Chengdu & Zhangjiajie travel journal

3 October 2026 – 9 October 2026

Chengdu & Zhangjiajie

Pandas in Dujiangyan, peaks in Zhangjiajie.

Sandstone pillars and forested ridges stretching to the horizon from Tianzi Mountain
Saturday, 3 October

Day 1 – Arrival in Dujiangyan

Route
Singapore樟宜机场Chengdu天府国际机场Dujiangyan都江堰South Bridge南桥

We landed in Chengdu in the evening and drove straight to Dujiangyan. After dropping our bags at the hotel, we walked over to South Bridge to see the blue-lit river.

Blue-lit water flowing beneath South Bridge in Dujiangyan at night

South Bridge

Sunday, 4 October

Day 2 – Pandas & Red Pandas

Route
Dujiangyan Panda Base都江堰熊猫基地Red Panda Forest小熊猫森林公园Chengdu成都

We spent the morning at the panda base, then moved on to Red Panda Forest Park, which also had raccoons and rabbits to feed. The red pandas were the highlight, especially when four of them lined up on the same rail. We drove back to Chengdu that evening.

Giant panda sitting among wet bamboo at Dujiangyan Panda Base

Dujiangyan Panda Base

Couple on a bamboo-lined path at Dujiangyan Panda Base

Dujiangyan Panda Base

Dujiangyan Panda Base

Red panda eating on a log platform among bamboo at the panda base

Dujiangyan Panda Base

Red Panda Forest

Man feeding a group of raccoons gathered on a wooden ramp

Red Panda Forest

Woman crouching beside rabbits at Red Panda Forest Park

Red Panda Forest

Red panda climbing over a log pile and looking straight at the camera

Red Panda Forest

Four red pandas leaning over a wooden rail

Red Panda Forest

Man kneeling beside a red panda on a feeding platform

Red Panda Forest

Red panda leaning against a visitor at close range

Red Panda Forest

Dinner of red-glazed rolls with a creamy dip, fried rice and greens

Cantonese Style

Monday, 5 October

Day 3 – A Slow Day in Chengdu

Route
Times Outlets时代奥特莱斯Massage金色印象Dongmen Wharf东门码头Taikoo Li太古里

A slower day in Chengdu: a long massage and some shopping, then Dongmen Wharf and Taikoo Li after dark, where we found a shop full of pandas built from bricks.

Woman on the Chengdu IFS roof terrace, with the giant faceted panda sculpture behind her

Chengdu IFS

Reclining massage chairs in a private Chengdu lounge

金色印象

Woman holding a cupcake at a Bon Appetit bakery counter

Bon Appetit

Lantern-lit boats on the river beside Dongmen Wharf at night

Dongmen Wharf

Woman sitting among brick-built panda sculptures in the LEGO store at Taikoo Li

LEGO store, Taikoo Li

Brick-built figure in a beanie and bib at a hotpot table of miniature brick dishes

LEGO store, Taikoo Li

Woman posing beneath a giant brick-built panda

LEGO store, Taikoo Li

Old stone ziku tower, once used to burn paper bearing writing, lit up beside light installations and modern towers at Taikoo Li

Taikoo Li

Tuesday, 6 October

Day 4 – Chengdu to Zhangjiajie

Route
Chengdu天府国际机场Zhangjiajie张家界River View Homestay醒在清晨72 Wonder Tower七十二奇楼Dayong Ancient City大庸古城

We flew to Zhangjiajie around midday and checked into a river-view homestay with my parents-in-law, then spent the evening at 72 Wonder Tower and Dayong Ancient City next door.

Woman walking through a blue-lit corridor at Tianfu Airport

Tianfu Airport

Woman beside three panda sculptures inside Tianfu Airport

Tianfu Airport

River and cityscape viewed from the Zhangjiajie homestay

Zhangjiajie

River-facing room at the Zhangjiajie homestay

醒在清晨

Dragon pillar beside the entrance to 72 Wonder Tower

72 Wonder Tower

Carved wooden courtyard with a stone basin of coins and notes at its centre

72 Wonder Tower

Towering timber façades of 72 Wonder Tower before sunset

72 Wonder Tower

72 Wonder Tower glowing in green and gold at night

72 Wonder Tower

Zhangjiajie riverfront towers lit up at night across the water

Zhangjiajie

Desheng Gate of Dayong Ancient City, its three arched doorways glowing amber under blue-lit roofs

Dayong Ancient City

Woman beneath glowing orange fish lanterns in a blue-lit passage

Dayong Ancient City

Traditional pavilion in Dayong Ancient City lit in amber at night

Dayong Ancient City

Wednesday, 7 October

Day 5 – Wulingyuan & Yuanjiajie

Route
Wulingyuan Gate武陵源Ten-Mile Gallery十里画廊Bailong Elevator百龙天梯Yuanjiajie袁家界Tianzi Mountain天子山

We entered at Wulingyuan and started on the valley floor along Ten-Mile Gallery, then took the Bailong Elevator up to Yuanjiajie and Tianzi Mountain. The weather stayed clear, so we could see the sandstone pillars all the way to the horizon.

Tall pagoda-style entrance tower hung with red lanterns at Wulingyuan

Wulingyuan

Sunlit sandstone peaks rising above the forest along Ten-Mile Gallery

Ten-Mile Gallery

Cluster of sandstone pillars seen from the valley floor

Ten-Mile Gallery

Couple at a railing above Yuanjiajie’s sandstone pillars

Yuanjiajie

Family of four at a railing viewpoint above Zhangjiajie’s sandstone pillars

Yuanjiajie

Sheer sandstone pillars stretching across Yuanjiajie

Yuanjiajie

Wide mountain panorama from Tianzi Mountain under a blue sky

Tianzi Mountain

Couple at a Tianzi Mountain viewpoint

Tianzi Mountain

Sandstone pillars and green ridges at Tianzi Mountain, with red autumn leaves in the foreground

Tianzi Mountain

Wild macaque carrying her baby on her back along a paved mountain path

Tianzi Mountain

Illuminated qilin float with costumed performers in a street at night

Zhangjiajie

Thursday, 8 October

Day 6 – Glass Bridge & Tianmen Mountain

Route
Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge张家界大峡谷玻璃桥Tianmen Cableway天门山索道Tianmen Cave天门洞Skywalk玻璃栈道

We started at the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, then headed back to town for the cable car up Tianmen Mountain. It was a long day, but we managed Tianmen Cave, the cliff paths and the glass skywalk before coming down.

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge stretching between wooded cliffs

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge

Fried snacks, rice and greens served for lunch near Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Mountain

Cable car crossing the valley on the ascent to Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Cableway

Natural arch of Tianmen Cave viewed from the long stone staircase

Tianmen Cave

Long stairway dropping between cliffs toward the city far below

Tianmen Cave

Sheer cliff and mountain ridges seen from Tianmen Mountain

Tianmen Mountain

Couple together on the Tianmen Mountain skywalk

Skywalk

Couple taking a selfie on the Tianmen Mountain skywalk

Skywalk

View from Tianmen Mountain down to the switchback road winding up the valley, beneath rippled clouds

Tianmen Mountain

Traditional pavilion on the Zhangjiajie riverfront outlined with warm lights at night

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie riverfront and bridge reflected in the water at night

Zhangjiajie

Friday, 9 October

Day 7 – Home via Chengdu

Route
Zhangjiajie Airport荷花国际机场Chengdu天府国际机场Singapore樟宜机场

An early flight took the four of us back to Chengdu for a Korean lunch, and we had the rest of the day to fill before the evening flight home to Singapore.

Zhangjiajie river and apartment skyline in soft morning light

Zhangjiajie

Mother and daughter sharing a Korean lunch of bulgogi, stone-pot bibimbap and braised potatoes

Otani Bibimbap

Woman holding a fruit drink with pearls during the layover

Shuyi Tealicious

Relief mural of an old Chengdu street inside the airport terminal

Tianfu Airport