14-Day Sichuan Highlights: Chengdu Jiuzhaigou and Western Sichuan

The Experience:

Welcome to Chengdu!

Once you arrive, we’ll arrange a private transfer from the airport or train station to your hotel, so you can settle in without worrying about transport after your journey.

Depending on your arrival time, we may take a relaxed walk around your neighborhood, stop for a cup of Sichuan tea, or simply rest at the hotel.

Highlights

• Easy arrival with private airport or station transfer

Tips

• Keep today flexible if you arrive on a long-haul flight.

The Experience:

We’ll start early and drive to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

We usually arrive around opening time, about 07:00 AM or 08:00 AM, when the pandas are most active. We will explore the different enclosures, where you can watch giant pandas eating bamboo, climbing and resting in the trees.

After lunch, we’ll head back toward central Chengdu and slow the pace at a traditional teahouse, like Heming Teahouse in People’s Park. Rather than simply stopping for a drink, we’ll introduce you to one of Chengdu’s favorite everyday rituals: sitting, chatting, people-watching and enjoying tea at your own pace.

Later, we can explore Jinli Old Street to try some local food, watch a Sichuan Opera performance, or enjoy the lanterns in the evening.

Highlights

• Giant pandas in their most active part of the day
• Traditional Chengdu teahouse experience
• An introduction to authentic Sichuan cuisine

Tips

• Arrive at the Panda Base early for cooler weather and more active pandas.

The Experience:

Today we’ll leave Chengdu after breakfast for Leshan, about 2 hours by private vehicle.

Leshan Giant Buddha is a 71-meter-tall statue carved into the red sandstone cliffs beside the Min River during the Tang Dynasty. It was begun in 713 and took around 90 years to complete.

We’ll choose either way to see the Buddha:

Walk down the cliffside, giving you a close look at the enormous carved feet, robes and drainage system;

Or take a boat ride, which offers a useful sense of the statue’s full scale from the river.

The site was designed partly to calm dangerous river currents for passing boats, so the Buddha is both a religious monument and an impressive piece of ancient engineering.

In the late afternoon, we’ll continue driving to Mount Emei and stay overnight at the foot.

Highlights

• The world-famous Leshan Giant Buddha
• Leshan local food

Tips

• The riverside steps can be steep, so take your time.
• A boat view is useful if you prefer to avoid extensive stair climbing.

The Experience:

We’ll start early today, heading into Mount Emei before the main crowds arrive.

Depending on your fitness level and the final route, we can combine sightseeing buses, cable cars and walking rather than attempting the entire mountain on foot. The Golden Summit sits at around 3,077 meters and offers expansive views across the surrounding peaks when the weather is clear.

Along the way, we’ll experience the mountain’s long Buddhist tradition through temples, shrines, forest paths and pilgrims. Mount Emei has been a major Buddhist center for more than a thousand years and is one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. After exploring the summit area, we’ll gradually descend using the mountain transport system and return to the foot of Emei. We’ll then take the private vehicle back to Chengdu.

Highlights

• Early start for a quieter Mount Emei experience
• Golden Summit and high-altitude mountain scenery
• Buddhist temples and pilgrimage traditions dating back centuries

Tips

• Start early and bring warm layers; the summit can be much colder than the foothills.
• Take the ascent slowly, especially at higher elevations.
• Weather can change quickly, so clear summit views are never guaranteed.

The Experience:

We’ll leave Chengdu in the morning and take the high-speed train to Huanglongjiuzhai Station, a journey of roughly 1.5–2 hours.

The railway makes this northern Sichuan section much easier than the old all-road journey, and the scenery gradually changes from the Chengdu Plain to mountain valleys as we travel north.

From the station, we’ll continue by private vehicle to Huanglong National Park.

Huanglong is best known for its remarkable chains of golden travertine pools, formed over thousands of years by mineral-rich spring water flowing down the mountain. We’ll walk along the main boardwalk through the colorful pools, forests and mountain scenery, using the cable car if you prefer to reduce the uphill walking.

After sightseeing, we’ll continue to Jiuzhaigou for the night and settle into your hotel near the entrance.

Highlights

• Comfortable high-speed train journey into northern Sichuan
• Huanglong’s extraordinary travertine pools and alpine scenery

Tips

• Huanglong is at a high altitude, so walk slowly and take regular breaks.
• Bring warm layers and rain protection, as mountain weather can change quickly.

The Experience:

We’ll spend the whole day exploring Jiuzhaigou Valley, which is shaped roughly like the character Y, with three main valleys meeting around Nuorilang.

The scenic area’s shuttle buses run along these branches, making it easy to cover the highlights without walking the entire valley.

We’ll follow the shuttle bus system and adjust the route according to the day’s conditions and crowd levels. Usually, we’ll take a bus toward one of the upper branches first, then work our way back through the central section before exploring another branch. Along the way, we’ll get off at selected stops to walk around famous sights such as Five Flower Lake, Panda Lake, Pearl Shoal and Nuorilang Waterfall.

After visiting the park, we’ll return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Highlights

• Understand Jiuzhaigou’s distinctive Y-shaped valley layout
• Explore the scenic area efficiently using its shuttle bus network

Tips

• Start early, especially during peak travel periods, as shuttle queues can build up.
• Stay with the shuttle-bus system rather than trying to walk between every attraction.

The Experience:

After breakfast, we’ll leave Jiuzhaigou and make our way to Huanglongjiuzhai Railway Station by private vehicle.

From Huanglongjiuzhai Station, we’ll take the high-speed train back to Chengdu.

Once we arrive in Chengdu, our private transfer will take you back to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. You can have a Sichuan hotpot dinner, a slow walk through the city or simply some well-earned rest before heading into Western Sichuan tomorrow.

Highlights

• Relaxed evening back in Chengdu

Tips

• Have a light lunch or snacks ready for the train journey.
• Use the evening to rest before the longer mountain drive tomorrow.

The Experience:

Today belongs to you. After returning from high-altitude areas, we intentionally leave this day open. You can sleep in, revisit a favorite Chengdu neighborhood, enjoy a long teahouse session or shop for Sichuan snacks and souvenirs.

The Experience:

We’ll leave Chengdu after breakfast in a private vehicle and head west toward Siguniang Mountain.  The drive takes 4-5 hours.

Depending on road conditions and your interests, we can make scenic stops along the way rather than driving straight through.

Siguniang Mountain, known as the “Four Girls Mountain,” consists of four main peaks, with the highest reaching more than 6,200 meters. You won’t need to climb the peaks to appreciate the area; the surrounding valleys offer beautiful views and easier ways to experience the landscape.

We’ll arrive in the Siguniang Mountain area in the afternoon, check into a local hotel and keep the evening relaxed.

Highlights

• Scenic drive from Chengdu into Western Sichuan
• First views of the Four Girls Mountain range

Tips

• Keep the day flexible because mountain driving times can vary.

The Experience:

We’ll start the day in Shuangqiaogou, the most accessible of Siguniang Mountain’s three main valleys.

After taking the scenic-area shuttle bus into the valley, we’ll get off at several viewpoints and walk along the trails at a comfortable pace.

You don’t need to be an experienced hiker to enjoy it. The route can be adapted to your walking ability and energy level.

After the hike, we’ll leave Siguniang Mountain and drive toward Danba. Then we will have a night in the village.

Highlights

• Shuangqiaogou’s alpine scenery and accessible hiking trails

Tips

• The walking route can be adjusted according to your fitness and altitude response.

The Experience:

We’ll spend the morning exploring Danba’s famous Tibetan villages before continuing west toward Tagong.

Our first stop is Jiaju Tibetan Village, where traditional stone houses are scattered across the green mountain slopes, often surrounded by orchards and small fields. We’ll take some time to walk through the village and appreciate the distinctive architecture and peaceful rural setting.

We’ll then continue to Zhonglu Tibetan Village, another beautiful settlement in the Danba valley. Compared with Jiaju, Zhonglu feels quieter and less developed, giving us a better chance to see how local families live among the mountains.

After lunch, we’ll leave Danba and drive toward Tagong. As we gain altitude, the narrow valleys gradually open into broad grasslands with grazing yaks, prayer flags and distant snow peaks.

We’ll arrive in Tagong later in the afternoon.

If time and conditions allow, we will continue driving to Xinduqiao and check into our local hotel.

Highlights

• Jiaju and Zhonglu Tibetan villages
• Traditional stone houses and rural Tibetan life
• Scenic drive from Danba valley to the Tagong grasslands

Tips

• The drive to Tagong involves winding mountain roads and significant altitude gain.

The Experience:

We’ll leave Xinduqiao after breakfast and drive toward Kangding.

Rather than heading straight into the city, we’ll make our main stop at Mugecuo Scenic Area, also known as the Kangding Love Song Scenic Area.

We’ll use the scenic-area sightseeing bus to reach the higher sections, then explore selected viewpoints and walking paths at a comfortable pace. Mugecuo Lake is the centerpiece, surrounded by mountains and forest, while the changing elevation gives the landscape a different character from the open grasslands around Xinduqiao.

After visiting the park, we’ll continue to Kangding by private vehicle. The evening is free to explore the city, have a relaxed dinner or simply rest at the hotel.

Highlights

• Scenic drive from Xinduqiao to Kangding
• Alpine lakes and mountain landscapes at Mugecuo

Tips

• Mugecuo is at high altitude, so walk slowly and take regular breaks.

The Experience:

After breakfast, we’ll leave Kangding and begin the journey back to Chengdu by private vehicle.

As we descend from the plateau, you’ll notice the scenery gradually changing from high-altitude grasslands and steep mountain valleys to greener forests, farmland and eventually the broad Chengdu Plain.

We’ll arrive in Chengdu in the afternoon or early evening and return you to your hotel.

After the mountain section of the trip, you can enjoy a comfortable evening back in the city.

Highlights

• Scenic return journey through Western Sichuan

Tips

• This is a relatively long driving day, so bring water and snacks.

The Experience:

Enjoy a final relaxed breakfast in Chengdu before we arrange your private transfer to the airport or railway station. Depending on your departure time, you may still have a few hours to walk around your neighborhood, enjoy one last cup of Sichuan tea or pick up anything you forgot to buy.