Day01 Arrival in Chengdu Arrival in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, the home town of Pandas. Picked up by the local guide at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at 4*Holiday Inn Express Wuhou Day02 Chengdu - Shangli Ancient Town BLD After breakfast, visit of the Chengdu Panda Breeding Base. Afterwards we leave in the morning for Shangli in Ya’an. On the way we will have a walk on the old streets and alleys at Pingle, in addition, exploration of old houses and stone bridges at Shangli Old Town. Overnight at gueshouse in Shangli Day03 Shangli – Bifengxia – Ya’an – Erlangshan Labahe BLD Leave in the morning. We will first of all visit the China Giant Panda Breeding and Research Institute in the Bifeng Gorge (Gorge of Green Peak). Keep moving to Fengtongzhai Natural Reserve for Giant Pandas in Baoxing, visit of the old cathedral in Dengchigou built by a French missionary in the 19th Century. Later, a churchman named “A. David” discovered the first giant panda and introduced it to the West. Overnight at hotel in Labahe Day04 Labahe – Danba BLD Visit of Labahe Natural Reserve in the morning to see scenic spots such as Yinchang Ping, Silver Cave Lake and Luchi etc.. in the afternoon we leave for Danba and on arrival visit of Jiaju Tibetan Village and Suopo Ancient Towers. Overnight at homestay in Jiaju village Day05 Danba – Barkham – Hongyuan BLD In the morning review the tranquil Jiaju village. Head for Hongyuan via Barkham today. On the way, we will take a short tour to the Zhuokeji Stronghold, the former residence of a local landlord. Before night we arrive in Hongquan, a vast Tibetan pasture, meaning literarily “Red Plain” due to the “red army” who passed by this area during their “long march” in the 1930s. Check in hotel and spare time. Overnight at 3*318 Hotel Day06 Hongyuan – Tangke – Langmusi BLD In the morning we drive to Tangka village to go sightseeing the First on the Nine Bends of Yellow River. The Yellow River originates from the Geladaindong lying in the middle section of Tanggula Shan. As coming over the Mengtang of Qinghai Province, it changes its northward direction to rush southeastward. Upon arrival at Tangke, it turns back and flees northwestward. In addition, we will go to Xiamen Preserve for Black Cranes. Finally we will leave for Langmusi (Lhamo), a tranquil and picturesque Tibetan village at an altitude of 3300 m, beautiful landscapes, well preserved Tibetan cultures, unknown by most tourists. Overnight at Langmusi Hotel Day07 Langmusi BLD Day tour to explore the Tiebu Natural Reserve for the spotted deer and grand pasture Re’er and the beautiful flower lake on the Re’er pasture, which is defacto a large wet land with an altitude of 3468m over sea level. Transfer back to Langmusi and stay overnight. Day08 Langmusi – Ruo’ergai – Huanglong BLD Check out in the morning and leave for Huanglong via Ruo’ergai along endless grasslands and Tibetan black tents and yaks, horses etc. Later that day we arrive in Huanglong and check in the hotel. Overnight at 3*Hualong Shanzhuang Hotel Day09 Huanglong – Jiuzhaigou BLD In the morning we will trek from the entrance up to the Colourful Ponds, a highlight of today’s journey. Take the cable car downwards and go back to the entrance after the trek. Located at Songpan County, the Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) scenic spot, as the legend goes, is so named to commemorate the Golden Dragon of the East Sea who helped Dayu, an ancient emperor in remote antiquity, to regulate rivers and watercourse. The Min Mountains and forests contribute to the complete primitive ecological environment, unique magic scenery and pastoral customs of the minority nationality. As a national park in China, Huanglong has won the praise as “heaven on earth” or “wonderland” and is marked by its low-temperature and highly calcified Karst landform, which forms numerous valuable colored ponds. Besides, marvelous water forms, natural scenery composed of magnificent valleys, colorful pools, grasslands and wild animals all make Huanglong more fascinating. Drive to our hotel at Jiuzhaigou. Overnight at 4*Gesang Hotel Day10 Jiuzhaigou National Park BLD Full day excursion to the Jiuzhaigou National Park. Situated in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Jiuzhaigou (Nine-villages Valley) is listed as a World Natural Heritage and reputed as a “fairyland” with its fantastic natural view. It is named after the nine Tibetan villages in the scenic area. As the water, the “soul of Jiuzhaigou”, is pure and crystal-like and rich in colors, there is an adage saying that no water is worth your attention after your visit to Jiuzhaigou. The water, the reflection on the bank, the stone mill, the Tibetan villages, the Buddhist streamers and the songs and dances of the Tibetan and Qiang people make up the unique culture of Jiuzhaigou. 114 green lakes, 47 springs, 17 over flying waterfall groups, 11 sections of turbulent streams, 5 Karst shoals, vast primitive forest and three Tibetan villages are distributed among the three valleys. It has an area of 1320 square km. including 30,000 hectares of primitive forest where live 2576 proto species including scores of state-protected animals and plants such as the giant panda, golden monkey and mono-leaf grass. Overnight at 4*Gesang Hotel Day11 Jiuzhaigou – Pingwu – Wanglang Natural Reserve Leave in the morning for the Giant Panda Habitat – Wanglang Natural Reserve in Pingwu County. We will pass by Azalea Mountain and the White Horse people’s village – a subbranch of ethnic Tibetan. On arrival at Wanglang Reserve, check in a wooden lodge in the preserve Day12 Wanglang BLD Full day guided tour in the Natural Reserve to study the eco environment of giant panda’s habitat in the wild. Wanglang Nature Reserve, established in 1963 by the Sichuan Forestry Bureau, is located in the Minshan Mountains in some of China's most important panda habitat. Wanglang, whose purpose is to protect the giant panda and its habitat, and the 10 other nearby reserves in remote areas of northern Sichuan are critical for the survival of the giant panda. It is estimated that there are about 30 wild pandas living in Wanglang. Overnight at wooden lodge Day13 Wanglang – Tangjiahe Natural Reserve BLD We leave Wanglang for Tangjiahe today. At noon we arrive at the headquarter at Maojiaba which is used both as the tourist reception and the offices of its staff. Visit of Minshan Mountain range Musuem for flora and fauna and the environmental education centre etc. Check in Golden Panda Resort and spare time. Day14 Tangjiahe Natural Reserve BLD Founded in 1978 and approved as a national reserve by the State Council of China in 1986, with an area of 40,000 hectares, the Sichuan Tangjiahe Natural Reserve is purposed to protect the rare giant panda and its fragile habitat and other flora and fauna in the area. It is located in the hilly county of Qingchuan, Sichuan Province. In the morning we meet an expert from the reserve administration, and set out along the ecological route from Maoxiangba to Shuichi Ping to watch wild birds and other animals. Return back for breakfast and afterwards drive approx. 22km to Tizi eco-observation site from where we start hiking towards Wild Yak Mountain (3200m). On arrival at Wild Yak Mountain, have a picnic lunch. In the afternoon watch birds till sunset. At night we will observe wild animals such as rare chinese antelopes by infrared night vision devices. Camping Day15 Tangjiahe Natural Reserve BLD Walk up in the morning sun. Continue our observation of the wild animals omega replica and eco systems. The whole morning will be for birding the Chinese Monal Pheasant, blood pheasant, Chinese Hazel Grouse, and golden pheasant ect. In the afternoon we will hike up to a meadow (3800m), the home of the rare antelope, to observe their activities. Return to our camp before sunset. In the summer months of late JUNE to early SEPTEMBER, it is common to see Chinese Monal Pheasant and antelope in groups on the grassland. Camping Day16 Tangjiahe – Chengdu BL Leave in the morning along the same way back to Tangjiahe HQ and meet our driver to go back to Chengdu. If time allows, we can take a short tour to the Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan. Overnight at 4*Holiday Inn Express Wuhou Day17 See off B Transfer to the airport and see off. End of the tour in Sichuan.
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