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 breath taking landscape and encompasses a multitude of minority cultures. The first destination on route is Ya'an City found 120 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of Chengdu City. This route has you pass 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 Erlangshan Mountain. Erlangshan Mountain boasts charming natural scenery and many minority villages. 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 an 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 see you arrive at the ancient (but newly renovated) Qiaoqi Town at the foot of Jiajinshan Mountain. Here you can bask in the area's 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 travelling 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) of 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. All along the Changping Valley accommodation can easily be found in reasonable hotels or with local families.

After the tour of 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 historic significance relating to the Long March as the Chinese Red Army camped here for about 11 months. Here you can also visit the Catholic Church which was the Maogong Meeting Site of the Chinese Red Army. Afterwards, you can cycle downwards along the Xiaojinchuan River to the Dadu River where Danba County is located. Consider spending the remainder of the day 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 Bamei is well-known 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. A further 40 kilometers (24 miles) cycling on flat asphalt, will see you arrive in the photographers' paradise ofXinduqiao. Xinduqiao is the meeting point of the north and south Sichuan-Tibetan Highway branches. A further 70 kilometers (38 miles) ride has you arriving in Kangding.

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

On the last day, you can return to Luding and 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.