Destination: China
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: Qinghai to Sichuan
ONE WEEK/XINING TO CHENGDU
Traversing the wilds of western China, this spectacular overland 1000km+ tour takes you into Sichuan through the mountainous back door from Qinghai. Manageable in one week, allow more time for unforeseen complications and prepare for rough, no-frills travel.
Skirt the flanks of Tibet on your way from Xining to Chengdu in Sichuan. The scenery en route is magnificent and perfect for a more offbeat China experience - but do this trip only in summer (it can be dangerously cold even in spring) and take lots of food with you (you won't be able to change money or cash traveller's cheques). Wild dogs, treacherous mountain roads and bus breakdowns and waiting a day or so for bus connections or having to hitch are all part of the adventure. Accommodation along the way will be simple but cheap, and the bus company can recommend either its own hostels or direct you to another hotel. You can jump on a sleeper bus from Xining to the newly opened trading town of Yushu (Jyekundo; Y91 to Y133, 24 hours) in the south of Qinghai, which stages a marvellous annual horse festival on 25 July. The town is soon to have its own airport. Alternatively - although the landscape en route to Maduo is monotonous - from Maduo to Xiewu (Zhiwu) and Yushu through the Bayan Har Mountains, it becomes increasingly Tibetan, with picturesque mountain villages, alpine lakes and monasteries. Continue east from Xiewu to Serxu (Shiqu) in north Sichuan, where there are bus connections through some stunning scenery all the way to Kangding (Darbo), via Manigango (Yulong) and Ganzi (Ganze). Continue along the Sichuan-Tibet Hwy by bus to Kangding and then on to Chengdu. Another option is to take a bus from Xining to Banma (Y105, two days, buses depart at 9.45am on odd-numbered days), where you could then get a bus to Zoige (one day), then to Songpan (eight hours) and on to Chengdu (14 hours).
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