Discover Ancient China and Enjoy an Exciting Wildlife Experience in Wild Panda Habitats
For people who have interests in both Chinese culture and nature, and hope to see them in one trip, this trip is the best choice for them. With a nature guide working as the tour leader who will show you the natural charms of China during your trip and a local guide in each place focusing on cultural explanation, this trip provides you with a unique chance to see a real China, from both nature and culture perspective. On this trip, we will visit the most classic cultural sites located in the two ancient Chinese capitals Beijing and Xi'an, including the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Terra-Cotta Warriors. At the same time, we will also visit Mount Qingcheng and Dujiangyan Irrigation System in Sichuan to experience the indigenous Daoism and the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang.
Wildlife and birding experiences on this trip are incomparable. We will visit the Minshan Mountains, Hengduan Mountains, Qinling Mountains, 3 of the 6 mountain ranges which stand out as the most important habitats for wild pandas and their companion animals. We can expect wildlife like Takin, Chinese Goral, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, and birds like Chinese Monal, Golden Pheasant, Temminck's Tragopan, White Eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Streaked Rosefinch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Crimson-browed Finch, etc.
What makes this trip irreplaceable?
Tour Info Sheet
| Highlight Birds | Crested Ibis, Golden Pheasant, Azure-winged Magpie, Barred Laughingthrush, White-throated Laughingthrush, Elliot's Laughingthrush, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Blue Whistling Thrush, Brown Dipper, Plumbeous Redstart, White-capped Redstart, Crested Kingfisher, White-crowned Forktail, Little Forktail, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Grey-capped Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Mountain Bulbul, Spectacled Fulvetta, Yellow-bellied Tit, Sooty Bushtit, White-collared Yuhina, Slaty Bunting, Bearded Reedling, Pallas's Bunting, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Rufous-faced Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, etc. |
|---|---|
| Numbers of Species to Expected | 120-150 |
| Ease of Birding | mostly easy birding with a few tricky species |
| Highlight Mammals | Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Leopard Cat, Hog Badger, Takin, Tibetan Macaque, Reeves's Muntjac, Chinese Goral, Tufted Deer, Sambar, Masked Palm Civet, etc. |
| Other Attractions | wild panda habitat, delicate food, Forbidden City, Great Wall, Terra-Cotta Warriors, Beijing Roast Duck, Sichuan Hot Pot |
| Photography opportunities | birding focused but with very good photography chances |
| Habitats Covered | good photography chances for birds, mammals, people, and scenery |
| Expected Climate | mostly comfortable, rain is possible, cold on Balang Mountain |
| Physical Requirements | mostly easy, demanding but optional in certain parts |
| Accommodation | very comfortable |
| Transportation | 19-seat van |
What makes this trip irreplaceable?
1. Visit of Great Wall, Forbidden City, Terra-Cotta Warriors, Temple of Heaven, Mount Qingcheng, Dujiangyan Irrigation System.
2. Visiting Balang Mountain, the "kingdom of pheasants" for Chinese Monal, Tibetan Snowcock, Tibetan Partridge, Chesnut-throated Partridge, etc.
3. Visiting Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, one of the best places for wildlife safari in China.
4. The breath-taking scenery of lush mountains and snow-capped mountains.
5. Experienced wildlife and culture guides ensure you a lifetime traveling experience.
6. A small group size of no more than 8 travelers.
7. Years of working as a local partner for some prestigious western companies specialized in birds and wildlife.
8. A strong logistic team in the office to ensure our trip goes smoothly and every participant has a comfortable and memorable journey.
Dates & Prices
| Dates | Booking Status | Price | Single Supplement | Group Size | Guides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 8-26, 2027 | Space Available | TBA | TBA | 8-12 | Local Guides |
Slide the sheet to the left to see the full sheet if you are viewing it on your phone or tablet.
The cost includes the following:
1. Private transportation throughout the trip, including airport pick-up in Beijing and drop-off in Chengdu; Bullet train tickets as listed in the itinerary.
2. All meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 18.
3. All the entrance tickets for places listed in the itinerary including cable cars and shuttle buses.
4. Hotel stays from the first day to the last day, two clients occupy one twin-bed room on a sharing basis at nice 3 or 4-star hotels in big cities and local best guesthouses in remote areas.
5. Bottled water and snacks throughout the trip.
6. Simple western breakfast whenever possible.
7. Service charges of a professional wildlife guide throughout the whole trip and a local culture guide at each cultural site.
8. China domestic travel insurance.
9. Service of all logistic supports.
The cost does not include the following:
a. Drinks during meals.
b. Extra charges due to changes in the itinerary from the client's side or factors beyond the control of AlpineBirding such as natural disasters or government policy changes.
c. Discretionary tips to guides and drivers.
d. All personal expenses such as laundry service.
e. ANY AIRFARE except those stated in the itinerary.
f. Any program not listed in the itinerary.
Itinerary
Tour Map
Day 1: Arrive in Beijing
Meet your guide or driver at the airport upon arrival and transfer to the hotel. If time allows, enjoy optional city exploration to help you acclimate to the new time zone.
Day 2: Temple of Heaven & Great Wall
Our first stop today is the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design. Built in the early 15th century, this temple's unique structure and overall layout, set within gardens and surrounded by pine woods, reflect the mystical relationship between heaven and earth. Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties came here annually to pray for good harvests.
After enjoying the beautiful architecture, we have a short walk through the nearby forest. We should encounter some interesting city bird species, including Common Hoopoe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Gray-headed Woodpecker, Azure-winged Magpie, Oriental Magpie, Large-billed Crow, Marsh Tit, White-cheeked Starling, Crested Myna, Chinese Blackbird, Yellow-billed Grosbeak, and Oriental Greenfinch.
We then drive out of the city to visit a section of the Great Wall of China, the 2,000-year-old fortification built to protect Chinese civilization from northern tribes. After enjoying a classic Beijing lunch at the foot of the Wall, we walk along the ancient stone defenses that rise and fall across ridges and valleys.
To close the day, we enjoy a classic Peking Duck dinner at a popular local restaurant in the city.
Day 3: Forbidden City & Bullet Train to Xi’an
Spend the whole morning exploring Beijing’s most impressive historic site, the Forbidden City. The largest ancient palace complex in the world, it contains 90 palaces and courtyards, 980 buildings, and more than 8,700 rooms. From its completion in 1420 until the abdication of the last emperor in 1911, it was closed to all visitors. The complex served as the home of Ming and Qing rulers and houses some of China’s finest architectural and cultural treasures. Then visit one of Beijing's old Hutongs, exploring the unique architecture and authentic Chinese street life. Later, board a bullet train for a 3.5-hour journey to Xi’an.
Day 4: Terracotta Warriors, Small Wild Goose Pagoda & Muslim Quarter
Early this morning, we set out to visit Xi’an’s most famous attraction, the Terracotta Warriors. Discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well, this vast underground army was built to guard the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BC), China’s first emperor.
The site contains around 8,000 life-sized soldiers, 130 chariots, and more than 500 horses, each uniquely crafted. The warriors vary in height and appearance according to rank, while other pits contain officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. Together, they form part of a vast necropolis surrounding the emperor’s mausoleum.
We then visit the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, a Tang-dynasty pagoda dating from the 8th century and part of the UNESCO-listed Silk Roads network. Surrounded by peaceful gardens and a pleasant park, it is an ideal place for a leisurely stroll before returning to the hotel.
After dinner, we head to the Muslim Quarter to explore its lively streets and photograph historic Xi’an illuminated at night.
Day 5: Xi’an City Wall, Transfer to Yangxian
The next morning, we visit a section of Xi’an’s Ancient City Wall. Xi’an is one of the few Chinese cities where the original city wall remains largely intact, with many portions carefully restored or reconstructed. First built in 1370 during the Ming dynasty, the imposing wall rises 40 feet high, is surrounded by a dry moat, and forms a rectangular perimeter of 8.6 miles. From the top, we enjoy sweeping views of modern Xi’an.
After our visit, we take a one-hour high-speed bullet train to Yangxian. Following lunch, we spend some time observing the remarkable Crested Ibis in the nearby rice terraces, and later visit a Golden Pheasant hide in the afternoon.
Day 6: Yangxian to Monkey Reserve
We spend the morning birding in Yangxian before taking an afternoon bullet train to Guangyuan, where we meet our bus and continue on a four-hour scenic drive to our destination. Upon arrival, we check in to the hotel and rest for the evening.
Day 7: Monkey Reserve & transfer to Tangjiahe
We set out early this morning to explore the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Reserve and search for birds, including Darjeeling Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Necklaced Woodpecker, Southern Nutcracker, Gray-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Tit, Green-backed Tit, Asian Tit, and more. After lunch, we drive on to Tangjiahe, stopping to visit a beautiful and peaceful ancient village along the way. We expect to arrive in Tangjiahe around sunset, the prime time to look for Takin, Chinese Goral, and Reeve’s Muntjac as we continue toward our hotel inside the reserve.
Day 8: Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve
Tangjiahe is one of China’s premier sites for spotting both mammals and birds. We spend the day exploring the reserve, focusing on the early morning and late afternoon when wildlife activity peaks. Bird highlights may include Tawny Fish Owl, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Pacific Swift, Brown Dipper, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Mountain Bulbul, Brown-breasted Bulbul, Crested Kingfisher, Little Forktail, White-crowned Forktail, Blue Rock Thrush, White-collared Yuhina, Slaty Bunting, Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, and more.
Mammal sightings here are equally rewarding. We may be lucky enough to see a Takin cross the road right in front of us. Tibetan Macaques, the elusive Yellow-throated Marten, and Reeves’ Muntjac often wander along riversides, while the Chinese Goral is usually spotted on cliffs. Species such as Chinese Serow, Tufted Deer, and Asiatic Black Bear are more secretive and require greater effort and a bit of luck to observe.
Day 9: Tangjiahe to Dujiangyan
Spend the morning in Tangjiahe to try our luck. After enjoying our final wildlife encounters here, we begin the long drive to Dujiangyan. Upon arrival, unwind with a gentle evening stroll through the charming Dujiangyan Ancient City.
Day 10: Dujiangyan Panda Valley Birding & Irrigation System
After breakfast, we visit Dujiangyan Panda Valley, where we have the opportunity to observe giant pandas and enjoy birding in the surrounding forest environment. In the afternoon, we explore the famous Dujiangyan Irrigation System, an ancient engineering masterpiece built over 2,000 years ago during the Qin Dynasty. Still functioning today, this remarkable water management system has played a vital role in controlling floods and irrigating the fertile Chengdu Plain. We walk along the ancient channels, rivers, and viewpoints to appreciate the wisdom behind this UNESCO World Heritage Site before returning to our hotel.
Day 11: Dujiangyan to Rilong via Wolong Panda Base
In the peaceful, less crowded morning, we drive to the Wolong Panda Base to watch pandas of all ages. Along the way, we may also spot a variety of low-elevation birds, such as White-collared Yuhina, Chinese Babax, Chestnut Thrush, Verditer Flycatcher, and Yellow-throated Bunting.
After visiting the panda base, we continue our drive to Rilong, where we check in to our hotel and prepare for the upcoming alpine birding.
Day 12: Balang Mountain Birding & Shuangqiao Valley
Today, we head to Balang Mountain, one of the highest mountains in the Hengduan Range and an important geographical and ecological boundary between the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. With its diverse terrain and varied habitats, Balang Mountain supports an exceptional diversity of wildlife. We can expect some high-elevation species such as Himalayan Vulture, Lammergeier, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Buzzard, Red-billed Chough, Snow Pigeon, Chinese Fulvetta, Streaked Rosefinch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Kessler's Thrush, Himalayan Bluetail, Rufous-vented Tit, Sichuan Tit, Asian House Martin, Alpine Leaf Warbler, Giant Laughingthrush, Collared Grosbeak, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Blue-fronted Redstart, and White-throated Redstart.
After exploring the area, we continue to Shuangqiao Valley in Siguniangshan National Park. Entering this 25-mile-long (40-kilometer) valley, we are surrounded by dramatic alpine landscapes, snow-capped peaks, and diverse mountain habitats. The valley floor lies at around 3,000 meters, while the surrounding summits rise to nearly 6,000 meters. Boardwalk trails lead us through colorful geological formations and mirror-like alpine lakes, with occasional pagodas and prayer flags adding cultural charm to the scenery.
Day 13: Rilong to Jintang
Today, we travel to Jintang. Upon arrival, we check in to our lovely guesthouse and rest for the evening.
Day 14: Jintang to Kangding
We have a morning of birding in Jintang, visiting the nearby mountain and exploring the surrounding alpine habitats in search of species such as the endemic Chinese Monal, Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, White-eared Pheasant, Snow Pigeon, Himalayan Griffon, Sichuan Tit, Brown Dipper, and Chinese White-browed Rosefinch.
Afterwards, we continue our drive to Kangding, enjoying the spectacular mountain scenery along the way. Upon arrival, we check in to our hotel and rest for the evening.
Day 15: Kangding to Labahe
We spend the morning in a hide in Kangding, photographing species such as Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Barred Laughingthrush, Chinese Babax, White-collared Yuhina, Black-browed Tit, and Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler. Afterwards, we continue our drive to Labahe.
Day 16: Labahe NR
Nestled deep within the Hengduan Mountain range, Labahe is a vital wild panda habitat and one of the best places in China to search for the elusive Red Panda. Its mixed alpine forest and dense bamboo understory provide ideal conditions for this species, though spotting one still requires patience and persistence. Beyond its mammal highlights, Labahe is also an outstanding birding destination.
Among the many species we may encounter are Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Fulvous Parrotbill, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Yellow-browed Tit, Fire-capped Tit, Coal Tit, Black-browed Bushtit, Chestnut-crowned, Grey-sided, Brown, Aberrant, and Yellowish-bellied Bush Warblers, Grey-hooded and Golden-breasted Fulvettas, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Rufous-gorgeted and Ferruginous Flycatchers, Golden Bush Robin, Brown Dipper, White-throated Dipper, Little Forktail, White-crowned Forktail, Slaty Bunting.
Day 17: Labahe to Chengdu Jinli Street & Sichuan Opera
Today, we leave Labahe and drive back to Chengdu. Upon arrival, we visit Jinli Street, one of Chengdu’s most famous historic streets, where traditional architecture, local snacks, handicrafts, and cultural elements showcase the charm of Sichuan. In the evening, we enjoy a performance of Sichuan Opera, featuring the unique artistry of face-changing, traditional music, and classic stage performances, providing a memorable cultural experience to conclude our journey.
Day 18: Sichuan Departure
After breakfast, you can walk directly to the airport for your departure flight. This concludes our China Wildlife & Culture Highlights trip and the AlpineBirding service.
Guide(s)
We will arrange one of our best local wildlife guides for this trip who has rich experience of guiding tours in this region. The followings are some of our professional guides who have guided tours in this area for many years.
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 grown 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.
Besides, we will have a culture guide to participate in some cultural sites in this itinerary to bring us immersed culture experience.
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 grown 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.
Besides, we will have a culture guide to participate in some cultural sites in this itinerary to bring us immersed culture experience.
Linked Tours
If you want to spend more time before or after the main tour to look for certain species or enjoy other attractions, you are warmly welcome to share your ideas with us to tailor make a tour of your own style. Please send us an email to info@alpinebirding.com with your preferences, we will get back to you with a time manner.
Reports
We don't have a report available for this tour at this stage, please feel free to email us, we are more than happy to answer any of your questions and share the latest bird information with you.
Testimonials
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