Chengdu: Pandas + Xiling
Giant pandas at breakfast, 2,400 m snow slopes by lunch the next day, and Sichuan food all week. Not a ski trip — a brilliant winter holiday with skiing in it.
Est. cost pp
≈ $600–750
excl. international flights
Best months
Late Dec–Feb
(Xiling's short season; check conditions before the drive)
Trip length
6 days
as planned below — all customisable
Day by day
| Day 1 | Chengdu Land, Taikoo Li wander, teahouse, hotpot initiation (ask for 微辣 — mild — and mean it). |
| Day 2 | Pandas Panda Base at opening time, People's Park afternoon, Sichuan opera face-changing show at night. |
| Day 3 | To the mountain Drive to Xiling, gondola up, afternoon on the snow — expect snow-play crowds alongside the ski runs. |
| Day 4 | Snow day Morning ski on the easy-intermediate runs, sledding and snow scenery for the non-skiers, descend for dinner. |
| Day 5 | Back to Chengdu Return, Jinli old street or Wenshu monastery, last hotpot round. |
| Day 6 | Fly out Or extend: Leshan Buddha and Chongqing are both easy add-ons. |
Transport legs
- →Beijing/Shanghai → Chengdu: ~3 / ~3½ hr flight
- →Chengdu → Panda Base: 30–45 min taxi (go at 8am — pandas nap after breakfast)
- →Chengdu → Xiling: 2–2½ hr drive or seasonal tourist bus; gondola up from the base village
Booking help: our getting-around guide covers flights, trains and ski-bag rules.
Where to stay
Chengdu: Chunxi Road or Taikoo Li area. Xiling: one night at the base village saves the 5am start.
What the estimate covers
1–2 snow days (Xiling's layered tickets are TBC — budgeted generously), 5 nights mid-range (two sharing), panda base entry (~$8), food, intercity transport. Excludes international flights.
Who this trip is NOT for
Skiers, frankly — if ski quality drives the trip, go to Chongli or Altay. This one is for mixed groups where the pandas outrank the powder, and it's honest about it.
We book this exact trip — $349
Full Concierge: every pass, hotel, train and transfer above, booked at local prices for your dates. Or take the $149 Itinerary Plan and book it yourself with our playbook.