Sichuan Travel Itineraries including the Western Area

Morgen Mo
1603 Words/7 Minutes, By Morgen Mo, Updated February 19, 2023

5-day itinerary includes Qingchengshan, Leshan, and Emei Mountain

Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu, Arrive at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and transfer to your hotel. Spend the day exploring the city on your own, perhaps visiting some of Chengdu's famous attractions like the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base or the Wenshu Monastery. Overnight in Chengdu.

Day 2: Chengdu to Qingchengshan, After breakfast, head to Qingchengshan, which is about an hour's drive from Chengdu. Take a cable car to the mountain and explore the temples and natural scenery. Overnight in Qingchengshan.

Day 3: Qingchengshan, Spend the day hiking or exploring Qingchengshan, which is one of the birthplaces of Taoism and has a rich cultural heritage. Overnight in Qingchengshan.

Day 4: Qingchengshan to Leshan and Emei Mountain, After breakfast, drive to Leshan and visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest carved stone Buddha in the world. Continue to Emei Mountain and take a cable car to the top of the mountain. Overnight in Emei Mountain.

Day 5: Emei Mountain to Chengdu, Spend the morning exploring Emei Mountain, which is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China and is known for its stunning scenery and cultural significance. After lunch, return to Chengdu and transfer to the airport for your departure.

6-day itinerary for Sichuan from Chengdu to Kangding, Litang, Hailuogou, Daocheng, and Yading

Day 1: Chengdu to Kangding, Take an early morning bus or private car from Chengdu to Kangding, a journey of about 6-7 hours. Explore Kangding's old town, visit the Anjue Monastery and Erdaoqiao Market, and enjoy the local hot springs.

Day 2: Kangding to Litang, Take a morning bus or private car to Litang, a journey of about 4 hours. Visit Litang Monastery, the highest monastery in the world at an altitude of 4,250 meters, and enjoy the local yak meat dishes.

Day 3: Litang to Hailuogou Glacier Park, Take a morning bus or private car to Hailuogou Glacier Park, a journey of about 5-6 hours. Visit the glacier park and explore the natural hot springs, waterfalls, and forested mountains.

Day 4: Hailuogou to Daocheng, Take a morning bus or private car to Daocheng, a journey of about 6-7 hours. Explore the quaint Tibetan town of Daocheng and visit the Yading Nature Reserve.

Day 5: Yading Nature Reserve, Spend the day exploring the stunning Yading Nature Reserve, known for its snow-capped peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and beautiful alpine scenery. Hike to Milk Lake and Pearl Lake, or take a horseback ride to the scenic areas.

Day 6: Daocheng to Chengdu, Take an early morning bus or private car back to Chengdu, a journey of about 11-12 hours.

7-day Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou Valley, Ruoergai, Langmusi, Songpan itinerary

Day 1: Chengdu - Jiuzhaigou Valley, Take an early morning flight from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou Airport (approximately 1.5 hours). Check into your hotel and take a rest before heading to Jiuzhaigou Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most beautiful national parks in China. Spend the day hiking around the park, exploring its turquoise lakes, waterfalls, and colorful forests. Stay overnight in Jiuzhaigou Valley.

Day 2: Jiuzhaigou Valley - Huanglong National Park, Start the day early and head to Huanglong National Park, a scenic area famous for its colorful calcite terraces and hot springs. Take a cable car up the mountain and hike through the terraces to the Huanglong Temple. After a day of exploring, return to Jiuzhaigou Valley for the night.

Day 3: Jiuzhaigou Valley - Ruoergai Grassland, Take a long-distance bus from Jiuzhaigou Valley to Ruoergai Grassland, one of the largest high-altitude grasslands in China. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of rolling hills, vast meadows, and grazing yaks. Stay overnight in Ruoergai.

Day 4: Ruoergai - Langmusi, Take a morning bus to Langmusi, a Tibetan town on the border of Sichuan and Gansu provinces. Explore the town's traditional architecture, temples, and markets. Stay overnight in Langmusi.

Day 5: Langmusi - Songpan Ancient City, Take a bus to Songpan Ancient City, a well-preserved ancient town with a history dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Walk around the town's ancient walls, gate towers, and streets, and visit the town's temples and museums. Stay overnight in Songpan Ancient City.

Day 6: Songpan Ancient City - Huanglongxi Ancient Town, Take a bus to Huanglongxi Ancient Town, a charming old town located in the outskirts of Chengdu. Walk around the town's ancient streets, bridges, and temples, and sample the local snacks and tea. Stay overnight in Huanglongxi.

Day 7: Huanglongxi Ancient Town - Chengdu, Return to Chengdu and spend the day exploring the city's highlights, such as the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Wuhou Temple, and Jinli Ancient Street. In the evening, enjoy a hot pot dinner, a popular local cuisine in Chengdu. Stay overnight in Chengdu.

7-day itinerary for a trip to Chengdu, Qingcheng Mountain, Leshan, Emei Mountain, and Jiuzhaigou

Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu, Arrive at Chengdu airport or train station, Check into your hotel and rest after your journey, In the evening, visit Kuanzhai Alley, a historic street with traditional architecture, local food, and souvenir shops

Day 2: Chengdu, start the day with a visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, where you can see and learn about these adorable animals. Next, visit the Wenshu Monastery, a peaceful Buddhist temple with beautiful gardens and a vegetarian restaurant. In the evening, try some spicy Sichuan hot pot, a local specialty

Day 3: Qingcheng Mountain and Leshan, Take a morning drive to Qingcheng Mountain, one of the most important Taoist mountains in China, and explore the temples and scenic views; In the afternoon, continue to Leshan and visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest stone Buddha in the world; Stay overnight in Leshan.

Day 4: Emei Mountain, Drive to Emei Mountain, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China, and take a cable car to the Golden Summit for stunning panoramic views; Visit the Baoguo Temple, the first Buddhist temple built in China, and explore the nearby hiking trails; Stay overnight on Emei Mountain.

Day 5: Jiuzhaigou, Take a morning flight to Jiuzhaigou, a nature reserve and national park with stunning lakes, waterfalls, and forests; Visit the most famous sites, including the Five Flower Lake, the Long Lake, and the Nuorilang Waterfall; Stay overnight in Jiuzhaigou.

Day 6: Jiuzhaigou, Spend another day exploring the beautiful scenery of Jiuzhaigou, visiting some of the lesser-known areas and hiking trails, In the evening, try some Tibetan cuisine and enjoy a traditional dance and music performance.

Day 7: Departure from Chengdu, Take a morning flight back to Chengdu and transfer to the airport or train station for departure; 

8-day itinerary for Sichuan

Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu, Arrive in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, and check into your hotel. Spend the day exploring the city, which is famous for its spicy food, giant pandas, and laid-back lifestyle. Visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see these adorable animals up close.

Day 2: Leshan Giant Buddha, Take a day trip to Leshan to see the Leshan Giant Buddha, a massive stone statue of Buddha carved into a cliff overlooking the river. It's the largest stone Buddha in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After visiting the Buddha, explore the surrounding temples and scenic spots.

Day 3-4: Jiuzhaigou National Park, Jiuzhaigou is a stunning national park with turquoise lakes, waterfalls, and snow-capped mountains. It's a popular destination for hiking and sightseeing. Spend two days exploring the park, hiking to remote lakes, and enjoying the natural beauty of the area. 

Day 5: Huanglong National Park, Huanglong is another national park with scenic landscapes, hot springs, and colorful pools. Take a cable car up the mountain to explore the park, and be sure to try the local yak meat dishes for lunch.

Day 6-7: Mount Emei, Mount Emei is a sacred Buddhist mountain and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's known for its stunning temples, scenic views, and challenging hiking trails. Spend two days hiking up the mountain and exploring the temples, including the famous Golden Summit, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding area.

Day 8: Departure, Return to Chengdu for your departure flight or extend your trip to explore more of Sichuan's natural and cultural attractions.

Special itineraries in Sichuan including hiking, cycling, birding, snow mountain trekking, etc. >>

Morgen Mo

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