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13 Days Botanical Trip in Rainy Mountain Zone of West China

Date:May 5-17th
Price:3200USD/pax
Trip Focus:Classic Flower Tours
Status:Open to Booking
Trip Code:FC002
Guide(s):Local Guide
The Rainy Mountain Zone of West China, which is located along the west rim of the Sichuan Basin, ranges 5070 km east to west and 400450 km from north to south, with an area of 25,000 km 2 or 0.26% of the territory of China. This area is the transition zone between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. From the Chengdu Plain sitting at 500 meters above sea level, it rises steeply to snow mountains above 5000 meters above sea level. The huge height difference intercepts the monsoon water vapor like a barrier, the east side of the mountains is very rich in rainfall, the mountains are surrounded by clouds and mist all year round, and the air is humid, which is very suitable for the growth of plants. This region has the most abundant rainfall, least sunshine hours in inland China. This zone is well known for its beautiful landscapes, plentiful vegetation types, abundant resources, and diversity of plants and animals. This region is the boundary of the Sino-Himalayan Flora and the Sino-Japanese Flora. In this trip, we will travel among several famous mountains to explore the kingdom of rare and endemic plants in southwest China.

Dates & Prices

Dates Booking Status Price Single Supplement Group Size Guide
May. 5 to May.17, 2025Open to Booking3,200USD/pax370USD/pax6~12Local Guide
May. 5 to May.17, 2026Open to Booking3,200USD/pax370USD/pax6~12Local Guide

The cost includes the following:

1. Transportation throughout the trip.
2. Meals in local popular restaurants.
3. All the entrance tickets for places listed in the itinerary including cable cars and shuttle buses.
4. Hotel stays from the first day to the last day of the trip, nice 3-star hotels in big cities and local best in local places.
5.Bottled water, and snacks throughout the trip.
6. Service charges of this trip include the fees of a professional English-speaking plant guide.
7. China domestic travel insurance.

 

The cost does not include the following:

1. Any expense of personal nature such as laundry.
2. During this trip, extra charges due to the change of itinerary from the client-side or other factors are beyond the control of WildFloraTour.
3. Flight tickets to the place where our trip starts and from the place where our trip ends.
4. Expenses for visa application.
5. Gratuities to the guide and driver.

Itinerary



D1 Arrive at Chengdu. Meals: D
Arrive at Chengdu, meet your guide at the airport, and transfer to your hotel. Welcome dinner in the evening.
Overnight:Minshan Anyi Hotel (Chengdu Chunxi Taikoo Li) or similar

D2 Chengdu to Qingcheng Mountain. Meals: BLD
Visit Dujiangyan Panda Valley in the morning, in the afternoon drive to Qingcheng Mountain. We will take a cable car to the top of Qingcheng Mountain, then walk down slowly to enjoy plants, natural scenery, and rich Taoist culture.
Overnight: Happyland & Health Home or similar

D3 Qingcheng Mountain to Xiling Snow Mountain. Meals: BLD
Transfer to posterior Qingcheng Mountain. Hike along the lush valley to look for rare plants. In the late afternoon, leave Qingcheng Mountain and drive(2h) to Xiling Snow Mountain.
Overnight: Xiling Yihao Hot Spring Hotel or similar

D4 Explore the Xiling Snow Mountain. Meals: BLD
Take a cable car to the higher area of Xiling Snow Mountain for plants, In the late afternoon return to the foot of the mountain by cable car.
Overnight: Xiling Yihao Hot Spring Hotel or similar

D5 Dafeishui valley to Ya 'an Bifengxia Gorge. Meals: BLD
Hike along the Dafeishui valley for plants and beautiful scenery, in the afternoon we drive to Ya 'an Bifengxia Gorge.
Overnight: Senglin Huayu Hotel or similar

D6 Bifengxia Gorge to Shangli Ancient Village. Meals: BLD
Visit Bifengxia Gorge in the morning for plants and Shangli Ancient Village for experiencing local lifestyle and cultural immersion in the afternoon. Then drive to Ya’an city.
Overnight: Yu Du Hotel or similar

D7 Ya 'an City to Longcang Valley. Meals: BLD
Drive (1.5 hours) to Longcang Valley, explore the canyon with big trees and endemic plants such as Chinese Dove Tree, return to Ya 'an in the afternoon.
Overnight: Yu Du Hotel or similar

D8 Ya 'an to Wawu Mountain. Meals: BLD
Drive (2 hours) from Ya 'an to Wawu Mountain. Along the way, we can enjoy the scenery of bamboo forest in the canyon and experience the local old houses in Wangyu Town. In the afternoon, we will visit the Shuangdongxi Valley of Wawu Mountain for plants.
Overnight: Zhuoshan Hotel or similar

D9 Explore the Wawu Mountain. Meals: BLD
Visit the top of Wawu Mountain, wander around the coniferous forest, enjoy a large number of Rhododendron, cliff waterfalls, and alpine scenery.
Overnight: Zhuoshan Hotel or similar

D10 Wawu Mountain to Emei Mountain. Meals: BLD
Drive (2 hours) from Wawu Mountain to Emei Mountain, take a shuttle bus to the higher area of Emei Mountain, look for rare plants around.
Overnight: Xinlongmen Boutique Hotel or similar

D11 Explore the Emei Mountain for endemic plants. Meals: BLD
Get up early to enjoy the stunning sea of clouds, the sunrise, and the Buddhist temple and culture in Emei Mountain, drive to the lower area of Emei Mountain for more endemic plants.
Overnight: Jiran Hostel or similar

D12 Leshan Giant Buddha to Chengdu. Meals: BLD
Visit Leshan Giant Buddha and return to Chengdu in the afternoon.
Overnight: Minshan Anyi Hotel (Chengdu Chunxi Taikoo Li) or similar

D13 Depart from Chengdu. Meals: B
 

Introduction to Trip Destinations:

Qingcheng Mountain

Qingcheng Mountain is located in Dujiangyan, northwest of Chengdu. It is considered one of the birthplaces of Taoism and one of the most important Taoist holy mountains in China. Mount Qingcheng can be divided into two parts - the anterior part and the posterior part. The anterior part is the main part of the scenic spot that possesses alluring natural beauty and an abundance of cultural relics and historic sites. The posterior part is wilder with beautiful forests, streams, valleys, and many endemic plants. Some of the plants are named after Qingcheng Mountain.

Mount Emei

Mt. Emei is not just a Buddhist holy mountain. It is a paradise for plants with the most abundant plant species in Sichuan. There are 3700 species of higher plants distributed in this area including a large number of endemic species. Mt. Emei is also a national geological park in China. So 1996, the UNESCO listed Emei Mountain and neighboring Leshan Giant Buddha as World Nature and Culture Heritage Site.

 

Xiling Snow Mountain

Xiling Snow Mountain is located in Dayi County, about 95 kilometers (59 miles) away from the Chengdu urban area. Covering an area of 375 square kilometers (145 square miles), it is one of the world's natural heritage, a habitat for giant pandas, and a national key scenic spot. The mountain top is covered with snow all year round. Measuring 5,346 meters (17,539 feet) above sea-level, is the highest peak in the Chengdu area. The scenery of Xiling Snow Mountain is original, natural, rough and complete, including water scenery such as streams and waterfalls, biology scenery like exotic flowers, rare plants, and valuable animals, and sky scenery such as cloud sea, sunrise, and “Buddha’s halo” over forests.

Wawu Mountain

Located in the core area of the Rain Zone of West China, Wawu mountain is 2830m above sea level and is considered the highest and largest table mountain in China. The platform of the mountain top is about 11 square kilometers, the platform is surrounded by cliffs over one thousand meters. The whole mountain range is covered by a lush virgin forest. There are dense virgin coniferous forests on the top of the mountain, as well as over 30 species of Rhododendron. In 1908, British botanist Ernest Henry Wilson came to Wawu Mountain and made a brief survey of the plant species there. He was the first foreigner to visit Wawu Mountain.

Notes:

 Most of the places are easy and moderate, in some sites we need a few hours’ walks, but it is OK for most people.

 We will travel in moist and rainy mountains, so we need to take waterproof clothes and antiskid shoes.

Tour Guides

We will arrange one of our WildFloraTour experts for this trip based on the focus of this trip. All our experts have rich experiences of guiding tours in this region. The following are some of our best local guides for your references.

Cory Li      WildFloraTour plant expert

Cory Li,co-founder, and general manager of WildFloraTour is a super fan of nature, especially for flowers. His passion for nature grows from the beauty of greens in the little boys' eyes. As a native of Sichuan Chengdu, he has spent a lot of time exploring nature in the mountains nearby his hometown. During his study at Sichuan University, he began to take lots of outdoor activities like hiking and mountain climbing and started to study knowledge about flora by himself. After graduation, he even spent more time in the wild than office exploring wildflowers in Sichuan and nearby provinces with other nature lovers and photographed about two thousand wildflower species. He even found several new distributions of some endemic species and even some new species of plants along with some other nature lovers. He loves to share his findings and stories behind the photos with other nature lovers on the internet and became a “flora idol” in southwest China. He never expected becoming famous out of this, he just enjoys sharing the beauty of those lovely flowers with others.

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Ke Huang      WildFloraTour plant expert

Huang Ke, who graduated with a master's degree from Sichuan University, joined a local NGO after graduation, dedicating himself to environmental protection and biological resource surveys. Through years of study and fieldwork, he has gained a profound understanding of the diverse animals and plants in Southwest China. His work has taken him to remote forests, high-altitude meadows, and pristine river valleys, where he has documented rare species and contributed valuable ecological data.In addition to his field research, Huang Ke actively participated in the editing of several nature-related books, including the "Wild Bird Cartoon Guide" series, Between the Forest and the Sea, Picture of Giant Pandas, and Chengdu Nature Notes, which aim to enhance public awareness of biodiversity and conservation. His botanical research has also led to the discovery and publication of new plant species, such as Primula xilingensis and Primula meishanensis, enriching scientific knowledge of China’s flora. His passion for nature continues to drive his efforts in research, conservation, and education.

DSC_9708 Cory.jpgRay      WildFloraTour plant expert

Ray graduated from Leshan Normal University, majoring in plant science. As an expert at WildFlora, Ray is responsible for the daily operations of WildFloraTour. He possesses a profound passion for nature, which prompted him to resign from his job in his hometown of Deyang and relocate to Chengdu to pursue his dreams and join WildFloraTour. Having specialized in botanical studies during his university years, Ray has acquired a distinct advantage in his work, affording him opportunities to discover endemic species and make thrilling new findings. Additionally, Ray is an avid photographer who captures the ephemeral beauty of nature, preserving invaluable moments that inspire others to appreciate the wonders of the natural world. At WildFloraTour, he collaborates with a team of plant specialists to design customized tours that cater to the individual interests of each traveler who has keen interests in plants. Whether it involves botanical exploration, cultural immersion, or wildlife safaris, Ray and his team strive to provide a comprehensive and immersive experience that fosters a deeper connection with nature.

图片1.pngBella      WildFloraTour bird and mammal expert

Bella, the director of AlpineBirding, was graduated from Sichuan Agricultural University with a Bachelor's Degree. She joined AlpineBirding in early 2016 and became the director of AlpineBirding in 2018. She was born and grown up in a Bai ethnic family in Yunnan Province which boasts of the largest number of bird species in China. Her interests toward birds started with her observation of a Long-tailed Minivet in her mom’s garden at a very young age. As she grows up, the interests and love toward birds become stronger and stronger. Because of that, she found AlpineBirding before graduation and joined the company for further learning of birds. Bella has guided a number of birding trips in cooperation with AlpineBirding guide in the past years, her passion, readiness to help and detail-oriented attitude have won her lots of praise from our clients. She takes great pride in the work she is doing, now she is ready to help you plan your best birding trip in China in cooperation with her colleagues.

图片2.pngKaren       WildFloraTour logistic expert

Karen Lin is a native of Chengdu, Sichuan province. She loves and knows the culture of her hometown well, such as ancient Shu civilization, folk customs and ancient Chinese poetry.She has over 14 years' experience in foreign affairs service and tourism. She is familiar with the whole process of group operation. She is always good at thinking and full of ideas, and always gives the guests a warm experience with the special attention and consideration.Karen loves birds and enjoys go out for birding with the team, sometimes, she works as assistant for the group. She likes nature and is good at parent-child natural activities and education. In addition, she has long devoted herself to public welfare, especially caring for the elderly and disabled people, environmental protection, and reading promotion. She organizes and participates in a number of related volunteer work. She is a passionate and intelligent member of our team.

Philip      WildFloraTour culture and bird expert

As a half Kangba Tibetan, Philip is the founder of WildfloraTour and is native of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He has a deep love for his Kangba Tibetan heritage and the land where he was born and raised. Philip's career has gone from mining technician to teacher, to translator, and finally to a guide and tour operator. Along the way, Philip discovered his passion and love for helping tourists understand the beauty and history of his people and homeland. Philip is known for his ability to plan and execute unique and exciting adventure trips exploring the sights off the usual tourist routes. He is active, open-minded, and adventurous and always ready to share interesting and useful information with his clients. As a travel professional working in this field for more than 15 years, Philip believes travel is an art and a process of learning and discovery. Each trip is a unique artistic work created with knowledge and expertise based on the resources available and the interests and tastes of travelers. To help more people to understand the unique resources in panda habitats and neighboring areas, he established Wildflora to bring his educational fun-filled tours to more people eager to explore and learn about China. Besides, Philip is an active and knowledgeable birder and a dedicated photographer.

Besides, one of WildFloraTour's local guides in Southeast China will participate in this trip to ensure a high-end traveling experience.

Testimonials

As a new department set up in 2017 under AbsoluteWild Travel Co, Ltd., WildFloraTour consists of a group of English-speaking local plants and travel experts to provide the best quality trips for plant lovers to enjoy the beauty of the natural plant resources in China. In the past, we have organized many flower-watching trips with some cooperative travel agents under their company names. For this important page, we would quote some feedbacks made on TripAdvisor by travelers from our sister department AbsolutePanda. As a department of the same company, we share the same culture and principles.

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