The Mid-Autumn Festival holiday in 2022 is less than a month away. A three-day weekend is the perfect time for a self-driving trip. This article recommends a three-day self-driving tour of Sichuan West for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Read on to find out more about the recommended itinerary.
Day 1: Chengdu – Kangding – New-Tibet Town
Depart from Chengdu, take the Chengdu-Ya’an Expressway, transfer to the Ya’an-Xichang Expressway via Ya’an, and enter the Tibetan area through the Erlang Mountain Tunnel. Enjoy the scenery of the Dadu River Valley and head to Kangding. Cross the Zheduo Mountain and arrive at New-Tibet Town. If the weather is good, you can also go to Qu Mogong (Yuzixi) to watch the sunset. The total journey is about 380km, with an estimated driving time of 6 hours.
Highlights: Qu Mogong (Yuzixi)
Located on the top of the mountain in Yuzixi Village, New-Tibet Town, Yuzixi is a 360-degree viewing platform at an altitude of about 4000 meters. On a clear day, you can see Yala Snow Mountain, Four Girls Mountain, Gongga Mountain Range, etc. It is only 40 kilometers from New-Tibet Town and takes about 1 hour to reach. It is a very niche snow mountain viewing platform.
Highlights: New-Tibet Town
This place is known as the “world of light and shadow” and the “photographer’s paradise.” Especially in autumn, when you drive on the road, the endless grasslands, continuous mountains, winding streams… the plain scenery of Sichuan West is in full view. The scenery you see is like a colorful oil painting.
Day 2: New-Tibet Town – Tagong Grassland – Mo Stone Park – Jiaju Tibetan Village
Depart from New-Tibet Town and head to Tagong Town. You can admire Yala Snow Mountain and visit Tagong Temple. Then head to Bamei Mo Stone Park. Follow the Panda Avenue to Danba County. On the way, you can stop at the Taizhangou Viewing Platform to appreciate Yala Snow Mountain. Finally, follow the Yak River Valley and head to Jiaju Tibetan Village. The total journey is about 150km, with an estimated driving time of 3 hours.
Highlights: Tagong Grassland
“Tagong” is Tibetan, meaning “a place where the Bodhisattva likes to be.” This is the closest purely pastoral grassland to Kangding. Every year from June to August is the most beautiful season in Tagong Grassland. If you are lucky, you can catch the local traditional horse racing festival. Of course, it is also a surprising place to take photos.
Highlights: Mo Stone Park
It is known as the “Chinese Geological Bermuda” by geological experts. The stone forest here is composed of mylonite. It changes color with the seasons, temperature, and light. It has a variety of unique landscapes. In spring, it is light gray and light blue, as if it is new. In summer and autumn, the dark black stone forest is like a pile of silver, and in winter, the entire stone forest is shrouded in a mysterious blue veil, which contrasts with the white snow, making it look like a fairyland.
Day 3: Jiaju Tibetan Village – Luding – Chengdu
After visiting Jiaju Tibetan Village, follow the Dadu River to Luding. You can visit the Luding Bridge in Luding. If you still have time, you can also visit the Moxiguzhen Ancient Town, Hailuogou, etc. After the visit, return to Chengdu from Luding via the Ya’an-Kangding Expressway. The total journey is about 365km, with an estimated driving time of 6 hours.
Highlights: Jiaju Tibetan Village
The Danba Tibetan Village, rated as the “No. 1 Most Beautiful Village in China” by National Geographic, is the gathering place of the Garong Tibetan people. As its representative name card, the Jiaju Tibetan Village is located in a valley full of spirituality, with staggered fields and houses hidden deep in the dense forest, like a beautiful woman, particularly dazzling.
Highlights: Luding Bridge
Built in the 44th year of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, it is 103.67 meters long and 3 meters wide. It is composed of 13 chains. It is famous worldwide for the “Capture of Luding Bridge” battle, and it has become the main relic of the Luding Bridge Scenic Area. Come here, why not retrace the Long March.
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