EKJ01 Gyarong-Amdo Exploration Chengdu-Jiuzhaigou-Langmusi-Ma’erkham-Chengdu 13 Days Circle Tour

Dujiangyan Irrigation system is one of the world first irrigation systems and ratified into the World Cultural Heritage list. It`s located on the upper reaches of the Minjiang River. It was built between 306-251 BC. by the local people under the guidance of Libing and his son. Fortunately the Dujiangyan Irrigation system brings the vast Chengdu Plain under irrigation and has protected it against droughts and floods for over 2,300 years. Because of this Chengdu Plain has turned into the land of abundance with a mild climate and fertile soil. Mt.Qingcheng ratified as Cultural Heritage by UNESCO is the headstream of Chinese Taoism. the initiator of Taoism, Zhang Taolin in the end of East Han Dynasty, came to Qingcheng Mountain to instruct Taoism from Shanxi. there still go round supernatural stories describing how he fight hard with devils, how the ”Brush Pen Groove” and the ” Three Island Stone” formed. After Taoist master Zhang Daoling passed away, Qingcheng Mountain also became prosperous as the headstream of Taoism, original Mountain of Taoist Master.

Drive to Jiuzhaigou along Minjiang River Valley via Duwen Express and then follows Wenchuan County(1326m), Miaoxian County(1580m) and Songpan County(2850m), Chuanzhusi town (3100m) and further north till Jiuzhaigou National Park. Songpan has a history over 2300 years, it was a town of military importance of ancient China. It is a pity that most of the city walls and historic sites have become nothing, but there are still some ancient buildings being well-reserved. With abundant water, sunshine and colorful flowers, the period from June to October would be a good time for tourists to do some sightseeing. Owing to the unique geographical environment and social environment with multination, Songpan is the epitome of national structure and culture of Aba prefecture. The interrelationship shows in many areas, such as building style, folk habits, and so on. 17km from Songpan, you will reach Chuanzhus towni, it’s an important hub whose left road will lead you to Ruo’ergai grassland and Langmusi and if you take the right road, you will either end up in Jiuzhaigou or Huanglong. From Chuanzhusi, you will see Shangmo village, a distinct Tibetan village, Jiabo ancient town, and pass famous “Nine Sharp Turns”, etc. Eventually, you will reach Zhangzha Town in front of Jiuzhaigou National Park.

Today is a full day sightseeing in the Jiuzhaigou National park. Jiuzhaigou has won many brilliant reputations, such as World Natural Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO, 5A National Park, and Best Waterscape in China. Today, you will found out all the reputations worthy any of them. Water is the soul of Jiuzhaigou, and there are more than 108 lakes, several large groups of waterfall scattering on three valleys shaping a large “Y”. Board environmentally friendly buses to access the Park. Hiking in the Shuzheng and Zezawa Valleys; Pearl Sands and Shuzheng Waterfall; the Tibetan village of Shuzheng, and numerous picturesque lakes including Panda Lake, Long Lake, Rainbow Lake, Tiger Lake and Rhinoceros Lake. The wild forest and pure high snow mountains, streams flowing quietly among valleys, beautiful waterfalls dropping from high mountains, and colorful lakes with amazing reflection of colorful forest. Today you will be fully-guided through your visit to Jiuzhaigou. After the sightseeing, drive back to your hotel. Then summon your energy for a Tibetan folk customs show at night, consisting of singing, dancing and other programs. (The entrance fee of 180 CNY is not included in the tour price).

Drive south to today’s highlights Huanglong National Park. Covering an area of 700 square kilometers, Huanglong National Parka is another highlight in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. It is also famous for its colorful ponds, snowy mountains, deep valleys, and dense forest. Between 3,145 and 3,578 meters above sea level at the foot of Xuebaoding, the main peak of Mt. Minshan, lies a 3.6-km-long calcified hill, resembling a giant golden dragon galloping among the virgin forest, and this is how the mountain was named. More than 3,400 ponds, varied in color and shape, picture the most spectacular view in the world, known as the Jasper Lake Under Heaven. World-known for beautiful valley, snow-capped mountains and primitive forest; plentiful different shaped and crystal colorful calcified ponds, caves, waterfalls, streams, stones. Lying about 360 kilometers away from Chengdu, Huanglong National Park together with Jiuzhai Valley has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, as well as World Biosphere Reserve, Green Globes 21, etc. Huanglong is also home to many endangered species including the Giant Panda and the Sichuan Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Huanglong’s beauty is beyond mere words, you need see it in person to truly appreciate this ”Fairy Land on Earth” as well as the ”Calcification Museum”.

Drive 280km to Langmusi town via Ruo’ergai count; in 1930s, Chinese Red Army held two meetings here, one is Mao’ergai conference, the other is Baxi conference, these two meetings decided the route of Chinese revolution and the destiny of Red Army again. Upon arrive, visit Langmusi Monastery, Langmusi is not only the name of a monastery, but also the name of a town. Langmusi is located at the juncture of Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces, where there are charming natural sceneries and unique ethnic customs which attract many monks and pilgrims come here for religious practice. With the prosperity of tourism, this plateau town has become the hub of three provinces as well as the famous tourist resort. The full name of Langmusi is ”Dacang Langmu Gerdi Monastery”. In Tibetan language, ”Dacang” means tiger cave, ”Langmu” means fairy, and ”Gerdi” is the name of the living Buddha who founded the monastery. Therefore, Langmusi is called Tiger Cave & Fairy Monastery as well. Langmusi is remarkable for its peaceful natural scenery and poetical landscape. The town and the hills are wreathed in mist all the year round. The hills are always so mysterious, the valleys are so deep and quiet and the town is extremely tranquil and tender.

Drive to Hongyuan county via Tangke, you will have chance to see today’s highlight the first bend of Yellow River. As the second longest river in China, Yellow River is the other one as important as the famous Yangtze River. It is the main birthplace of Chinese nation, and is affectionately called the Mother River of China. When it runs eastward into the Bohai Sea through Gansu and Sichuan provinces, the mother river converges with a smaller White River in Tangke Township, forming a giant S-shape and the magnificent First Bend of Yellow River, which becomes part of the natural boundary between the aforementioned provinces, with Gansu on its west side and Sichuan on the east. Being the most representative scenic spot on the Yellow River grassland, The First Bend of Yellow River reveals the feminine beauty of the river with its mildness, well interpreted Tai Chi yin-yang theory in Chinese culture, just like its S-shape tells.

Drive to Maerkan, which in Tibetan means “The Place Lightened by Butter Lamps”, is the prefectural capital of Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, sometimes known as Barkham. On the way, we will visit Zhuokeji Chieftain’s Fortress. The Zhuokeji Chieftain’s Fortress (Zhuokeji Tusi Guanzhai), at an altitude of 2700 meters above the sea level is located in Zhuokeji Town, 7 km east of Maerkang County. The well-proportioned fortress is surrounded by hills, echoing the rowing Tibetan houses. The village covers an area of 5,400 square meters, with the main building (the chieftain’s residence) built as a six story manor surrounding a central courtyard. This building has 63 rooms, with each room presenting an aspect of Tibetan lifestyle during the chieftains’ time. The courtyard and outside stairs are made of stone, and the building is a mix between a stone walled outer shell, and a wooden interior. The carving, painting, and character in this building is wonderful, and it is little wonder that it has been turned into a museum. The village was destroyed by fire in 1936. However, the 16th chieftain rebuilt the village in 1938 at the original site. The Chieftain’s Fortress has embodied the essence of all architectural art and culture of the Tibetan ethnic groups in history.

On the way, visit the Changdrok monastery (of Nyingmapa order, over 1000 years old) at Sawagyo village (24km into a valley, 40km before arriving at Jinchuan county) and a local style castle at Zengdha. Afterwards, drive to Danba, a legendary place with plenty of beautiful scenery which is famous of ‘Country of Women’. Danba is also the “East Female Country” in history. Danba Tibetan Villages, a retreat from the world, are known as the most beautiful villages all over China, it is the hometown of Jiarong Tibetans in Sichuan Province. Jiaju Tibetan Village is known as one of the six most beautiful ancient villages in China, is the most unique tourist attraction in Danba County with more than 140 families residing here. The houses are located in the sunny slope of the mountains. Its name, Jiaju, means ‘a hundred families’. It is always the highlight of a Danba tour, during which you will not only enjoy the marvellous nature beauty, but also experience the unique culture of the local Tibetans in Sichuan. Drive to Zhonglu Tibetan Village for overnight.

Wake up early and you may take a walk around at Zhonglu Tibetan Village for peace of mind. You may also discover Tibetan culture and life. Afterwards, set out to visit Suopo Ancient Towers. Suopo has 84 ancient watchtowers remained, are the most concentration of watchtowers in the world. The exteriors are built with stone to make them as solid as they could be, while the inside facilities are mostly made of wood. These watchtowers have angular shape and slip walls with wide bottoms and narrow tops in the height ranging from 20 meters to 60 meters. Watchtowers were originally constructed to watch out threatens and attacks from the outside world. Some were built to store valuable goods, or were used as a place of worship. Zhonglu Tibetan Village has an altitude of 2,200 m, is located in Danba County. Zhonglu in Tibetan means worship place together of human and God. Zhonglu Tibetan village has many attractions such as historic watchtowers and many local houses of Tibetan residents.

Drive to Mt. Siguniang, have a wonderful hiking in Changping Valley. Mt. Siguniang consists of 3 big valleys, namely Shuangqiao Valley, Changping Valley and Haizi Valley; as Shuangqiao Valley is possible to visit mostly by sightseeing bus with some good hiking trails, Changping Valley and Haizi Valley are suitable for enthusiastic hikers, both valleys take one full day to explore by foot, horse-riding service (self-paid) is available throughout those two valleys also. Bring yourself with some water and snack on the way because there is no restaurant inside the valleys. If you choose hiking, today must be a tiring day, but the amazing sceneries on the way definitely pay off at end of the day. Most tourists praise that those 3 valleys plus the peaks compose the most beautiful picture s in western Sichuan.

After breakfast, we will retrace back to Chengdu via Maobiling Ridge, a place where we could enjoy the full view of the Mount Siguniang. Continue drive to Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base is also known as China Giant Panda Garden. The base is highly simulated to Giant Panda’s habitat hidden deep into mountains. Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base (China Giant Panda Garden), a research center newly constructed after Wenchuan Earthquake, is about 22 kilometers from the former site – Wolong Hetaoping Base and covers a total construction area of nearly 20,000 square meters, about 20 times the area of Hetaoping Base. This project is supported by Hong Kong SAR Government and designed according to Green Samsung standards. From the perspective of appearance, the open and spacious base is like a villa in Tibetan and Qiang minority style, which allows a large activity space for pandas. Afterwards drive to back to Chengdu.