Touring along Flower Lake of the Swamp Land

Name	Touring along Flower Lake of the Swamp Land(Sichuan China)
Theme	First Close Contact with Andou Culture
Number	Y-004

Photos

Duration	8 days
Route	Chengdu—Lixian County—Miyaluo— Hongyuan—Flower Lake—Aba—Heishui
Optimum Travel Time	June——September
Degree of Difficulty

Main Attractions

Jingli Ancient Town in Chengdu、Doujiang Weir、Taoping Qiang Minority Group、Bipeng Valley、Miyaluo、The First Bend of the Yellow River with 9 Twisters、Flower Lake、Geerdeng Monastery、Aba County、Nianbao-Yuze Holy Mountain Scenic Area、Naizi Valley、Dagu Glacier、Heishui County

Itinerary

Reception

Chengdu --(54km)—Doujiang Weir --(94km)-- Wenchuan--(20km)-- Tanping Qiang Minority Group--(39km)-- Lixian County(207km in total) Accomodation in Lixian County(altitude：2000m)

After breakfast, we start off from Chengdu to Doujiang Weir which is listed as one of the world cultural heritage by UN. Traveling upward along the upstream valley of Mingjiang River and passing Wenchuan, we go to visit Taoping Qiang Minority with its particular national culture and have lunch there. Then we travel along Zagunao River to get to Lixian County(the collective inhabitancy of Jiarong Tibetans.

Lixian County --(35km)--Bipeng Valley --(50km)-- Miyaluo(85km in total)

Accomodation: Hotel(altitude:2000m)

Setting out t from Lixian County, we drive for Bipeng Valley which is decorated by beautiful autumn leaves, holy snow mountains, limpid highland lakes, dense forests and stones in strange shapes. After having fun in Bipenggou Ravine, we go to the Red Leaves Scenic Areas, Miyaluo Town, by the way of the “small town of warm fountain”, Guergou Valley.

Miyaluo --(183km)--Hongyuan --(75km)--Tangke --(75km)--Flower Lake --(30km)-- Norgay(363km in total)

Starting out from Miyaluo, we pass the Partridge Tunnel to greet a vast grassland with fantastic scenery. In the company of herds of Yaks, groups of camps, we reach the First Bend of Yellow River which is like a dragon lying on the green grassland. The Suokezang Monastery is just situated besides the Bend, which is regarded as the guard spirit of Yellow River. After lunch in Tangke Town, we travel along Reer Grassland to the beautiful flower lake. Exuberant reeds grow on the lakeside and flocks of Mongolia ducks, stream ducks and black-necked cranes rest on the shore. The flower lake bathing in the evening glow should be the most touching and appealing scenery that you have ever seen. Departing from Flower Lake, we are heading for Norgay County.

Norgay --(57km)--Tangke --(113km)-- Maierma--(33km)-- Aba Autonomous Prefecture(203km in total)

After breakfast, we set out from Norgay, passing Tangke and Maierma, getting to the “home of religion” Aba. After lunch in Aba County, we go to the largest Tibetan monastery of Geru Branch in Sichuan, Geerdeng Monastery. Rows upon rows of temples just pose a magnificent image in front of you. There is also another Tibetan monastery, Langyi Monastery of Bon Branch which is worthy visiting. Meanwhile, several kilo meters away from the downtown, there is a nunnery which is the largest nunnery in Aba County, and there lives about 300 nuns.

Note

Aba --(80km)-- Nianbao-yuze Scenic Area--(80km)--Aba(160km in total)

Leaving Aba, we drive for Nianbaoyuze, which is regarded as the virgin place where the first human being, holy spirit and nature were born simultaneously. We may reluctant to leave when we are amazed at its stones of various shapes, lakes scattering everywhere, silver-colored waterfalls and precipitous mountains and cliffs. In the afternoon, we go back to Aba County.

Aba --(108km)--Longriba --(108km)--Heishui(216km in total)

Accomodation: Hotel(altitude：2200m)

Departing from Aba County, we will pass Rilongkan and a mountain with the altitude of 4000m. We travel along Heishui valley to get to Naizi Valley in Heishui County. In the valley, various colors blend with each other. Especially in autumn, the forests there will pose a world of brilliant colors. Heishui County is rich in tourism resources and in better arrangement, so we can enjoy them to our heart contents.

Dagu Glacier in Heishui

Accomodation: Hotel(altitude：2200m)

After breakfast, we drive for Dagu Glacier which is contemporary mountain glacier with the thickness of 60-200m and snowcapped all year round. It always imposes a powerful manner. People have already built ropeway for tourist to get close to the Glacier. After sightseeing the Glacier, we go to visit another valley. Touring forward through the forests with abundant woods shading the sunshine, and gurgling streams singing the most primitive natural tunes, we are immersed in a world of beauty.

Heishui --(123km)-- Maoxian County--(44km)--Wenchuan --(94km)--Doujiang Weir --(54km)--Chengdu(315km in total)

Traveling downward along Heidshui River, we would come to Miaoxian County when we see the limpid water of the Mingjiang River. Maoxian County is the transport hub of the ninth hoop of the road. Here inhabits the Qiang Minority. We will have lunch there. Then we travel downward along Mingjiang River, passing Wenchuan and Doujiang Weir to get back to Chengdu, where we can enjoy the typical local delicacy , hotpot and if time permits we can also watch Sichuan Opera with its tour de force, Face Changing.