[Sichuan-Tibet G318 + Yunnan-Tibet Route] Chengdu-Xinduqiao-Daocheng Yading-Feilai Temple-Mangkang-Nyingchi-Lhasa G318+G214 Highway Tibet Entry 13-Day Tour

Welcome to Chengdu. Our guide will meet you at the airport/train station exit and take you to the hotel to check in and rest. If you arrive in Chengdu in the morning, you can stroll around Chengdu's fashion center 【Chunxi Road】 and the thousand-year-old temple 【Daci Temple】, and check in at the Chinese-Western fusion 【Taikoo Li】 and the 【IFS climbing panda】. If you arrive in Chengdu in the afternoon, you can go to 【Jinli】 and 【Kuanzhai Alley】 to experience the most leisurely and comfortable slow life of Chengdu, or check in at the 【Little Bar】 from Zhao Lei's song "Chengdu." In the evening, our tour leader will hold a brief pre-departure briefing for everyone at the hotel.

In the morning you will depart from Chengdu and head to Ya'an via the Chengdu-Ya'an Expressway, then pass through the 【Erlang Mountain Tunnel】 at an altitude of 2,200 meters, experiencing the unique scenery of "ten li, different skies; one mountain, two climates." Afterwards, follow the Dadu River canyon down to Luding County. After lunch in Luding, you will visit Luding Bridge. 【Luding Bridge】 is 103.67 meters long. It is an ancient bridge with a long history and also a milestone in the history of the Red Army's Long March. The bridge is famous at home and abroad for the battle of "Flying Capture of Luding Bridge." After visiting Luding Bridge, you will continue on to Kangding County, the capital of Garze Prefecture, and then cross Zheduo Mountain at an altitude of 4,298 meters. 【Zheduo Mountain】 is the first high mountain on the Sichuan-Tibet route with an altitude above 4,000 meters, and is also known as the First Pass of Kham. After crossing Zheduo Mountain, you formally enter the Kham Tibetan region. Afterwards the altitude gradually decreases, and amid the picturesque scenery along the way you will arrive at Xinduqiao, the "photographer's paradise."

In the morning, you will depart from Xinduqiao, first crossing Gaoersi Mountain, then traversing the steep [Eighteen Bends of the Heavenly Road], and take photos of the thrilling heavenly road scenery from the Eighteen Bends viewing platform. Afterwards, arrive at Litang, the hometown of Ding Zhen and the City in the Sky, and have lunch there. In the afternoon, you will set off for Daocheng. Along the way, you will pass the magical [Rabbit Ear Mountain] and [Haizi Mountain], stopping at both places for a while to fully enjoy the scenery. Then pass through Sangdui, pay respects at Bengbo Monastery, and head straight to the Shangri-La of your heart. In the evening, check in at Shangri-La Town.

In the morning, you will travel by car to [Daocheng Yading Scenic Area], starting your one-day tour of Daocheng Yading. First, you will take a sightseeing bus at the scenic area entrance to Yading Village. When taking the sightseeing bus, it is recommended to choose a window seat on the right side to enjoy the village scenery under the snow-capped mountains and the beautiful views along the way. Then arrive at the guesthouse staying in Yading Village. After a short rest, go to visit Pearl Lake. [Pearl Lake] is called 'Zhuoma Latso' in Tibetan and is a lake formed by snowmelt from Chenresig Sacred Mountain. Pearl Lake in the dense forest is like an emerald set on a lotus throne, with rippling blue waves, and infinite clarity revealed in the sparkling light. Around the lakeside, the surrounding greenery is like a screen, and the scenery is pleasant. In addition, this is also one of the best places to view Chenresig Sacred Mountain. The reflection of Chenresig Sacred Mountain is printed in the sacred lake, further showing the holiness and nobility of the sacred mountain. After the visit, return to Yading Village for accommodation.

This morning you can get up early to enjoy the magnificent sunrise scenery of Daocheng Yading. After breakfast, take the scenic area sightseeing bus to Zhaguanbeng, then walk along the wooden boardwalk for about 500 meters to reach a viewing platform. On the right is Chonggu Monastery and the beautiful Chonggu Grassland. Nearby is the clear murmuring stream, and in the distance is the sacred Xianuoduoji Snow Mountain. The scenery is very beautiful. Afterwards, you can take the battery car (at your own expense, 80 yuan/person round trip) to Luorong Pasture. 【Luorong Pasture】 is also the soul of the entire Yading scenic area. Here you can enjoy the beautiful fairy-tale-like scene formed by the two sacred mountains Xianuoduoji and Yangmaiyong together with meadows, rivers, forests, lakes, and other scenery. After the visit, head to Xiangcheng County.

After breakfast, head to 【Zhongde Village】 in Xiangcheng County to visit the filming location of "I Belonged to You" and check in at the radio station from the movie. There are pure white Tibetan houses, colorful prayer flags, and Tibetan rural fields in interlaced yellow and green, so beautiful that they can rival a hidden paradise. This picturesque land not only attracted Yaoji and Chen Mo here for inspiration, but also witnessed the love between Mao Shiba and Lizhi, leaving behind the traces of them running hand in hand. In the morning, the white Tibetan houses shine in the sunlight like a fairyland on earth, beautiful in a way that is both real and stunning! Every September, you can also experience the fun of picking plums and apples. Then continue driving, passing Benzilan. In Tibetan, Benzilan means "beautiful sand embankment," and it is the throat of the 【Tea Horse Road】 entering Tibet or Sichuan from northwestern Yunnan, an important transportation route from ancient times to the present. After passing Benzilan, you arrive at the 【Jinsha River Great Bend】, known for being "majestic, strange, dangerous and steep" (viewing platform ticket 30 yuan/person, at your own expense, optional). After visiting, continue onward, pass through Deqin County, and arrive at Feilaisi for overnight stay. If the weather is good, you can go to wait for the golden sunlight on the snow mountains of 【Meili Snow Mountain】 and photograph the Thirteen Peaks of Meili. Meili Snow Mountain is called Kawagebo Snow Mountain in Tibetan areas. It is the highest peak in Yunnan, the first of the "Eight Great Sacred Mountains of Tibetan Areas," and one of the "Ten Most Beautiful Famous Mountains in China."

When the sky is slightly bright in the morning, [Meili Snow Mountain] appears faintly before our eyes. If you enjoy photography, be sure to set up your tripod in advance. It is generally difficult to see Meili Snow Mountain in its entirety; if you are fortunate enough to see the Thirteen Peaks of Meili lined up before you, that awe-inspiring sight will be absolutely unforgettable for a lifetime. After breakfast, depart from Feilaisi and head to Yanjing to eat Jiajia noodles. Jiajia noodles are a specialty snack of the Yunnan-Tibet region. A large bowl is cooked each time, then served in small bowls, each holding just one bite, with the server adding more in portions. After finishing one bite, a little more is added—one bite per bowl—cooked with minced meat, extremely delicious, until you are full. Eating Jiajia noodles is about leisure and entertainment; the elaborate service is a way of welcoming friends and is very interesting. After eating, continue onward to visit the [Yanjing Ancient Salt Fields]. These ancient salt fields have a history of over 1,300 years and are the only place in China that preserves the most complete and primitive method of hand-sun-dried salt. Due to the different soil on the two banks of the Lancang River, the east bank uses white sandy soil as a bed, producing salt as white as crystal, called "snowflake salt," while the west bank uses red clay as a bed, producing salt with a pale red tint, called "red salt," also known as "peach blossom salt." Viewed from afar, it is quite a magnificent sight! After the visit, drive through the Hongla Mountain Yunnan Snub-nosed Monkey Nature Reserve toward Mangkang, and arrive in Mangkang in the evening for overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will depart from Mangkang, first cross the winding Lancang River, and then cross the Dongda Mountain Pass at an altitude of 5,130 meters. [Dongda Mountain Pass] is the second-highest pass on the Sichuan-Tibet South Route. Looking far from the snow-covered pass that reaches into the clouds, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and the Lancang River are like two crystal ribbons, faintly visible among thousands of mountains and ravines. Then pass through Zuogong to Bangda, passing through Bangda Grassland. [Bangda Grassland] is absolutely a great grassland within the borders of Tibet, and it is also the watershed between the Lancang River and the Nu River. Here the water and grass are abundant, the grassland is vast, and herds of cattle and sheep are scattered among it, grazing leisurely. The scenery is very beautiful. After a short stay, continue onward and cross [Yela Mountain Pass] at an altitude of 4,658 meters. This is the best viewpoint to look afar at the most imposing road on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway - the Nujiang 72 Turns. [Nujiang 72 Turns], as a necessary route on the Sichuan-Tibet South Route, is even more challenging and valuable to many cyclists or drivers precisely because of its danger. Every year, pedestrians passing this road are full of admiration for it. After resting and taking photos, you will descend all the way along the 72 Turns to the Grand Canyon, then continue along the Grand Canyon, and arrive in Basu for accommodation.

After breakfast, depart from Baxoi to visit Ranwu Lake. 【Ranwu Lake】 is a famous plateau glacier lake. The azure lake water and snow-capped peaks form a picturesque and poetic beautiful scene. Depending on the season, the water of Ranwu Lake also presents several colors such as azure or turquoise, and the scenery is very beautiful. After the visit, continue the journey to visit Midui Glacier, known as China's most beautiful glacier. 【Midui Glacier】 is the lowest-altitude glacier in the world. The entire glacier is as pure as jade, with beautiful scenery, diverse forms, and enchanting postures. Around it are herds of cattle and sheep, simple Tibetan-style dwellings, majestic snow mountains, and wild animals such as rock-climbing sheep and monkeys that stay year-round. After visiting Midui Glacier, continue onward and arrive in Bomi County, Nyingchi, to check in.

After breakfast, you will depart from Bomi. After passing through a stretch of primeval forest, head to the Tongmai Natural Barrier. In the past, along the 15-kilometer section from Tongmai to Pailong, mountain torrents and mudslides during the rainy season often triggered landslides and cut off the highway. Now the natural barrier has become an open route; several tunnels and one large bridge have opened up the Tongmai and Pailong natural barrier passages. Afterwards you will pass through the dense 【Lulang Forest Sea】, where the lush primeval forest stretches vast and forms an astonishing peerless beauty. Then cross Sejila Pass at an altitude of 4,728 meters. 【Sejila Pass】 is located on the southeast side of Bayi Town and is a famous landmark on the Sichuan-Tibet route. Here you can gaze into the distance at Lulang Forest Sea and Namcha Barwa behind it, and it is a great spot for photos. If you travel in May or June, you can also see azaleas blooming all over Sejila Mountain. Finally arrive in Nyingchi for overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart from Nyingchi, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Nyang River along the way. Then come to the [Nyingchi-Lhasa Highway], praised as "Tibet's most beautiful high-grade highway." Afterwards, exit the highway at Bahe Town and turn right for about 50 kilometers to reach the beautiful Basum Lake. [Basum Lake], also called "Cuogao Lake," is the largest barrier lake in eastern Tibet. The lake is shaped like a crescent moon set in a deep valley, with year-round snow on the surrounding green mountain peaks. Gentle in spring, passionate in summer, elegant in autumn, and pure in winter, no matter when you come to Basum Lake, you will be captivated by its serene, pristine, and exquisitely beautiful landscape. Climb onto the small island in the middle of the lake, where there is a Tang Dynasty building, the [Cuozong Gongba Monastery], a famous Nyingma school monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, built in the late Tang Dynasty with a history of over 1,500 years. After the visit, head to the holy city of Lhasa for overnight stay.

After breakfast, head to visit the Potala Palace, the ancient palace-fortress complex at the highest altitude in the world. [Potala Palace] stands on Maburi Hill in the northwest of Lhasa's urban area. It is a magnificent structure combining palace, fortress and monastery, and is also the largest and most complete ancient palace-fortress complex in Tibet. Built against the mountain, the palace has 13 stories, stands 117.19 meters tall, and stretches over 400 meters from east to west. You will climb up along the palace's long staircases, overlooking Lhasa as you go, taking in the full grandeur of the city. Pausing to rest while taking photos, you will then enter the Potala Palace to explore this mysterious ancient palace of which very few images are shown online. Afterwards, head to visit the Jokhang Temple, the holy site in the hearts of Tibetan Buddhist devotees. [Jokhang Temple] was first built in 647 AD and has a history of 1,350 years. It is the most splendid surviving structure from Tibet's Tubo period, with 5 golden roofs and 108 Buddhist halls. Here you can see the world's rare life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age 12 and devout pilgrims worshipping in front of the Jokhang Temple. After leaving the Jokhang Temple, you can walk clockwise around the Jokhang Temple as its center, imagining yourself as a Tibetan doing a kora, or go bargain-hunting at the handicraft market on [Barkhor Street], or simply stroll slowly along the streets, feeling the warmth of the City of Sunlight, or find a sweet tea house and learn the tranquility and contentment of Tibetan friends.

At this point, this wonderful Sichuan-Yunnan-Tibet route journey will come to an end. You can choose to leave Lhasa, and our guide will take you to the airport/train station, or you can choose to extend your trip and travel in the Tibet region. Whether it is an economical Tibet group tour or a comfortable and flexible private customized tour, we can make proper arrangements for you.