Itinerary
- Day 1
Chengdu
You'll arrive at Chengdu airport and get transferred to your hotel. After settling in, there's a briefing with your guides who'll cover the itinerary, local road safety, and cultural considerations. The day wraps up with a welcome dinner showcasing some of Chengdu's best food.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner featuring some of the best food Chengdu has to offer)
Included Activities
- Welcome briefing with guides about itinerary, road safety, and cultural considerations
- Welcome dinner celebrating the beginning of the journey
- Day 2
Jiezi
A short drive takes you to Dujiangyan Panda Valley where you'll see giant pandas and cubs at the rehabilitation research base. From there, you'll cycle 20km on calm country roads with views of the Tibetan Plateau mountains, pass Qingcheng Mountain, and reach Jiezi Ancient Town on the historic Tea Horse Road. In the afternoon, a 6km hike up Fengqi Mountain through bamboo and woods takes you past local houses and a lesser-known Buddhist monastery at the summit.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional local food in Jiezi Ancient Town), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Dujiangyan Panda Valley to see giant pandas and cubs
- Cycle 20km through countryside with mountain views
- Explore Jiezi Ancient Town and learn about its history on the Tea Horse Road
- Hike 6km on Fengqi Mountain through bamboo and woods to Buddhist monastery
Landmarks/POIs Dujiangyan Panda Valley Qingcheng Mountain Jiezi Ancient Town Fengqi Mountain - Day 3
Jiezi to Anren
Today you'll cycle 36km along Chongqing Road, one of Sichuan's less-explored country roads, passing through beautiful countryside and villages. You'll finish the ride on the outskirts of Anren, known as 'China's Museum Town'. After arriving, spend the evening checking out the town's boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, and workshops.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycle 36km along Chongqing Road through countryside and villages
- Explore Anren Ancient Town with boutique shops, cafes, restaurants, and workshops
Optional Activities
- Walk around in Anren Ancient Town
Landmarks/POIs Anren Ancient Town - Day 4
Anren to Pingle
After a 40-minute drive to White Pagoda Monastery, you'll hike 8km through hidden villages in the woods and mountains. Lunch comes from a local restaurant in a valley. In the afternoon, you'll cycle around the lake for 9km and ride 3km to a village known for bamboo-weaving. Then it's a 50-minute to 1-hour drive to Pingle Ancient Town, arriving in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic lunch from a local restaurant in a valley), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit White Pagoda Monastery and its unique library created by Master Guoping
- Hike 8km through trails exploring hidden villages in woods and mountains
- Lunch at a local restaurant in a valley
- Cycle 12km around the lake and to the bamboo-weaving village
Landmarks/POIs White Pagoda Monastery Pingle Ancient Town - Day 5
Pingle to Shangli
Start by walking through Pingle Ancient Town's traditional architecture to the riverside teahouses where locals relax, play mahjong, and soak their feet. You'll cycle 45km through rural scenery and tea plantations, including a challenging 7km climb over a tea terrace mountain at 1200m altitude. After enjoying valley views, you'll descend 3km to White Horse Spring, a temple with a unique tidal spring. The day finishes with a 5km ride to Shangli Ancient Town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Morning walk through Pingle Ancient Town to riverside teahouses
- Cycle 45km through tea plantations and mountainous terrain
- Ascend 7km over tea terrace mountain at 1200m altitude
- Visit White Horse Spring temple with its unique tidal system
- Explore Shangli Ancient Town in the afternoon
Landmarks/POIs Pingle Ancient Town White Horse Spring Shangli Ancient Town - Day 6
Shangli to Kangding
You'll cycle 14km to Bifengxia Forest Park, then hike through two valleys with lush forests, waterfalls, and fresh humid air. After lunch, it's approximately a 160km drive westward to Kangding, a gateway city to Tibet with a fairly equal ethnic split between Han Chinese and Tibetans. Spend the evening on a slow walk exploring town and adapting to the high altitude.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycle 14km to Bifengxia Forest Park
- Hike through two beautiful valleys in the park with forests and waterfalls
- Explore Kangding town to experience Tibetan culture and adapt to high altitude
Landmarks/POIs Bifengxia Forest Park Kangding - Day 7
Kangding to Xinduqiao
Drive westward to Xinduqiao, about 2 hours away, stopping at Zheduo Mountain Pass at 4,298m altitude to enjoy the scenery and take photos. In the afternoon, you'll rest and then, depending on how you're doing with altitude adaptation, cycle a few kilometers to see the natural scenery. This area's known as 'photographer's paradise' with rolling hills, mountains, streams, pastures, and Tibetan architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Stop at Zheduo Mountain Pass for scenery and photos
- Optional cycling ride of a few kilometers to enjoy natural scenery
Optional Activities
- Cycle for a few kilometers around Xinduqiao based on altitude adaptation
Landmarks/POIs Zheduo Mountain Pass Kangding Airport - Day 8
Xinduqiao to Bamei
You'll cycle 64km through flat plains with traditional Tibetan homes beneath lush mountains, noticing mantras and colorful Buddhist murals on rocks and wooden bridges decorated with prayer flags. At Tagong, a small town with a large monastery built during the Qing Dynasty, you'll break for lunch with locals completing prayer circuits. After continuing through Tagong Grasslands, you'll visit Ani Gompa, the largest Buddhist Nunnery in the area with impressive Mani stones. Pass through Bamei Stone Forest and finish at Bamei.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycle 64km through Xinduqiao and Tagong Grasslands
- Visit Tagong monastery built during Qing Dynasty
- Lunch at Tagong near locals completing prayer circuits
- Visit Ani Gompa, largest Buddhist Nunnery in the area with Mani stones
- View Bamei Stone Forest
Landmarks/POIs Tagong Monastery Tagong Grasslands Ya'la Holy Mountain Ani Gompa Bamei Stone Forest - Day 9
Bamei to Danba
You'll cycle 11km to Huiyuan Temple, a Buddhist complex with history reaching back to 1729 during the Qing Dynasty. The temple housed the 7th Dalai Lama and the 11th Dalai Lama was born nearby. After that, it's about a 2-hour drive to Danba where you'll visit Jiaju Tibetan Village inhabited by Gyalrong Tibetans who grow highland barley, corn, apples, and pears. You'll visit a local family to learn about their lifestyle and then explore the village.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycle 11km to Huiyuan Temple
- Visit Huiyuan Temple, a Buddhist complex founded in 1729
- Visit Jiaju Tibetan Village and meet a local Gyalrong Tibetan family
- Walk around Jiaju Tibetan Village to explore
Landmarks/POIs Huiyuan Temple Jiaju Tibetan Village - Day 10
Danba to Ya'an
You'll drive back to Ya'an, approximately 4 hours. In the afternoon, visit one of China's largest tea plantation areas around Mount Mengding, the first place in Chinese history where tea cultivation began. The green tea from here is considered among the best in China. Explore the greenway connecting tea plantations across 5 different towns, walking or cycling through what feels like a beautiful park to discover local tea farming.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Mount Mengding tea plantation area
- Explore the greenway connecting tea plantations across 5 towns
Optional Activities
- Cycle 20-40km exploring tea plantations
- Walk exploring tea plantations (flexible distance)
Landmarks/POIs Mount Mengding - Day 11
Ya'an to Mount Emei
After a 30-minute drive to Caoba Town, you'll begin a 45km cycle mostly following the Qingyi River. The first 5km passes through terraced tea farms before a serious 5km ascent up the mountainside through occasional tea plantations. You'll enjoy the views and descend 5km to a reservoir with a red rock cliff and impressive rapids from Caoyutan Dam. The ride continues along the Qingyi River with overhanging trees. Stop for lunch near Liujiang Ancient Town and explore this riverside town. Then drive to Mount Emei and stay at a hot-spring hotel to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycle 45km mostly following the Qingyi River
- Ascend 5km through tea plantations with mountain views
- Lunch near Liujiang Ancient Town
- Visit Liujiang Ancient Town
- Enjoy hot spring at hotel in evening
Landmarks/POIs Qingyi River Caoyutan Dam Liujiang Ancient Town - Day 12
Mount Emei to Leshan
Take the sightseeing bus up Mount Emei to Leidongping, then hike to the cable car station for the ride to the Golden Summit. Mount Emei is one of four most famous sacred Buddhist mountains in China. Walk around the summit where clear days might show you sea of clouds and snow-capped Mount Gongga, Sichuan's highest peak at 7,556m. See the magnificent 48m-high Buddha statue near the summit. Take the cable car down and walk 1.5km to Leidongping bus station for a 2-hour descent watching vegetation changes. At the foot, cycle 32km to Leshan's suburbs. Optionally visit the 1200-year-old Leshan Giant Buddha from a river boat. Sample local Leshan cuisine like Sweet Skin Roast Duck and Bo Bo Chicken.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Local Leshan cuisine including Sweet Skin Roast Duck and Bo Bo Chicken)
Included Activities
- Take sightseeing bus to Leidongping station
- Hike to cable car station
- Cable car to Golden Summit
- Visit Golden Summit and Buddha statue
- Cable car descent to Leidongping
- Walk 1.5km to Leidongping bus station
- Bus descent of Mount Emei (approximately 2 hours)
- Cycle 32km to Leshan suburbs
- Sample local Leshan cuisine
Optional Activities
- River boat tour to visit Leshan Giant Buddha (71m carving built over 1200 years ago)
Landmarks/POIs Mount Emei Golden Summit Mount Gongga Leshan Giant Buddha - Day 13
Leshan to Huanglongxi
After a 30-minute drive to Guanmiao Town, you'll cycle 32km starting on a single-lane road through farmlands with mountains on your left. The Minjiang River appears after a few kilometers, flowing from today's destination, Huanglongxi Ancient Town. You'll ride through a valley following the river with gentle climbs, and at 9km reach a beautiful descent leading to terraced paddy fields. Continue until reaching Zhongyan Temple inside a large park with 1,500+ year old Buddhist carvings. After that, cycle through a bamboo-lined road beside the river to Baijiachi Village. About an hour's drive from there to Huanglongxi, a beautiful ancient town with 1,700-year history set beside the river with three temples and winding alleyways. Spend the evening at riverside teahouses.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cycle 32km from Guanmiao Town
- Ride through valley following Minjiang River
- Visit Zhongyan Temple with Buddhist carvings dating back over 1,500 years
- Hike to natural spring inside temple gardens
- Explore Huanglongxi Ancient Town and riverside teahouses
Optional Activities
- Browse shops and sample local snacks including 'one noodle noodles' on the streets
Landmarks/POIs Guanmiao Town Minjiang River Zhongyan Temple Baijiachi Village Huanglongxi Ancient Town - Day 14
Huanglongxi to Chengdu Airport
Your guide and driver will transfer you to Chengdu airport, approximately one hour from Huanglongxi Ancient Town. You'll head home with beautiful memories of this unique cycling and cultural journey through Sichuan.
Landmarks/POIs Chengdu Airport
