6 Days Western Sichuan Tour (Siguniang - Danba - Tagong - Xinduqiao - Kangding)

On this day, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel to start your exploration of Western Sichuan. Leaving the flat Chengdu Plain, you will head towards Mount Siguniang and have a rare chance to see giant pandas in their wildest habitat and get to know their habits and living environment at the Wolong Panda Base.

After encountering these cute pandas, you'll travel through the mesmerizing sea of clouds of Balang Mountain, which boasts an altitude of 4,532 meters. Later, enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way and make a stop at Maobiliang Ridge. This scenic platform offers a breathtaking panoramic view of Mount Siguniang, where, if weather permits, you can see the majestic four peaks of Mount Siguniang in the distance with crystal clarity, further enhancing the beauty of the experience. Finally, upon arrival, you'll check in at your hotel in Siguniang Town (altitude: 3200m).

After breakfast, you'll continue your exploration of Mount Siguniang with a visit to the breathtaking Changping Valley (altitude: 3300m-3700m). This mature valley, with a total length of 23 kilometers, offers perfect sightseeing opportunities with its designated sightseeing bus route, hiking trail, plank road, and horse riding options. Moreover, it is the closest valley to capture the beauty of Mount Siguniang. You'll follow the route: Entrance - Lama Temple - Tangbagudao Trail - Kushtutan - Dragon Cave - Xiagan Haizi - Shanggan Haizi - Hongshitantan - Muluozhi.

You'll begin your journey by taking a sightseeing bus to Lama Temple (5km), the starting point of your hike. The hike is divided into two parts - the first part involves hiking on the plank road and the second part involves hiking from the end of the plank road to Muluozi. During the first part of the hike, you'll see a solemn monastery, waterfalls, deep valleys, and ancient withered trees standing in lakes. In the second part, you'll walk through wild forests and follow the walking trails along clear streams to discover landscapes you've never seen before - a sea buckthorn forest, red stones arranged by nature, peaks resembling camels and mushrooms, pure plateau lakes reflecting the giant peaks, flocks and herds leisurely wandering, snow-capped Four Girls Mountains, and magnificent glaciers. You'll return to Lama Temple after reaching Muluozi, completing an approximately 8-hour hike. Finally, you'll take a sightseeing bus to exit the valley.

Optional Leisure Tour to Explore Mount Siguniang:
If you want to enjoy the beauty of Mount Siguniang without in-depth hiking, you can explore it by sightseeing bus in Shuangqiao Valley. The experience will be:

You'll venture to the stunning Shuangqiao Valley (altitude: 2900m-3850m), located about 7km from the town, where you can explore its beauty by sightseeing bus. With a length of 34.8km, Shuangqiao Valley is renowned as the most beautiful valley in Mount Siguniang National Park. Embark on the sightseeing bus and journey directly up to the end of the valley, where you'll encounter the magnificent Larch Forest (altitude: 3,850 meters), which is surrounded by snow-capped peaks on three sides. On the way back, the sightseeing bus will take you through Potala Peak, named for its resemblance to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, where you can capture vast grasslands, a white pagoda, prayer flags, and lush meadows adorned with beautiful flowers. You'll make stops along the way to hike and explore the breathtaking scenery at Fishing Bay, Bonsai Beach, Ten-mile Poplar Trees, and much more. As you travel through this valley, you'll witness varying alpine landscapes that will leave you in awe.

After the tour, drive back to Siguniang Town and enjoy a good rest.

In the morning, you'll prepare to transfer to another enchanting destination on the Western Sichuan Route - Danba County (about 105km away, 2.5 hours’ drive). Welcome to Danba, renowned as one of the "Top 6 Most Beautiful Countrysides of China". It is also known as "A Place of Hundreds of Ancient Watchtowers", and its surrounding hills feature clusters of stunning and traditional Jiarong Tibetan Villages built with stone, each with ancient watchtowers and hospitable homestays.

As you approach Danba County, you'll make a stop at Zhonglu Tibetan Village, which gets its name from the Tibetan phrase "A Fantastic Place Looking Forward to". Stepping into this primitive Tibetan village is like entering a fairytale wonderland, with isolated homes resembling pure snow lotuses blooming at the foot of Moerduo Mountain. Ascend to a higher point and you'll be treated to a breathtaking view of the village, with traditional Tibetan houses in white, red, and black blending seamlessly with the emerald green trees. In the spring, the village transforms into a true fairyland, with countless ancient towers standing tall and distinct above the tree line, and elegant white pear flowers decorating the mountain slope in tiers, creating a pastoral painting before your eyes. If you visit in the autumn, the leaves turn golden and adorn the green trees, while the red and white Tibetan houses stand out among the golden and green surroundings, with watchtowers towering above. Spend a delightful time strolling among the fertile farmlands and lose yourself in the breathtaking beauty of Zhonglu Tibetan Village.

In this evening, stay overnight in Zhonglu Village.

After enjoying breakfast, it's time to continue your journey and explore the next stop on the Western Sichuan Loop. Drive 6 kilometers to Danba's Suopo Village, where you'll have the opportunity to admire 172 Danba towers. Originally built to suppress demons, these towers later served as fortresses for families to protect against hostile enemies. From the Suopo platform, you'll be able to fully appreciate the entire village, which is painted in harmonious autumn hues of red, orange, and green, with ancient towers scattered among numerous Tibetan-styled white houses. You'll witness various shapes of towers, including quadrilateral, pentagonal, and hexagonal structures, standing tall and erect amidst the stunning forest. They appear as the guardians of the "Ancient Kingdom of Towers".

Proceed on your journey and take a break to admire the majestic Yala Snow Mountain, which is one of the four sacred mountains in Tibetan areas and stands tall at an elevation of 5,820 meters, resembling a crown towering over the earth. After taking a moment to appreciate the breathtaking mountain scenery, you'll continue your drive to another incredible site: the Moshi Park Scenic Area (altitude: 3,500 meters) in Bamei County. It is renowned as China's eighth most beautiful boulevard. This scenic area is known for its unique geological features, which have been shaped by thousands of years of geographic movement and weathering. It is the only stone forest on the plateau in China and its spectacular landscape can be compared to the South China Karst. You can take a sightseeing bus to explore the park and marvel at the stone forest, which stands magnificently on the lush green land surrounded by mountains. This park offers ample opportunities to take breathtaking pictures and capture amazing memories.

After the tour, drive about 40 minutes to Tagong for accommodation.

After breakfast, enjoy a stunning trip to Tagong Monastery. “Tagong”, which means “A Land Favored by Bodhisattva” in the Tibetan language, is a legendary place. According to legend, Princess Wencheng was on her way to Lhasa for her wedding to the Tibetan King when she was captivated by the breathtaking scenery of Tagong. She left a life-sized statue of the Shakyamuni at the age of 12 here. The Tagong Monastery, also known as 'Little Jokhang Temple,' is a renowned religious site belonging to the Sakya Sect, with a history spanning over 1,000 years. You can visit the monastery and observe the pilgrims worshiping. Afterward, take a leisurely stroll on the lush Tagong Grassland and gaze at the distant snow-capped Yala Mountain (5,884 meters). The harmonious scene includes numerous yaks and sheep grazing on the fertile grassland under the blue sky. Optionally, you can rent a horse to explore the area happily and visit a herder's home.

Afterward, enjoy a scenic drive to Xinduqiao, which is known as “A Paradise for Photographers”. Along the way, you'll be mesmerized by the picturesque landscape - wildflowers blooming by the winding river, golden poplar forests showcasing their elegance on the two sides of the road, Tibetan-styled houses scattered among the farmland, and roaming yaks and goats.

Next, brace yourself for the exhilarating drive through Zheduo Mountain, which stands at an altitude of 4,298 meters and features many bends along the way. Feast your eyes on the countless breathtaking snow-capped mountain vistas, including the panoramic view of Mount Gongga with many peaks standing in a row above the sea of clouds. Don't miss the opportunity to capture this stunning scenery.

Finally, you'll arrive in Kangding, where you'll be staying for the night. You can enjoy a leisure walk around the city.

This morning, you'll have a scenic 30-kilometer drive to Mugecuo Scenic Area, often referred to as the “Little Jiuzhai Valley”. The area is known for its stunning red and yellow autumn foliage. Hop aboard a sightseeing bus and pass through Fangcao Plateau, where you'll be greeted by breathtaking views of colorful flowers, grass, and horses. Visit the Seven Color Lake, the highlight of Mugecuo Scenic Area, and marvel at the multicolored crescent-shaped lake that glimmers like a shining diamond, displaying hues of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple amidst the dense forest and meadow. The lake's serene ambiance, accompanied by the chirping of birds, offers a dreamy respite to relax your mind. Next, head to Azalea Gorge, renowned as the gorgeous belt of Mugecuo, and marvel at the primitive natural landscape featuring verdant forests, lakes, meadows, hot springs, ravines, and more. This location also offers an advantageous spot to view the sacred Yala Snow Mountain and Lotus Snow Mountain from a distance. Finally, visit Mugecuo Lake (3,700m), a peaceful alpine lake that mirrors the sapphire sky, snow-capped mountains, and the vibrant green, orange, and red forest. Take in the tranquil surroundings and enjoy the serene beauty of this stunning destination.

After your tour of Kangding, you'll embark on a 4-hour drive (approximately 280km) to return to Chengdu. Upon arrival, you'll be escorted to your hotel in the downtown area or directly taken to the airport or railway station to catch your flight or train to your next destination.

Trip Extension Ideas: If you're not ready to return home yet and want to explore more of China or other destinations in Asia, we are here to help you plan an extension trip. Our team at Asia Odyssey Travel is always ready to assist you and turn your travel ideas into reality. Thank you for choosing us for your China tour, and we hope to see you again for your next adventure in China or Asia. Have a safe journey!