Day 3 of our China journey, was a tale of two entirely different paces. While one of us (me) embraced the ultimate luxury of doing absolutely nothing, the other pulled off a high-stakes travel miracle to reach one of the most stunning valleys in the world. Here is how our day split into two perfectly unforgettable itineraries.
Path A: The Ultimate Lazy Day at The Upper House Chengdu
By Husband
My day was defined by zero rush and pure relaxation. After days of heavy travel, I decided to fully immerse myself in the serene luxury of Upper House Chengdu. Perhaps my jetlag was kicking in, perhaps it was the heat, knowing the minute I walk out to leave the hotel, it's over 100F outside. Maybe it was the exhaustion of day 2. Our guide told us we walked over 15km in the peak summer heat, down a mountain yesterday.
Midday: I slept in until noon, completely ignoring my wake up calls.
Afternoon: I spent hours lazing around the gorgeous property and logging some serious time in my suite & at the pristine indoor pool.
Afternoon Treat: No lazy afternoon in Chengdu is complete without local refreshments. I ordered two fresh, fruity bubble large teas from Hey Tea straight to the hotel suite.
Night: To walk off dinner, I took a peaceful late-night stroll through the stunning, neon-lit alleys of Sino-Ocean Taikoo
Li, enjoying the cool evening air and the architecture.
Path B: The Jiuzhaigou Dash & Cultural Splendor
By Wife (Our VP)
Meanwhile, my wife—who also functions as our VP—had a day that was the exact opposite, packed with high-velocity logistics and breathtaking rewards.
The Great Train Race
She woke up late (neither of our alarms woke us up!) & with only 1 hour to get across the city to Chengdudong Railway Station for her 10am bullet train to Jiuzhaigou. In a minor miracle, she threw herself together, hailed a Didi using the Ali App, navigated Chengdu morning traffic, sprinted through the massive station with luggage, and boarded the train exactly on time. I was extremely stressed and worried she wasn't going to make it, I waited until I heard from her in the station, that she made it, only then I went back to bed. The HSR (High Speed Rail) traversed a distance of 420km in approx 2hrs.
The Arrival: She was met on the platform by a private chauffeur from the ultra-luxury Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. (a seperate review of Ritz is coming in our next post)
The Evening: After checking into her spectacular private villa, she caught the legendary Romance Show of Jiuzhaigou, a vibrant, high-flying acrobatic and cultural performance that tells the history of the Tibetan and Qiang peoples. (I'm dissapointed I had to miss this show and experience by remaining in Chengdu)
The Finale: She wrapped up her thrilling day with a traditional hotpot dinner in the village of the show, before being met by her driver for evening return to the Ritz Reserve.
The Day 3 Verdict
Whether you want to sink into a luxury hotel bed in the heart of the city or race across Sichuan province to chase mountain peaks, China has a way of delivering the perfect day.
If you want to plan your own trip to Sichuan, let me know, we do it all:
We can reserve any bullet train route and timing in China.
We can secure restaurant recommendations for Taikoo Li.
We can VIP you at the Ritz-Carlton Rissai Valley Reserve or Upper House Chengdu.
A Look Ahead to Day 4, My wife begins her 2 day private tour of Jiuzhaigou's stunningly beautiful national parks. While I finally leave the luxury hotel comforts, and begin private touring of Chengdu with my incredible private guide. We had two very different experiences, and both of us had amazing adventures over the next 2 days.