School,’ each of which stands 7 meters (23 ft.) tall and tilts nearly 20 degrees, holding a pagoda weighing approximately half a ton in the hand. In addition to the religious scenes, the Dazu Carvings also depict some secular daily life in the era, such as a girl playing the flute, a shepherd boy herding cattle, and a chicken farmer smiling brightly.After finishing a thorough exploration, we’ll go back to the Chongqing urban area and visit the Ci Qi Kou Ancient Town, where you can discover the soul-stirring traditional Bayu-style architecture, customs, and old traditions. The town was first built between 998 and 1003 AD. Later, it flourished in the early Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911 AD) because of its abundant production and transportation of porcelain, and hence the name, which literally means "porcelain port." Today, there are still a plethora of Qing-style dwellings well preserved with mottled brick walls and upturned eaves, as if telling the town’s layered past. Follow your guide to step on the narrow cobblestone street to admire the old, dignified Baolun Temple with stunning wooden bracket structures, and the traditional courtyards of once scholars and officials. Apart from that, the town also features a varied, flavor-packed food scene, best for perusing foodie treats like freshly-made crispy Chen’s fried dough twists, square cold cakes, spring rolls, and numbing Chongqing noodles. If you want to try some, your guide would like to recommend those stalls mostly frequented by locals. Finish the visit, and the guide and the driver will accompany you back to the hotel. 

Meals: Western buffet breakfast

This morning, your sightseeing continues to Chongqing Zoo, accompanied by your private guide and the driver. Lushly forested and nestled against a mountainside, the zoo features undulating terrain and winding ravines, flowing streams, and meandering paths, inhabited by over 4,000 wild animals representing over 230 species, more than 80% of which are rare species. You’ll see wildlife like cute giant pandas, South China tigers, Asian elephants, rhinos, golden monkeys, giraffes, red-crowned cranes, and black swans. Arriving there early can not only bring a less-crowded experience but also make you see the most active pandas! They generally have their breakfast between 8:30 and 9:00 and play games or eat fruits before 11:00.  
 

★ Witness the Train Run through the 19-story Building!

Afterward, let’s head to the city’s most Instagrammable sight, the through-building Liziba Light Rail Station. You’ll feel like entering a fairytale land when looking up and seeing a goose-yellow train whizzing out from the residential building, resembling a snake weaving freely through the steel jungle, which perfectly interprets the magical aesthetic of the mountain city. Remember to capture some interesting photos, like ‘swallowing the train’ at the observation deck; the train runs with an interval of around 6-7 minutes.

Afterward, we’ll head to a magical place, Kuixing Tower, which is located on the first floor as well as the 22nd floor; no wonder the city is called ‘8D City’. Follow the guide to explore how the Chinese traditional tower amazes the world with its disorienting effect, thanks to its cliff-side location, with a ground level on one side and a dramatic drop on the other. By the way, remember to feel the thrill of standing on its sky corridor, overlooking the world below.

Finally, your private guide and the driver will escort you to the airport or train station and see you off. We suggest you book your flight or train leaving after 18:00 to fully enjoy the trip! Hope you have a pleasant trip home!

Meals: Western buffet breakfast