Located in the southwest of China, Sichuan boasts diverse landscapes and complex climates, spanning temperate and subtropical zones, which contribute to its rich biodiversity. Sichuan is part of the Hengduan Mountains, one of the three centers of endemic and rare plant flora in China (the other two being the Yunnan-Guizhou-Guangxi Karst region and East Sichuan-West Hubei), and it is also a key and hotspot area for global biodiversity conservation. The region is extremely rich in plant resources, with many endemic, rare, and endangered plants under state protection. In these mountainous regions, the diverse ethnic minorities, who share the same habitats with these unique plants, are known for their colorful costumes, unique architectural styles, and different languages. During our botanical exploration through this magical region, we will take you deep into the alpine meadows and primeval forests of the Hengduan Mountains to search for those rare alpine flowers and other botanical wonders. At the same time, we will also experience the rich Tibetan culture and magnificent natural scenery. Traveling through these beautiful areas, highly recommended by top travel guides like Lonely Planet, you will find your journey always filled with surprises—from discovering beautiful endemic plants to encountering villagers in their traditional costumes, to marveling at breathtaking natural landscapes and visiting authentic Tibetan villages. Each day will be an unforgettable experience.

Trip Highlights:

1. Admire the Leshan Giant Buddha, the world's largest stone-carved Buddha.
2. Explore Emei Mountain and enjoy the stunning alpine azaleas and other flowers.
3. Experience the ancient charm of Shangli Ancient Town in Ya'an and the wild azaleas in Bifeng Gorge.
4. Enjoy a cultural experience at Kangding Mugecuo and learn about the famous Kangding Love Song culture.
5. Take in the idyllic landscapes of Xinduqiao, known as a paradise for photographers.
6. Discover the Jiarong Tibetan villages in Danba and the local flora.
7. Explore the snow-capped mountains, meadows, and lakes of the Siguniang Mountain Scenic Area.
8. Visit the ancient irrigation system of Dujiangyan and the serene beauty of Qingcheng Mountain.

The cost includes the following:

The cost does not include the following:

D1 Arrival in Chengdu. Meals: D

Arrive at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Transfer to the hotel for check-in. Free time to explore Chengdu city. Welcome dinner and trip briefing.

Overnight: Hotel in Chengdu

D2 Chengdu - Leshan Giant Buddha - Emei. Meals: BLD

Drive to Leshan. Visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, the world's largest stone-carved Buddha. Explore the surrounding areas of Leshan. After visiting the Buddha, proceed to Emei and stay overnight at Leidongping or Golden Summit.

Overnight: Hotel at Leidongping or Golden Summit

D3 Mount Emei - Ya'an. Meals: BLD

Drive to Mount Emei. Explore Mount Emei and admire the alpine rhododendrons and other flowers. Visit Qingyin Pavilion, the Monkey Area, and the Golden Summit. In the afternoon, drive to Ya'an and stay overnight.

Overnight: Hotel within Bifengxia Scenic Area, Ya'an

D4 Ya'an - Laba River. Meals: BLD

Visit Bifengxia Panda Base and hike in Bifengxia Scenic Area to admire the plants. Explore Bifengxia and enjoy the wildflowers. In the afternoon, proceed to Laba River Scenic Area.

Overnight: Luming Hotel near Bifengxia

D5 Laba River - Kangding. Meals: BLD

Explore the Laba River Scenic Area, observing the plants in the panda habitat. In the afternoon, drive via Moxi and Yajiageng to Kangding, with flower viewing at Yajiageng.

Overnight: Kangding Xincheng Hotel

D6 Kangding - Xinduqiao. Meals: BLD

Morning bird and flower watching at Erdaoqiao, then drive along the Yala River to Xinduqiao, admiring alpine flowers and natural scenery along the way. Enjoy the pastoral landscape and photography paradise at Xinduqiao.

Overnight: Hotel near Xinduqiao

D7 Xinduqiao - Jiajin Mountain. Meals: BLD

Drive to Jiajin Mountain. En route, visit Jiarong Tibetan villages, admire village scenery, and enjoy flower viewing. Explore Zhonglu Tibetan Village.

Overnight: Guesthouse at Jiajin Mountain

D8 Mount Siguniang - Bird and Flower Watching. Meals: BLD

Drive to Mount Siguniang. Explore the Mount Siguniang Scenic Area, enjoying views of snow-capped peaks, meadows, and lakes.

Overnight: Jiarong Qingcheng Homestay, Mount Siguniang

D9 Mount Siguniang - Chengdu. Meals: BLD

Morning alpine flower viewing at Balang Mountain, then return to Chengdu in the afternoon.

Overnight: Tianfu Airport Enjoy Hotel, Chengdu

D10 Departure from Chengdu. Meals: B

End of the trip, depart from Chengdu.

Introduction to Trip Destinations:

Siguniang Mountain

Siguniang Mountain, located in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is a renowned destination known for its breathtaking natural beauty and rich biodiversity. It consists of four peaks, the highest being Yaomei Peak at 6,250 meters above sea level. The area is characterized by its stunning alpine scenery, lush valleys, and a variety of wildflowers, including numerous orchid species. Siguniang Mountain is also home to several endangered species, such as the Sichuan golden monkey and the giant panda. The area offers excellent opportunities for hiking, mountaineering, and flower photography, particularly in Shuangqiaogou Valley, where the vibrant colors of the orchids can be appreciated.

Mount Emei

Bifeng Gorge

Xinduqiao

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.

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.

Ray      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.

Bella      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.

Karen       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.