Overview

This 3-day route departs from Chengdu, stringing together the Shuangqiao Valley and Bingzhagou in Siguniang Mountain, Bingpan Valley, and Dagu Glacier into one high-altitude itinerary. Day 1 passes through Yingxiu and Maolipang, enters Shuangqiao Valley to see snow peaks, pastures, meadows and forests, overnight in Li County. Day 2 explores Bingpan Valley, following ancient forest, lakes, waterfalls and streams to Zhuma Lake, Bailong Waterfall, Moon Bay and Panyang Lake, overnight in Heishui County. Day 3 takes the sightseeing bus and cable car up to the glacier at 4,850 metres, views Glacier No.1 before returning to Chengdu. The trip includes 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, and first-entry tickets plus in-park sightseeing buses for Shuangqiao Valley, Bingpan Valley and Dagu Glacier; the Dagu Glacier cable car is also included in the quoted price.全程7-9座商务车,一单一团,不拼不等,成都三环以内免费上门接送。车销、购物店和加点都不安排,司机兼向导负责接送、酒店拿房和途中简单介绍。

Why you'll love this trip

  • Day 1: View the mountain peaks from Maobiliang, explore Shuangqiao Valley’s snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows, stay in Li County
  • Day 2: Bapeng Gorge — explore lakes and waterfalls, overnight in Heishui
  • Day 3: Take the cable car up to the glacier, return to Chengdu in the afternoon
  • Includes 2 breakfasts, first admission to three scenic spots, and区内 shuttle bus
  • Pure enjoyment: no bus sales pitches, no shopping stops, no extra attractions added.
  • Visit Shuangqiao, Bipeng, and Dagu Glacier valleys in one journey
  • Your private group, no sharing or waiting
  • Complimentary door-to-door pick-up within the 3rd Ring Road, Chengdu
Tour route mapTour route: ChengduChengdu · ArrivalsD1–D2

Things to do

Curated encounters for this route are being updated.

Itinerary

Chengdu · Day 1 - Day 3

Chengdu

Day 1 · Chengdu - Maobiliang - Shuangqiao Valley - Lixian

Get a clear sense of where the snow-capped mountains are, then reserve most of your time for Shuangqiao Valley.

Depart from Chengdu Pick-up from within the Third Ring Road in Chengdu, then drive via the Duwen Expressway to Yingxiu, passing through Wolong and the Balangshan Tunnel.
Maobiliang Viewpoint Stop for approximately 10 minutes to capture panoramic views of the Siguniang Mountain range.
Double Bridge Valley Follow the valley to view snow-capped peaks, pastures, meadows, forests, Yin-Yang Valley, Hunter Peak, Sun and Moon Mirror, Wu Se Shan Sea Buckthorn Forest Trail, Niu Peng Zi and Niu Xin Shan.
Head to Li County Manager Xiao Lu travels to Lixian, taking in snow-capped mountains, forests, river valleys, and meadows along the way. If the road is closed, a detour will be arranged before checking into the hotel for rest.

Day 2 · Lixian - Bipenggou - Heishui

Spend a full day in Bipegou exploring forests, lakes, waterfalls and snow-capped mountains.

Head to Bipei Gou After breakfast, depart from Li County and take the sightseeing bus into Bipaogou.
Scenic route within the valley Follow ancient forests and streams, enjoying seasonal cherry blossoms in spring, summer shade, autumn leaves, or snow-capped mountains and hot springs.
Zhuoma Lake and Bailong Waterfall Traverse the ancient Tea Horse Road through primeval forests to reach Zhumalu, Bailong Waterfall, Moon Bay, and Panyang Lake.
Head to Heishui County After the tour, proceed to Heishui County for a hotel stay and rest.

Day 3 · Black Water - Dagu Glacier - Chengdu

Visit Tibetan villages and lakes in the morning, take the cable car up to the glacier, and return to Chengdu in the afternoon.

Enter the Dagu Ice Mountain After breakfast, head to the Dagu Glacier Scenic Area and board the scenic shuttle bus to enter.
Dagu Tibetan Village and Dagu Lake En route, visit Golden Monkey Lake, the Tibetan cultural experience area, Shangzhongxiadakuta Tibetan Villages, Release Lake, alpine pastures, and Dagu Lake.
Glacier No. 1 Transfer to the sightseeing cable car to reach the glacial heart at 4,850 metres above sea level for a tour of approximately four hours. Optional visits to Lingyun Waterfall and the Red Stone Slope are also available.
Return to Chengdu After the tour, we will travel back to Chengdu, marking the end of the itinerary.

Lixian · Day 1

Lixian

Heishui County · Day 2

Heishui County
Departures

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Hotels

These are sample stays typically included in the itinerary. Final pricing depends on the hotel level selected.

Included / Excluded

What's Included

  • Pick-up and drop-offComplimentary door-to-door pickup within the Third Ring Road, Chengdu
  • Vehicle Use7-9 seater business vehicle, with vehicle type assigned based on group size to ensure every guest has their own individual seat
  • BreakfastBreakfast included at the hotel, 2 breakfasts in total
  • Double Bridge ValleyIncludes first admission ticket and sightseeing car
  • BipenggouIncludes first admission ticket and sightseeing car
  • Dagu GlacierIncludes first ticket, sightseeing cart, and cable car
  • GuideDriver and guide: responsible for transfers, hotel check-in assistance, and brief commentary during the journey; does not accompany guests into scenic areas
  • ComplimentaryEssential travel gear, 1L portable oxygen bottle per person, 1 bottle of mineral water per person per day, travel accident insurance

Not Included

  • Main courseLunch and dinner at your own expense
  • Bipenggou Electric CartElectric cart fees within the scenic area are payable separately
  • Single supplementA single supplement applies if there are fewer than two guests or an odd number of travellers
  • Child chargesChild rates exclude hotel breakfast, accommodation, admission tickets, and other services

Special Notes

Read these notes before you go.

  • Itinerary basisDay 2: Travel to Heishui County following that day’s schedule and accommodation arrangements. Day 3: Return to Chengdu.
  • Lixiaojing Scenic RouteShould road closures occur, we will take a detour to Bipegou; the scenery along the Lixiao Road is complimentary, and no refunds will be issued for any sections not viewed.
  • Booking InformationGuests aged 70-79 must sign a liability waiver and be accompanied by someone of normal age; children under 16 without adult accompaniment, pregnant women, and those over 80 are not accepted.
  • Transfer InstructionsComplimentary door-to-door pickup within Chengdu's Third Ring Road.
  • Cancellation & Amendment PolicyFor cancellations made after 12:00 noon three days prior to departure on non-holiday dates, a vehicle loss fee of RMB 400 per person will be charged; for cancellations made after 12:00 noon seven days prior to departure during holiday periods, the vehicle loss fee is RMB 600 per person.

Is Three Days Your Length?

The number of days can be adjusted to suit your needs.

3 days

Follow the 3-day itinerary above, or adjust after specifying your requirements.

Good to Know

No shopping
No shopping stops or commission-driven detours are included; your time is spent only on the sights listed in the itinerary.
Bespoke
The itinerary's destinations, duration, and pace are fully flexible to your preferences.
Plateau
The itinerary includes high-altitude locations; please assess according to your physical condition. Portable oxygen is included in the quoted price.

Private Travel Specialists

Step 01

Tell us what excites you

Not your dates and budget — your curiosity. Where have you always wanted to go? What do you want to feel? We start there.

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First concept delivered

Step 02

We design it around you

Your specialist builds the itinerary from scratch — routes, hosts, hotels, and experiences you won't find anywhere else.

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Step 03

Lock it in with 30%

When the plan feels right, a 30% deposit holds your trip. Balance due 30 days before departure.

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Deposit to confirm

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Travel. We handle the rest.

Your Trip Pack arrives before you fly. On the road, your concierge is one message away — for the expected and everything you didn't plan for.

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Support throughout your journey

Cancellation terms agreed in writing
English-speaking concierge
Secure payment via Stripe

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China Ready

We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveller needs to know before arriving.

Do this before you fly

VPN & Internet Access

What's blocked

Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN.

Download before you leave

It's nearly impossible to download a VPN once inside China. Install and test at home. Recommended: Astrill (most reliable), Mullvad, ExpressVPN — subscribe to at least two in case one stops working.

Hotel Wi-Fi tip

Some hotels block VPN connections on their Wi-Fi. Use your phone's mobile data as a hotspot if the VPN drops.

Good news

WhatsApp works perfectly through a VPN, so your messaging stays unchanged. Apple iMessage and Signal also work.

Your concierge sets this up on Day 1

Paying in China

China is cashless

Alipay and WeChat Pay are used for almost everything — restaurants, taxis, markets, tickets. Cash is rarely accepted in cities.

International cards now work

Foreign Visa/Mastercard can now link directly to Alipay (set up in minutes, $5,000 single transaction limit). Your concierge walks you through the setup on your first morning.

Carry some cash

We recommend ¥500–800 RMB in cash for the rare vendor that won't accept digital payment, and for small towns.

Booking this trip

Your deposit and balance are charged via Stripe — the same trusted platform used by Airbnb and Booking.com. USD billing, no surprise conversion fees.

We handle the paperwork

Visa & Entry

Do you need a visa?

Most US, UK, EU, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand passport holders need a tourist (L) visa for stays over 10 days. We provide a visa invitation letter with every booking — it significantly speeds up approval.

240-hour visa-free transit

Citizens of 55+ countries (including USA, UK, most of EU, AUS, NZ, Canada) can enter China visa-free for up to 10 days if transiting through eligible ports. This covers our 12-day itinerary only if you have a confirmed onward flight.

Processing time

Apply 4–6 weeks before departure. Standard processing: 4–7 business days. Express (3 days) and same-day options available at most Chinese consulates.

What we provide

Visa invitation letter, hotel confirmation for all nights, suggested itinerary document — everything the consulate needs, formatted correctly.

Our responsibility, always

Safety & Practical Tips

Is China safe?

China consistently ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists. Violent crime against visitors is extremely rare. Cities have extensive CCTV coverage and a visible police presence.

Emergency numbers

Police: 110. Ambulance: 120. Your concierge is your first call for any non-emergency situation — she has local contacts for every city on the itinerary.

Health & medications

Bring a full supply of any prescription medication. International pharmacies exist in major cities but may not carry your brand. Travel insurance is required — we can recommend policies that cover China specifically.

Language

English fluency outside hotels and tourist sites is limited. Your guides all speak English. We provide a printed pocket card with essential Chinese phrases and emergency contacts for every traveller.

Before You Book

Everything worth knowing before you book.

Hotels, domestic transport, guided experiences, most meals, entrance fees, and your Travel Designer support. International flights are optional.

Absolutely. Every detail — dates, pace, hotels, experiences — can be customized to your preferences.

Max 12 travelers for our small group. Custom private trips can be as small as 2 people.

Most Western passport holders need a tourist visa. We provide visa invitation letters for All-Inclusive bookings.

Extremely safe. Violent crime against tourists is virtually nonexistent. Our concierge provides 24/7 support.

All guides speak English. Your itinerary includes translation cards and On-Trip Concierge provides real-time translation.

3–6 months ahead for peak seasons (April–May, September–October).

Cancellation follows the booking terms. Long-stay trips: 20% of the total 31 or more days out, 50% from 8 to 30 days, 70% within 7 days including no-show. Rescheduling is considered trip by trip.

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