Detailed 4-Day, 4-Evening Self-Guided Sichuan Journey Itinerary

With regards to Sichuan, along with the spicy hotpot, the capital metropolis of Chengdu can be recognized for its vacationer points of interest similar to Jiuzhaigou, Leshan Big Buddha or Mount Emei. Nevertheless, this huge western mountainous province of China additionally has Bibanggou and Jiaguo Mountain with majestic surroundings, leaving a powerful impression on guests. Let’s consult with the 4-day, 4-night Sichuan journey route to completely benefit from the stunning surroundings and distinctive culinary flavors of this land!

Detailed 4-Day, 4-Evening Self-Guided Sichuan Journey Itinerary

Day 1: Journey to Chengdu from Hanoi/ Saigon

For those who depart from Vietnam, the fastest approach to get to Chengdu is to fly instantly from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh Metropolis by Vietnam Airways, Vietjet Air, China Southern Airways. The flight from Hanoi often takes about 3-4 hours, and for those who choose the afternoon flight, you’ll arrive in Chengdu round 6pm, simply in time to check in, relax and discover a bit of bit about this metropolis.

Chengdu is kind of chilly at night time, with temperatures starting from 3-4 levels Celsius, whereas the daytime is extra nice at round 6-9 levels Celsius. So, put together appropriate garments to maintain heat however transfer comfortably. For those who e book lodging within the middle, you may simply stroll to essentially the most vibrant areas of town, together with Taikoo Li – a luxurious buying, eating and leisure complicated in Chengdu.

Right here, you’ll find every kind of manufacturer, from luxurious manufacturers like LV, Gucci to standard manufacturers like Uniqlo, Nike, Adidas. However Taikoo Li just isn’t solely a spot to buy, but in addition a vacation spot that displays the life-style of Chengdu’s youth, with cafes, eating places and very spectacular check-in corners.

Don’t miss to discover the road meals when the solar goes down! Chengdu is legendary for its spicy meals, however the avenue distributors additionally promote quite a lot of scrumptious snacks similar to skewers, spicy dumplings and particularly the native strawberries – massive, purple and candy. A calming night with some scrumptious meals, strolling alongside the glowing streets is the right approach to begin your Chengdu exploration.

Day 2: Uncover Tat Bang Cau – Gorgeous Surroundings within the Mountainous Area

1. Transfer To All Sentences

On Day 2, you may go away Chengdu early within the morning and begin your journey to Bipenggou by taking a coach from Chadianzi Railway Station to Gu’ergouzhen City, an excellent stopover earlier than conquering the highlands. The bus departs at 6:30 am, taking you thru 200km of mountainous roads with majestic Sichuan surroundings, previous winding rivers, misty valleys and peaceable Tibetan villages.

Arriving at round 11am, you’ll instantly really feel the change in climate with the temperature being about 10 levels Celsius decrease than Chengdu, the air is dry and crisp, making those that aren’t used to the altitude really feel a bit drained. So, take a while to relax and get used to the local weather earlier than persevering with your journey!

After checking in and packing your baggage, you may hire a 7-seater automotive for 200 yuan (about 680,000 VND, spherical journey) to journey to Tat Bang Cau vacationer space. This can be a well-known nature reserve with clear blue lakes, snow-covered valleys and delightful primeval forests.

To enter the vacationer space, it is advised to purchase tickets on the vacationer middle, with a complete price of about 250 CNY/2 folks (about 850,000 VND), together with entrance tickets and transportation inside. The primary cease is a big lake, surrounded by mountains, forests and waterfalls. In winter, the lake floor is partially frozen, making a magical scene with a jade inexperienced shade like Lam Nguyet Lake (Yunnan).

From right here, you may comply with the trail across the lake clockwise, passing many stunning check-in factors earlier than getting into the 4km lengthy snow forest. In case you are not robust enough for trekking, you may choose the native bus, serving to save lots of time and save vitality for the following journey.

At an vital cease, you’ll come throughout a small ski space – the place guests can attempt the sensation of gliding on white snow. Nevertheless, for the reason that solar units fairly early and tomorrow’s schedule has many extra thrilling snow experiences, you may spend time visiting, taking photos and having fun with the contemporary pure area earlier than returning to the vacationer middle.

2. Take pleasure in Meals in Gu’ergouzhen City

After a day of exploring, it’s time to go again to the city and luxuriate in some sizzling native meals. Gu’ergouzhen Evening Market is filled with stalls serving mountain delicacies, from boiled corn, dumplings, and chili-flavored fries to dishes with a definite Sichuan taste. The fascinating factor right here is that every restaurant often has three completely different stalls, one promoting sizzling pot, one specializing in grilled skewers, and one serving specialties like rabbit and grilled rooster.

On the primary night right here, a spicy beef hotpot mixed with a couple of flavorful grilled skewers will certainly assist you to recharge your vitality, prepare for the following journey.

Day 3: Proceed Transferring to Gia Co Mountain

Early on the third day, I book a non-public automotive to journey to Jiāgū Shān Mountain – one of the vital stunning snow-capped locations within the space. The bus departs at 8am, taking about 2.5 hours to journey 100km of mountain street, with a worth of 400 yuan (about 1,360,000 VND, spherical journey). This journey just isn’t solely a visit but in addition a chance to benefit from the majestic pure surroundings the place the blue river meanders alongside the mountainside, winding roads by way of rocks and a large hydroelectric dam seems in the midst of the forest.

1. Touching the Stunning Winter on Mount Everest

When you arrive, it is advised to purchase a ticket for 124 yuan per particular person (about 420,000 VND), together with entrance price and native bus. The bus will take you to the primary space, about 20km from the ticket workplace, the place the surroundings fully modified.

As quickly as I received off the bus, I used to be overwhelmed by the enormous mountains reaching as much as the clouds, their peaks coated in white snow, creating an impressive pure image. The air was chilly however contemporary, the area was crammed with the pure white shade of snow, making this place appear like a miniature model of the Alps.

Experiences at Gia Co Mountain don’t cease at sightseeing, but in addition open up numerous memorable moments amid nature coated in white snow. One of the spectacular check-in spots is the fairy-tale wood home space, the place the roof is roofed with 20-30cm thick snow, fluffy like large cream desserts, creating a wonderful scene like stepping out of a winter dream.

Not distant, the Tibetan wind horses flutter brilliantly on the white snow, each mysterious and bearing the mark of highland tradition. For those who love out of doors actions, you may go to the massive ski resort to get pleasure from enjoying within the pristine pure area. Although not too fashionable, the wild and majestic options of this place make this expertise extra particular than ever.

The best time to discover right here is from 10am to round 2pm, sufficient time to take a whole lot of lovely photographs earlier than returning to the ticket workplace and getting on the bus again to city.

2. Heat Dinner at Gu’ergouzhen

After a day of snow, Gu’ergouzhen’s night is the right time to get pleasure from a meal wealthy within the flavors of the mountains. For those who tried spicy beef hotpot yesterday, attempt grilled rooster tonight – a preferred dish right here, marinated with particular spices and grilled over charcoal, making it aromatic. As well as, to make the meal extra various, you may order a couple of easy-to-eat grilled skewers, mixed with heat corn wine to dispel the chilly of the highlands.

Day 4: Return to Chengdu – Discover Jinli Historical City & Take pleasure in Sichuan Sizzling Pot

1. Journey From Lixian to Chengdu

Within the morning, ask the resort that can assist you e book a bus from Gu’ergouzhen City to Lixian Central Bus Station, the place there are a lot of buses to Chengdu. Morning occasions are 6am, 6:50am, 8:50am, 10:10am, and afternoon occasions are 1:30pm, 3pm. If you wish to return to Chengdu in time in your Airbnb/resort check-in (12pm – 3pm), the 8:50am bus is your best option.

2. Wandering Cam Ly Historical City

After a break and a light-weight lunch, the afternoon is the time to discover the traditional city of Jinli, positioned proper subsequent to the Wuhou Temple – one of many well-known points of interest in Chengdu. If you don’t wish to go to the temple, spend about 2 hours strolling by way of the stone-paved alleys, admiring the rows of historical homes with a powerful Chinese language type. This neighborhood not solely has numerous outlets promoting souvenirs and garments however can be a paradise for meals lovers with a sequence of typical snacks.

3. A Wealthy Dinner With Sichuan Sizzling Pot

The spotlight of the day is dinner with Sichuan hotpot – a well-known dish of this land. Scrumptious hotpot eating places are targeting Chunxi Street, the place there are numerous choices from reasonably priced to high-end. In case you are not used to spicy meals, you may select the hotpot with a non-spicy umbrella, so you may absolutely benefit from the sweetness of the broth and the richness of the dipping elements. The worth can be fairly cheap, solely about 200 yuan (~680,000 VND) for 2 folks, sufficient to fill you up with beef, hotpot balls, greens and contemporary mushrooms.

4. Looking for Souvenirs

Earlier than calling it a day, spend the night searching for souvenirs at massive supermarkets like Walmart or Carrefour. These are perfect locations to seek out specialties like Sichuan snacks, flower teas, and spicy spices at set costs, no bargaining required.

Sichuan Specialties You Should Attempt

1. Spicy Sichuan Sizzling Pot

Sichuan Sizzling Pot is a culinary icon of the area, with a wealthy broth created from purple chillies and Sichuan peppercorns, giving it a novel spicy and numbing sensation. Diners select their very own elements similar to beef, seafood and greens to dip into the boiling sizzling pot, creating an fascinating culinary expertise.

• Reference worth: 150 – 300 CNY/portion (about 500,000 – 1,000,000 VND).
• Well-known restaurant: Shu Jiu Xiang Sizzling Pot Restaurant, Lao Ma Tou, Li Xuan (Chengdu, Sichuan).

2. Mapo Tofu

Ma Po Tofu combines gentle tofu with minced meat and a spicy sauce created from chili and Sichuan peppercorns, making a wealthy taste and a tingling sensation on the tip of the tongue. This dish is usually loved with white rice to stability the spiciness.

• Reference worth: 40 – 60 CNY/portion (about 130,000 – 200,000 VND).
• Well-known restaurant: Chen Mapo Tofu, Li Xuan (Chengdu, Sichuan).

3. Kung Pao Rooster

Gong Bao Rooster is a conventional dish of stir-fried rooster with dried chili, peanuts and inexperienced onions, making a balanced taste of spicy, salty and candy. This dish is engaging due to the mixture of the tenderness of the rooster and the crunchiness of the peanuts.

• Reference worth: 40 – 60 CNY/portion (about 130,000 – 200,000 VND).
• Well-known restaurant: Chen Mapo Tofu, Li Xuan (Chengdu, Sichuan).

4. Dan Dan Noodles

Dan Dan Noodles is a well-liked avenue meals consisting of skinny noodles blended with a spicy sauce created from chili, pepper, minced pork and herbs. The wealthy taste and tingling sensation from Sichuan peppercorns make the dish particular.

• Reference worth: 25 – 30 CNY/portion (about 85,000 – 100,000 VND).
• Well-known restaurant: Xiao Ming Tang Dan Dan Tian Shui Mian (Chengdu, Sichuan).

5. Stir-fried Pork with Dried Chilli (Hui Guo Rou)

Stir-fried pork with dried chili is a conventional dish, with boiled pork, then rapidly stir-fried with dried chili, garlic and inexperienced onions. The spicy and scrumptious taste of this dish captivates many diners.

• Reference worth: 50 – 70 CNY/portion (about 170,000 – 230,000 VND).
• Well-known eating places: Yu’s Household Kitchen, Chen Mapo Tofu (Chengdu, Sichuan).

6. Spicy and Bitter Vermicelli (Suan La Fen)

Spicy and bitter vermicelli is a conventional dish with gentle and chewy candy potato vermicelli, mixed with a spicy and bitter broth created from black vinegar, chili and inexperienced pepper. This dish brings a heat feeling and stimulates the style buds.

• Reference worth: 10 – 15 CNY/portion (about 35,000 – 50,000 VND).
• Well-known restaurant: Chongqing Xiao Mian (Chengdu, Sichuan).

7. Spicy Dumplings (Lengthy Chao Shou)

Lengthy Chao Shou Dumplings have skinny pores and skin, minced pork filling, steamed and drizzled with a signature spicy sauce. This dish is gentle, flavorful, and appropriate for many who need to expertise Sichuan delicacies.

• Reference worth: 20 – 30 CNY/portion (about 70,000 – 100,000 VND).
• Well-known restaurant: Lengthy Chao Shou (Chengdu, Sichuan).

8. Stir-fried Rooster with Dry Chilli (Lazi Ji)

Dried Chili Rooster is a well-known dish where rooster is deep-fried, then stir-fried with dried chili and Sichuan pepper, making a spicy taste and engaging shade. This dish usually seems at events and holidays.

• Reference worth: 50 – 70 CNY/portion (about 170,000 – 230,000 VND).
• Well-known eating places: Yu’s Household Kitchen, Chen Mapo Tofu (Chengdu, Sichuan)

Notes When Touring to Chengdu & Sichuan

1. Put together Acceptable Clothes

• The climate in Sichuan in winter could be very chilly, it may drop below 0°C, especially in mountainous areas similar to Bi Bang Cau and Gia Co mountain.
• Convey thermal clothes, a thick windproof jacket, ideally one with a fur lining or good insulation.
• Non-slip leather-based footwear are the perfect alternative for simple motion on snow with out worrying about slipping and falling.
• Sun shades are extremely important as a result of snow displays daylight strongly, which might trigger glare.

2. Helpful Apps When Touring to Sichuan on Your Personal

• Maps.me – Offline map utility helps to lookup instructions with out web connection.
• WeChat – The principle communication instrument in China, helpful for chatting with Airbnb hosts, taxi drivers and reserving providers.
• Pricey Translate – Translation assist utility when it is advised to talk with native folks.
• China Bus Information – Web site for reference of bus routes, particularly helpful when touring from Chengdu to mountain vacationer locations .

Additionally, if attainable, put together some money (CNY) as a result of not all locations settling for worldwide card funds.

I’ve a 4-day, 4-night Sichuan journey itinerary , let’s make an appointment with my greatest good friend and hit the street straight away!