Chengdu-Yaan-Mengdingshan-Chengdu(L)
In the morning, your private guide will pick you up from your hotel in Chengdu and drive approximately two hours to Mount Mengding near Ya’an. Along the way, enjoy views of the fertile Chengdu Basin and the changing scenery as you travel toward the tea-growing mountains of western Sichuan.
Upon arrival at Mount Mengding, head directly to a local tea plantation and discover the traditions behind Sichuan tea culture. Meet local tea farmers and learn how fresh tea leaves are carefully picked. You will then have the opportunity to pick tea yourself and experience the work of a local tea grower.
After approximately 30 minutes of tea picking, your local host will demonstrate traditional tea-making techniques and teach you how freshly picked tea leaves are processed and prepared. This hands-on experience offers a wonderful introduction to the long history of tea cultivation in Sichuan.
After the tea-making experience, enjoy lunch at a local agritainment restaurant, where you can taste authentic Sichuan countryside dishes and experience the relaxed atmosphere of rural life.
In the afternoon, take the cable car up Mount Mengding and continue exploring the scenic area. Visit the historic Imperial Tea Garden, associated with the mountain’s long tradition of tea cultivation and its historical connection with China’s imperial tea production.
Continue to Tiangai Temple and enjoy the peaceful surroundings, ancient architecture, and panoramic views of the tea-covered mountains. The combination of lush tea plantations, forests, temples, and mountain scenery makes Mount Mengding an ideal destination for experiencing the natural and cultural heritage of Sichuan.
In the late afternoon, take the cable car down the mountain and drive back to Chengdu.
Upon arrival in Chengdu, your guide will transfer you back to your hotel.