Itinerary Overview
14-Day Dual Circuit:Day 1-5: Chengdu → G318 South Route (Leshan Giant Buddha → Mount Emei → Kangding)Day 6-10: G318 → Western Tibet (Litang Horse Festival → Daocheng Yading)Day 11-14: G317 North Route Return (Sertar Buddhist Academy → Dege Scripture Pavilion → Chengdu)
Cultural & Historical Tapestry
- 1.Buddhist Legacy
- •Tashilhunpo Monastery (Shigatse):
- •Panchen Lama’s winter residence with 500-year-old Golden Stupa.
- •Annual Monlam Prayer Festival(Feb-Mar): 10,000+ monks recite sutras.
- •Sertar Buddhist Academy:
- •World’s largest Tibetan Buddhist institute with 10,000+ red-roofed dorms.
- •Strict dress code: Cover shoulders/knees; photography banned in prayer halls .
- •Tashilhunpo Monastery (Shigatse):
- 2.Ancient Civilizations
- •Jiuzhaigou Valley:
- •13th-century Watchtower Cultureruins hidden above primordial lakes.
- •Pangdenaprons with clan symbols traded along ancient salt routes.
- •Zheduo Mountain Salt Route:
- •1,200-year-old caravan trail with 36 stone cairns marking key stops.
- •Spot yakstransporting salt blocks – unchanged since Tang Dynasty .
- •Jiuzhaigou Valley:
- 3.Ethnic Diversity
- •Danba Tibetan Villages:
- •13th-century Horseracing Culture: Nomads compete using 17th-century Tibetan ponies.
- •Stone Houses: Unique 3-story fortresses with prayer flags on rooftops.
- •Horseracing Rituals:
- •Litang Summer Fair (Aug): Nomads race 10km using saddles woven from yak hair.
- •Danba Tibetan Villages:
Key Attractions & Activities
| Route | Must-See | Best Time | Unique Experience |
|---|---|---|---|
| G318 | |||
| Yading’s Shencong Lake | Twin peaks (6,032m) mirroring glacial waters | Sept-Nov | Pilgrims toss tsa-tsa(clay prayer tablets) into the lake |
| Litang Golden Horse Ranch | Nomadic herding demonstrations | Year-round | Learn yak saddle-makingfrom artisans |
| G317 | |||
| Dege Scripture Pavilion | 270,000+ woodblock prints from 18th century | Year-round | Watch monks carve sutras using 500-year-old techniques |
| Sertar’s Red Valley | 2,000+ nunneries in crimson buildings | Sunrise | Strict dress code: Cover hair in Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Travel Logistics
How to Arrive
- •By Air:
- •Kangding Airport (3h from Chengdu): Connects to major Chinese cities.
- •Daocheng Airport (4h from Chengdu): Seasonal flights (Jun-Oct).
- •By Land:
- •Bus: Chengdu → Daocheng (14h, ¥180).
- •Self-Drive: 4×4 essential. Route: Chengdu → Ya’an → Ganzi (12h, 600km).
Accommodation
- •Luxury: Yading Shangri-La Resort(¥1,200+/night), lakeside chalets with hot springs.
- •Mid-Range: Danba Himalaya Guesthouse(¥400/night), solar-heated rooms.
- •Budget: Litang Nomad Tent Camp(¥150/night), includes yak wool blankets.
Critical Preparations
- 1.Health & Safety
- •Altitude: Acclimatize in Danba (3,300m) for 24h. Carry Diamox for altitude sickness.
- •Wildlife:
- •Snow Leopards: Common near Yading’s Huanglong Valley. Maintain 50m distance.
- •Marmots: Avoid feeding – carriers of bubonic plague (2023 outbreak in Sertar).
- 2.Cultural Etiquette
- •Monasteries:
- •Clockwise circumambulation of stupas.
- •Women must cover hair in Tashilhunpo Monastery.
- •Photography:
- •Ask permission to shoot monks or locals. Flash banned in Larung Academy.
- •Monasteries:
- 3.Environmental Rules
- •Waste: Carry out all trash. Yading Valleyfines ¥500 for littering.
- •Fire: Campfires prohibited above 4,000m. Use solar-powered stoves.
Route Risks & Mitigation
- •Weather:
- •July-August: Daily thunderstorms. Check road closures via 12123 Highway Hotline.
- •December-Feb: Blizzard warnings on Zheduo Mountain Pass(altitude 4,600m).
- •Terrain:
- •G318 National Highway: Landslides common near Maoxian. Drive <30km/h.
- •Yading’s Five-Color Lake Trek: 12km return hike with 600m elevation gain. Rent yak carts (¥200).
Why This Journey Matters
The Sichuan-Tibet dual circuit embodies Asia’s spiritual and natural paradoxes:
- •G318 – A symphony of raw wilderness where mountains roar and rivers dance.
- •G317 – A living museum of faith where every prayer flag whispers ancient stories.
As a Tibetan proverb says: “Walk the G318 to see nature’s fury, traverse G317 to feel humanity’s grace.”Whether tracing Emei Mountain’s misty trails or meditating in Sertar’s crimson nunneries, this journey offers a rare glimpse into Earth’s sacred heartbeat.Pack resilience, curiosity, and reverence – your odyssey awaits!❄️🏔️