22 Days Classic Sichuan Birding Tour - Itinerary

22 Days Classic Sichuan Birding Tour

Located in southwestern China along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Sichuan Province is an inland region covering 486,000 square kilometers and home to over 90 million people. Geographically, the province is divided into three main regions: the Sichuan Basin in the central and eastern areas, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the west and north, and the southern hilly regions. The western part of Sichuan features dramatic landscapes formed by the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Hengduan Mountain Ranges, while the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau lies to the south and the Qinling-Daba Mountain Ranges to the north.

Thanks to its diverse topography and climate, Sichuan supports a remarkable variety of flora and fauna, including a large number of rare and endemic species. According to surveys, over 750 bird species have been recorded in the province. Sichuan is often referred to as the “Kingdom of Pheasants”, with 23 species under the order Galliformes, accounting for approximately 35% of China’s total. Among these, 10 species are endemic to China.

The province is dotted with outstanding birding destinations, including Wawu Mountain, Emei Mountain, Longcanggou, Balang Mountain, Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, Erlang Mountain, Mengbi Mountain, Ruoergai, Baxi Forest, Wild Flower Lake, Baihe Nature Reserve, Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park, and Laojun Mountain, among others.

With its rich biodiversity, Sichuan is gaining global recognition for its birdlife and wildlife, particularly pheasants, parrotbills, rosefinches, and leaf warblers. This 22-day birding journey is designed to cover nearly all major habitats in the province and includes some of the most celebrated sites such as Hailuogou, Balang Mountain, Wolong Nature Reserve, Mengbi Mountain, Flower Lake, Baxi Forest, and Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve.

Focusing on China's endemic and range-restricted species, this itinerary offers an exceptional opportunity for birders seeking rare and localized birds. While parts of the trip can be physically demanding due to hiking and high-altitude terrain, the rewards are substantial—not only in terms of rare bird sightings, but also extraordinary mammals like the Red Panda, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Tibetan Fox, Hog Badger, Takin, Tibetan Macaque, Reeves’ Muntjac, Chinese Goral, Tufted Deer, and Sambar, along with breathtaking scenery and a rich ethnic minority culture.

Tour Info Sheet

Highlight Birds	Temminck's Tragopan, Golden Pheasant, Tibetan Snowcock, Chestnut-throated Monal-Partridge, Chinese Monal, Chinese Grouse, Blue Eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, White Eared Pheasant, Grandala, Chinese Rubythroat, Firethroat, Sichuan Jay, Sichuan Wood Owl, Black-necked Crane, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill, Grey-hooded Parrotbill, Golden Parrotbill, Przevalski's Pinktail, Collared Grosbeak, White-winged Grosbeak, Goldcrest, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush, Giant Laughingthrush, Elliot's Laughingthrush, Slaty Bunting, Crested Tit Warbler, White-browed Tit Warbler, Chinese Fulvetta,Pere David's Tit, Sichuan Tit, White-browed Tit, Sichuan Treecreeper,Wall Creeper, Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), Red-billed Chough, Yellow-billed Chough, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Common Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Crimson-browed Finch, Red-fronted Rosefinch, etc.
Numbers of Species to Expect	250-300
Ease of Birding	mostly easy birding with a few tricky species
Highlight Mammals	Red Panda, Golden-snub-nosed Monkey, Tibetan Fox, Hog Badger, Takin, Tibetan Macaque, Reeves's Muntjac, Chinese Goral, Tufted Deer, Sambar, Masked Palm Civet, etc.
Other Attractions	Tibetan culture, wild panda habitat, and delicate food
Photography opportunities	birding focused, but with very good photography chances
Habitats Covered	subtropical forests, woodlands, grasslands, snow mountains, wetlands
Expected Climate	mostly comfortable, windy and cold on the plateau, humid in the basin, rain is possible
Physical Requirements	mostly easy, demanding, but optional on certain parts
Accommodation	very comfortable
Transportation	19-seat van

Gallery

Dates & Prices

Dates	Booking Status	Price	Single Supplement	Group Size	Guide
May 21-June 11, 2027	Open for Booking	5,968 USD/pax	790 USD/pax	8	Local Guide
Apr 26 – May 17, 2028	Open for Booking	5,968 USD/pax	790 USD/pax	8	Local Guide

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The cost includes the following:

1. Private transportation throughout the trip, including airport pick-up and drop-off at Chengdu airports.

2. Meals at well-reviewed local restaurants, from dinner on the first day through breakfast on the final day. Picnic lunches will be provided when necessary.

3. Entrance fees for all sites listed in the itinerary, including birding hides and shuttle buses.

4. Accommodation from the first night to the last night, based on twin-share occupancy (two people per room) at quality 3- to 4-star hotels in cities and the best available guesthouses in remote areas.

5. Bottled water and snacks provided throughout the trip.

6. Simple Western-style breakfasts whenever available.

7. Services of an experienced English-speaking bird guide for the entire duration of the trip.

8. China domestic travel insurance coverage.

9. Full logistical support throughout the journey.

The cost does not include the following:

1. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages during meals.

2. Additional costs arising from itinerary changes made by the client or from factors beyond AlpineBirding’s control, such as natural disasters or changes in government policy.

3. Discretionary tips for local guides and drivers.

4. Personal expenses, including laundry services.

5. Airfare to the trip starting point and from the trip ending point.

6. Banking and transaction fees charged by banks or third-party companies during payment to AlpineBirding’s accounts.

7. Any activities or services not listed in the itinerary.

Itinerary

Tour Map

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Day 1: Arrive in Chengdu (~500m)

Meet your driver at either Chengdu Shuangliu Airport or Tianfu International Airport, then drive about 1 hour to the hotel in the city.

Day 2: Chengdu to Tangjiahe (4.5hrs, 500–1500m)

After breakfast, have a short visit to the Chengdu Botanical Garden. Known as one of the best urban birding spots in the city, the garden boasts a rich diversity of flora and high forest coverage. It offers excellent opportunities to observe a variety of urban and resident bird species, such as the Chinese Bulbul, White-browed Laughingthrush, Red-billed Leiothrix, Swinhoe's White-eye, Chinese Blackbird, Chinese Grosbeak, Collared Finchbill, Long-tailed Shrike, Fork-tailed Sunbird, and Hoopoe. Following the visit, drive on to Tangjiahe. Upon passing through the reserve entrance, we start making stops along the way to search for birds and wildlife before arriving at our hotel inside the reserve.

Day 3: Tangjiahe (1500-2200-1500m)

Tangjiahe is one of China’s premier sites for spotting both mammals and birds. We primarily explore the area during the early morning and late afternoon, when wildlife activity peaks. Our main target species include Slaty Bunting, Tawny Fish Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, Alström's Warbler, Crested Kingfisher, Yellow-throated Bunting, Yellow-bellied Tit, and White-throated Dipper.

Mammal sightings here are equally rewarding. Visitors often see a Takin crossing the road right in front of them. Tibetan Macaques, the elusive Yellow-throated Marten, and Reeves’ Muntjac frequently wander along riversides, while the Chinese Goral usually appears on cliffs. Species such as Chinese Serow, Tufted Deer, and Asiatic Black Bear are more secretive and require greater effort and some luck to observe.

Day 4: Tangjiahe to Baihe (3.5hrs, 1500–1380m)

We will spend the morning in Tangjiahe, then drive to Baihe in the afternoon.

Day 5: Baihe to Chuanzhusi (3.5hrs, 1380–3000m)

Leave early to look for the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Continue our drive toward Chuanzhusi after the visit. Birding along the way.

Day 6: Chuanzhusi to Ruoergai (2.5hrs, 3000–4000-3500m)

Today, we will visit a nearby mountain to search for the elusive Przevalski's Nuthatch. We will also look for other species Blue Eared Pheasant, Tibetan Snowcock, Brandt's Mountain Finch, Grandala, Red-fronted Rosefinch, Tibetan Partridge, White-browed Tit, Spotted Bush Warbler, White-bellied Redstart, Streaked Rosefinch, Chinese Thrush, Goldcrest, and more. After leaving Chuanzhusi, we will continue our drive to Ruoergai

Day 7-8: Ruoergai (~3500m)

Ruoergai Marshlands, located in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, form the largest high-altitude marsh area in the world. Situated at around 3,500 meters above sea level, the marshes cover approximately 2,600 square kilometers. We spend the day exploring diverse habitats in search of birds.

In the morning, we focus on the mountain’s virgin forests at the edge of the plateau, which provide excellent habitat for forest species such as the rare Blue Eared Pheasant, Chinese Grouse, Tibetan Partridge, Black-necked Crane, Little Owl, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Pink-tailed Rosefinch, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush, Plain Laughingthrush, Spectacled Parrotbill, White-rumped Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Black-winged Snowfinch, Sichuan Jay, White-browed Tit Warbler, Siberian Rubythroat, Chinese Fulvetta, Tibetan Lark, Brown-cheeked Rail. We also have opportunities to encounter other fascinating species such as Common Pheasant, Black Woodpecker, Daurian Jackdaw, Saker Falcon, Robin Accentor, Buff-throated Warbler, Kessler's Thrush.

We also keep an eye out for plateau mammals such as the Plateau Pika, Himalayan Marmot, Tibetan Fox, and Hog Badger.

Day 9: Ruoergai to Maerkang (6hrs, 3500–2700m)

Spend the morning in Ruoergai before embarking on approximately a six-hour drive to Maerkang, making several stops along the way to look for birds such as Ruddy Shelduck, Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Partridge, Upland Buzzard, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, White-browed Tit, Pink-tailed Rosefinch (Przevalski's Pinktail), Robin Accentor, Giant Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie, and more.

Day 10: Maerkang to Xiaojin via Mengbi Mountain (5.5hrs, 2700–4000-2400m)

Spend the morning in Mengbi Mountain to look for some of the region’s most sought-after bird species. Our main target birds include Chestnut-throated Monal Partridge, Sichuan Jay, Crested Tit Warbler, White-eared Pheasant, Goldcrest and Collared Grosbeak. We also have opportunities to encounter other fascinating species such as Blood Pheasant, Streaked Rosefinch, Three-banded Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Chinese Fulvetta, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Long-tailed Thrush, Tibetan Serin, Kessler's Thrush, and more. Drive on to Xiaojin after lunch. Birding along the way to look for Wallcreeper and Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch.

Day 11: Xiaojin to Jintang (4.5hrs, 1600–3500m)

Birding at the nearby mountain for Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), Golden Eagle, Himalayan Buzzard, Chinese Fulvetta, Streaked Rosefinch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Himalayan Bluetail, Rufous-vented Tit, and Sichuan Tit. Carry on to Jiangtang in the afternoon and bird at the Chinese Monal area if the weather allows.

Day 12: Jintang to Luding (3hrs, 3500–1300–2700m)

We will spend the morning birding at the monal site for the Chinese Monal, White Eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, etc. Drive on to Luding after lunch.

Day 13: Hailuogou (1800–2600m)

Hailuogou Glacier Park is the only glacier forest park in China. We spend most of the day at different elevations searching for highlight birds such as Sichuan Treecreeper, Blue-fronted Robin and Rufous-vented Yuhina. We also have opportunities to encounter other fascinating species including Streaked Barwing, Yellow-bellied Fantail, and more. Late in the afternoon, we drive back to Luding to spend the night.

Day 14: Luding to Labahe (2.5hrs, 2600–1800m)

We spend half the day birding in the areas surrounding Luding.In the dense forest, we search for several rare and sought-after species, including the elegant Lady Amherst's Pheasant, the distinctive Chinese Babax, the striking Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, and the colorful Firethroat. Other target species may include Black-browed Bushtit, Rusty-capped Fulvetta, Buff-throated Warbler, Indian Blue Robin, Barred Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, Yellow-streaked Warbler, White-browed Fulvetta, Rufous-tailed Babbler, Chestnut-flanked White-eye, Fire-capped Tit, Southern Nutcracker, Sharpe's Rosefinch, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, and more. After that, we drive to Labahe.

Day 15: Labahe (1800–3700m)

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, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Firethroat, Pere David's Tit, Brown Bush Warbler, Himalayan Shortwing, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, and Fire-capped Tit. Other fascinating species we may encounter include Golden Bush Robin, Slaty Bunting, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler, Red Collared Dove, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Yellow-bellied Tit, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Tibetan Serin, Dark-sided Flycatcher, Pygmy Cupwing, Little Forktail, Chestnut-flanked White-eye, Southern Nutcracker and more.

Day 16: Labahe to Longcanggou (3hrs, 1800-1400m)

Spend the golden morning hours birding in Labahe in search of our target species before continuing our drive to Longcanggou. Upon arrival, we go birding at lower elevations, searching for species such as Golden-fronted Fulvetta, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Golden Parrotbill, Sichuan Bush Warbler and Emei Leaf Warbler. We also have opportunities to encounter other fascinating species including Himalayan Owl and more.

Day 17: Longcanggou to Wawu Mountain (3.5hrs, 1400–2000m)

In the morning, we return to the lower elevation areas of Longcanggou to search for any remaining target species. After lunch, we drive to Wawu Mountain. Upon arrival, we take a cable car up the mountain, check in at our hotel, and begin birding immediately.

Day 18: Wawu Mountain (2000–2700–2000m)

Wawu Mountain is not only a popular tourist destination but also an unmissable birding hotspot in China, renowned for its incredible diversity of parrotbills, fulvettas, laughingthrushes, and warblers. In addition to its rich birdlife, Wawu is one of the best places to search for Red Pandas in the wild. We spend a full day exploring different elevations of the mountain in search of target species such as Grey-hooded Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Golden Parrotbill, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Buff-barred Warbler, Greenish Warbler, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Buff-throated Warbler, Claudia's Leaf Warbler, Kloss's Leaf Warbler, Asian Lesser Cuckoo, Himalayan Owl, Alström's Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Bianchi's Warbler, Martens's Warbler, Golden Bush Robin, White-bellied Redstart, Spotted Bush Warbler, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Necklaced Woodpecker, Black-headed Sibia, White-browed Bush Robin, and Yellow-browed Tit. Other fascinating species we may encounter include Temminck's Tragopan, Ferruginous Flycatcher, Dark-sided Flycatcher, Sichuan Thrush, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Emei Shan Liocichla, Rufous-faced Warbler, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Mrs. Gould's Sunbird, Himalayan Shortwing, Hodgson's Treecreeper, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Dusky Fulvetta and more.

Day 19: Wawu Mountain to Yibin (4hrs, 2000–500m)

In the morning, we have a final chance to search for any key species we may still be missing before driving to Yibin.

Day 20: Yibin (500–1600–500m)

We spend the full day at several birding hides in Yibin. Tanshi Village, located in a beautiful low-altitude forest, has become a prime birding destination in recent years. With support from the local government, residents build multiple well-maintained hides, providing food and water to attract birds for birders and photographers. These hides serve as a sanctuary for several rare and elusive species that are difficult to observe in the wild, including Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Temminck's Tragopan, Sichuan Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Emei Shan Liocichla, Buffy Laughingthrush, Golden Parrotbill, and Sulphur-breasted Warbler. Other fascinating species we may encounter include Bay Woodpecker, Hwamei, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Sichuan Bush Warbler, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill and more.

Day 21: Yibin to Chengdu(4hrs, ~500m)

Spend the morning in Yibin to try again for any remaining target species. After lunch, we drive back to Chengdu and check in at our conveniently located airport hotel.

Day 22: Departure (~500m)

Walk about 5 minutes to the airport on your own to catch your departing flight from Chengdu. Alpine Birding’s services end.

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.

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Trip Details, Dates, Prices, etc.

Tour Info Sheet

Gallery

Dates & Prices

Itinerary

Tour Map

Guide(s)

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