The visit to Western Sichuan is focused on Aba and Ganzi regions. They are also located in the west of Chengdu. Here, you'll find snow mountains, Tibetan villages, pristine alpine lakes, and grasslands.
In this guide, you'll find easy-to-follow itineraries, plus tips on how many days you should set aside based on what you want, such as sightseeing, hiking, or photography.
How Many Days to Spend in Western Sichuan
Most Western Sichuan routes take about 3–9 days, depending on where you want to go. And the trips usually start from Chengdu.
If it's your first time, you'll likely cover the classic spots, so setting aside 5–7 days is ideal.
- Siguniang Mountain (1–2 days): Shuangqiao Valley and Changping Valley
- Danba (1–2 days): Tibetan villages
- Xinduqiao (1 day): A classic photography spot
- Kangding (1–2 days): Mount Gongga views, Yuzixi
- Tagong (1–2 days): Tagong Monastery, Tagong Grassland, Mount Yala, Moshi Park
- Litang (2–3 days): Changqingchun Ke'er Monastery, Mount Genie, Horse Racing Festival
- Daocheng Yading (1.5–2 days): snow mountains, alpine lakes, Chonggu Monastery
There are also some seasonal scenery like spring flowers and glaciers for you to explore:
- Hailuogou (1 day): glaciers, hot springs, and Mount Gongga views
- Bipenggou(1 day): snow mountains, skiing in winter, alpine azaleas in spring
- Jinchuan Valley(1 day): early-spring pear blossoms
Do note that Seda isn't open to foreign travelers. But you can visit the nearby alternatives like Yaqing Monastery or the Dege Printing House.
Your perfect trip length depends on what you enjoy most.
All our itineraries are flexible, and we can adjust them to match your group size, travel time, and interests. Just feel free to contact us.
Spend 3-4 Days in Western Sichuan
If you only have 3-4 days, it's best to stay closer to Chengdu, within a 3-5 hour drive. Good options include Siguniang Mountain, Danba, Tagong, Xinduqiao, and Bipenggou.
1. 3-Day Mount Siguniang Tour
Mount Siguniang is the top choice for many short Western Sichuan trips. It's the closest snow mountain to Chengdu for you to admire the classic scenery of Western Sichuan.
- Day 1: Chengdu to Mount Siguniang, passing Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the Panda Base
- Day 2: Mount Siguniang: Changping Valley Hiking
- Day 3: Mount Siguniang: visit Shuangqiao Valley
Shuangqiao and Changping Valleys are the most beginner-friendly routes at Mount Siguniang.
You can tour Shuangqiao Valley entirely by sightseeing bus, while Changping Valley offers horseback riding, so the visit won't be strenuous for you.
Mount Siguniang is a great destination all year round. In July and August, there's little to no snow, but you'll still find vast flower fields and green meadows. In other seasons, the snow-capped peaks are stunning, and you might even catch the sunrise hitting the mountains.
Compared with other Western Sichuan mountains, its rich vegetation can help you adjust better to the altitude (most around 3000-4000m in Shuangqiao and Changping Valley).
2. 4-Day Western Sichuan Spring Tour
If you plan to visit Western Sichuan in Spring (March to May), you'll enjoy a beautiful seasonal scenery with flowers, and also explore Tibetan culture in the tranquil village.
This itinerary is perfect for catching the terraced pear blossoms in Jinchuan Valley from mid-March to early April, or the alpine azaleas under the snow mountains in Bipenggou from mid-April to May.
- Day 1: Chengdu to Bipengou and visit
- Day 2: visit Jinchuan Valley and Jiaju Tibetan Village
- Day 3: Huiyuan Temple, Tagong Grassland, Xinduqiao
- Day 4: back to Chengdu
Spend 5-7 Days in Western Sichuan
With 5-7 days, you can go further to Kangding, Litang, and even Daocheng Yading.
1. 5-Day Daocheng and Yading Tour
- Day 1: Chengdu to Xinduqiao, visit Dadu River, Luding Bridge, and Zheduo Mountain
- Day 2: Haizi Mountain, Litang Grassland, Kazila Mountain, Litang Monastery
- Day 3: Daocheng Yading (long route)
- Day 4: Daocheng Yading (short route), Daocheng White Pagoda, Daocheng Old Town
- Day 5: Return to Chengdu
Although it's a bit far, Yading is the most iconic and scenic spot in Western Sichuan, especially during the golden autumn leaves from late October to early November, so it's really worth spending five days to visit.
And this 5-day itinerary lets you fully enjoy Yading's stunning landscapes.
You'll admire the holy and pristine snow mountains and lakes, witness the roaming sheep and cows in the pasture, and even meet monks debating and meditating in Chonggu Monastery.
If you want to see stunning glaciers and snowy landscapes, or try skiing, you can also consider a 5-day winter tour to Hailuogou and Bipenggou.
2. 6-Day Western Sichuan Adventure Tour
- Day 1: Wolong Panda Base
- Day 2: Visit Mount Siguniang, including Shuangping Valley and Changping Valley
- Day 3: Drive to Danba, visit Zhonglu Tibetan Village
- Day 4: Yala Snow Mountain Short Hiking
- Day 5: Drive to Kangding, visit Huiyuan Monastery, Moshi Park, Tagong Grassland
- Day 6: Luding Bridge, return to Chengdu
If you prefer outdoor activities and want to have in depth experience of local culture, this route is best.
Yala Snow Mountain is a quieter and more untouched mountain with fewer visitors. You'll take a moderate 2km hike there.
Over at Tagong Grassland, you can enjoy a camping experience, right in front of Yala Snow Mountain, and have lunch surrounded by snow-capped peaks.
In Zhonglu Tibetan Village, you'll not only admire traditional Tibetan architecture. With a guide by your side, you'll also have a home visit to local houses and watchtowers, learning about their daily life and Tibetan customs.
Spend 8-9 Days in Western Sichuan
Around 8–9 days is enough to cover most of Western Sichuan's highlights. You can even extend the trip to Shangri-La in Yunnan.
9-Day Panorama Western Sichuan Tour
- Day 1: Wolong Panda Base
- Day 2: Mount Siguniang, Shuangqiao, and Changping Valleys
- Day 3: Zhonglu Tibetan Village, Moshi Park
- Day 4: Tagong Grassland, Tagong Monastery
- Day 5: Haizi Mountain, Litang Grassland, Litang Monastery, Daocheng White Pagoda
- Day 6: Daocheng Yading (Long Route)
- Day 7: Daocheng Yading (Short Route), then drive to Yajiang
- Day 8: Dadu River, Luding Bridge, Zheduo Mountain
- Day 9: Hailuogou Scenic Area, then return to Chengdu
This route covers many of Western Sichuan's most famous sights.
From Mount Siguniang, Danba, Tagong to Litang, Daocheng Yading, and Hailougou, you'll enjoy an in-depth experience, with snow-capped mountains, glaciers, grasslands, Tibetan monasteries, villages, and pandas.
And in Hailougou, you'll witness Mount Gongga, "King of Sichuan Mountains".
Hailuogou sits on the southern slope of Mount Gongga, so it's one of the best places to see the snow mountain and glaciers. Especially at Camp No. 4, where you can enjoy 360°views.
You can even extend the trip to Shangri-La in Yunnan. It's only a 5-hour drive from Daocheng Yading. There, you can experience an even stronger Tibetan and religious atmosphere, such as visiting the Little Potala Palace and Songzanlin Monastery.
Tour Western Sichuan with Us
We've specialised in customized China tours for 26+ years, including Chengdu and Western Sichuan. You'll have a local guide and a private car throughout.
From route planning to transport, everything is taken care of.
If the itineraries above aren't quite what you're looking for, please let us know your preferences and destinations! We'll create a tailor-made trip exclusively for you. Or check out our Chengdu Tours.
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