Discover West of Sichuan

Duration: 7 Days
Areas: Chengdu,Ya’an, Danba,Tagong, Xinduqiao, Kangding

Highlights:

Local Snacks Street Jinli in Chengdu
Panda Natural Reserve in Ya‘an
Tibetan countis of Gyarong Area
Thousand Watchtowers County
Lhagang Monastery, Tagong Grassland and Yala Holy Mountain
Xinduqiao-photographer’s paradise

Day 01 Chengdu B

Arrive in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province – also homeland of the Giant Panda. Transfer to hotel and free time you can walk to the lively streets full of Ginkgo trees and hibiscus bush, or stroll in the local snack street Jinli.
Welcome dinner, stay overnight in the hotel.

Day 02 Chengdu-Ya’an B/L/D

Driving on the highway to the “rainy city” Ya‘an. Near Ya‘an visit in the Bifengxia Giant Panda Nature Reserve – it’s great especially for Panda fans. And visit the old town of Shangli. The old town Shangli presents with the classic bridge, pagoda, stone stele, shows traditional beauty like a thousand years before.
Stay overnight in the hotel.

Day 03 Yaan-Danba B/L/D

Drive to Danba via Baoxing County. On the way visit the Catholic Church in the valley Dengchigou, where the French biologist found Panda and introduced it to the world in 1869.
Then drive cross over the Mt. Jiajin to Danba (1900 m). Dozens of ancient stone Qiang towers in front of you and watch them from a far.
Go on drive up to the village Jiaju, rated one of the “Best Villages in China” by Chinese National Geographic in 2005. There offers a stunning view of the scattered on a hillside lying Gyarong-builder homes that are brightly painted and decorated with carvings. Walk through the village and visit in the local people’s home.
Stay overnight in the guest house.

Day 04 Danba B/L/D

Danba always has enjoyed the reputation of “Thousand Watchtowers County”. About 6 hour trekking from village to Zhonglu and Suopo village for watching the stone Qiang watchtower. In this area of Gyarong (Jiarong) Tibetans there are many villages with massive stone-built farmhouses and eye-catching, high, rising far above the village towers. These towers in ancient town were built for defending when fighting with a bow and arrow.
Stay overnight in guest house

Day 05 Danba-Tagong-Xinduqiao-Kangding B/L/D

In the morning drive through the village to the Tagong temple (Tagong Si) in Tagong. Here you can see snow Mt. Zhara Lhatse (5,820 m, also called Jara or Yala) from a far if with the clean sky. Also it’s said that the Princess Wencheng hd taken a stop here on the way to Lhasa.
Behind the temple is the massive Tagong grassland, make you desire to hang out and explore the Tibetan countryside.
Then continue drive to the town of Xinduqiao – “photographer’s paradise”. In a good weather you can see another holy snow mountain of Gongga Mt. (Minya Konka, 7556 m) from Xinduqiao.
Take a stop and relax here then go on drive to Kangding (2100m), on the road across the Zheduo Pass (4298 m). Kangding is the capital of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Area. This town has long been a trade centre between Chinese and Tibetan cultures, with exchange of wool, herbs and bricks of tea from Ya’an wrapped in yak hide. It also served as an important staging post on the road to Lhasa, as indeed it dose today. Kangding is located in a steep river valley at eh confluence of the swift Zheduo and Yala Rivers (known as the Dar and Tse in Tibetan).
Stay overnight in the hotel.

Day 06 Kangding-Chengdu B/L/D

Drive back to Chengdu via Erlang Shan tunnel and Ya’an city. From Ya’an to Chengdu is drive on the highway. Free time after arrival in Chengdu.
Stay overnight in the hotel.

Day 07 Chengdu B

Transfer to the airport, departure from Chengdu.