Itinerary : 10 Days of Chengdu - Ya'an - Tianquan - Lushan - Baoxing - Qiaoqi - Jiajinshan - Rilong - Mt. Siguniangshan - Xiaojin - Danba - Kangding - Luding - Moxi (Hailuogou) - Luding - Erlangshan Mountain - Yaan - Chengdu

This long journey, spanning from the flat Chengdu Plain to the border of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is full of the breath taking landscape and encompasses a multitude of minority cultures. The first destination on this route is Ya'an City, which is 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of Chengdu City, and passes through Qionglai City and Mingshan County. The road between Chengdu and Mingshan is relatively flat but rises to a slope. Upon arrival in Ya'an, it is suggested that you extend today's journey to Tianquan County, a picturesque location nestled at the east foot of the Erlangshan Mountain. It boasts so many charming natural scenes and minority villages that many people elect to linger here for an extra day or two!

The following morning, you set off on the 15-kilometer (9.3-mile) ride to the Baishahe Scenic Area and then set off northward to Lushan and Baoxing Counties along the meandering Qingyi River. This section is mainly uphill mountain road and caution is advised around the road edges. Once out of the Baoxing City, a moderate 50-kilometer (31-mile) ride will get you to the ancient (but newly renovated) Qiaoqi Town at the foot the Jiajinshan Mountain. Here you can bask in the areas great natural beauty and experience Tibetan culture. En route, you will pass the Fengyongzhai State-Level Natural Reserve which is home to the cute giant panda and elephants. In the evening you can arrange to stay overnight with a Tibetan family.

Setting off early the next morning, you can undertake the most challenging part of the route northwards to snowy Mt. Siguniangshan and passing over Jiajinshan Mountain. Jiajinshan Mountain rises to about 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), is located 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) from Qiaoqi and was the first snow capped mountain experienced on the Chinese armies famous Long March. Apart from the snow season (December to the next March) the 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) rolling mountain path is relatively safe, and is punctuated by the view of yaks grazing on the slopes. Descending down the mountain about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), you will arrive at Dawei Joining Forces Bridge of Red Army fame and then head 20 kilometers eastwards to Rilong Town. En route, you should not miss the chance to see the extremely beautiful Jiajin Haizi Lake and the glacier in the Shuangqiao Valley of Mt. Siguniangshan.

If you would like to experience Mt. Siguniangshan in greater detail, a two or three days’ tour to explore this mountain is recommended. Besides biking, the other two valleys (Changping and Haizi) in this scenic area can also be explored on foot or horseback. These days you can easily find accommodation in the reasonable hotels or with local families all along the Changping Valley.

After the tour in Mt. Siguniangshan, you can return to Dawei and cycle westwards to visit Wori's ancient defensive tower and then proceed about 17 kilometres (10.6 miles) to Xiaojin County. This Tibetan County has some historic sites related to the Chinese Red Army who camped here for about 11 months during the Long March. You can visit a Catholic Church which was also the Maogong Meeting Site of Chinese Red Army and afterwards, you can cycle downwards along the Xiaojinchuan River to the Dadu River where the Danba County is located. It is a good idea to spend the remaining time today in enjoying the stunning scenery along the Dadu River, a branch of the Yangtze River.

The next day's journey continues southwards along the Dadu River, to the Kangding, a noted Tibetan county. The journey is about 225 kilometers (140 miles), passing by Bamei, Tagong and Xinduqiao and it is suggested that you use the motorized vehicle to finish the 110 kilometers (68.3 miles)' journey from Danba to Bamei. The section just before entering into Bamei is well-know for its unique plateau scenery. The next section on the 3,500 meters (11,483 feet) high plateau from Bamei to Tagong is about 30 kilometres, and the Tagong Monastery here is well worth a visit. After more 40 kilometers (24 miles) cycling on flat asphalt, you will arrive in a photographers' paradise, Xinduqiao, which is also the meeting point of the north and south Sichuan-Tibetan Highway branches. Afterwards, you have to take a 70 kilometers (38 miles) ride to reach Kangding.

Staying overnight in Kangding, you can then take it easy cycling to Hailuogou, located at the foot of the 7,556 meters (24,790 feet) Mt. Gongga (Minya Konka) and enjoy the astonishing glacier. The whole journey comprises two 50-kilometer (31-mile) sections, from Kangding to Luding and then to Moxi located at the entrance of Hailuogou. In Luding, you will pass over Luding Bridge, across the dangerous Dadu River. This bridge was the site of a famous pitched battle involving the Red Army in 1935.

On the last day, you can return to Luding and then pass through the Erlangshan Mountain Pass at an altitude of 4,100 meters (13,451 feet) before taking a well deserved bus journey back to Chengdu.