Western Sichuan Itineraries: 5, 7 and 9 Days from Chengdu
The 5-day western sampler
| Day | Route | Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Chengdu → Zheduo Pass (4,298 m) → Xinduqiao's photographer's corridor | Xinduqiao (3,460 m) |
| D2 | Tagong grassland, monastery & Muya pagodas → Moshi Park stone forest | Xinduqiao |
| D3 | Mugecuo lake & hot springs day | Kangding (2,560 m) |
| D4 | Luding Bridge & the Dadu River gorge → Chengdu | Chengdu |
| D5 | Pandas + city heritage, departure | — |
The 7-day classic to Yading
| Day | Route | Sleep |
|---|---|---|
| D1 | Chengdu arrival, private transfer | Chengdu (500 m) |
| D2 | G4218 → Zheduo Pass → Xinduqiao | Xinduqiao (3,460 m) |
| D3 | Tagong → high grassland → Litang's old town | Litang (4,014 m) |
| D4 | Haizi Shan boulder field → Daocheng valley | Daocheng (3,750 m) |
| D5 | Yading short line — Pearl Lake | Shangri-la town |
| D6 | Yading long line — Milk & Five-Colour Lakes (4,700 m) | Shangri-la town |
| D7 | Return east; fly out from Daocheng or drive back | — |
The 9-day grand loop
The 7-day route plus two: D8 south through the Baima snow road to Xiangcheng and back over to Shangri-la town; D9 return via the eastern corridor (or continue onward to Yunnan). Add Siguniang up front and it becomes the full 10-day “Sichuan plateau complete” — the trip our repeat guests rate highest.
Copy it or hand it over
Self-driving these routes is legal and increasingly common, but long single-lane passes, landslide days and fuel gaps between towns make a local driver the better trade for most visitors. Every route above runs as a licensed pure-play departure — the journeys page lists current group and private options.
From reading to booking
See the journeys this guide feeds into — run pure-play (zero shopping, in writing) by a licensed Chengdu operator.
Frequently asked questions
How many days for Western Sichuan?
Three tiers: 5 days (Xinduqiao–Tagong–Mugecuo sampler), 7 days (the classic Yading run), 9–10 days (the grand loop). More days mostly buy altitude comfort, not extra miles.
Can these itineraries be run privately?
Yes — all three run as private departures with a driver-guide, or as scheduled 2–8 guest small groups; the journeys page lists both.
Which itinerary suits October best?
All three, but the 7-day Yading run in mid-October combines golden valleys with the clearest skies of the year — book hotels well ahead.
Keep reading
Western Sichuan Travel Guide: the complete overview
What “Western Sichuan” actually covers — Garzê and Ngawa — the headline landscapes, realistic day counts, and how a first trip should be shaped.
Chengdu to Daocheng Yading: how to get there
Fly, bus or drive? Compare the three ways to Yading, then see the 7-day route that acclimatises you properly.
Altitude sickness in Western Sichuan: how to plan around it
Which towns sit above 3,000 m, how to pace a route upward, what AMS feels like, and the rules that keep first-timers safe.