Panoramic Tour in Western Sichuan

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrive in Chengdu

Enjoy Chengdu leisurely daily life, Kuanzai Xiangzi, drink tea in People’s Park

Arrive in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, the home town of Panda. Pick up and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon stroll in the beautiful old block of Chengdu - Wide Alley and Narrow Alley (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi), the relics of the Manchurian garrison since 1718 and consist of 3 parallel lanes with the old classical houses, which are unique in southern China just like the northern Chinese architectural style presented by Hutong. After a careful renovation in June 2008, the pubs, teahouses, restaurants and guesthouses are concentrated here, and in no time at all, it becomes the "lobby of leisure capital Chengdu". A walk here gives you a first impression of the "city of loafers". Then visit the People’s Park in the city center, have a seat in an old teahouse, enjoy your covered-bowl tea in a comfortable environment with bamboo chair and bamboo table. The tea culture of Chengdu is well known throughout China.

Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Kuanzhai Xiangzi

DAY
2

Chengdu - Mianyang - Jiangyou

Sanxingdui Museum

Drive to Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, about 40 km north of Chengdu and just setting up at the northeast corner of the famous Sanxingdui Ruins. The nearly square ruin covers an area of 12 square kilometers and is protected by a river on the northern side and a city wall on the other sides. It was the Sanxingdui culture in the period 2800 to 800 BC. Sanxingdui is one of the oldest cultivated settlements of humanity and is one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Opened in October 1997, the modern and informative Sanxingdui Museum showcases over 1,000 excavated gold, bronze, jade, clay and stone and ivory works of art. But the most beautiful, astonishing and mysterious are the bronzes, above all huge bronze masks and a larger than life bronze sculpture - they are so strange and with their big ears and eyes and the high-bridged nose look completely different from the already known Chinese art works! Apparently, the Sanxingdui culture mastered both the fine art of bronze technique and unprecedented aesthetics. The unique Sanxingdui Museum is a good place to explore the mysterious ancient Shu culture and history. Then keep driving to Jiangyou via Mianyang. In the afternoon reach Jiangyou.

192 km
2 hours 33 minutes
Overnight at 4*Jiangyou International Grand Hotel

Breakfast

Sanxingdui Museum

DAY
3

Jiangyou - Pingwu - Jiuzhaigou

Visit Bao'en Si Temple at Pingwu

Drive to Jiuzhaigou. On the way visit Bao'en Si Temple at Pingwu that is a well-preserved fifteenth-century Buddhist monastery complex and was built by Wang Xi, a local chieftain, between 1440 and 1446 during Emperor Yingzong's reign (1427–64) in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). The wall paintings, sculptures and other ornamental details were finished by 1460. These ornamental additions, such as the Ming period sculpture, painting and murals, the wooden Avalokitesvara and the sutra repository are masterpieces of the period. The complex is very well preserved and a major achievement in Ming religious architecture.

302 km
6 hours 3 minutes
Overnight at 4*Jiuzhai Resort Hotel

Breakfast

Bao'en Si Temple

DAY
4

Jiuzhaigou

Jiuzhaigou - the Nine-villages valley

In western China, in the north of Sichuan Province, between the Sichuan Red Basin and the eastern foothills of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau lies Jiuzhaigou - the Nine-village valley. In the midst of the magnificent mountains of the Minshan Mountains, Jiuzhaigou stretches for 50 kilometers and covers a total area of 720 square kilometers at an altitude between 1900 and 3100 meters. The Nine-village valley includes two mountain rivers, which merge in the middle of the area Y-shaped and thus form a chain of countless lakes, which string like pearls. According to a traditional story, a Tibetan mountain god fell in love with a goddess and one day gave her a precious mirror, brilliantly polished with wind and clouds. But the mirror fell out of her hand, splintering and tumbling down into the valley, where the 108 pieces of shards turned into crystal-clear mountain lakes shining in bright blue or dark blue, turquoise and green. There are lush brooks and waterfalls everywhere, magnificent bamboo groves and mixed deciduous and coniferous forests, snow-capped peaks and picturesque Tibetan villages. The Jiuzhaigou Natural Park was protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992. With the help of the environmental buses of the National Park, which commute between the Scenic areas, you have a fantastic view of Jiuzhaigou.

Overnight at 4*Jiuzhai Resort Hotel

Breakfast

Jiuzhaigou Nature Park

DAY
5

Jiuzhaigou - Huanglong - Songpan - Maoxian

Walking and sightseeing in national park Huanglong (Yellow Dragon). Songpan Ancient Town

Not far from the Jiuzhaigou National Park (128 km away), on the southern mountain range of the Minshan Mountains, is the Huanglong National Park (since 1992 UNESCO World Heritage Site). The main attraction of Huanglong National Park is Huanglong Valley, with 3.5 km long, at an altitude between 3100 and 3600 meters and with countless travertines. The water, which origins from the snow-capped peaks and irresistibly makes its way down into the valley, over time created a spectacular and breathtaking karst landscape with countless terraced pools or ponds, often shining in blue, turquoise and green. Running from south to north, the valley is located below the snow-capped main summit of the Minshan Mountains - Xuebaoding (5588 m). The Yellow Dragon Valley, according to the Huanglong Valley Translation, allegedly owned its great name from the Huanglongsi Monastery, which is located in the upper part of the valley and is originally a Taoist monastery from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). When see from a distance, a yellow, scaly dragon winds in the midst of lush forests to the valley. Welcome to a magnificent natural landscape of China: The wooden walkway with numerous wooden promenades invites you to have a hike. Finally, take the cable car back down. In the afternoon drive to Maoxian via Songpan Ancient Town.

363 km
7 hours 3 minutes
Overnight at 3*Fenghuangge Hotel

Breakfast

National Park Huanglong

DAY
6

Maoxian - Taoping - Wolong – Siguniang Shan Town

Taoping Village of Qiang Minority. Panda in Wolong. Sunset of Siguniang Shan

In the magnificent valleys along the upper Min River, picturesque villages of the Qiang nationality with their characteristic stone houses and striking towers attract visitors’ eyes: beautiful, idyllic, prominent and mystical. The Qiang nationals are descendants of an ancient ethnic group of China. "Qiang" is a historical ethnic group of China, which was found on 3,000-year-old oracle bones. Over time, records of other nationalities in China such as Han (Han Chinese), Zang (Tibetan), Yi, Naxi, Bei, Hani and Lisu emerged. Their way of life is the evidence of ancient traditions practiced. The villages with the tower-like stone houses testify the advantageous of a high-building life, especially in the epochs of warlike conflicts. On the way visit the Taoping village of Qiang minority. The village is located in the epicenter of Sichuan's major earthquake on May 12, 2008 and has been severely damaged. As part of the reconstruction program, the Qiang national stonemasons and villagers have masterfully restored their village from the rubble heaps. Then drive to Wolong Natural Reserve. 52 km long from east to west and 62 km wide from south to north, the whole area is 200,000 hm². It is one of the China earliest natural reverses, which is rated the preservation zones network of “mankind and living beings” by the Organization of Education, Science and Culture of United Nations (UNESCO). The virgin forest, second bush forest and bamboo groves are very green. There are over 4,000 kinds of high-level plants, 24 kinds of them are valuable plants, such as Gongtong (Chinese dove tree), red China fir, Lianxiang and so on. There are more than 450 kinds of vertebras, 45 kinds of them are rated national focal preserved animals, such as giant panda, golden monkeys, antelopes, white-mouth deer etc. The natural beautiful scene is quiet and secluded. Visit Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong, about 50 pandas live here, it is the largest breeding center for giant pandas, integrating scientific research, feeding, breeding, reproduction, wildness training, etc.
Then drive to Siguniang Shan Town through the Balang Tunnel, if the weather is good, enjoy the beautiful landscape of Siguniangshan sunset panorama at the Maobiliang.

248 km
5 hours
Overnight at Yunshang Hotel

Breakfast

Taoping Village of Qiang Minority

DAY
7

Siguniang Shan Town - Danba

Sunrise of Mt. Siguniang, Shuangqiao Valley, Wori Tusi Manor, Tibetan village Jiaju

If the weather is good, you’ll get early to enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang (Four Sisters Mountain) at Maobiliang at sunrise. The Siguniang Shan Mountain (also Four Sisters Mountain, Four Girls Mountain, Four Maidens Mountain) has four over 5000 m peaks, legend has it that each peak represents a girl of the 4 sisters. The highest peak, Yaomei Feng, the youngest girl and at 6250 m, is also known as the “queen of Sichuan's peaks”. Soft hiking in the Shuangqiao Valley (Double-bridge Valley) of the Siguniang Shan Mountain, the scenery is concentrated and charming. Afterwards drive to visit Wori Tusi Manor, the former official residence of the local Tusi, a kind of imperial kingship leader. After that drive to visit Tibetan village Jiaju, the most beautiful village of China. In Danba, the local people are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetans. Walking and visit in the Jiaju village. There are more than one hundred buildings with the same architectural style, a complete and unique character of Jiarong Tibetan residences. Under the blue sky, the Tibetan residences decorated in red, white and black are strewed at random but also in school from the bottom to the middle slope of the valley.

110 km
2 hours 26 minutes
Overnight at Mantuoluo Hotel

Breakfast

Sunset of Mt. Siguniang

DAY
8

Danba - Bamei - Tagong - Yajiang

Tagong Si, Gyergo Nunnery, Grand mani wall of Hepingfahui

In the morning drive to Yajiang via Bamei and Tagong, take the view of Huiyuan Monastery from the distance in Bamei, then go to visit Lhagang Monastery (Tagong Si) of Sayka Sect, which is surrounded by three hills symbolizing three Budhisattvas. It is said that the blessing of a reserved Jowo Shakyamuni image left by Wencheng Princess in this monastery to the pilgrims resembles the Lhasa Jowo Shakyamuni image in Lhasa. Then visit the impressive Gyergo Nunnery and the grand mani wall of Hepingfahui. From the hillside next to the Muya Golden Pagoda, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Zhara Lhatse (5.820 m, also Jara or Yala), when the weather is good, the scenery at sunset is especially spectacular.

210 km
4 hours 36 minute
Overnight at Yidu Hotel

Breakfast

Tibetan Village Jiaju

DAY
9

Yajiang - Litang - Daocheng – Shangri-La Town

Litang monastery

Today drive to Litang, visit Litang monastery lying in the western suburbs of the city. The monastery was originally under the control of the Bon religion but converted into a Gelug Sect monastery in 1580 in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) by the third Dalai Lama. Keep drive over Mt. Haizi and pass by Daocheng to Shangri-La Town, where the highlight of this journey is - Yading nature reserve, home of three sacred Tibetan mountains - Chenresig (Xiannairi, Avalokitesvara, 6032m), Jambeyang (Yangmaiyong, Manjusri, 5958m), and Chanadorje (Xianuoduoji, Vajrapani, 5958m). The scenery here easily rivals that of national parks of the west such as Yellowstone and Yosemite in terms of spectacular, pristine mountain scenery.

355 km
6 hours 12 minutes
Overnight at Holiday Inn Express Daocheng Yading

Breakfast

Nunnery in Tagong

DAY
10

Shangri-La Town - Yading - Shangri-La Town

Walking to the three holy mountains in Yading Nature Reserve

Full day explore the natural beauty of Yading. Drive 30km to Longlongba – the entrance of Yading Nature Reserve. Start trekking tour to Chonggu Monastery and next proceed to Xiannairi Mountain with a mystery Dumu Lake at its mountain foot. Then trek to Luorong Cattle Farm, which is located among Yangmaiyong, Xianuoduoji and Xiannairi Mountains. Finally, back to Longlongba and drive back to hotel.

69 km
1 hour 45 minutes
Overnight at Holiday Inn Express Daocheng Yading

Breakfast

Litang Monastery

DAY
11

Shangri-La Town - Litang - Xinduqiao

Back to Xinduqiao

Go back to Xinduqiao with a long way.

416 km
7 hours 27 minutes
Overnight at Black Highland Barley Farm Hotel

Breakfast

Mt. Yangmaiyong

DAY
12

Xinduqiao - Kangding – Luding - Chengdu

Luding Iron Chain Bridge on the Dadu River

Drive back to Chengdu via Kangding, the capital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. On the way visit Luding Chain Bridge. Luding Chain Bridge (Iron Chain Bridge) on the Dadu River is a treasure of Chinese ancient architecture. The bridge was built in the 44th years of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty (1705) in order to enhance the connection of Tibetan culture. On May 29th, 1935, the Chinese Red Army reached Luding Bridge during the Long March. Facing a hail of bullets, the Chinese Red Army, with 22 warriors as the pioneers of the commando, destroyed the bridge’s guards in one fell swoop, which is an important historical monument of the Communist Party of China.

352 km
5 hours 53 minutes
Overnight at 4*Xingliang Hotel

Breakfast

View of Holy Mt. Gongga from Xinduqiao

DAY
13

Leave Chengdu

Travel to next destination

Breakfast

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