Details
Arrival: Chengdu Airport Pick-up & City Tour
Welcome to Chengdu! Your Chengdu → Yading tour starts when your English-speaking guide and driver meet you at Chengdu Airport and transfer you to a downtown hotel. After check-in and a short rest, enjoy an introductory half-day city visit:
- Wuhou Temple (Wu Hou Ci) – a memorial temple dedicated to Zhuge Liang, the famed strategist and statesman of the Shu Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms era.
- Jinli Street – a restored pedestrian street next to Wuhou Temple with traditional Sichuan architecture, craft shops and street food stalls – great for first-night snacking and photography.
Meals: None
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Chengdu Oriental Plaza (4★)
Chengdu → Wolong Panda Reserve → Mount Siguniang
Today you’ll be driven west toward the Qionglai Mountains:
- Morning: Transfer to Wolong Panda Reserve – a key panda breeding & conservation centre where visitors can observe giant pandas in semi-natural enclosures and learn about conservation work. Wolong is one of the most important panda research and breeding bases in Sichuan.
- Afternoon: Continue across the Balang Pass toward Mount Siguniang. The drive crosses dramatic alpine scenery; upon arrival your guide will help you check into a local hotel. Prepare for the next day’s valley hike.
Practical notes (high-altitude scenic areas):
- Consider avoiding a shower the first night after altitude gain to reduce the chance of a chill.
- Small oxygen canisters and sugary drinks (e.g., Coke) can help with mild altitude discomfort.
- UV is intense – bring a sun hat, sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen.
- Mountain weather changes quickly – pack windproof/warm layers.
Meals: Western Buffet Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Accommodation: MT. YUE Hotel, Mount Siguniang
Panda
Wolong Panda Reserve
Mount Siguniang
Mount Siguniang: Shuangqiao Valley → Drive to Danba
- Morning: Explore Shuangqiao Valley – the most accessible valley of Mount Siguniang National Park, with an altitude range around 3,200–3,800 m. Expect redwood (actually rhododendron/cedar) forests, alpine meadows and excellent views of peaks such as Eagle Rock and the Potala-like Potala Peak (Sigu Nacuo scenery).
- Afternoon: After lunch, drive toward Danba County (approx. 3 hours). En route, we’ll make short stops at traditional Tibetan villages and a site with relics connected to the Long March (1934–35). Arrive late afternoon and stay in a Tibetan-style homestay.
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Accommodation: Herui Buke Yard Inn, Danba County
Shuangqiao Valley
Danba
Danba: Suopo Tibetan Village & Jiaju Village
Full day exploring Danba’s famous Tibetan villages:
- Suopo Tibetan Village: See the unique stone Suopo Tibetan Village – towers that once functioned as fortress-granaries and defence posts. Danba earned the nickname “the land of watchtowers”; although many towers are gone, the views are striking.
- Tibetan family lunch: Enjoy local hospitality – try Zanba (roasted highland barley flour) with butter tea, a high-calorie traditional staple.
- Jiaju Tibetan Village: Terraced Tibetan dwellings clinging to the hillside – one of the most photogenic Tibetan villages in Sichuan. Return to your Danba hotel in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Accommodation: Herui Buke Yard Inn, Danba County
Suopo Tibetan Village
Jiaju Village
Jiaju Village
Danba → Bamei Town → Tagong Grassland → Xinduqiao
A long but scenic travel day across iconic Tibetan-plateau scenery:
- Travel through valleys of streams, white Tibetan houses, mani stones and prayer flags. Mount Yala may be visible in the distance.
- Short stop at Huiyuan Temple to admire Tibetan temple architecture and Buddhist culture.
- Bamei Moshi Park – a jagged stone formation and dramatic landscape worth brief photo stops.
- Visit Tagong Monastery – a time-honoured monastery (over 1,000 years in some form) overlooking the Tagong Grassland.
- Arrive Xinduqiao Town (altitude approx. 3,300 m) – famous among photographers for photogenic meadows, winding rivers and yak/horse pastures. Move slowly this afternoon to minimise altitude strain.
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Accommodation: Xinduqiao Paradise Hostel
Bamei Town
Tagong Monastery
Moshi Park
Xinduqiao → Litang County → Daocheng Yading Village
This day heads higher into the eastern Tibetan plateau:
- Litang County (altitude ≈ 4,014 m) – nicknamed “the city in the sky.” The plateau views here are spectacular and the sky feels very wide; be cautious with exertion at this altitude.
- Visit Litang Monastery – also called Litang Monastery, an important Tibetan Buddhist centre founded in the Ming era. Climb the incense platform for sweeping views of Litang.
- Continue across high pastures and lakes (Haizi Mountain area), with photo opportunities, to Yading Village (Daocheng County) – altitude ~4,000 m. Check in and rest; tomorrow’s reserve reaches nearly 5,000 m in sections.
Practical: Avoid strenuous exercise after arrival; have oxygen / medication handy if needed.
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Accommodation: Tibet Ga Ji Lin Hotel
Litang County
Litang County
Yading Nature Reserve: Chonggu Monastery → Luorong Pasture → Milk Lake & Five-Color Lake
Full-day visit to Yading Nature Reserve – often called “the last pure land” for its vivid glacial lakes, holy peaks and pristine meadows:
- Chonggu Monastery: A historic Tibetan monastery near the reserve entrance with golden roofs set against snow peaks.
- Luorong Pasture: Use the sightseeing car from the entrance to Luorong Pasture (approx. 1.5 hrs drive from Yading Village). From Luorong you’ll get your first full view of the three sacred peaks.
- Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake: Trek to Milk Lake and then climb ~300 m more (on foot) to reach Five-Color Lake, famed for its shifting hues under different light. Many travellers choose to ride horses for the first section (approx. 4 km from Luorong) to conserve energy – horses are available at extra cost (approx. CNY 300 / USD 40 per person; availability limited). Yading is home to many clear glacial lakes and the three holy mountains – this area is considered one of China’s most scenic alpine reserves.
Practical notes for the hike:
- High altitude consumes energy fast – carry light, high-calorie snacks (chocolate), oxygen, and water.
- Dress in layers; windproof and warm clothing, sunglasses and sunhat are essential.
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Accommodation: Tibet Ga Ji Lin Hotel
Yading Nature Reserve
Five-Color Lake
Milk Lake
Yading Village → Daocheng Yading Airport Departure
After checkout, your guide and driver transfer you to Daocheng Yading Airport (DCY) for your flight out.
Flight tip: Daocheng Yading Airport primarily operates direct flights to Chengdu; service to other cities is usually seasonal and may be reduced or suspended in winter months. In peak season (summer), some additional direct routes may appear (e.g., Chongqing, Kunming). Because flight schedules change with seasons and weather, it’s important to book the Yading → Chengdu leg early and confirm the schedule before travel.
- Note: Many flights out of Yading require an early morning transfer (hotel → airport ~1.5 hours), so hotels often provide boxed breakfasts.
If you want to extend: You can add extra days in Yading, or continue the journey onward to Tibet, Yunnan, or other nearby destinations – ask our travel consultant for bespoke options.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: /
Dates & Prices
| Month | Date | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2026-01 | $ 1400 | Book now |
| Feb | 2026-02 | $ 1400 | Book now |
| Mar | 2026-03 | $ 1400 | Book now |
| Apr | 2026-04 | $ 1400 | Book now |
| May | 2026-05 | $ 1400 | Book now |
| Jun | 2026-06 | $ 1400 | Book now |
| Jul | 2026-07 | $ 1470 | Book now |
| Aug | 2026-08 | $ 1470 | Book now |
| Sep | 2026-09 | $ 1470 | Book now |
| Oct | 2026-10 | $ 1400 | Book now |
| Nov | 2026-11 | $ 1400 | Book now |
| Dec | 2026-12 | $ 1400 | Book now |
You are consulting 2025-04-12 8 Days Western Sichuan Tour: Wolong Panda Reserve, Siguniang, Xinduqiao, Yading & More
Fee Description
Included & Excluded
Price includes
- Private English-speaking guide(s)
- Private driver(s) & air-conditioned vehicle(s)
- Hotel accommodation with breakfasts (as specified)
- Lunches and dinners as itinerary specifies
- Entrance fees to tourist sites
Price excludes
- International airfares
- Entry visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Tips / gratuities for guides and drivers
Packing & Health Checklist
- Valid passport & China visa (if required)
- Layered clothing (warm jacket, windproof shell), hat & gloves
- Sunglasses, SPF 50+ sunscreen, lip balm
- Comfortable hiking shoes (grippy, broken-in)
- Small oxygen canister (optional), basic altitude medication if you have it
- Snacks (energy bars, chocolate), water bottle
- Camera + extra batteries / power bank – high-altitude cold drains batteries faster
