May Classic Small Ring Road in Western Sichuan May Western Sichuan Self-driving Tour Strategy

Some say that you must go to Western Sichuan once in your lifetime, to see the mysterious scenery of Western Sichuan. Western Sichuan has always been an obsession in my heart. So what are some of the classic routes for self-driving in Western Sichuan in May? What else should you pay attention to when self-driving in Western Sichuan? Let’s feel the mystery of Western Sichuan together below.

Recommended Route for May Classic Small Ring Road in Western Sichuan

D1: Chengdu – Siguniang Mountain – Danba Tibetan Village Stay: Danba Tibetan Village

D2: Danba – Bamei – Tagong Grassland – Xinduqiao Stay: Xinduqiao

D3: Xinduqiao – Kangding – Hailuogou Stay: Hailuogou

D4: Hailuogou – Shimian – Chengdu

The small ring road is over 900 kilometers long. The scenery along the way is picturesque, encompassing almost all of Sichuan’s most dazzling and beautiful landscapes: the photography paradise – “Xinduqiao”, the place that the Bodhisattvas love – “Tagong Grassland”, the charming and stunning “Beauty Valley” – Danba, the “Eastern Alps” – Siguniang Mountain, beautiful scenery all the way, self-driving or chartered car tours are very suitable, you can stop at any time to admire the beautiful scenery and take pictures.

Danba Tibetan Village

Danba Tibetan Village was rated as one of the most beautiful villages and ancient towns in China in the 2005 “Beauty of China. Special Issue” by “China National Geography”. I’ve been to some ancient towns, the ancient towns of Jiangnan, the ancient towns of Anhui such as Hongcun and Xidi, Wuyuan, Yaori, the ancient towns of southwest China such as Lijiang and Shuhe.

Danba Tibetan Village is most famous for its Jiaju, Zhonglu, Suopo, and Meiren Valley. The Tibetan village is mainly made of wooden structures, built with the most primitive materials, the walls are painted white, the eaves are red, like a quiet believer, lying prostrate in the mountains.

May Western Sichuan Self-driving Tour Strategy

Vehicle Type and Road Conditions

The road conditions along the Western Sichuan Ring Road are relatively good, mainly national and provincial roads. However, after entering the Ganzi Prefecture, due to the terrain, there are many winding mountain roads, going uphill and downhill, winding continuously. Ordinary sedans can also pass, but considering the special terrain and routes in the plateau area, if you are going by chartered car, it is best to choose an SUV: Toyota Prado, Land Cruiser, Highlander, Pajero, Toyota RAV, Leopard, etc. If there are more people in the group, you can choose a business car: Buick GL8, Viano, Rufeng, etc.

Food Introduction

The main cuisine in the Western Sichuan region is Sichuan and Tibetan cuisine. Tibetan flavors such as tsampa, flour, barley, butter tea, yak beef, etc. are very common, but vegetables are all imported from inland areas, so the price is relatively expensive; mutton is also relatively less, and needs to be imported from outside.

Sichuan flavors such as twice-cooked pork, bacon, and chicken stew are more home-style but can satisfy the desire to eat meat in the plateau area. Restaurants are mainly concentrated in towns, generally noodles are 10 yuan/serving, vegetarian dishes are 15-17 yuan/serving, meat dishes are 25-35 yuan/serving. In the plateau area, restaurants and shops are relatively few, and rice and noodles are not easy to cook, and the taste is not good, if you are not used to it, it is recommended to bring your own dry food.

Precautions:

Altitude sickness. Altitude sickness varies from person to person, remember if you have symptoms, don’t take it lightly.

Vehicle condition. I originally booked a Peugeot 2008, but later changed to a four-wheel drive Yeti because of the road conditions on the return route. It was indeed more confident to drive. Before setting off every day, it is necessary to check the appearance of the four tires. It is even better if the vehicle has its own tire pressure monitoring function. It is best to be cautious in unfamiliar road conditions. Although locals can drive very fast, but in the case of only one non-full-size spare tire and no acquaintances within a radius of 500 kilometers, it is still better to be cautious. It is still possible to have a flat tire on the road section under repair. While cautious is slow, it is safe.

Accommodation:

Ya’an: Ibis, 200, chain hotel, recommended

Xinduqiao: 140, Jacques International Youth Hostel, recommended

Shangri-La Town: Tibetan Yoga Theme Hotel, 260, wooden house, poor sound insulation, general value for money