Day 1: All over the country → Chengdu ★Assembly Day
All day
The first day is a full-day gathering day. Tourists will go to the meeting hotel according to their arrival time in Chengdu. At the meeting hotel, please inform the front desk of "China-Travel Note + Name" to check in. It is recommended that tourists arrive as early as possible, stroll around, rest, and experience the slow life of Chengdu by enjoying the various snacks and attractions.
Recommended places to visit: Jinli Ancient Street, Wuhou Temple, Kuanzhai Alley, and Chunxi Road, one of the top ten commercial streets in China, for city photography. Chengdu residents love drinking tea, playing mahjong, and watching Sichuan opera, making them a great place to capture the culture of old Chengdu. If you arrive early and have plenty of time, we recommend the Old Teahouse in Pengzhen, Shuangliu County.
Food recommendations: There are many Chengdu snacks in Jinli and Kuanzhai Alley: Long Chao Shou, Dandan Noodles, Feichangfen, Maocai
Day 2 Chengdu → Maobiliang → Zhonglu Tibetan Village
·morning
After breakfast, we will depart and arrive at the Maobiliang Observation Deck in time, where we will stop to take pictures of the panoramic view of Mount Siguniang, the successor of Mount Shu.
·afternoon
We continued our journey, arriving at the quiet village of Zhonglu Tibetan Village in the afternoon. Zhonglu is awash in golden autumn colors. From a high vantage point, we could overlook the red tiles and white walls, capturing the poetic and picturesque rural life of the local Tibetans.
To facilitate filming, we stayed at Zhonglu Tibetan Village B&B at night.
Day 3: Zhonglu Tibetan Village → Yala Snow Mountain Pass → Tagong Grassland → Curisi Pass → Xinduqiao
·morning
Wake up early in the morning in the Tibetan village and take a bus to the observation deck to photograph the morning scenery along Zhonglu Road (100 yuan per bus, seats about 6 people, expenses at your own expense). As the morning light gradually spreads over the mountaintops, the vibrant colorful forests of Beauty Valley and the secluded Tibetan village's towering watchtowers complement each other, leisurely cattle and sheep, and the surrounding towering snow-capped mountains together form a beautiful painting.
Set off at the right time, travel through the Yak Valley, known as the "natural bonsai", and overlook and photograph the sacred Yala Snow Mountain at the pass.
·afternoon
Arriving at Tagong Grassland in the afternoon, the Muyajin Pagoda is right in front of you, and the peculiarly shaped Yala Snow Mountain is in the distance. Find a good angle to take a photo of the Muyajin Pagoda and the Yala Snow Mountain in the same frame.
At the right time, we changed to a small car to go to the newly-added camera position on the north slope of Gongga Mountain [Julisi Pass] to shoot the sunset. The view angle here is similar to that of the internet-famous camera position Yuzixi. We can overlook Xinduqiao while taking long-range photos of Gongga, Yala and Qingrao Peaks. At the same time, there are fewer tourists, which is more suitable for photography creation.
After the filming was completed, we went down the mountain and returned to Xinduqiao Town to stay.
Day 4 Xinduqiao → Eighteen Bends of the Sky Road Observation Deck → Kazila Mountain Pass → Litang → Shangri-La Town
·morning
After breakfast, we set off on National Highway G318, passing the Eighteen Bends of the Sky Road Observation Deck and the Kazila Mountain Pass, where we took in the breathtaking view of the mountains. The pass is 4,718 meters above sea level, so we made a quick stop to avoid altitude sickness.
We then went down the mountain to Litang and visited the Changqingchun Kerr Temple. China-TravelNote specially invited a Tibetan girl to participate in a Tibetan portrait creation.
·afternoon
After bidding farewell to G318, we crossed Tu'er Mountain (4,696 meters) and entered the Haizi Mountain Nature Reserve, a remnant of ancient glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The mountain boasts a desolate, rugged, and magnificent landscape. Haizi Mountain has an average elevation of 4,500 meters. On a clear day, a line of snow-capped mountains stretching across the endless rocky beach can be seen on the horizon, creating a truly spectacular sight.
In the evening, we'll pass through Daocheng Red Grassland and stay overnight in Shangri-La Town. Shangri-La Town is located at a relatively low altitude of 2,900 meters, allowing you to rest well and prepare for the exciting journey to the Yading Scenic Area.
Day 5 Shangri-La Town → Yading Long Route (Luorong Cattle Farm → Milk Lake → Five-Colored Lake) → Shangri-La Town
·morning
Today, tourists will focus on a long-distance photography tour of Yading. At the scenic area entrance, they'll transfer to a scenic shuttle bus and officially enter the Daocheng Yading Scenic Area. Driving along the winding mountain road, they'll be greeted by the stunning sights of Xiannairi and Xianuoduoji, which appear without warning at a turn.
After entering the scenic area, take a sightseeing bus to Luorong Ranch. This is the core area of the Yading Scenic Area. The Gongga River flows through the pastures, and the gurgling streams in the forests intertwine with the ranch cabins, forming a pristine and charming scenery. You can also get up close to the two sacred mountains of Yangmaiyong and Xianuoduoji.
Go to the [Milk Lake] and [Five-Color Lake] for sightseeing and photography at the right time. The Milk Lake is milky white on all sides and blue in the middle. It is the first of the three sacred lakes in Aden; the Five-Color Lake has the highest altitude and the water surface changes color under the sunlight.
Return to Shangri-La town for check-in at the end of the tour.
Day 6 Shangri-La Town → Yading Short Route (Zhaguanbeng → Chonggu Grassland → Zhenzhucuo) → Daocheng
All day
After breakfast, we will depart for Daocheng Yading Scenic Area. We will take the scenic bus from Yading Village directly to the final stop, Zhaguanbeng. From there, we will walk about ten minutes to Chonggu Temple. Then, we will follow the 2km wooden plank road to Pearl Cove, where we will photograph the reflection of Xiannairi, one of the three sacred mountains of Yading.
Return to Chonggu Grassland in due time and take a long-range photo of Xianuoduoji, another of the three sacred mountains of Aden.
We will gather at the right time to leave the Aden Scenic Area. There are golden poplar forests everywhere along the way. You can use your camera to capture the beautiful moments of this small plateau city.
Overnight at Daocheng County Hotel.
Day 7 Daocheng → Zunsheng Pagoda Forest → Tagong Town → Balangshengdu Village → Tagong Town
·morning
After breakfast, we set out from Daocheng and passed by Zunsheng Pagoda Forest, where we stopped for a while to take photos.
After crossing the Haizi Mountain Nature Reserve, we set foot on the G318 National Highway again from Lijingtang, heading east, passing Kazila Mountain, Jianziwan Mountain, the Tianlu Eighteen Bends Viewing Platform, and Yajiang County. Along the way, we can enjoy the pastoral and poetic scenes of the Tibetan villages on the plateau.
Arrive at Tagong Town in time, where you will transfer to a small car to go to the newly-added Gongga Viewing Spot [Balangshengdu Village] to shoot the sunset. This is a 360° surround viewing platform. If the weather is good, we will be able to watch the golden mountains of Gongga and Yala at the same time!
After the shooting, we returned to Tagong Town Hotel to check in.
Day 8: Tagong Town → Zheduo Mountain → Niubei Mountain
All day
After breakfast, we will set out to cross the first pass of Khampa, Zheduo Mountain, where we will have the opportunity to encounter and photograph the spectacular sea of clouds.
Then we headed to Niubei Mountain. At the end of 2009, a famous photographer from National Geographic magazine stumbled upon an unnamed hillside in Luding County with a view of numerous snow-capped mountains. Since then, the area has become famous, attracting photographers from all over the world.
After going up the mountain, we have plenty of time to encounter the majestic Gongga Snow Mountain, the mysterious Buddha light in the clouds, and the sometimes calm and sometimes turbulent sea of clouds and waterfalls. Here we deeply feel what it means to be "half in heaven and half on earth".
If the weather is good, we will be able to enjoy and photograph the magnificent view of the Gongga Peaks in the evening, which is very spectacular.
Nestled in the China-TravelNotex Niubei Mountain Starry Sky Camp at night, you can truly immerse yourself in the beauty of both body and soul. If the weather is good, you can meet outside the camp to photograph the dazzling starry sky.
Special Notes:
The scenic bus service on some sections of Niubei Mountain (Qiankunling-top of the mountain) has been suspended. After getting off at Qiankunling, you can choose to walk to the top of the mountain or take a go-kart at your own expense.
If you choose to hike: 2km one way (wooden plank path), 300m of ascent. It is recommended to bring your own crampons or wear non-slip shoes. Luggage carts are available to assist with checked luggage.
If you choose to take a go-kart: 2 people per car, 180 yuan/2 people, at your own expense, the driver must hold a driver's license.
If you do not have a driver's license, you can ask local staff to help drive you to the mountaintop camp in a go-kart. The one-way fee is 180 yuan per car.
9th Tianniubeishan → Chengdu★Disbandment Day
All day
Early in the morning, Niubei Mountain offers a chance to capture the golden glow of the sun shining over the eastern slopes of Gongga Mountain. Watch the colors of the sky and Mount Gongga change dramatically in just a few minutes. Mornings are also when seas of clouds are most likely to form in the valleys, and with luck, you'll be able to capture the spectacular spectacle of a "golden mountain on the sea."
We descended the mountain in due time, bidding farewell to the western Sichuan plateau. Passing by Ya'an and the Chengya Expressway, we returned to the bustling city of Chengdu. We then proceeded directly to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Don't forget to keep in touch and plan your next trip together.
