The Complete Western Sichuan

We leave Chengdu in the morning and drive south toward Ya'an, a green, low-altitude region long known as the gateway between the Sichuan Basin and the Tibetan Plateau.

Our first stop is Bifengxia Panda Base, one of China's leading giant panda bases, where you'll see pandas up close in a forested, naturalistic setting — a gentler, more spacious alternative to the crowds of central Chengdu.

From there we continue to Niunianping's 10,000-Mu Tea Garden, part of the tea country around Ya'an — a region historically recognized as one of the birthplaces of Chinese tea cultivation. Rolling tea terraces curve across the hillsides, and, season permitting, you can walk among the tea bushes and try a freshly brewed cup grown right where you're standing.

Tonight we stay in Ya'an at a gentle ~600m elevation — a comfortable, low-altitude start before the plateau begins tomorrow.

Today is the trip's main climb, as we leave Ya'an and Tianquan behind and ascend into the mountains of Western Sichuan along the G318 Highway — often called China's Route 66 for its legendary road-trip scenery.

We stop at Honghaizi Lake, a peaceful alpine lake ringed by snow peaks and grassland, before continuing to Gedilam viewpoint — known locally as the "Sky City" — where the view opens across endless ranges of highland peaks.

In the late afternoon we detour to a dedicated viewpoint for Mount Gongga (Minya Konka), the highest peak in Sichuan at 7,556m, timed for golden hour as the snow slopes turn gold at sunset — one of the most iconic moments of the whole trip.

Tonight we arrive in Xinduqiao, a Tibetan town known for its light and wide valleys — our base for the next two nights.

Today stays based in Xinduqiao and focuses on Tibetan culture and open plateau scenery.

We begin at Tagong Grassland, where yaks graze beneath the sacred Yala Snow Mountain, and white stupas and prayer flags mark one of the most iconic cultural landscapes in Western Sichuan.

We then visit Muya Monastery, representing the distinct Muya Tibetan culture of this part of the plateau, before continuing to Gunong Village, a quiet settlement facing Yala Snow Mountain.

In the afternoon we head to a dedicated Mount Yala Viewpoint for a close-up view of the mountain seen earlier from the grassland — depending on weather, this can be one of the best photo opportunities of the trip.

We return to the same hotel in Xinduqiao tonight — no need to pack up and move.

Today we leave Xinduqiao and head toward Moshi Stone Park, a geological oddity of dark, wind-carved rock formations that feels unlike anywhere else in China.

From here, the route splits into two options — let us know which you'd prefer when booking.

Option A — Danba (~149 km, down to ~1,800m): We continue along a scenic mountain road down into the Danba river valley, to Jiaju Tibetan Village, one of the most photogenic watchtower villages in the region, with stone houses scattered across a terraced hillside. The real highlight tonight isn't the altitude — it's where you sleep: instead of a hotel, we stay overnight in a local Tibetan family's home right in Jiaju Village, for the closest, most personal taste of Tibetan daily life on the whole trip. The much lower ~1,800m elevation is a welcome bonus after several days on the plateau.

Option B — Siguniang Mountain Town (~259 km, ~3,100–3,200m): We head instead toward Siguniang Mountain Town, staying closer to elevation and positioning you right at the gateway to tomorrow's main event — the Siguniang Mountain scenic area — without the extra backtracking.

From wherever you spent the night, today brings us to Siguniang Mountain — often called the Alps of China.

We explore Shuangqiao Valley using the park's eco-shuttle system, taking in glacier valleys, pine forest, and snow mountain views without any strenuous hiking required. Weather permitting, Maoni Ridge Viewpoint offers a panoramic view of all four Sister Peaks, including Yaomei Peak at 6,250m — the highest of the four.

In the afternoon we cross the Balang Mountain Tunnel — the route we always use here, avoiding the higher, weather-exposed mountain pass — and descend back toward Chengdu, arriving in the evening.