For those making repeat visits to China, step away from the cities of Beijing and Shanghai and instead venture to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.

This six-day adventure with Lightfoot Travel sees you checking into Temple House before proceeding to People’s Park, a local park where both young and old practice Chinese martial arts and meditate. Take a walk and mingle with the locals before proceeding to the House of Tea for refreshments and Wenshu temple, one of the more popular Buddhist temples in Chengdu.

The highlight of any visit to Chengdu is no doubt the Panda Breeding Centre, and that’s where you’re headed to the next morning. Spend your day learning about the pandas, the challenges faced when it comes to breeding, and watch these animated species go about their daily life at the centre.

The next few days will see you learning the art of Sichuan cooking, and making a trip to Jiuzhaigou, where you’ll explore both Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong National Parks. We recommend making pit stops at the Five Colour Pond, Tiger Lake and other small waterfalls along the way. Go right ahead and whip out your cameras to capture those post-card worthy sceneries. Just don’t forget to take some time to soak in the best of mother nature when you’re done.