Classic China route
Searching for Shangri-La in West Sichuan and North Yunnan
Tailor-made private China route following Chengdu - Yaan - Baoxing - Danba - Tagong - Xinduqiao - Jiulong - Xinduqiao linking the main cities with a Sichuan extension, planned around clear city order, iconic sites, comfortable transfers and realistic visit timing.
We shape the route around your dates, pace and comfort level before preparing the proposal.
Choose with confidence
Picture the route before asking for a proposal.
Follow the route rhythm, landscapes and travel moments first. If this feels like the China you want, we shape the dates, pace, hotels, transport and special interests around your group.
What you will see
Landscapes, culture, local life, food moments or active experiences are tied to real stops.
How the pace feels
Driving time, walking time, rest time and hotel location decide whether the route feels smooth.
How it can change
Keep, remove or extend days before we prepare your tailor-made proposal.
Route fit
For western Sichuan depth, photography and highland culture.
You want Tibetan villages, grasslands, monasteries, snow mountains and slower remote days.
You need luxury comfort every night or want the shortest possible transfers.
Highlights
- Chengdu
- Yaan
- Baoxing
- Danba
- Tagong
- Xinduqiao
Planning focus
Western Sichuan needs margins, not rushed days.
We check road conditions, weather windows, lodging level, walking comfort and highland pace before building the final route.
Route at a glance
See the sequence before the details.
This quick route view helps you understand the order of stops, where the journey slows down and what we check before the final proposal.
Route sequence
Season and roads
Roads, mountain weather, festivals and scenery windows change the best version of the route.
Daily pace
Driving time, rest time and hotel location decide whether the route feels smooth.
Itinerary rhythm
What each day can feel like
The day-by-day view shows the main stops, travel rhythm and moments that make the route worth choosing. Before confirmation, we recheck season, timing, transfers and local services.
Arrival in Chengdu
Arrival in Chengdu, capital of province Sichuan, the home town of Panda. Picked up by the local guide at airport and transferred to hotel.
Chengdu – Yaan
In the morning drive along Chengdu-Yaan Express Way to Yaan, the famous Rainy City. On the way enjoy the rural scenery in western Sichuan Plain. Visit of the ancient town Shangli and the Pandas in Bifengxia near Yaan.
Yaan – Danba
Drive to Danba (1900 m). On the way visit of the Dengchigou Catholic Church in the Baoxing Panda Reserve. It is the place where the French preacher and biologist David found the giant pandas and introduced them overseas in 1869 and thus it has become an important humanistic spot as well. Drive over the Jiajin Shan Mountain to Danba. The local people are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetans. Visit of the Jiaju.village More than one hundred buildings keep the same architectural style with a complete and unique character
Danba – Bamei – Tagong Si – Xinduqiao
Danba is claimed to be the Kingdom of Thousands of Ancient Blockhouses. In the morning visit of the ancient block towers in Suopo. They were made of clay and block and look fine from outside with solid thick walls. Then drive via Bamei and Tagong to Xinduqiao. On the way visit of the Tagong Si (Tagong Monastery), where you can admire a beautiful panorama of the holy Yala Mountain (5820m) in a distance on clear days. Then transfer to Xinduqiao, a small but important town at the juncture of the North and South Sichua
Xinduqiao - Yajiang – Litang
Drive via Yajiang to Litang (4014 m). Drive along Hengduan Montain Ranges from north to south. Enjoy the beautiful glacier, ice-covered mountains, highland lakes. Arrival at Litang which is also known as "highland city". Arrival, visit of Litang monastery, built in the western suburbs of the city. The monastery was originally under the control of the Bon religion but converted into a Gelug Sect monastery in 1580 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) by the third Dalai Lama.
Litang – Sangdui – Riwa
In the morning we drive to Daocheng via Mt. Haizi Shan, a right place to study the structure of terrain and the formation of glacier. On the way visit of the Bangpu Si, the oldest temple in Daocheng, which has over 900 years history. Late in the afternoon we reach the highlight of this journey - Yading nature reserve, home of three sacred Tibetan mountains - Chenresig (Xiannairi, Avalokitesvara, 6032m), Jambeyang (Yangmaiyong, Manjusri, 5958m), and Chanadorje (Xianuoduoji, Vajrapani, 5958m). The scenery here easily
Riwa – Yading – Riwa
Full day exploration Yading natural beauty. Drive of 30km to Longlongba – the entrance of Yading Nature Reserve. Start trekking tour at Chonggu Monastery and next proceed to Xiannairi Mountain with mystery Dumu Lake at its mountain foot. Then trek to Luorong Cattle Farm, which is located among Yangmaiyong, Xianuoduoji and Xiannairi Mountains. Finally back to Longlongba and drive back to the hotel.
Riwa – Daocheng – Xiangcheng
Drive via Daocheng to Xiangcheng, sightseeing of the landscape enroute, visit of Sangpi Monastery of the Gelugpa tradition in Xiangcheng.
Xiangcheng - Shangri-la
Today we travel to Shangri-La (former Zhongdian, 3300 m), a Tibetan region in Yunnan province, the historic southern gateway to Kham and Tibet. Upon arrival at Shangri-La walking through the old city. 2N at 4*Guanguang Hotel
Shangri-la
In the morning visit of the Sumzanlin Monastery, which was built in 1679 by the Fifth Dalai lama. Characterized by its Han-Chinese Tibetan construction style, the monastery is the most important of Gelugpa-sect in Yunnan province. Walk of 2 – 3 hours through villages, grasslands, fields, hills to Napahai Preserve. After visiting Napahai, drive back to the hotel.
Shangri-la – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Lijiang
Drive to the Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hu Tiao Xia) on the Jinsha Jiang (Golden Sand River), the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (the longest river of China, 6380 km). Sightseeing and short walking in the gorge. Drive to Lijiang (2600 m), the hometown of Naxi Minority. 2N at 4*Liwang Hotel
Lijiang
In the morning drive for an excursion to the Naxi minority Baisha village where about 350 Buddhist mural paintings made between 14th and 17th century are preserved. Next visit: Dongba Culture Museum and Hei Long Tan (Black Dragon Pool), which is located at the northern foot of Elephant Hill. The summits of the snowy mountain nearby are clearly reflected in this pond. In the afternoon, visit of Lijiang Old Town. The city of Lijiang has a 800-year-long history and is the only city where the Naxi ethnic minority resid
Lijiang – Dali
Drive to Dali ancient town. The well preserved ancient city gates and the historic buildings show the city’s long history. On the way visit of Bai people Xizhou small old town. In the afternoon visit of San Ta Si (Three Pagoda Temple) in the northwest outskirts of Dali, and Dali Old Town. 1N in 4*Wing of Landscape Hotel
Dali – Kunming
Drive by shuttle bus to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, also called “Spring City” due to its warm climate all year round. Yunnan in Chinese means "to the south of the clouds". In Kunming visit of the West Hill with the Longmen Caves. 2N in 4*Kunming Hotel
Kunming
After the breakfast drive to Shilin, a Sani minority county, to visit the Stone Forest. The bizarre karst stone rocks feature in various formation and some of them tower above to 30 m high. Drive back to Kunming, transfer to the airport. End of our services.
Images help show the landscape and travel mood of the route. The exact hotel, vehicle, guide and timing are confirmed with your proposal.
Trip inquiry
Send us the route you imagine
Tell us your route, dates and group size. A specialist will reply with a practical route plan.