D1

Chengdu Arrival

D2

Chengdu → Mt Qingcheng

D3

Mt Qingcheng → Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base → Maoxian

D4

Maoxian → Diexi Lake → Songpan → Chuanzhusi

D5

Chuanzhusi → Huanglong → Jiuzhaigou

D6

Full day Jiuzhaigou Photographing – Shuzheng Valley & Rize Valley

D7

Full day Jiuzhaigou Photographing – Zechawa Valley

D8

Jiuzhaigou → Ruoergai Grassland → The First Bend of Yellow River → Tangke

D9

Tangke → Barkam → Danba

D10

Danba (Jiaju Tibetan Village, Suopo Watchtowers)

D11

Danba → Pamai → Daofu → Luhuo County

D12

Luhuo → Garze → Chola Mountain → Yilhun Lhatso → Dege

D13

Dege → Baiyu

D14

Baiyu → Chaqingsongduo National Nature Reserve → Xinlong

D15

Xinlong → Litang → Haizi Mountain → Red Meadow → Daocheng

D16

Daocheng → Shangri-La Town

D17

Shangri-La Town → Yading Nature Reserve → Yading Village

D18

Yading Nature Reserve

D19

Yading → Litang → Yajiang → Xinduqiao

D20

Xinduqiao → Zimei Village at the foot of Mt Gongga

D21

Mt Gongga

D22

Gongga Monastery → Kangding → Ya’an → Chengdu

D23

Chengdu Departure

    D1

Chengdu Arrival

- / - / D

Highlights: ✔Wide & Narrow Alleys ✔Anshun Veranda Bridge & Nine-hole Bridge on Jinjiang River)

DIST. 20km/50mins

Your friendly local guide and driver will pick you up at Chengdu Airport. A pleasant 40mins drive will take you to your hotel in Chengdu City. Check into hotel to fresh up.

In the afternoon, visit Wide & Narrow Alleys, an ideal place to shoot the idle life pace of Chengdu, which takes Chengdu local’s chill-out attitude to an extreme.

In the evening, shoot the nightlife in Chengdu at Anshun Veranda Bridge & Nine-hole Bridge on Jinjiang River.

    D2

Chengdu → Mt Qingcheng

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Wangjianglou Park ✔Mt Qingcheng

DIST. 84km/1.5hrs

Early morning, visit Wangjianglou Park to take photos of local elders playing Taiji, and the Wangjiang Pavilion, which was built to honour Xue Tao, the most outstanding female intellectual of Sichuan in Tang Dynasty. Climb up of Wangjiang Pavilion to shoot the Jinjiang River, also called Funan River. The park is also known for its bamboo. There are 270 species of bamboo and has longest history of bamboo cultivation.

Subsequently, depart Chengdu for Mt Qingcheng, an UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000. Covered in lush forests, the sacred mountain of Mt Qingcheng has been a Taoist spiritual centre for more than 2000 years. Its beautiful trails are lined with ginkgo, plum and palm, and there are caves, pavilions and centuries-old wooden temples to explore and shoot. The mountain’s setup had inspired the creative team of Kung Fu Panda. Maybe it will do the same to you? (Wink, wink)

    D3

Mt Qingcheng → Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base → Maoxian

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base

DIST. 210km/4.5hrs

Early morning, drive to Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base, a relatively new base with less tourists. It covers a total construction area of nearly 20,000 square meters and highly simulated to giant pandas’ habitat, hidden deep into mountains. Now there are about 32 pandas living here. From the perspective of appearance, the open and spacious base is like a villa in Tibetan and Qiang minority style, which allows a large activity space for pandas. In the evening, drive about 2 hours to Maoxian.

    D4

Maoxian → Diexi Lake → Songpan → Chuanzhusi

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Ancient Qiang City of China ✔Diexi Lake

DIST. 155km/3hrs

Maoxian, or Mao County, is the home to Qiang minority. Qiang people are mountain dwellers, known for their unique style of fortress village. Visit Ancient Qiang City of China in Maoxian to know about Qiang architecture and customs.

Next, visit Diexi Lake in Maoxian, which lies at the foot of Mt Minshan and the upper reaches of Minjiang River. This beautiful natural scenery was caused by the earthquake in 1933, which destroyed a whole city. The cruel joke of mother nature. Really makes you think huh… Afterwards, head for Chuanzhusi Town for the night.

    D5

Chuanzhusi → Huanglong → Jiuzhaigou

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Huanglong National Park

DIST. 189km/4hrs

Early morning, drive about 50mins from Chuanzhusi to Huanglong National Park (elev 3120-3570m). The most photographic period of a day in Huanglong is from 10am to 3pm. It is stunning with exquisite terraces of coloured limestone ponds in blue, green, orange, yellow and white. The best photographic time of a year in Huanglong is from June to October. In the evening, drive to Jiuzhaigou for the night.

    D6

Full day Jiuzhaigou Photographing – Shuzheng Valley & Rize Valley

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Shuzheng Valley ✔Rize Valley

DIST. - / -

Jiuzhaigou National Park (elev 2140-3060m) is one of China’s highlights with the raw beauty of the sparkling lakes and rugged landscapes. Today you will visit and photograph two valleys of Jiuzhaigou.

Shuzheng Valley of Jiuzhaigou: From the entrance to Nuorilang Waterfall, the top of Shuzheng Valley is about 14km. During this section, besides the Huohua Lake, Tiger Lake, Rhino Lake, there are more than 40 lakes of various sizes. You will never short for photography materials here at Jiuzhaigou. On you way out, check out the Zharu Temple at the exit, a temple of the Tibetan religion Bon. Most of Tibetans around Jiuzhaigou are believers of Bon.

Rize Valley of Jiuzhaigou: It is the right branch of the Y-shaped layout of Jiuzhaigou. From Nuorilang Bus Station, catch a shuttle for the roughly 19km ride to the Primeval Forest at the top of Rize Valley. Through not the most stunning section of the park, the 8km-long stretch of trail down from here to Bamboo Arrow Lake has some of the least-trodden trails. From here it’s a short hike to Panda Lake, Five-Flower Lake and Pearl Shoals, three of the park’s most popular attractions for their crystal-clear water, variety of colourful hues and booming waterfalls with snowy peaks in the background. On the way, keep an eye out for the path up to the Tiger Mouth, a cliff-top overlook of Five-Flower Lake that shows, perhaps better than anywhere else in Jiuzhaigou, the astounding array of colours produced in a small single lake.

    D7

Full day Jiuzhaigou Photographing – Zechawa Valley

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Zechawa Valley

DIST. - / -

Zechawa Valley of Jiuzhaigou: It is the left branch of the Y-shaped layout of Jiuzhaigou. Ride the park shuttle for an hour to the foot of Long Lake (4350m), the largest lake in Jiuzhaigou. Then walk back to Five Coloured Pool, in different shade of blue under the sunlight.

    D8

Jiuzhaigou → Ruoergai Grassland → The First Bend of Yellow River → Tangke

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Ruoergai Grassland ✔First Bend of Yellow River

DIST. 264km/5.30hrs

Today, first head to Ruoergai Grassland, which is like a magnificent emerald embedded in the northwestern Sichuan border, known as the ‘oasis of the Sichuan Plateau’ and is the three major wetlands in China. Summer & Autumn are the best seasons for photographing it. You may also spot wild animals here, such as prairie wolf, black-necked crane, white swan, Tibetan mastiff, white stork, sika deer, red panda, etc.

Next, drive about 66km for the First Bend of Yellow River, located about 9km north of Tangke Town. Here is the junction of Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu provinces. The Yellow River slowly flows through Tangke City. Climb up a small hill to photograph it.

Evening, drive to Tangke Town for the night.

    D9

Tangke → Barkam → Danba

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Zhuokeji Headman's Village ✔Zhonglu Tibetan Fortress Village

DIST. 450km/8.5hrs

Get up early to shoot Yellow River in sunrise. After breakfast, head for Zhuokeji Headman's Village in in Xisuo Village, Zhuokeji Town, 7km away from Barkam County. Headman, Tusi in Chinese, is a government-appointed hereditary tribal chieftain in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Zhuokeji Headman's Village was first built in 1718 during Qing Dynasty with a total area of 5,400 square meters. It is a typical Jiarong Tibetan building with 63 rooms. Looking up from its courtyard, there is a sense of majesty, very exotic and mysterious.

Afterwards, head for Danba, a small mountainous Jiarong Tibetan town in a narrow valley in Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture in western Sichuan Province. Its mammoth stone towers that are something straight out of the lore of Tolkien’s 'Lord of the Rings'. Danba is named ‘kingdom of one thousand watchtowers’ and it doesn’t take long to see why. These massive towers and citadels, now scattered across the productive farmland, were built hundreds of years ago for defensive purposes and for passing messages between different villages. Spend a quiet night at its less-visited Zhonglu Tibetan Fortress Village, surrounded by forest.

   D10

Danba (Jiaju Tibetan Village, Suopo Watchtowers)

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Jiaju Tibetan Village ✔Suopo Watchtowers

DIST. - / -

A full day of shooting in Danba, the most beautiful country in the ‘China National Geographic’ selection, with different scenery all year round.

Morning, go to its most extinguished Jiaju Tibetan Village, occupying an area of 1,200 acres with more than 140 families. Stepping into the Tibetan homes, you will find yourself in a world of wonder. The walls, beds, and cabinets are all adorned with delightful patterns such as lotuses, trees, rivers, mountains, and lamas in various bright colors.

Afternoon, visit its Suopo Watchtowers. Suopo is the Tibetan word for ‘Mongolian’. It is said once there were a large number of Mongolians grazing here, hence the name. Suopo has in total 84 watchtowers, the largest concentration in the area. You can take photos of them from across the road and up close. The history of these stone towers dates back to around 2000 years ago. Local Jiarong Tibetans claim that these towers were constructed mainly as a result of battles their ancestors had in defending their local lands and wealth.

   D11

Danba → Pamai → Daofu → Luhuo County

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Natural Bonsai of Danba East Valley ✔Pass by Yala Snow Mountain

DIST. 233km/4.5hrs

Today is a beautiful stretch with stunning views all the way. A lot of stops will be made for you to take photos.

First, you will pass by the Natural Bonsai of Danba East Valley, also called the Yak Valley, 21km southwest of Danba County. The entire natural bonsai is 64 kilometers in length with the altitude ranging from 1800-5800m. The Yak River in the valley is clear and bright and the mountains on its banks are steep covered by vegetation. Especially in autumn, when the trees turn golden, the sight is shockingly stunning.

Next, you will pass by Yala Snow Mountain (5820m), located southeast of Daofu County. Its peak is covered by snow and wrapped by cloud throughout the year. It is sacred to the Tibetans here. You can often see them bow and kneel here in worship of it. Yala Snow Mountain is called ‘the second Shambhala (mythical kingdom)’ in ancient Tibetan books. If you look at the mountain from Tagong Grassland, you will see that it is like a lotus-shaped throne; from Pamai Town, like a crown; and from Nongge Mountain, like a sitting Buddha…

   D12

Luhuo → Garze → Chola Mountain → Yilhun Lhatso → Dege

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Chola Mountain ✔Lake Yilhun Lhatso

DIST. 279km/4.3hrs

The first highlight of the day is Chola Mountain (6168m), also called Que’er Shan, standing in the northern Shaluli Range of southeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The main peak of Chola Mountain is high and huge, its terrain is variable and complex, and its glaciers are well developed. Its main peak is 6168m tall and surrounded by over 20 mountains over 5000m. The sight is magnificent. Get your camera ready.

The Lake Yilhun Lhatso (4040m), also called Xinluhai Lake, lies at the foot of Chola Mountain. It is a well-known glacier lake of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and its primary source of water is the snow and ice melt water from Chola Mountain. Its observation deck is a sweet spot to shoot this lovely lake.

Afterwards, head for Dege County for the night.

   D13

Dege → Baiyu

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Bakong Scripture Printing Press and Monastery ✔Gonchen Monastery ✔Palyul Monastery

DIST. 98km/2.5hrs

With roads improved and mountain tunnels complete, the once remote Dege (3240m) is no longer quite so cut off from the rest of western Sichuan by the towering Chola Mountain. Today you will first visit and shoot its Bakong Scripture Printing Press and Monastery which is just above the centre of Dege. This fascinating monastery, from 1792, an ongoing printing operation still uses traditional woodblock printing methods and maintains more than 320,000 scripture plates, an astonishing 70% of Tibet’s literary heritage. Like the Citadel where Sam Tarly went to study in Game of Thrones (wink wink)…

Next, visit and shoot its imposing Gonchen Monastery, fronted with a large collection of stupas and prayer wheels.

Then head the road again and drive about 100km to Baiyu County along the Jinsha River. En route, stop over to shoot the Jinsha River gorge scenery. At Baiyu, visit and shoot its Palyul Monastery (3150m), also called Baiyu Monastery, one of the six mother monasteries of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.

   D14

Baiyu → Chaqingsongduo National Nature Reserve → Xinlong

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Yarchen Monastery ✔Chaqingsongduo National Nature Reserve

DIST. 254km/5hrs

Morning, visit Yarchen Monastery in Baiyu, which lies in an isolated valley 4000m above sea level. It is associated with the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. With an estimation of more than 10,000 Sangha members now, it’s the largest concentration of nuns and monks in the world.

Afternoon, drive through the Chaqingsongduo National Nature Reserve to Xinlong County for the night. You may encounter wild animals along way, such as white-lipped deer, leopard, golden vulture, and many other rare birds. Get your camera ready.

   D15

Xinlong → Litang → Haizi Mountain → Red Meadow → Daocheng

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Tsoka Monastery ✔Haizi Mountain ✔Red Meadow

DIST. 304km/6hrs

Morning, visit Tsoka Monastery in Xinlong. The monastery itself is relatively new, but the views here are superb. The nearby Tsoka Lake is like an emerald, mirroring the monastery and surrounding mountains. On its left is an intact virgin forest; on its right are woods full of red-green pines.

Afternoon, drive to Daocheng via Litang, a very photogenic stretch. First, you will pass Haizi Mountain, a typical Tibetan landscape with striking blue lakes and sky creating a striking contrast with the barren landscape. Next, stop over at the Red Meadow of Daocheng. The photos taken here are consisted with red meadow (of course) under the blue sky next to golden woods. This scene is available about no more than 20 days a year, often from late September to early October.

   D16

Daocheng → Shangri-La Town

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Shiwanmu (10,000-mu) Poplar Forest

DIST. 75km/1.5hrs

Daocheng (elev 3700m) packs loads of rural charms with boulder-strewn wetlands, hills and barley fields, dotted with villages and Tibetan monasteries. It is especially beautiful in autumn as a blaze of red leaves and grass electrify the landscape. This morning, go shoot the Shiwanmu (10,000-mu) Poplar Forest in Daocheng. Composed of polar tress, it is the highest and largest planted protective forest of polar in the world. Created by locals to improve the local environment, it unintentionally became the town’s prettiest place, with splendid colours in autumn. Afterwards, head for Shangri-La for the night.

   D17

Shangri-La Town → Yading Nature Reserve → Yading Village

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Yading Nature Reserve

DIST. 183km/3.5hrs

Morning, take eco-bus to enter Yading Nature Reserve (elev 2990m), which centres around three sacred snow-capped mountains, a holy trinity encircled by forested valleys, crystal-clear rivers and glacier-fed lakes. There are, quite simply, some of the most stunning landscapes for photographing. Go from Chonggu Monastery to Luorong Grassland, enjoy the forest and grassland towered by snow peaks, visit Milk Sea and Five Colour Sea on foot or horseback (optional at your own expense), and approach the two holy mountains, Mt Jampelyang (5958m) and Mt Chana Dorje (5958).

   D18

Yading Nature Reserve

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Yading Nature Reserve

DIST. - / -

Get up early for the sunrise shoot of Yading Nature Reserve. Walk from Chonggu Monastery to Pearl Sea and look up to Mt Chenresig (6032m).

   D19

Yading → Litang → Yajiang → Xinduqiao

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Photograph Xinduqiao in the dusk

DIST. 532km/9.5hrs

Today, drive to Xinduqiao via Litang and Yajiang. Xinduqiao is not a scenic spot, nor it has any outstanding iconic sights, but it is framed as the ‘Photographers’ Paradise’. Because it has everything a photographer can possibly want of – magical light, endless grassland scattered with yaks and sheep, curving creek, golden cypress, rolling hills, exotic Tibetan village, smile of local Tibetans… The best light in Xinduqiao occurs in the morning or dusk. Today you will photograph Xinduqiao in the dusk. You can climb up to one of the hills of the village, and the entire valley of Xinduqiao is in front of you. At dusk, watch the last ray of the sun slowly move away from a distance. If there are clouds in the sky, there maybe partial lights delicately shine on local cottages, poplars or sloping lands, which would make an excellent shoot.

   D20

Xinduqiao → Zimei Village at the foot of Mt Gongga

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Shoot Xinduqiao in the morning ✔Zimei Village at the foot of Mt Gongga

DIST. 155km/3.5hrs

Get up early to shoot Xinduqiao in the morning. Then drive to Zimei Village at the foot of Mt Gongga. Here you will have a panoramic view of Mt Gongga (7556m), which claims the highest peak in the entire Hengduan Mountain range. From the valley of Dadu River along its southern slope all the way to its summit, the distance is a mere 29km horizontally yet 6556m vertically. Such a dramatic drop has created an incomparable ecological landscape where flora, fauna and climate gradually change with altitude. Overnight at local villager’s house in Zimei Village.

   D21

Mt Gongga

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔Hike from Zimei Village to Gongga Monastery

DIST. - / -

Morning, hike from Zimei Village to Gongga Monastery, situated at the foot of the main peak of Mt Gongga. Apart being a great spot to enjoy and photograph the mountain view, it also serves as the start of your hike through the valley toward the snow peaks – you can climb up the foothill closet to the main peak in about 1.5 hours. Overnight at Gongga Monastery.

   D22

Gongga Monastery → Kangding → Ya’an → Chengdu

B / L / D

Highlights: ✔A long day’s drive

DIST. 530km/9.5hrs

Morning, get up early to shoot Mt Gongga in sunrise. Afterwards, drive back to Chengdu City. Have hot pot for dinner to celebrate the completion of this amazing journey.

   D23

Chengdu Departure

B / - / -

✔Homeward Bound

DIST. 20km/50mins

Your journey ends today. Guide and driver will deliver you safely to Chengdu Airport for your flight back home.