14 Days Sichuan Cycle and Hike Tour

Today combines one of China’s most iconic wildlife experiences with your first cycling and hiking adventure.

After breakfast, take a short drive to Dujiangyan Panda Valley, a peaceful conservation base dedicated to the rehabilitation of giant pandas. Compared to larger panda centers, this site offers a quieter and more intimate experience, allowing you to observe pandas and cubs in a natural environment.

After the visit, begin your first cycling journey along quiet country roads at the foot of Mount Qingcheng, one of the birthplaces of Taoism. The ride is gentle and scenic, passing:

• Bamboo groves and farmland
• Traditional Sichuan villages
• Mountain backdrops marking the edge of the Tibetan Plateau

You will arrive at Jiezi Ancient Town, a historic riverside settlement that once served as an important stop along the Tea Horse Road. Wander through its narrow lanes, ancient bridges, and traditional houses while learning about its trading history and cultural significance.

In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing hike on Mount Fengqi, a hidden gem less visited than nearby famous peaks. The trail winds through:

• Dense bamboo forests
• Quiet woodland paths
• Scattered rural homes

At the summit, visit a secluded Buddhist monastery, offering a peaceful atmosphere and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

Cycling Distance: ~20 km
Hiking Distance: ~6 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Jiezi Ancient Town
Altitude: ~620m

After breakfast, continue your cycling journey along the picturesque Chongqing Road, one of the most beautiful and least-traveled cycling routes in the Chengdu Plain.

Today’s ride offers a deeper immersion into rural Sichuan life, with landscapes that include:

• Expansive rice paddies and farmland
• Bamboo forests and quiet country lanes
• Small villages where locals farm, fish, and enjoy tea

The peaceful surroundings and minimal traffic make this an ideal cycling day, allowing you to fully appreciate the region’s natural beauty and slower pace of life.

By afternoon, you will reach Anren Ancient Town, often referred to as “China’s Museum Town.” Unlike older ancient towns, Anren features a unique blend of modern history, culture, and education.

You will visit key cultural sites such as:

• Jianchuan Museum Cluster – one of China’s largest private museum complexes, showcasing themes from wartime history to folk culture
• Liu Wencai Mansion – a well-preserved estate that provides insight into the life of a wealthy landowner in early 20th-century China

In the evening, enjoy free time to explore the town’s charming streets, boutique shops, cafés, and local restaurants.

Cycling Distance: ~50 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Anren Ancient Town
Altitude: ~540m

Today begins with a short transfer to the foothills of White Pagoda Monastery, a peaceful spiritual site surrounded by forested hills. Here you will start your immersive hiking experience in the lesser-known natural area of Wugen Mountain.

The morning hike takes you through:

• Quiet forest trails and bamboo groves
• Small hidden villages tucked into the mountains
• A scenic valley landscape with fresh mountain air

You will also visit a small monastery library built by Master Guoping, offering a unique insight into local Buddhist practice. The trail gradually opens into a valley where you can enjoy a traditional countryside lunch.

In the afternoon, continue hiking along a ridge path overlooking lakes and rolling hills. The route leads down to a peaceful teahouse where you can rest and experience the local tea culture.

Later in the day, you will cycle a short distance through rural villages known for:

• Bamboo weaving traditions
• Rice farming communities
• Slow-paced village life

By late afternoon, transfer to Pingle Ancient Town, a historic Tea Horse Road settlement.

Cycling Distance: ~11 km
Hiking Distance: ~12 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Pingle Ancient Town
Altitude: ~530m

Today is one of the most scenic and physically rewarding cycling days of the journey.

Start the morning with a visit to Pingle Ancient Town, where riverside teahouses and traditional architecture reflect centuries of tea culture. Locals still gather here to drink tea, play mahjong, and relax with their feet in the river.

Begin cycling into increasingly rural landscapes, passing through:

• Rolling tea plantations
• Mountain valleys and forested slopes
• Remote farming villages

The route becomes more challenging as you ascend a 7 km mountain climb, reaching tea terraces at around 1,200 meters. The climb rewards you with sweeping views of green valleys and layered hills.

Next, descend toward White Horse Spring, a mysterious Taoist site famous for its “tide-like” spring phenomenon, where water levels rise and fall unpredictably, often accompanied by unusual natural sounds.

From here, continue a short ride to Shangli Ancient Town, one of the earliest Tea Horse Road trading hubs. This picturesque riverside town is known for:

• Stone bridges and wooden houses
• Ancient tea processing traditions
• Mountain-framed scenery and flowing riverbanks

Explore the town in the afternoon before dinner by the river.

Cycling Distance: ~45 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Shangli Ancient Town
Altitude: ~930m

Today begins with a scenic ride toward Bifengxia Forest Park, a lush canyon landscape filled with waterfalls, dense vegetation, and rich biodiversity.

Start with a light cycling warm-up, followed by a hike through two beautiful valleys:

• Forest trails with bamboo and moss-covered trees
• Multiple waterfalls cascading through narrow gorges
• Cool, humid air contrasting with previous dry mountain terrain

This area offers a refreshing natural experience before entering higher-altitude regions.

After lunch, begin a long scenic drive westward to Kangding, an important historical trading town on the edge of the Tibetan world.

Kangding is known as a cultural crossroads where Han Chinese and Tibetan cultures blend, offering your first real exposure to Tibetan architecture, prayer flags, and mountain town life. Upon arrival, take a gentle walk through the town to begin adapting to increasing altitude.

Cycling Distance: ~14 km
Hiking Distance: ~13 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Kangding
Altitude: ~2,560m

Today marks a major transition in the journey as you leave the greener Sichuan valleys and ascend into the dramatic landscapes of the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

After breakfast, depart Kangding, an important historical gateway between Han Chinese and Tibetan cultures. The road climbs steadily toward Zheduo Mountain Pass (4,298m), where prayer flags flutter across rugged mountain ridges and the air becomes noticeably thinner and cooler.

At the pass, pause to take in sweeping views of snow peaks, alpine valleys, and winding mountain roads—this is the symbolic entrance to the Tibetan world.

Continue driving toward Xinduqiao, often called the “Photographer’s Paradise.” The scenery here is vast and cinematic:

• Endless grasslands and rolling hills
• Snow-capped peaks in the distance
• Yak herds grazing beside rivers
• Traditional Tibetan houses scattered across valleys

Depending on weather and energy levels, you may enjoy a short acclimatization ride (5–10 km) around the area in the afternoon.

The rest of the day is free for rest and altitude adaptation.

Cycling: Optional 5–10 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Xinduqiao
Altitude: ~3,460m

Today is one of the most visually striking cycling days of the entire journey, as you ride through the heart of the Kham Tibetan region.

Begin cycling through wide open valleys toward Tagong Grassland, where vast grasslands stretch beneath the towering snow peaks of the eastern Himalayas. On clear days, you may see the sacred mountain Ya’la Snow Mountain (5,884m) dominating the skyline.

Along the route, visit important cultural and spiritual landmarks:

• Tagong Monastery, a revered Tibetan Buddhist site
• Ani Gompa, the largest nunnery in the region
• Prayer walls and mani stone piles carved with Tibetan mantras

Local pilgrims can often be seen walking clockwise around sacred sites, spinning prayer wheels and offering butter lamps.

The ride continues through open grasslands and gentle mountain terrain before a gradual descent toward Bamei, a remote Tibetan valley known for its dramatic limestone rock formations and peaceful rural life.

Cycling Distance: ~72 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Bamei
Altitude: ~3,500m

Today the landscape softens as you descend from high grasslands into deep river valleys and Tibetan cultural heartlands.

Begin with a short cycle to Huiyuan Temple, an important Buddhist site originally built during the Qing Dynasty to strengthen cultural ties between Tibetan and Han regions. The temple complex sits quietly among mountains, offering a peaceful spiritual atmosphere.

Continue by vehicle toward Danba, a region famous for its Gyalrong Tibetan heritage and spectacular village architecture.

Here you will visit Jiaju Tibetan Village, often called one of the most beautiful villages in China. The village is built along a hillside, with traditional stone-and-wood houses surrounded by:

• Terraced farmland
• Apple and pear orchards
• Flowing mountain rivers
• Watchtowers and prayer flags

You will also visit a local Tibetan family, gaining insight into daily life, farming traditions, and hospitality customs unique to this region.

The day ends with time to walk through the village and enjoy panoramic views of the valley.

Cycling Distance: ~11 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Danba
Altitude: ~1,860m

After breakfast in Chengdu, you will drive southwest toward Ya’an, a historic gateway between the Chengdu Plain and the Tibetan Plateau. The journey takes you gradually into greener, more mountainous terrain, famous for its misty climate and world-renowned tea production.

In the afternoon, explore the legendary Mount Mengding Tea Plantation, considered one of the birthplaces of tea cultivation in China. This region has more than 2,000 years of tea-growing history and is known for producing some of the highest-quality green tea in the country.

You will walk or cycle through beautifully maintained tea terraces, where local farmers still harvest tea using traditional methods. The landscape is peaceful and immersive, with endless layers of green hills and tea fields stretching into the distance.

Highlights of the day include:

• Mengding Mountain Tea Plantations (ancient origin of Chinese tea culture)
• Scenic cycling or walking through terraced tea fields
• Interaction with local tea farmers and traditional processing methods

This is a relaxing cultural day, allowing you to experience the slower rhythm of Sichuan’s tea country after several days of cycling and mountain travel.

Overnight: Ya’an
Altitude: approx. 600m

Today you head to one of China’s most important spiritual landmarks: Mount Emei (Emeishan), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China.

In the morning, transfer toward the lower slopes of Mount Emei and begin your journey through its lush subtropical forest zone. The mountain is famous for its rich biodiversity, ancient temples, and spiritual atmosphere that has attracted pilgrims for over 1,000 years.

You will explore a combination of cycling and scenic travel through the foothills, followed by visits to key cultural and natural highlights.

Main highlights include:

• Mount Emei scenic area (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Ancient temples hidden in forested mountains
• Scenic river valleys and lush subtropical landscapes

In the afternoon, continue toward the Leshan region, passing through countryside and riverside scenery. Depending on timing, you may begin preparations for the next day’s visit to the Leshan Giant Buddha, or enjoy a relaxed evening in a comfortable local hotel.

This day blends spiritual culture, mountain scenery, and light cycling, preparing you for the deeper exploration of Sichuan’s sacred Buddhist heritage.

Overnight: Leshan region
Altitude: approx. 450–1300m (varies by location)

The day begins with one of Sichuan’s most iconic cultural and natural highlights: the Leshan Giant Buddha, the world’s largest stone-carved Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the morning, you will travel to the river area and take a scenic boat cruise on the Min River, offering the best panoramic view of the 71-meter-high Buddha statue carved into the red cliff face over 1,200 years ago. From the water, you can fully appreciate the scale and serenity of this ancient masterpiece.

Highlights include:

• Leshan Giant Buddha (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Scenic river cruise viewpoint of the Buddha
• Riverside cliffs and ancient Buddhist carvings

After the visit, you will continue a short cycling route (approx. 30km) through rural countryside and river valleys on the way back toward Chengdu’s southern region. The ride offers a final blend of Sichuan’s agricultural landscapes, tea fields, and riverside scenery.

In the evening, arrive in the Chengdu region and relax in a comfortable hotel. Optional hot spring or leisure time to recover after the mountain journey.

Overnight: Chengdu outskirts
Altitude: approx. 500m

Today features a relaxed but culturally rich cycling experience around the Chengdu countryside and one of the region’s best-preserved ancient towns: Huanglongxi Ancient Town, a settlement with over 1,700 years of history.

The morning ride takes you through quiet rural roads, farmland, and bamboo forests, gradually approaching the Ming River valley. The scenery becomes more traditional and atmospheric as you near the ancient town region.

Key highlights of the day:

• Cycling through Chengdu’s rural countryside and riverside villages
• Visit to Zhongyan Temple, a sacred site with over 1,500 years of Buddhist history
• Exploration of natural springs, bamboo forests, and traditional villages

After cycling, you arrive at Huanglongxi Ancient Town, known for its:

• Riverside teahouses and stone-paved streets
• Traditional Sichuan architecture
• Ancient bridges and river scenery
• Famous local street food culture (“one noodle performance” noodles)

Spend the evening exploring lantern-lit streets, tasting Sichuan snacks, and relaxing by the river.

Overnight: Huanglongxi Ancient Town
Altitude: approx. 500m

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed morning in Huanglongxi Ancient Town or your hotel surroundings. This is your final chance to soak in the peaceful riverside atmosphere of Sichuan’s historic countryside.

Later, your guide and driver will transfer you to Chengdu Airport (approx. 1 hour drive) for your onward journey.

As the tour concludes, you leave with a complete experience of Sichuan’s most iconic landscapes and cultures, including:

• Ancient Tea Horse Road towns
• Sacred Buddhist mountains and temples
• Giant pandas and conservation areas
• Tibetan plateau gateway regions
• World-famous Leshan Giant Buddha
• Chengdu’s countryside cycling routes and tea plantations

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