Sichuan: A Foodie Journey Through China’s Spice Capital

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5 Days
Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall
Chengdu
Luzhou
About this Journey

Sichuan cuisine is famed across China and beyond, most iconically for its mouth-numbing peppercorns and sizzling chilies. So, while gongbao jiding and mapo dofu are no longer well-kept secrets, the stories and cooking techniques behind them still are.

We’ve set out to eat and drink our way through Sichuan, the way the locals do. During our 5-day journey we’ve curated a menu of culinary experiences through Chengdu, Leshan and Luzhou. Our mouths are already watering thinking of the Chengdu hot pot (of course), savory qiaojiao beef, Sichuan green tea, and the ubiquitous, baijiu. Join us as we sip tea with locals at Chengdu’s bustling Heming teahouse, get a behind-the-scenes look at how baijiu is produced, visit an ancient salt well, and stroll through night markets and famous “fly” restaurants, all under the guidance of our food-obsessed Chengdu local guide.

What we love
  • Sipping tea and playing mahjong in Chengdu’s famous teahouse, where locals gather for an afternoon chat and a good old ear cleaning on the side
  • Getting a behind the scenes tour of China’s longest operating baijiu distillery, the Luzhou Laojiao Baijiu Distillery
  • Discovering the flavors and techniques of Sichuanese cuisine with a masterclass at the Sichuan Cuisine Museum
Where you're going
Itinerary

Day 1 Chengdu

Meet your WildChina guide in the airport arrivals hall – we’ll have your private vehicle on standby ready to transfer you to your hotel • Immerse in the spice capital of China in style with a traditional hotpot dinner 

Day 2Chengdu

Learn the flavors and techniques of Sichuan cooking with a masterclass at the Sichuan Cuisine Museum  • Head back to the hotel for a short break • Sip tea like the locals at Chengdu’s central teahouse, a traditional afternoon pasttime • In the evening, dine like a local on a guided foodie tour that takes you into the best food stalls and “fly” restaurants at a popular night market

Day 3Leshan

Arrive in Sujiao to try the famous qiaojiao beef at a beloved local joint • Admire the mesmerizing colossal Buddha, a 1,300-year-old sculpture that stands at 73 meters high • Prepare your belly with a visit to Leshan’s foodie draw:  Zhanggongqiao Food Street where sizzling aromas and local favorites will stir up an appetite

Day 4Zigong - Luzhou

Drive to Zigong • Stop for a visit to Shenhaijing Salt Well, a 19th-century salt well where locals frequent to get salt to make the best paocai (pickled vegetables) • Enjoy a regional delicacy – rabbit made in local mala style – at Tuxingtianxia restaurant • Head to Luzhou Laojiao Baijiu Distillery to get an up-close view of how China’s most beloved alcohol, baijiu, is produced • Enjoy dinner of Luzhou’s best culinary offerings at the Garden Restaurant, a frequented joint by both locals and high-level officials

Day 5Luzhou

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

Hotels

Buddha Zen Hotel, Chengdu

Local Boutique

Buddha Zen Hotel Chengdu sits inside a traditional courtyard home in the city’s Qingyang District. Inside, the décor emphasizes zen, creating a vibe of eastern elegance through modern amenities and hints of traditional Chinese culture.

 
Jinye Chanyi Vacation Hotel Leshan

Jinye Chanyi Vacation Hotel, Leshan

Local Boutique

This local boutique, opened in 2015, boasts a beautiful traditionally-themed exterior and clean stylish rooms.

 
Luhu Hotel Luzhou

Luhu Hotel, Luzhou

4-Star

Luhu Hotel is our top choice of accommodation in Luzhou. The hotel is located in a peaceful residential neighborhood, designed to amplify the nature and courtyard elements in a traditional style.

 
Recommended Seasons
Details

Recommended Seasons

What’s Included

  • All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
  • All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
  • All meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water
  • All services of WildChina English-speaking guide(s)
  • All accommodations, based on double-occupancy and including breakfast, service charge, and government tax
  • Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip

What’s Excluded

  • International & domestic flights and relevant taxes
  • Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
  • Travel, health and trip cancellation 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 chauffeurs
Why WildChina

We’re on the ground with you

Our team of advisors will design every detail of the trip with you through close consultation, then orchestrate your entire journey while on the ground. We’re in the same time zone as you, so we can fulfill requests and handle issues without a hitch. With over 40 staff in Beijing and an expansive network of operational partners across the country, we have the manpower to ensure your journey is safe, reliable and comfortable from beginning to end.

Your trip, your way

Flexibility is our highest-ranking compliment. We pull off journeys for pioneers with a 6-hour layover to Hollywood’s elite, and everywhere in between. 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 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

Supporting inspired local economies allows you to experience the soul of the destination, while also protecting and cultivating China’s artisanal culture. 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.