Day 1 – Feeling the folk custom of the ancient and mysterious Tibetan and Qiang nationalities
Chengdu 115km Wenchuan 42KM Maoxian County 149KM Songpan 106KM entrance of Jiuzhaigou Valley
Arrive in Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan via Chengguan and Duwen Highway after breakfast. Enjoy Nine Big Bowls dishes in the wedding ceremony of Qiang Nationality in Maoxian County. Pass Diexi Lake, the earthquake relic of 1933 via Maoxian County. Enjoy the scenery of the Minjiang River valley, the folk custom of Qiang nationality, and the beautiful scenery of West Sichuan Plateau. Arrive at the hotel via Songpan.
Day 2 – “World of Fairy Tale” Jiuzhaigou Valley
After breakfast at your hotel you will be taken to the World Natural Heritage Reserve of Jiuzhaigou Valley which forms a natural special fairyland with green water, double waterfalls, colourful forests, smoky cloud, snow peaks and reveals some of the customs of the Zang people. The reserve consists of three main valleys in the shape of a Y; Shuzhenggou Valley, Rizegou Valley and Zechawagou Valley, which can be explored using the hop-on-hop-off buses or by walking the boarded pathways to see the three widest, highest and most splendid waterfalls in the region: Zhenzhutan Waterfall, Nuorilang Waterfall, Xiongmaohai Waterfall, as well as 108 alpine lakes and numerous other springs and waterfalls.
What’s most beautiful and peculiar is the water in the Jiuzhaigou Valley, which is so clear that you can see its bottom; the lake, spring, waterfall, stream, river and beach are connected together and blended with green trees, snow mountain and blue sky reflected in the water. Wooden buildings of Zang families, drying rack, prayer flag, trestle, grinding mill and beautiful tales of legends all gather here. Lunch and souvenir shopping can be taken at the Nuo Ri Lang visitor centre and you bus will leave the valley at about 17:00 to return to your hotel.
Day 3 – Scenic Minjiang River valley, culture of Zang village, Huanglong Scenic Spot Jade Pool
Jiuzhaigou Valley 88KM Chuanzhu Temple 166KM Maoxian County
After breakfast at your hotel your tour will pass through the Gonggangling Mountain, the source of the Minjiang River, visit the Tibetan Village with cultural features of Zang (enjoy the cultural heritage and a performance of ancient Zang Opera, the mural (Thangka), treasure of Zang’s Buddhist culture, the flying prayer flag, the standing white tower, the holy Marnyi Stones, peerless handicrafts of old Tibetan craftsman, shed made by highland barley and wall made by cow dung, then travel to Huanglong Scenic Spot by bus after lunch, the altitude of the region is 3100m to 3500m, located at the foot of the Xuebao Peak–main peak of the Minshan Mountain, where snow and ice remain all the year round; it’s famous for colorful pond, snow mountain, canyon, forest.
The main touring spots include: welcoming colorful pond, plunging waterfall, hole for immortals ablution, gold-sand-paved land, colorful pond, Huanglong Temple. You can take the ropeway there (self-paying: 80 yuan for traveling up, 40 yuan for traveling down, we advise to take upward ropeway only, and walk down the mountain to enjoy scenery). Go to Maoxian County after that, free activities after dinner.
Day 4 – Culture of Qiang village and Chengdu – the city of wealth and success
Maoxian County 133KM Dujiangyan 46KM Chengdu
After breakfast, visit Qiang Town in Maoxian County, a national-level Qiang Culture Tour destination located on the west bank of the Minjiang River, it faces east and covers and an area of 2.15 million square meters and a building area of 250,000 square meters (including a foundation area of 140,000 square meters).
With an effort to be listed as a World Cultural Heritage and pass it down to descendants, the Qiang Town was planned, designed and constructed at an extremely high standard incorporating “innovative” and “cultural” concepts. Visit the Qiang Embroidery Ethnic Culture Hall, an intangible cultural heritage. After a lunch of featured buffet, return to Chengdu and experience the city of wealth, where all succeeds.