Seda | Faith keeps you from being lonely, the simpler the happier 🫧

September Travel Guide for Seda 🍂
In September, the average temperature in Seda is 5-18℃, with autumn deepening. The red houses contrast with the golden forests, and there are fewer tourists, making it perfect for off-peak travel!
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📍Sightseeing Route (Recommended 3 Days 2 Nights)
Day 1☁️: Seda Buddhist Academy + Sky Burial Site
Arrive in the morning and head straight to Wuming Buddhist Academy🗻. Take the sightseeing bus to the mountaintop viewing platform to overlook the sea of red houses🏠. In the afternoon, visit the academy’s scripture hall (respect the faith, no casual photography). In the evening, go to the sky burial site (ceremonies may start after 3:00 PM, maintain solemnity) to experience the cycle of life.
A magical thing happens: before the sky burial starts, it’s sunny; once it begins, hail falls until the ceremony ends, then it clears up again. The vultures wait on the hill while the bones are being cut below, then all fly down together to feed once the cutting is done.
Day 2☁️: Dongga Monastery + Sera Monastery
In the morning, visit Dongga Monastery🏯, a quiet and less crowded spot with panoramic views of the red houses; in the afternoon, visit Sera Monastery to watch monks debate (confirm times in advance), and in the evening, capture the sunset🌅 from a nearby hillside.
Day 3: Guanyin Bridge + Return Trip🚗
If time allows, visit Guanyin Bridge to pray and experience Tibetan culture before heading back.
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🥙Food: Mainly Tibetan flavors
Recommended: Tibetan noodles + butter tea🥣 (helps with altitude sickness and warms the body), yak meat hotpot🍲 (about 80-100 RMB per person), 🧇tsampa cakes (street snack, 5 RMB each).
Avoid: Expensive Sichuan cuisine inside scenic areas, generally average taste.
Recommended shops: Prices in Seda town are relatively cheap with generous portions and good value.
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🏡Accommodation: Mainly in town, few inside the academy
Town: Recommended Seda Grand Hotel (standard rooms 200-300 RMB, with elevator and oxygen supply), or “Meet Seda” guesthouse (Tibetan style, about 150 RMB per person).
Buddhist Academy: Only a few inns open (such as “Larong Hotel”), no private bathrooms, reservation required, suitable for travelers seeking an immersive experience.
Reminder: Some inns start heating in September; confirm oxygen availability when booking. Many small guesthouses have shared bathrooms and showers, so it’s best to go with companions.
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🚘Transportation Tips
External: There are buses from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station to Seda town (about 10 hours, ticket 280 RMB, departure at 6:40 AM), or fly to Ganzi Gesar Airport and transfer by car (1.5 hours), or self-drive.
Internal: Carpooling is available from town to the academy (no self-driving allowed inside), and walking is the main way within the academy.
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✨Notes
Altitude Sickness: Seda is over 3800 meters above sea level; take Rhodiola 3 days in advance and avoid strenuous exercise🍵.
Clothing: Large temperature difference between day and night; bring a light down jacket, scarf, hat🧣, and comfortable hiking shoes👟.
Taboos: No shorts or short skirts inside the academy; do not casually photograph monks or scripture halls; respect local beliefs.
Supplies: Snacks and oxygen bottles can be bought in town supermarkets; supplies are limited inside the academy.