7 Days Yunnan Extension Birding Tour - Itinerary

7 Days Yunnan Extension Birding Tour

Located in southwestern China, Yunnan Province boasts remarkable bird diversity, with over 1,000 recorded species—the highest of any province in China. With its varied landscapes—ranging from mountains and lakes to plateaus, wetlands, and plains—Yunnan offers a wide range of habitats and climate conditions that support this rich avifauna. Its strategic location and favorable climate also make it a critical wintering ground for many migratory birds.

This extension takes you through Yunnan’s most renowned birding sites, including the Gaoligong Mountains (Baihualing), Lijiang, and Chuxiong—all known for their exceptional biodiversity. These areas are home to an impressive variety of pheasants, laughingthrushes, babblers, nuthatchs, and parrotbills. Target species may include Silver Pheasant, Hill Partridge, Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Rufous-throated Partridge, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, White-speckled Laughingthrush, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Yunnan Nuthatch, Giant Nuthatch, Eye-ringed Parrotbill, etc.

Tour Info Sheet

Highlight Birds	Silver Pheasant, Hill Partridge, Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Rufous-throated Partridge, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, White-speckled Laughingthrush, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Striated Bulbul, Flavescent Bulbul, Beautiful Sibia, Long-tailed Sibia, Yunnan Nuthatch, Giant Nuthatch, Scarlet Finch, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Eye-ringed Parrotbill, Grey-bellied Tesia, Slaty-bellied Tesia, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Fire-tailed Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, Green-tailed Sunbird, etc.
Number of Species to Expected	100-120
Ease of Birding	mostly easy birding with a few tricky species
Highlight Mammals	-
Other Attractions	colorful minority culture of Bai, Dai, etc., and delicate food
Photography opportunities	with very good photography chances
Habitats Covered	tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands
Expected Climate	mostly comfortable, cool in the early morning, warm in the daytime, rain is possible
Physical Requirements	mostly easy, demanding but optional on certain parts
Accommodation	very comfortable
Transportation	19-seat van

What makes this trip irreplaceable?

1. The combination of our experienced western guides and local guides ensure your needs are well met.

2. We run the trip in the best season. Not only birds are in the breeding season, but all the destinations have the most beautiful sceneries in this season.

3. Small groups with more flexibility. The group is limited to 8 so that we can maximize the chances of each participant. Besides, we can use a smaller and convenient van compare with big groups.

4. This trip covers the most popular and classic birding sites of Sichuan.

5. Explore the Tibetan areas of Sichuan to see some plateau specials.

6. We have been a reliable local partner for some western birding and wildlife companies for many decades.

7. We have a strong logistic team to ensure your trip goes smoothly and ensures you a comfortable and enjoyable journey.

Gallery

Dates & Prices

Dates	Booking State	Price	Single Supplement	Group Size	Guide
May 1-May 7, 2026	Open to Booking	7,900USD/pax	580USD/pax	8	Local Guide

Slide the sheet to left to see the full sheet if you are viewing on your phone or tablet.

The cost includes the following:

1.Private transportation throughout the trip, including airport pickup and drop-off at Chengdu, Kunming and Lijiang Airport.

2.Meals at local popular restaurants that are labeled as BLD in the itinerary. Picnic lunches when needed.

3.All the entrance tickets for places listed in the itinerary including birding hides and shuttle buses.

4.Hotel stays from the first night to the last night, two people occupy one twin-bed room on a sharing basis at nice 3 or 4-star hotels in cities and local best guesthouses in remote areas.

5.Bottled water and snacks throughout the trip.

6.Simple western breakfast whenever possible.

7.Service of an English-speaking bird guide throughout the whole trip.

8.China domestic travel insurance.

9.Service of all logistic supports.

The cost does not include the following:

1.Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages during meals.

2.Extra charges due to changes in the itinerary from the client side or factors beyond the control of AlpineBirding such as natural disasters and governmental policy change.

3.Discretionary tips to local guides and drivers.

4.All personal expenses such as laundry service.

5.Airfare to the place where our trip starts and from the place where our trip ends.

6.Service fees and commission fees that charged by banks and other third-party companies while making the trip payment to AlpineBirding’s banking and financial accounts.

7.Any program not listed in the itinerary.

Itinerary

Tour Map

Day 1: Chengdu fly to Kunming, then drive to Chuxiong (3hrs, 500-2100-2300m).

This morning, we will fly from Chengdu to Kunming (we recommend arriving the night before), then drive directly to Chuxiong. Upon arrival, we’ll visit a city park for some relaxed birding.

Day 2:Chuxiong to Baihualing (6hrs, 2300-1400m).

Covering approximately 16,000 hectares, Zixi Mountain is the largest natural park in Yunnan Province, boasting an impressive 91% forest coverage. Dominated by evergreen and Yunnan pine forests, it offers ideal habitat for a variety of nuthatches and other bird species unique to southwestern China. Over 200 species have been recorded here, with the main highlights being the endemic Yunnan Nuthatch and the rare Giant Nuthatch. Other species we are likely to encounter include the striking Chestnut-vented Nuthatch, Eurasian Jay, Speckled Piculet, Gray-capped and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Long-tailed and Gray-chinned Minivets, Blyth's Shrike Babbler, White-throated and Yellow-bellied Fairy Fantails, Ashy-throated, Buff-barred, Blyth's Leaf, and Black-faced Warblers, Streak-breasted and Black-streaked Scimitar Babblers, Chinese Thrush, Himalayan Bluetail, Sooty-headed and Mountain Bulbuls, Ashy Drongo, Spectacled and Yunnan Fulvettas, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, and Godlewski's Bunting. Occasionally, the elusive Mountain Tailorbird can be spotted in the lush mixed broadleaf–conifer forest. We will spend the morning birding in Zixi Mountain before making the six-hour drive to Baihualing.

Day 3-4: Baihualing (~1400m).

Located on the western edge of Yunnan Province, the Gaoligong Mountains form the southernmost part of the Hengduan Mountain Range. The elevation here rises dramatically from 650 meters at the base to 5,128 meters at the summit. With seven distinct vegetation zones, the Gaoligong Mountains have been recognized by Conservation International as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots. To date, around 525 bird species have been recorded in this region—accounting for 43.3% of Yunnan’s total—with approximately 40 species listed as nationally protected and endangered.

We will spend two full days exploring a variety of habitats in search of birds. Some species typically forage on the ground, such as Silver Pheasant, Hill Partridge, Mountain Bamboo Partridge, Rufous-throated Partridge, Slender-billed Scimitar Babbler, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Chestnut-crowned Laughingthrush, Blue-winged Laughingthrush, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Grey-winged Blackbird, Long-tailed Thrush, Wedge-billed Wren Babbler, Grey-bellied Tesia, Slaty-bellied Tesia, and Chestnut-headed Tesia.

While exploring the dense virgin forests, we’ll also be looking for canopy and midstory species such as Himalayan Cutia, Mountain Imperial Pigeon, Great Barbet, Golden-throated Barbet, Blue-throated Barbet, Broad-billed Warbler, Bay Woodpecker, Greater Yellownape, Red-tailed Minla, Scarlet Finch, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Spot-breasted Parrotbill, Whiskered Yuhina, Rufous-vented Yuhina, Striated Bulbul, Flavescent Bulbul, Beautiful Sibia, Long-tailed Sibia, Large Niltava, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Snowy-browed Flycatcher, Rusty-fronted Barwing, Short-billed Minivet, Scarlet Minivet, and Yellow-cheeked Tit.

In addition, the area is home to a number of dazzling sunbirds, including Fire-tailed Sunbird, Black-throated Sunbird, Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, and Green-tailed Sunbird.

Day 5:Baihualing to Lijiang (5.5hrs, 1400-2300m).

We will spend the golden morning hours in Baihualing for another chance at our target species before continuing on to Lijiang.

Day 6:Lijiang (3hrs, 2300-2500m).

We will spend the entire day birding in the Lijiang area, which offers numerous excellent birding sites, including a spectacular bird hide designed specifically for viewing the restricted-range White-speckled Laughingthrush. In addition to this key species, we will also have good chances to encounter a variety of other fascinating birds such as Eye-ringed Parrotbill, Yunnan Nuthatch, Salim Ali’s Swift, Black-bibbed Tit, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Spectacled Fulvetta, White-browed Fulvetta, Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Chinese Babax, Elliot’s Laughingthrush, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Rufous-tailed Babbler, Bar-throated Minla, Black-headed Sibia, Rufous-vented Yuhina, and Yellow-throated Bunting.

Day 7:Lijiang to Chengdu (2300-500m).

Take a morning flight back to Chengdu to join our main Sichuan birding tour.

Guide(s)

We will arrange one of our best local guides for this trip who has rich experience of guiding tours in this region. The following are some of our best local guides in and around this area.

Shay Xie

Shay is among the first group of professional bird guides with the academic background of ornithology. He spent his childhood in a small county of Chongqing municipality where is the eastern edge of Daba mountains. Being brought up in a beautiful natural environment and surrounded by beautiful nature creatures, Shay has developed a strong interest in nature and birds since he was a small kid. Following the call from his inner heart, he chose to study ecology as his major when he was admitted to Sichuan University. The campus of Sichuan University itself is one of the most famous birding sites in Sichuan and he spent most of his afterschool time birding there. Since that time he started working as a part-time bird guide. After four years of academic study in the university and birding on the campus, he recorded many rare bird species including Blackthroat and Firethroat in Chengdu. Before he joined AlpineBirding, he worked as a professional freelancer bird guide and often participated in some special surveys on birds and mammals in southwestern China. These experiences form fields that have greatly enriched his knowledge of birds and nature. By now, he has successfully guided many avid birders from different countries including Norway, Britain, US, Russia, Sweden, Thailand, Israel, etc. Now working as a full-time bird guide in AlpineBirding, Shay will do his best to create your best birding experiences in China with his experiences, knowledge and passion.

Bella Zhang

Bella, the director of AlpineBirding, graduated from Sichuan Agricultural University with a Bachelor's Degree. She joined AlpineBirding in early 2016 and became the director of AlpineBirding in 2018. She was born and grew up in a Bai ethnic family in Yunnan Province which boasts of the largest number of bird species in China. Her interests toward birds started with her observation of a Long-tailed Minivet in her mom's garden at a very young age. As she grows up, the interests and love toward birds become stronger and stronger. Because of that, she found AlpineBirding before graduation and joined the company for further learning of birds. Bella has guided a number of birding trips in cooperation with AlpineBirding guide in the past years, her passion, readiness to help and detail-oriented attitude have won her lots of praise from our clients.

Trip Details, Dates, Prices, etc.