Chengdu to Lijiang/Shangrila Tour via Siguniang and Yading

This is a gound tour. Some days involve long hours of driving and sitting in the car. Please make preparation in accordance including power bank for your phone, neck pillow, etc. Please remember to have a day pack with you to take necessary items for each day's visit, sometimes including packed lunch or snacks for yourself, drinking water recommended 1L minimum, sunglasses, rainproof, warm-keeping clothes and hat, sun block and lip oil, etc. It is also wise to bring rainproof and warm clothes with you all the time.

A 4-hour drive from Chengdu to Rilong at the base of Mount Siguniang. We will start from Chengdu at your hotel in the morning by around 8.00 am and drive towards west into the mountains. The road is in the former earthquake-zone and you may still see the damages on the mountains from the quake in 2008. A new road was finished by end of 2016 and making the driving safer and quicker.

En route we will pay a visit to the Panda Base in Wolong to see the lovely pandas. The big around around the panda base is the natural habitat of pandas that live in the wild along with other wildlife. Wolong Panda Base is the biggest panda base in China and home to around 50 pandas, the most in number among all the panda bases in China. The visit will include walking to different panda enclosures including the baby panda enclosure. The visit will take around 2 hours. Afterwards we will have lunch before continue driving further into the mountains.

As we drive the landscape changes. We climb from 500 meters above sea level from Chengdu to an almost 4000-meter tunnel over Balang Pass and then dive into the valley where Rilong is located. After arrive in Rilong, we will go check in to hotel. Rilong is a small town by the base of Mount Siguniang and usually a good stop place for visitors that go further and higher. Rilong is at 3100 meters. When you are traveling to higher altitude places, drink more water and keep warm. Your guide will brief you more on the tips of avoiding AMS.

Driving 4 hours, visiting 2 hours; Easy pace

Overnight hotel by around 3100m

Today we will have most of the day visit Shuangqiao Valley of Siguniang. Shuangqiaogou Valley is a zigzagged, deep and quiet and the longest valley stretching over 35km in total. First we will go into Shuangqiao Valley where we start our visit by a bus ride to the end of valley and start the hiking. Around you there are many stunning peaks some are snow-capped and some are big walls including Mt. Jianshan, Mt. Yutu, Mt. Se'erdengpu, Mt. Potala, Mt. Abi and many more. We will walk on the less-walked boardwalk along the river and enjoy some quiet time in nature. We will hike down the valley following the river on boardwalk most of the time. By walking we will see the most highlights of Shuangqiao in close range and in a slower pace rather than rushing through things by using a bus that makes stops along the road. The first 5 km is from the end of the valley where buses stop down to Potala Peak Stop. This part is one of the best part of Shuangqiao to walk. In general the higher part of the valley is where most of good views of Shuangqiao are located. The walking will be on well-paved boardwalk on flat terrain with no steep part since it is mainly walking down. The second part of walking is from Potala Peak Stop to Sigu Natso that is 3.5km. The first 8km is what we recommend you do at least since it is considered the most beautiful part.

From Sigu Natso to Nianyuba the boardwalk is destroyed by flood so the walking has to be on road although we can use a bus to avoid walking on road. Road is quiet and no cars except the buses though some may found walking on hard road not comfortable. The road part is 3km total.

After Nianyuba it is another 5km to Nature Museum Stop on boardwalk. Along the valley we'll see mountains, grazing yaks and forest. By halfway down there is a rafting that we can choose to do. It is also a lot of fun to raft down the calm river for around 20 minutes. Today’s visiti and walking is flexible as it is the first day of this trip we recommend not to stress ourselves too much to better acclimate to the altitude.

After the visit we will go out to the exit and drive for around 3 hours to Danba, our next stop. We will leave the park of Shuangqiao no late than 3pm.

Hiking or visiting 4-6h, driving 3 hours; Medium pace

Overnight hotel by around 2300m

The village in Danba is built high up on the mountain and their houses are very famous. The local Tibetan Village was considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in China. The houses and watchtowers are their traditional constructions. The local hospitable people are very friendly and kind. Zhonglu is one of the representatives of the Tibetan villages in Danba. Zhonglu is more authentic and less spoiled by mass tourism. People there work in the farm and orchards. Their houses are unique and beautiful. The villages are located on the sunny slope and composed of over dozens of families. The village bends into the shape of the mountain side: some lower and some higher. Green orchards and colorful houses made the villages here very attractive.

We will drive from Danba to Xinduqiao via Tagong from the morning. The drive from Danba to Tagong takes around 2 hours before arrive at our first stop by Huiyuan Temple. Before arriving Huiyuan we will pass by Mt. Yala Photo Stop where we will make a short stop to take photos of the beautiful Mt. Yala, a 5820-m mountain covered in snow on top all year round. Before arrive to Huiyuan Temple there is a road pass we will drive by where we also make a stop to take more photos of the beautiful valley and mountains around.

Huiyuan Temple bears historical significance in traditional Tibet. It held shelter for the 7th Dalai Lama, Kasang Gyatso when Gelugpa was almost overthrown by other parties in Tibet. By then the temple was refurnished and expanded backed by Qing Dynasty. Another significant event is that the 11th Dalai Lama was born here. The temple has been rebuilt three times, and the newly built temple is a palace-style gold tile roof, with golden treasure jars, Falun beasts, painted emperors and warlords of all ages. The temple now houses many valuable cultural relics. Out visit will go to the original temple refurnished by manchurian time. The visit takes around 0.5 hour total. Afterwards we will continue drive to Tagong in around 0.5h and have a visit to Tagong Grassland by the photo spot.

Tagong means "a place favoured by Buddha". Landscape is different in Tagong as in Danba. Here in Tagong we will see more nomads on rolling grassland with many yaks and tents.

After this we will continue drive for 1 hour arrive Xinduqiao and check in hotel.

Driving 5-6 hours, visiting 2-3 hours; Medium pace.

Overnight hotel by 3400m

Today we will follow the famous G318 and keep driving west over high mountain passes towards Yading. We will make short stops along the way. First stop is by Tianlu 18 road bends and other stops. The landscape here is different than the other days. After driving over several high passes we will arrive in Litang. Litang is the highland town of China with an elevation of nearly 4000 meters above sea level. Litang itself is an interesting "cowboy" like place in western Sichuan.

After Litang we will drive pass the Haizishan area. By Haizishan we will also make stop. Haizishan means mountain of lakes. There are total over 1000 lakes located on this highland of Haizishan. Depending on the season we will also make stop by Banyan Tree Forest, Red Grass Pond, Flower Base.

Driving 7-8 hours, visiting 1+ hours; Easy pace

Overnight hotel by 3700m.

We will spend total 2 days to visit the park of Yading.

Today is our 1st day of visit to Yading. We start after breakfast from our hotel and drive for around 2 hours to Riwa (Shangri-La town), the base of Yading, which is also the entrance of the park of Yading. We will go into the park today via the entrance. We will use the public bus again to Longtongba and walk to Chonggu. Today we will go visit Pearl Lake above Chonggu Temple by the foot of Mt. Chenrezig. The Pearl Lake is by the foot of Mt. Chenrezig. It is a stunning lake with beautiful reflection of mountains around it. Pearl Lake is also called Zhuoma Lacuo and it is the smallest lake and a green lake. Mt. Chenrezig is considered by local people a Buddha with significance of religious sacredness. The walk up to the lake is around 1 hour. We will spend some time around the lake to take photos and then come back the same way to Chonggu. For fit people and if time allows we can also use the golf car again to Luorong and walk the 7km down the Chonggu Steppe. It is a pleasant walk down on boardwalk for around 3 hours.

After the visit we start to go back to Shangrila Town by using park bus. The latest time we should leave the park is by 6.30 to 7.00pm. The park bus will drop us off to Yading Tourist Center and from there we will be picked up by our car and drive for around 10min to get to our hotel in Shangri-La town.

Total visiting 6-7h, driving 2-3h, medium pace

Overnight hotel by around 2900m

Today we start from our hotel and use the public bus for around 5 minutes to get to Longtongba and start for our first day's visit to Yading. We will need to stand by one of the bus stops by side of the road and wait for the bus. The buses run as public buses and do not follow on schedule. After Longtongba, the end terminal of bus ride we will need to walk for around 500m up to the golf car station at Chonggu to use the golf car for the second part of drive. The golf car will take us from Chonggu to Luorong Yak Ranch for around 20 minutes. Chonggu is at 4000m and Luorong Yak Ranch is at 4100m.

From Luorong we start to have splendid views of the two of the sacred mountains of Yading: Mt. Chenardorje and Mt. Jampayang. These mountains are about 6000 meters’ tall and this place is well protected to remain its original looking. From Luorong Yak Ranch the hiking starts. It is total around 5km necessary walking from Luorong to Milk Lake and 5-color Lake. The first half of the 5km can be replaced by a horse-ride. Please note the horses are not always available during busy season. If we want to use horse we may need to go there as early as possible during busy seasons. Although the most challenging walk of the 5km is the second half where the horse can't go. The first half is mainly flat and easy to walk. The second half of the 5km is the challenging part because it is going up including some steep sections. A lot of visitors turn around by the steep part due to the high altitude and difficulty of walking. Normally from Luorong walk to Milk Lake takes around 3-4 hours.

Milk Lake and 5-color Lake are the highlights of Yading. We recommend you to try to start early and have yourself well-acclimated before your Yading visit to try to avoid giving up halfway. After Milk Lake you can keep walking to Wuse Lake, a bigger lake that is 100 meters higher than Milk Lake. And if you are a fit walker and if time allows, you can even walk to the Songduo Pass, which is by the end of the valley and the highest place of the park at around 4600 meters where you can overlook Milk Lake and the mountains. We recommend you to go to Milk Lake first then switch back to 5-color Lake since this way is less steep while walking up. Walking back usually takes less time but during steep part and ice season one should also be careful on the hiking trail.

After we walk back to Luorong we use golf car to get back to Chonggu and then use park bus to go back to Yading Village.

Please note this day is the most challenging day of visiting due to its long walking and big ascent on high altitude. We recommend you to prepare properly for today's visit including one warm jacket be it either windbreaker, down or other clothes and carry it with you even when it is not cold or windy that you don't need at the beginning. We also recommend you to carry a rainproof be it either umbrella or raincoat. We also recommend you to bring warm hat, sunglasses, pants and other clothes that can withstand temperature drop to below 10C(Summer) and 0C (Autumn and Spring). Note this is crucial for your safety according to our experience.

Driving 1 hour total, visiting 9+ hours; Strenuous pace

Overnight hotel by around 2900m

Today is a full day driving to Shangri-La from Yading. Note Shangri-La is in Yunnan province and you will be driving from Sichuan Province into Yunnan Province from today.

Alternatively you may add on 1-2 more days to include Meili Snow Mountain before arrive to Shangri-La. Tour ends by sending you off to your hotel in Shangri-La.

You may choose to end your tour in Shangri-La or in Lijiang and tour on your own since public transport is convenient from Shangri-La.

Total driving 7-8h, medium pace