Top 10 Places to Visit in Sichuan (Tips, Photos & Map)

Plan your Sichuan Tour? Sichuan is located in the southwest of China. With Chengdu as its capital, Sichuan is the essential economic center of the Western China.

Sichuan reminds people of the performances of face-changing, the lovely giant pandas, tea houses, fiery food and ancient Shu culture. If you venture far to the north, you will see blue-green lakes and alpine valleys; head to the west, you will experience the Tibetan culture and mesmerized by the high-plateau grasslands and glacial mountains.

In a word, Sichuan is a paradise for travelers with different tastes. The list of the star attractions in Sichuan is on and on. Looking for the Top 10 Thing to do in Sichuan. Here is our list of the Top 10 Places in Sichuan.

1. Yading Nature Reserve 亚丁风景区

Yading Nature Reserve is located within Riwa Township, Dacheng County, in the south of Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan. Yading is oft-lauded as "The last piece of pure land in the water-blue planet". Yading and Dacheng are often put together and known as the last Shangri-la.

Check out my another article Yading Brings You Inner Peacefor more travel information.

The Yading Nature Reserve mainly comprises three holy mountains known as Chenresig, Channa Dorje and Jampelyang which are all above the altitude of 6000 meters with Chenresig the highest at 6032 meters. Chenresig is often likened to the giant Buddha; Channa Dorjie as a young man and Jampelyang as a girl. The three holy mountains are just like three sacred souls, a pilgrimage place for Tibetans.

Besides the three holy mountains, the reserve is also dotted with high-plateau grasslands and green lakes, like Milk Lake, Five-color Lake, Luorong Grassland and Changgu Monastery. The 12-km koral around the 6032 m Chenresig is a huge rewarding experience. If you don't have strong legs, you may stop overnight on camping and do it next day to continue your hike.

Yading Nature Reserve is a perfect natural eco-system formed by the featured geography and natural climate. The best time to visit Yading is Spring and Autumn. Yading is closed in winter.

Visiting Time: suggested 1-2 Day Entrance Fee: RMB 150 ( April - October ) Location: Opening Hours: all day Best Time to Visit: April - October How to Get There Hire a vehicle or hook up with other travelers to reach Yading Natural Reserve from Dacheng.

2. Mount Emei ( Emeil Shan ) 峨眉山

Emei Shan is situated on the southwest of Sichuan basin, 7 km west of Emei Shan City, 37 east of Leshan City, 170 km southwest of Chengdu. Mount Emei is one of the four sacred Buddhism mountains in China. Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha were listed as Culture and Nature World Heritage in 1996.

The highest peak - Wanfo Summit is at the sea level of 3099 meters and the Golden Summit of the Jinding Temple at 3079.3 meters. Mount Emei is famous for its grandeur, elegance, Holiness, Oddity and soul as well as the thick Buddhist culture. Emei Shan has much to offer including Baoguo Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, Ecological Monkey Zone, Wanian Temple, Elephant Bathing Pool, Jining Temple, Fuhu Temple and Xianfeng Temple.

Visiting Time: suggested 1-3 Day Entrance Fee: RMB 185 ( Jan 16 - Dec 14 ); RMB 110 ( Dec 15 - Jan 15) Wannian Temple: RMB 10 Baoguo Temple: RMB 8 Fuhu Temple: RMB 6 Location: 170 km southwest of Chengdu Opening Hours: all day Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn How to Get There Going to Mount Emai is a breeze. You either take buses or trains from Chengdu to Mount Emei.

3. Chengdu Panda Base 大熊猫繁殖基地

****This is the most popular attraction in Chengdu. Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is located about 20 km north-east to Chengdu. The Giant Panda is well known all over the world. It is regarded as"living foosil". The breeding center is a non-profit organization engaged in the search, breeding, protection and tourism promotion of the endangered wild aninals.

The breeding base mainly comprises the research building, an open research lab, an animal hospital, animal hens, panda playground, panda museum, panda hospital and panda kitchen, constituting a natural and man-made and suitable for the panda and other endangered animals.

The breeding base is home to about 80 pandas and other red small pandas. It is preferable to visit the breeding center in the morning when pandas tend to be more active. March to May is the "falling in love' time for pandas, so if you come here in autumn, you may see the tiny newborns in the base.

Visiting Time: suggested 4-5 hour Entrance Fee: RMB 58 Location: 18 km northeast of Chengdu Opening Hours: 7:30 - 18:00 all year How to Get There Public Bus: first take the public bus to Chengdu Zoo, then connect Bus 87 or 198 and get off at the Breeding Base. Taxi: Approx. RMB 50

4 Jiuzhaigou National Park 九寨沟风景名胜区

Jiuzhaigou literally means "Nine Village Valley" in Chinese. Listed as World Cultural Heritage in 1992. Jiuzhaigou is well known for its beautiful water - multi-level waterfalls and colorful lakes. Jiuzhaigou is located in Jiuzhaigou County of the Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, 436km north of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province.

Jiuzhaigou has three valleys naturally formed in a Y shape. The Rize Valley 17km long and Zechawa Valley 18km long flow from the south and meet at a confluence where they form the Shuzheng valley 15km long in the middle, continuing to flow north to the mouth of the Shuzheng Valley. All the three valleys are accessible both by shuttle bus and boardwalks.

There are 17 waterfall groups, 47 springs and 114 lakes in the park. People usually first visit Shuzheng Valley, then either visit Rize Valley or Zechawa Valley. People have to spend almost whole day in the three valleys. There is a service center in the confluence where the three valleys meet with a big restaurant providing three kind of buffet lunch. There is also a grocery by the restaurant where you can buy instant noodles, biscuits, fruits, water and mnay more to feed yourself.

Visiting Time: suggested 1-3 day Entrance Fee: RMB 220 (peak season ) and RMB 80 ( winter season) Location: 436km north of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province Opening Hours: 6:30 - 18:00 (April - Nov.15); 6:30 - 17:00 (Nov.16 - March); Best Time to Visit: Autumn How to Get There First take flight from Chengdu to Jiuhuang Airport where you connect the local bus for Jiuzhaigou

5. Leshan Giant Buddha 乐山大佛

Leshan City is about 145 km southwest of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province. The city of Leshan is situated at the confluence of three rivers including Minjiang River, Qingyi River and Daduhe River. The world famous giant Leshan Buddha, a statue of Maitreya in sitting posture opposite to the city of Leshan across the rivers. This is the largest cliff stone caved Buddha sitting sculpture. Listed as UNESCO World Heritage together with Mount Emei 1982.

The Leshan Grand Buddha is also known as Lingyun Grand Buddha, a sitting Maitreya posture, the largest cliff carving statue. The construction of the grand Buddha started in the year of 713 and it was completed in 803, lasting almost 90 years.

Check out Trip to Leshan Giant Buddha for more travel information.

You may take a boat passing by the cliffs for a panoramic view of the Grand Buddha or you pay entrance fee to have a close at the grand Buddha posture.

Visiting Time: suggested 4 hours Entrance Fee: RMB 90 Location: 145 km southwest of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province Opening Hours: 7:30 - 18:30 (April - Oct 07); 8:00 - 17:30 (Oct 08 - March); How to Get There Take buses from Chengdu, Emei Shan or other cities to Leshan

6. Tagong 塔公

Tagong is a tiny Tibetan village surrounded by beautiful grasslands - Tagong Grassland. It is situated within Kangding County of f Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, about 113 km north of Kangding, 416 km west of Chengdu.

Tagong, literally " A place favored by the Buddha", has a convenient transportation with the Sichuan-Tibet highway passing by. Tagong is well known for its mesmerizing grasslands, green forests, glacial mountains, temples and Tibetan architecture, constituting a palette of Tibetan folk life.

The Tagong Scenic Area comprises mainly Tagong Temple, Tagong Pagoda Forest, Yala Snow Mountain. Tagong Temple is one of the essential temples respected by Tibetans in (Kham) Kampa area. Yala Snow Mountain is one of the four sacred mountains in Tibet.

Visiting Time: suggested 4 - 8 hours Entrance Fee: RMB 20 Location: 113 km north of Kangding Opening Hours: 8:00 - 18:00 How to Get There Take buses from Kangding to Tagong Village

7. Zizong 自贡

Zigong city is located about 180 km southeast of Chengdu. Zigong is an interesting city with a 2000-year history of salt production. It boasts the deepest salt well in the world ( 1001 meters). The other big draw is Dinosaur Museum, the first dinosaur museum in Asia. Zigong is oft-lauded ad " City of Lanterns" and 'King of Tea Houses".

You can kick off for a few hours on a day trip to Zigong. The major attractions include Salt Industrial Museum, Shenhai Salt Well, Dinosaur Museum.

Visiting Time: suggested 1-2 day Location: 113 km north of Kangding Best Time to go: May - August How to Get There Take buses or trains from Chengdu, Chongqing and Yibin

8. Songpan 松潘

Songpan is a laid-back historical town with plenty of hiking trails. Songpan Old Town is located in Jinan Township of Songpan County, about 310 km north of Chengdu.

Songpan Old Town was once the essential gate of the northwest area in Sichuan, a military fortress. The old town was greatly fortified in Ming Dynasty and much of the remnants of the broken walls and old time building were built during that time.

The major attractions include a visit to the town city wall ( partly rebuilt), ancient gates and two wooden bridges. The local activities include hore trekking to the idyllic mountain forests and green lakes surrounding Songpan.

Visiting Time: suggested 1-2 day Location: 310 km north of Chengdu Best Time to go: Summer How to Get There Take buses or trains from Chengdu

9. Langzhong 阆中

Langzhong old town is located in the northeast of Sichuan basin, about 268 km northeast of Chengdu. Situated on the middle reach of Jialingjiang River, Langzhong old town is one of the four well preserved ancient towns in China.

Langzhou has a history of over 2300 years with well preserved flagstone streets, black tiled roofs, temples and pavilions, and cliff carvings, constituting a unique tourist resources and culture in Langzhong.

Visiting Time: suggested 1-2 day Location: 268 km northeast of Chengdu Best Time to go: Spring How to Get There Take buses or trains from Chengdu

10. Danba (Rongtrak ) 丹巴

Danba County is located in the west of Sichuan and east of Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. Danba town is about 137 km north of Kangding, 368 km west of Chengdu. Venture to east of Danba, you enter Siguniang Scenic Area and Jiuzhaigou National Park; to the south, you may enter Kangding and Hailuo Glacier Park.

Check out the following two artcles for more information about Danba:

Jiarong Tibetan Blockhouses Jiarong Tibetan Ancient Watchtowers

The town itself is somewhat grubby and forgettable, the surrounding cluster of watching towers, Tibetan villages and Daduhe River Gorge are what you seek after. The ancient stone Qiang watchtowers are perched among the villages overlooking the Daduhe River ( Dadu River). There are quite some nice Tibetan villages around here.

Visiting Time: suggested 2-3 day Location: 368 km west of Chengdu Best Time to go: Spring and autumn Opening time: all day How to Get There Take daily buses from Chengdu and Kangding