Overview

This 3-day route departs from Chengdu, weaving together the twin valleys of Mount Siguniang, Bipenggou, and the Dagu Glacier into a single high-altitude itinerary. On Day 1, pass through Yingxiu and Maobiliang to enter Shuangqiao Valley, where you’ll encounter snow-capped peaks, alpine pastures, meadows, and forests before overnighting in Li County. On Day 2, explore Bipenggou, trekking through ancient forests, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and streams to reach Zhuoma Lake, Bailong Waterfall, Moon Bay, and Panyang Lake, then stay overnight in Heishui County. On Day 3, take the sightseeing shuttle and cable car up to the 4,850-meter glacier heartland to view Glacier No. 1 before returning to Chengdu. The itinerary includes two nights of accommodation, two breakfasts, first-entry tickets to Shuangqiao Valley, Bipenggou, and Dagu Glacier, plus in-park sightseeing shuttles. The Dagu Glacier cable car is also included in the quoted price. Travel is in a private 7–9-seat business van—no shared groups, no waiting. Complimentary pickup is available anywhere within Chengdu’s Third Ring Road. There are no forced shopping stops or optional upgrades; your driver-guide will handle airport/hotel transfers, check-ins, and brief en-route commentary.

Why you'll love this trip

  • D1: Cat's Nose Ridge for panoramic mountain views, Double Bridge Valley for snow-capped peaks and alpine meadows, overnight in Li County
  • Day 2: Explore the lakes and waterfalls of Bipo Gou, overnight in Heishui
  • Day 3: Take the ropeway up to the glacier, return to Chengdu in the afternoon
  • Includes breakfast for two, first-entry tickets to three scenic areas, and shuttle bus service within the park
  • Pure travel experience — no car sales, no shopping stops, no added attractions
  • Visit Shuangqiao Valley, Bipenggou, and Dagu Glacier in one trip
  • Private tour, no sharing or waiting
  • Complimentary door-to-door pickup within the Third Ring Road of 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 - Maoliang Ridge - Shuangqiaogou - Lixian

Get a clear view of the snow-capped mountains first, then reserve most of your time for Shuangqiao Valley.

Departing from Chengdu Pickup within the 3rd Ring Road of Chengdu, followed by a drive via the Duwen Expressway to Yingxiu, passing through Wolong and the Balang Mountain Tunnel.
Cat Nose Ridge Overlook Stop for about 10 minutes to capture panoramic views of the Siguniang Mountains.
Shuangqiao Valley Follow the valley to see snow-capped peaks, pastures, meadows, forests, as well as the Yin-Yang Valley, Hunter Peak, Sun-Moon Treasure Mirror, Five-Color Mountain Sea-Buckthorn Forest Trail, Cow Shed, and Ox-Heart Mountain.
Head to Lixian The manager takes a small road to Li County, passing by snow-capped mountains, forests, river valleys, and meadows along the way; if the road is closed, take a detour and check in at the hotel to rest.

Day 2 · Li County - Bipenggou - Heishui County

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

Head to Bibengou After breakfast, depart from Li County and take the sightseeing bus into Bipenggou.
In-Valley Route Walk along the primeval forest and streams, and enjoy spring blossoms, summer shade, autumn foliage, or hot springs with snow views, depending on the season.
Zhuoma Lake and Bailong Waterfall Journey through pristine forests along the ancient Tea Horse Road, visiting Zhuoma Lake, Bailong Waterfall, Moon Bay, and Panyang Lake.
Head to Heishui County After the tour, proceed to Heishui County and check in at the hotel for rest.

Day 3 · Heishui - Dagu Glacier - Chengdu

In the morning, visit the Tibetan village and lake, then take the cable car up to the glacier; return to Chengdu in the afternoon.

Enter Dagu Glacier After breakfast, head to Dagu Glacier Scenic Area and take the sightseeing bus to enter.
Dagu Tibetan Village and Dagu Lake Along the way, visit Golden Monkey Lake, the Tibetan Folk Customs Experience Area, the Upper, Middle, and Lower Dagu Tibetan Villages, the Fish Release Lake, the Alpine Pastures, and Dagu Lake.
Glacier No. 1 Take the sightseeing cable car up to the glacier's heart at 4,850 meters above sea level, and spend about 4 hours exploring. You can also choose to see Lingyun Waterfall and the Red Rock Slope.
Return to Chengdu After the tour, return to Chengdu by coach, concluding 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

  • TransportationFree door-to-door pickup within the Third Ring Road, Chengdu
  • Vehicle ServiceA 7-9 seat business van; vehicle size is arranged based on the number of passengers to ensure every guest has a dedicated seat
  • BreakfastHotel rate includes breakfast, 2 breakfasts included
  • Shuangqiao ValleyIncludes first-ticket admission and sightseeing car
  • Biepo GouIncludes first-ticket admission and sightseeing car
  • Dagu Ice PeakIncludes first ticket, sightseeing car, and cable car
  • GuideDriver-guide responsible for airport transfers, hotel check-ins, and brief introductions en route; does not accompany guests into scenic areas.
  • ComplimentaryThree essential travel items, 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 CartPark shuttle fees are at your own expense
  • Single Room SurchargeSingle supplements apply for solo travelers or groups of an odd size
  • Child RateChild rates do not include hotel breakfast, accommodation, admission tickets, and other items

Special Notes

Read these before you go.

  • Itinerary TermsDay 2: Travel to Heishui County per the daily itinerary and accommodation arrangements; Day 3: Return to Chengdu.
  • Lixiao RoadIn case of road closures, we will take a detour to Bipei Valley. Lis Road is valued for its scenic views; no refunds will be issued for scenes not observed.
  • Booking NotesGuests aged 70–79 must sign a liability waiver and be accompanied by an adult. Unfortunately, we cannot accept unaccompanied minors under 16, pregnant travelers, or guests aged 80 and above.
  • Transfer InstructionsComplimentary door-to-door pickup service within the Third Ring Road of Chengdu.
  • Cancellation and Refund PolicyFor departures outside public holidays, cancellations made after 12:00 PM on the third day prior to departure incur a cancellation fee of 400 CNY per person. During public holidays, cancellations after 12:00 PM on the seventh day prior to departure incur a fee of 600 CNY per person.

Is Three Days Your Length?

The number of days can be adjusted up or down as needed.

3 days

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

Good to Know

No shopping
The itinerary features zero shopping stops and no detours to commission-based venues—every minute is dedicated solely to the listed experiences.
Customize
Attractions, number of days, and pace can all be customized to your preferences.
Highland
This itinerary includes high-altitude points; please assess based on your physical condition. Portable oxygen is included in the 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.

24h

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.

100%

Private, never off-the-shelf

Step 03

Lock it in with 30%

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

30%

Deposit to confirm

Step 04

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.

24/7

Support throughout your journey

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

Guest Reviews

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China Ready

We've solved the hard parts. Here's everything a first-time Western traveler 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 traveler.

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.

Our fulfilment partner Tuniu works with national tourism boards including

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