Foreign Tourist Travel to Sichuan: Permit, Self-Driving Regulations & Restricted Areas (Official Integrated Policy)

Although Sichuan Province (四川省) is not a border province, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (甘孜藏族自治州), Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture (阿坝藏族羌族自治州), Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (凉山彝族自治州), and multiple deep mountain valleys and plateau ecological zones are classified as sensitive control areas / non-open regions / restricted tourism corridors.

According to the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC, Regulations on Foreigners’ Travel Permits (外国人旅行证管理规定), Temporary Entry Motor Vehicle & Driver Regulations, Sichuan Tourism Regulations, and the 2026 National Immigration Digital Documentation System, foreign visitors in Sichuan are managed under a strict tiered framework:

Open areas: free travel with passport + visa / Controlled areas: mandatory Foreigners’ Travel Permit or official reporting / Self-driving: compulsory Temporary Driving Permit / Military & ecological core zones: absolute prohibition.

This document integrates official rules from Sichuan Public Security Bureau, Immigration Administration, and Tourism Authorities, covering full compliance requirements for Western Sichuan, Tibetan plateau regions, and cross-prefecture travel corridors.

Absolute No-Entry Zones in Sichuan (Military, Religious & Ecological Protection Areas)

The following regions are permanently classified as strictly prohibited for foreign nationals (including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan visitors). No administrative body is authorized to issue permits. Entry violations may result in fines (500–5000 RMB), immediate removal, deportation, and national entry blacklist registration.

Leshan (乐山市)

JinKouHe Grand Canyon, Dadu River (金口河大渡河大峡谷)

China’s only officially designated foreign-entry-prohibited canyon, containing historical military defense tunnels, wartime infrastructure remnants, and restricted geological formations. No entry, no applications, no exceptions under any conditions.

Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (甘孜藏族自治州)

Seda County (色达县) – Larung Gar Buddhist Academy (五明佛学院)

A high-altitude religious monastic settlement and sensitive ideological management zone. Strict prohibition on foreign nationals and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan visitors. Permanent checkpoint enforcement.

Shiqu County (石渠县) Border Grassland Areas

Located in the northern Tibetan plateau ecological buffer zone near Yushu (玉树), characterized by border pasturelands and restricted mobility corridors.

Dege County (德格县) Zhuba Long Township (竹巴龙乡)

Strategic Jinsha River corridor along Sichuan–Tibet transport boundary zone with controlled access restrictions.

Genyen Scenic Area C / V Route (格聂景区C线/V线)

Core alpine glacier basin within Haizi Mountain Nature Reserve (海子山自然保护区). Classified as ecological red-zone; trekking, cycling, and transit strictly prohibited.

Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture (阿坝藏族羌族自治州)

Rangtang County (壤塘县) Tsongkha Monastery Vicinity

Religious-cultural preservation zone with restricted foreign access due to monastic ecosystem protection.

Ruoergai Hongxing Township (若尔盖红星乡)

Sichuan–Gansu border grassland surveillance belt with ecological protection and security control restrictions.

Jiuzhaigou Core Scenic Reserve (九寨沟核心保护区)

World-famous ecological UNESCO zone core area. Foreign visitors are strictly prohibited from entering non-tourist core ecosystems, off-route valleys, or closed restoration zones.

Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (凉山彝族自治州)

Muli Tibetan Autonomous County (木里藏族自治县)

Remote forested border junction of Sichuan–Yunnan–Tibet triangle zone with restricted ecological protection and border sensitivity.

Lugu Lake Core Wetland (泸沽湖核心湿地 / 摩梭文化区)

Highly sensitive ethnic cultural preservation zone (Mosuo heritage system) combined with wetland ecological protection restrictions.

Other Restricted Zones

• All military bases, radar stations, and classified surveillance installations
• High-altitude unmanned areas such as Gongga Mountain core climbing zone (贡嘎山核心区) and Siguniang Glacier non-open areas (四姑娘山未开放冰川区)
• Controlled highway sections of G317 / G318 deep mountain corridors where checkpoint authority enforces immediate turnaround orders

Controlled Areas Requiring Foreigners’ Travel Permit or Pre-Reporting

These areas fall under non-open or restricted tourism classification, requiring Foreigners’ Travel Permit (电子外国人旅行证) or mandatory travel agency reporting to Public Security Exit-Entry Administration before entry approval.

Ganzi Prefecture Controlled Zones (甘孜全域控制区)

• Kangding (康定): Mugecuo (木格措), Paoma Mountain (跑马山) – reporting required
• Luding (泸定): Luding Bridge (泸定桥) – reporting required
• Danba (丹巴): Jiaju Tibetan Village (甲居藏寨), Zhonglu Village (中路藏寨) – permit required
• Daofu (道孚), Luhuo (炉霍), Ganzi (甘孜县), Xinlong (新龙), Litang (理塘), Batang (巴塘): full prefecture-level permit zone
• Yading Scenic Area (稻城亚丁): mandatory permit verification at entry gate, biometric inspection may be required
• Genyen Plateau Area (格聂保护区): on-site declaration form + controlled entry authorization

Aba Prefecture Controlled Zones (阿坝控制区)

• Barkam (马尔康), Xiaojin (小金 / Siguniang Mountain 四姑娘山), Lixian (理县), Maoxian (茂县), Songpan (松潘), Hongyuan (红原), Aba County (阿坝县)
• Ruoergai open tourism corridors (若尔盖开放段) and Jiuzhaigou regulated tourist zones (九寨沟开放段)
• Huanglong Scenic Area (黄龙景区): restricted access to calcium deposition core pools and protected geological formations
• Siguniang Mountain (四姑娘山景区): foreign independent mountaineering strictly prohibited; certified guide mandatory

Liangshan Controlled Zones (凉山控制区)

• Xichang City (西昌市 / 邛海Qionghai Lake), Zhaojue (昭觉), Meigu (美姑), Leibo (雷波)
• Luoji Mountain Scenic Area (螺髻山景区): glacier core area strictly restricted

Fully Open Regions (No Permit Required)

Chengdu (成都), Mianyang (绵阳), Deyang (德阳), Guangyuan (广元), Suining (遂宁), Neijiang (内江), Leshan (乐山 excluding JinKouHe), Nanchong (南充), Meishan (眉山), Yibin (宜宾), Guang’an (广安), Dazhou (达州), Bazhong (巴中), Ya’an (雅安 excluding Ganzi border control segments)

Core Documents for Foreign Self-Driving in Sichuan

Foreigners’ Travel Permit (电子外国人旅行证)

Document type: Fully digital permit stored in China National Immigration Administration “12367 App” system

System functions:

• Dynamic QR code verification at checkpoints and scenic gates
• Displays passport identity, nationality, validity, and authorized zones
• Printed copy may be required in remote plateau checkpoints
• Mandatory in-person biometric registration (facial + fingerprint data)
• No agency proxy allowed
• Free issuance with no administrative fee
• Validity: 3 months, limited to approved regions only

Temporary Motor Vehicle Driving Permit (临时机动车驾驶许可)

Type: Physical plastic card issued by Vehicle Administration Bureau (车管所)

Validity: aligned with visa duration (maximum 3 months, extendable up to 1 year in special cases)

Operational requirements:

• Must carry foreign driving license + certified Chinese translation
• Mandatory 30-minute road safety briefing (no written exam required)
• Self-driving in Ganzi / Aba / Liangshan requires travel agency registration + guided itinerary approval

Required Application Materials (2026 Official Standard)

Basic Entry Documents (Mandatory for all foreigners)

• Passport (original + copy, validity ≥ 6 months, blank visa pages required)
• Valid Chinese visa (L/M or other categories) or visa-free entry record
• Accommodation registration certificate issued within 24 hours of arrival (hotel police registration form)
• Itinerary proof (hotel bookings or travel agency itinerary filing sheet)

Foreigners’ Travel Permit Application Materials

• Passport original + photocopy
• Visa / entry stamp page copy
• Accommodation registration certificate
• Completed application form (on-site submission)
• Travel agency filing document (mandatory for controlled regions)
• On-site biometric capture (photo + fingerprints, no external photos required)

Temporary Driving Permit Application Materials

• Passport original + copy
• Visa copy
• Foreign driving license (original) + certified Chinese translation
• Accommodation registration certificate
• Application form (on-site)
• 1-inch ID photos (2 pieces, can be taken on-site)
• Medical certificate required only for large vehicle categories
• Mandatory traffic regulation training participation (30 minutes, no exam)

Application Centers and Procedures (Official Sichuan Network)

Foreigners’ Travel Permit Offices (In-person only)

• Chengdu Public Security Exit-Entry Administration Bureau (成都市公安局出入境管理局) – province-wide authority
• Kangding Exit-Entry Service Center (康定市出入境大厅) – Ganzi plateau routes
• Barkam Exit-Entry Center (马尔康市出入境大厅) – Aba plateau routes
• Xichang Exit-Entry Center (西昌市出入境大厅) – Liangshan routes

Procedure flow: document submission → identity verification → biometric capture → digital permit issuance (same-day processing, approx. 30 minutes)
Fee: free of charge
Validity: 3 months, zone-specific authorization only

Temporary Driving License Offices

• Chengdu Vehicle Administration Bureau (郫都区犀团路) – province-wide service center
• Kangding Vehicle Bureau (康定)
• Barkam Vehicle Bureau (马尔康)
• Xichang Vehicle Bureau (西昌)

Procedure flow: document review → traffic safety training → fee payment → license issuance
Fee: 10 RMB administrative cost
Validity: up to 3 months, extendable to 1 year under visa extension policy

Travel & Self-Driving Field Guide (Western Sichuan Plateau Routes)

Tourism Classification System

Open zones: Chengdu (成都), Leshan (乐山 excluding JinKouHe), Ya’an (雅安), Mianyang (绵阳), Guangyuan (广元) – passport only required
Controlled zones: Ganzi (甘孜), Aba (阿坝), Liangshan (凉山) – Travel Permit mandatory
Prohibited zones: Seda (色达), JinKouHe Canyon (金口河峡谷), Genyen C Line (格聂C线), Jiuzhaigou core zone (九寨沟核心区)

Best seasonal windows:

• Ganzi / Yading (稻城亚丁): September–November (autumn color peak), June–August (summer plateau season)
• Aba / Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟 / 四姑娘山): April–May (flower bloom), September–October (forest color transition)
• Liangshan (西昌 / 螺髻山): November–April (stable sunny climate period)

Self-Driving Route Framework

Ganzi Plateau Route (川西经典线):
Chengdu → Ya’an (雅安) → Luding (泸定) → Kangding (康定) → Yading (稻城亚丁) → Litang (理塘) → Xinduqiao (新都桥) → Chengdu
Mandatory: Travel Permit + Driving Permit + agency filing + guide recommended

Aba Scenic Loop (阿坝环线):
Chengdu → Siguniang Mountain (四姑娘山) → Danba (丹巴) → Barkam (马尔康) → Hongyuan (红原) → Ruoergai (若尔盖) → Songpan (松潘) → Jiuzhaigou open zone (九寨沟开放段) → Chengdu
Mandatory: Travel Permit + Driving Permit

Liangshan Ethnic Route (凉山民族线):
Chengdu → Xichang (西昌) → Luoji Mountain (螺髻山) → Chengdu
Mandatory: Travel Permit only

Operational Safety Regulations

• Independent travel in controlled zones is strictly prohibited without agency filing
• Photography of military infrastructure, border markers, and restricted villages is forbidden
• High-altitude sickness prevention required (oxygen supply recommended above 3000m)
• Mountain road speed limit: 40–60 km/h
• Rainy season (June–September): landslide and rockfall risk
• Winter season (November–March): icy road conditions and reduced visibility

Sichuan Foreign Traveler Compliance Quick Reference Sheet

Essential Documents (All Regions)

Foreigners’ Travel Permit Summary

• Mandatory for Ganzi, Aba, Liangshan controlled regions
• Digital QR verification system via 12367 App
• In-person biometric registration required
• Free issuance
• Valid 3 months

Temporary Driving Permit Summary

• Physical card issued by Vehicle Bureau
• Requires foreign license + translation
• 30-minute traffic safety briefing
• Fee: 10 RMB
• Valid up to 3 months (extendable)

Route Compliance Table

Travel Compliance Reminder

Foreign visitors traveling in Sichuan plateau regions must strictly follow permit-based entry management, guided travel requirements in sensitive zones, and national traffic regulations. Independent entry into restricted ecological or security zones is strictly prohibited to ensure travel safety and legal compliance.