Welcome to tantalizing Chengdu! Upon arrival, indulge in local fare as your guide whisks you to your hotel.

As night falls, venture to bustle Jianshe Road. Fu Qiang’s fried pork ribs are crispy outside, and tender within – fragrance and flavor tempting with each bite. Or try Zhong Shui Jiao in Renmin Park for Sichuan wonton, sweet noodles, and panda-shaped dumplings. A wonderland of fare embracing tastes for every palate – salty, spiced, and candied alike. You can also experience night tea in People’s Park. Antique buildings glow golden, and the pavilion lanterns blaze to life, transforming the tranquil night. Amid fare and crowds, taste the city’s nightlife.

Prepare to delight at Chengdu’s Giant Panda Research Base, where tumbling creatures romp in verdant groves. Chuckle at their playful antics amidst the bamboo thickets.

Come midday, sample Longchaoshou dumplings, savory stuffing in gossamer skins. A single bite unleashes delectable juices.

This afternoon, steal away to Wenshu Temple, an oasis in the city’s midst. Pass hours there with mahjong and fine tea, cares adrift. Let tales and shared laughter flavor fragrant air.

When night falls, a culinary adventure awakens. The marketplace stirs aromas of chili and spice adrift. Amid the bustle, seek morsels finessed through time. Delve a realm aflame with chili fire and pepper numb. Round out an epicurean adventure with a cup of craft beer.

First, explore the Sichuan Cuisine Museum. Exhibits revive signature dishes and vibrant food culture. At each turn, tableware, tools, and spices that built the craft unfold.

As for lunch, why not taste Chuan Chuan? Fresh meat skewered and a spicy broth simmered, you seize dozens of sticks to plunge in boiling soup. Swiftly retrieving, you stuff the tender morsels in your mouth. Meat soft, juice-laden, flavor bursts to delight. Relish each bold bite, immersing in Chengdu’s easy pace to unwind body and soul.

Venture next to the Dujiangyan irrigation system, which solved irrigation and aided China’s science. A visit allows you to experience the wisdom and diligence of the Chinese.

This morning, depart for Luocheng Ancient Town. Along the stone paths, feel ageless history thrum, an enduring folk simplicity abides. Silent ancient edifices are hewn of wood and stone unfolding a timeless tale.

Then taste authentic Leshan fare. Kabing first – minced meat in pancakes handmade. Crisp yet tender, enclosing beef and radish as you wish. Pair with bowls of tofu jelly, spicy and tart and sweet – treasures awakened in each taste. Or try Leshan Sweet Skin Duck. Fresh from oven steaming, skin shatteringly crisp, drenched in syrup mingling sweetness and the heady perfume of the braise. Don’t miss the Qiaojiao Beef – water-poached beef and offal simmered in an herbal hot pot. Let the freshness of the beef and the spiciness of the chili burst in your mouth.

Today, get up early and journey to Leshan for an encounter with grandeur incarnate – the magnificent Giant Buddha. Climb the stone staircases for a sweeping sight of the tranquil countenance 71 meters up high. Or glide over the Minjiang River, lapping for centuries at the feet of the Buddha.

Then proceed to Meishan to visit Sansu Temple, which enshrines the former home of China’s famed literary masters. Preserving the ancestral Su abode, its grounds embody the simplicity and depth of traditional architecture.

For lunch, savor Dongpo elbow, Dongpo pork, and Dongpo fish. Dongpo pork dripping with juices and tender flesh, rich but not cloying, hinting faintly at sweet. Dongpo fish boasts flesh delicate, broth creamy ivory. With appetite sated full, return to Chengdu.

Today you’ll hang with a Chengdu local to learn Sichuan cooking secrets! Shop markets together for all the fixings. With your host showing you the ropes, cook up an authentic homestyle dish. Pick up pro tips and tricks along the way and discover new spices and staples.

Have some time at leisure to reminisce about the memorable flavors you have savored in Sichuan before your guide takes you to the airport for your return flight.