Name: Sichuan: A Foodie Journey Through China’s Spice Capital
Brand: WildChina
SKU: 1

About this Journey

This five-day journey through Chengdu, Leshan, and Luzhou serves up Sichuan the way locals know it. Think steaming hot pot, savory qiaojiao beef, fragrant green tea, and the region’s ubiquitous baijiu. Sip tea at Chengdu’s lively Heming Teahouse, step inside the world’s oldest baijiu distillery, visit an ancient salt well, and wander night markets and beloved “fly” restaurants — all in the company of a food-obsessed Chengdu local guide.

What we love

Sipping tea and playing mahjong in Chengdu’s famous Heming Teahouse, where locals gather for an afternoon chat — and perhaps an ear cleaning
Exploring the world’s oldest baijiu distillery, Luzhou Laojiao, and tasting China’s most iconic spirit at the source
Learning the secrets of Sichuan cuisine during a hands-on cooking class in a hidden courtyard restaurant

Map

Itinerary

Day 1 Chengdu

• Meet your WildChina guide in the airport arrivals hall, where your private vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel • Begin your journey in the spice capital of China with a traditional hotpot dinner

Day 2Chengdu

• Explore a bustling spice market with your guide before winding through backstreets to a hidden courtyard restaurant for a hands-on Sichuan cooking class • Visit the historic Wenshu Monastery to experience its incense-filled halls and tranquil atmosphere • Sip green tea among locals at the century-old Heming Teahouse in People’s Park, where ear cleaners and chess players animate the scene • In the evening, embark on a local-led foodie tour through wet markets, hole-in-the-wall “fly” restaurants, and street stalls

Day 3Chengdu - Leshan

• Arrive in the riverside town of Leshan, known for its relaxed pace and rich cultural treasures • In Suji Old Town, sample the famed qiaojiao beef — slow-cooked broth made with almost every part of the cow, served at a humble riverside eatery turned culinary landmark • Marvel at the Leshan Giant Buddha, a 1,300-year-old, 71-meter sandstone colossus carved into a cliff and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site • Stroll Zhanggongqiao Food Street, where stalls serve specialties like bobo chicken, tofu jelly, and sweet skin duck amid architecture inspired by the Ming and Qing dynasties

Day 4Leshan - Luzhou

• Drive to Zigong • Stop to visit the Shenhaijing Salt Well — the world’s first 1-kilometer-deep well, excavated in 1823 and still producing the prized salt locals use for traditional paocai (pickles) • Enjoy lunch at Tuxingtianxia, a celebrated spot for mala-style rabbit, with non-rabbit options available • Continue to Luzhou Laojiao, the world’s oldest continuously operating baijiu distillery, to see its ancient well and 1573 National Treasure Cellar before sampling China’s signature spirit • End the day with dinner at the unassuming but acclaimed Garden Restaurant, a long-time favorite of locals and government officials, known for dishes like ginger duck, huiguorou, and mala offal

Day 5Luzhou

Your WildChina guide will escort you to the airport and help you check in for your flight home

Hotels

Hotel Niccolo Chengdu

Local Boutique

Located in the heart of Chengdu’s bustling Chunxi Road shopping district, Niccolo Chengdu blends contemporary luxury with artistic flair. Inspired by 13th-century explorer Niccolò Polo, the hotel offers spacious, stylish rooms with sweeping views — all just steps from the city’s best boutiques and teahouses.

Jinye Chanyi Vacation Hotel, Leshan

Local Boutique

Set amid the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, this boutique hotel combines traditional Chinese architecture with modern comfort, offering a convenient and characterful base for exploring one of Sichuan’s most iconic landmarks.

Luhu Hotel, Luzhou

4-Star

Tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood, Luhu Hotel is a serene base for exploring Luzhou. The hotel combines traditional design with natural elements and features a peaceful courtyard setting.

Photos

Details

What’s Included

Services of an English-speaking WildChina local guide
Accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts included
All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water

What’s Excluded

International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
Chinese tourist visa, which is required for many foreign passport holders
Travel and medical insurance
Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
Expenses of a personal nature
Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

Next Steps

How do I book this tour?

Please use the inquiry form on the right-hand side of this page or email info@wildchina.com to get started. One of our travel designers will be in touch accordingly to start the process of planning your custom China trip!

What is the payment schedule?

Deposit:

Once you are ready to book, a $500 USD per person planning fee is required to begin reserving your arrangements. This will go towards your total trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

Full payment:
Full trip payment will be requested 60 days prior to departure. If you’re booking within 60 days of your departure, you may be asked to make the full payment straight away.

Payments can be made via credit card, bank transfer, WeChat or Alipay.

What is your cancellation policy?

See our full booking conditions here.

Why WildChina

We’re on the ground with you

During the planning phase, our team of specialist travel advisors based in China will design every detail of your trip with you. When you’re on the ground, they will then orchestrate your entire journey, maintaining close contact with each of your guides throughout your trip to ensure you’re having the best journey possible. With offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, and an expansive network of operational partners across the country, we are committed to ensuring that your journey is safe, reliable and comfortable from beginning to end.

Your trip, your way

Flexibility is our highest-ranking complement. With over two decades of experience, we’ve run just about every type of journey you can imagine. No request is too strange, too extreme, or too exclusive. Our team regularly pulls off unprecedented logistical feats; nearly any time frame or budget is within our realm. No matter how you wish to experience China, we are here to bring that dream to life.

We embody passion

WildChina’s guides are carefully handpicked for their knowledge and charisma, then meticulously trained to maintain our exceptional service standards. They are expert storytellers and passionate natives of the regions where they guide, having the perfect combination of local insights and service know-how to bring you seamless once-in-a- lifetime moments all across China.

The little things, the big picture

We firmly believe that supporting local people and economies allows you to experience the soul of a destination, while also protecting and cultivating China’s cultures. From watching artisans’ hand-make shoes in Yunnan, to picking organic vegetables for dinner on a local farm in Fujian, our tours are designed to showcase and protect China’s heritage, both natural and human.

Sichuan: A Foodie Journey Through China’s Spice Capital

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