Western Sichuan is often called the last pure land on the blue planet. This route starts in Chengdu, crosses snow mountains, grasslands and Tibetan villages, and ends at Daocheng Yading - about 8 days.
Days 1-2, Chengdu: visit the Giant Panda Base, wander Kuanzhai Alley, and eat a proper Sichuan hotpot to build strength for the highlands.
Days 3-5, over Zheduo Pass to Xinduqiao and Litang: altitude rises gradually; watch the golden-hour light on Mount Gongga, and in Litang - the sky city and birthplace of the poet Tsangyang Gyatso - feel the Tibetan plateau.
Days 6-8, Daocheng Yading: hike to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake; the snow peaks, alpine lakes and meadows are breathtaking. Fly back to Chengdu rather than retracing the road.
Altitude sickness is the real challenge: avoid hard exercise the week before, carry rhodiola and oxygen canisters, keep the pace slow, and skip hot showers (they raise the risk of altitude illness).
