Cuddly and Mysterious Kingdoms
40 kilometers north of central Chengdu, by the same highway as Chengdu's Giant Panda Breeding Base, the bronze-age Sanxingdui site is regarded one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.
Thousands of rare treasures from two large sacrificial pits dating back to Shang Dynasty times (1600–1046 BC) have recently been supplemented with finds from six new sacrificial pits, which visitors can see being prepared for display in Sanxingdui Museum.
This tour not only takes you to visit the cuddly kingdom of giant pandas, but also the mysterious Kingdom of Shu (a.k.a. the Sanxingdui Civilization). The protected pandas and Sanxingdui's relics are both considered national treasures.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Witness Rare Treasures Only Seen in China
Sanxingdui Museum had held exhibitions in more than ten overseas countries over the last twenty years, but many treasures have only been exhibited in China (like the four below).


Discover Sanxingdui's "Alien" Civilization
The archeological finds of the Sanxingdui Civilization show it to be quite "alien" to the contemporary Shang Dynasty by the Yellow River, traditionally the cradle of China, down to the way they made bronze. The protruding eyes of its bronze heads tally with local Shu Kingdom records of their "alien-looking", bulging-eyed, founder Cancong.


A Morning Date with Active Pandas
It is best to go early in the morning to see the pandas feeding at around 9:30am, which is their most active time of the day.


Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

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An amazing tour of Chengdu with Helen
![]() We took a trip to Chengdu and our guide Helen made it a fantastic expierence. She was knowledgable about the local areas and customised our plans throughout the day based on what we wanted to do. She helped us take good photos with the pandas and other good photo spots throughout the day. Our driver was also friendly and the car was spacious and cool. more
Mar 2025, Tom
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Super Helen from Chendu
![]() Great guide Helen of Chengdu. She is VERY kind, VERY attentive, resolved every kind of problems, without asking her she already knew our needs or requirements. SUPER HELEN OF CHENGDU. She is a great professional, not only a tour guide, she is a very attentive person. Top A1. more
Mar 2025, Cecilia
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We are coming back to Chengdu next time
![]() We have had a great couple of days based in Chengdu with Evan from China Highlights. We have been well looked after, being collected and dropped off at the rail station and airport.Evan was very knowledgeable at each site but was fantastic at getting us to the best panda enclosures or the best positions to see the Buddhas. He was very flexible in arranging activities and took us to some great restaurants. We found the weather in March to be just right, mild and dry, slightly overcast cloud, so very comfortable and great light for pictures. more
Mar 2025, Mark R
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Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests.
Your personal private guide will contact you a day in advance and arrange the starting time according to your preference.
Visiting the city's panda base can be a challenge as it is quite large and has various animals. We've designed a smart route to beat the crowds as much as possible while timing it to the pandas' active period for you.
After the short road trip on to Sanxingdui, you will be served with a Sichuan meal at the restaurant of Sanxingdui Museum.
Sanxingdui Museum, in the northeast corner of the Sanxingdui Ruins archeological site, is where the Shu Kingdom's 3,000-year-old treasures are displayed. Discover a unique part of China's history in this large modern thematic museum.
As this is a private tour, you can decide whether to spend more or less time in the different areas according to your interests. The schedule is flexible and only for your reference.
Price includes:
- Private air-conditioned business car with big windows and ample space
- English speaking local guide
- Activities and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour code: cd-87