10 Days West Sichuan Tibetan Residence Tour: Danba Luhuo Dege Xinduqiao

Jiaju Tibetan House

Suopo Castle

Today we are going to visit the Danba Tibetan Village which is hailed as the most beautiful village in China and is also known as the "fairy tale world in Tibetan areas." Danba Tibetan village consists of houses and towers in Tibetan region. They use stones to build a house, use the local Guanyin soil (white lime) outside the wall, and the red part is wood. The cottages are generally built on the sunny slope beam, composed of dozens of households or even hundreds of people. The lush forests, crystal clear streams and snow-capped peaks form a beautiful pastoral-style rural picture.

After breakfast, we go to Jiaju and Zhonglu to explore to the two ancient Tibetan villages, then drive 15km to Suopo to see the watchtower. On the way, our professional local tour guide will explain how Tibetan people build their homes and tell you mysterious stories here.

Stay overnight in Danba

Daofu Residence House

Bamei Residence House

After breakfast, bid farewell to the beautiful Danba, we drive to Bamei. After a short break, we drive along the vast Longdeng prairie and arrive at the territory of Daofu. What jump into our view are the rows of magnificent houses. Daofu residence is the typical "Bengke" structure (means houses are supported by woods) house with strong contrast of intense red and white external, while indoor carved fine and painted gold, each picture conveys an old story. Sculpture and painting are the essence of Daofu cottages. They combine ethnic customs, architecture, painting and sculpture. After visiting Daofu, we’ll drive 70km to Luhuo, where the residence is more shocking. Red buildings dot the mountains from bottom to the top. Local wood are used as beams, columns and interior, while the soil is used for paving floors and roofs. Daofu and Luhuo are praised as "Tibetan dwellings Museum". If interested, you can go to the local Tibetan home to visit their interior decoration and listen to the tour guide’s stories of these buildings.

Stay overnight in Luhuo

Xinlong Residence House

Ganzi Residence House

Leaving Luhuo, we drive 100km to Ganzi. Ganzi residential buildings are almost flat roof made of earth. This construction material has very good sound isolation and thermal insulation effect. 110km south from Ganzi is Xinlong County, which is located by the bank of Yurlong River. Here the residence are all flat roof houses, built by hillsides, just like a pocket town. But its appearance is majestic. We’ll drive back to Ganzi after visiting Xinlong county.

Stay overnight in Ganzi

Dege Sutra-Printing House

Work at Printing

Today we will arrive at the Dege Sutra-Printing House. It’s known as "the treasure house of Tibetan culture". Leaving early from Ganzi, we drive 93km to Manigange. It is the first small town after entering Dege. It’s high and cold here. Typical representative of "Bengke" residence but much lower just like dozens of “watch boxes”. We drive 117km forward and then arrive at Dege, which is located at the deep valley. Here houses are all built by the mountains, another typical “Bengke” residential style. Dege Sutra-Printing House is also a typical representative of Dege culture. Its early style and tradition are well-preserved. Here you’ll also have a rough idea of how the printings are made and watch the dedicated handicraftsmen working on engravings.

Stay overnight at Dege

Batang Residence House

Baiyu Residence House

Leaving in the morning, we drive through gorges along Jinsha River to Baiyu and then continue to Batang via Gaiyu and Cuola. Houses in Batang area are built of earth and wood. The rich local timber is used as beams, columns and interior decoration, while the soil is used for paving floors and roofs. As for the roof, they’re made with white mud, rust stone and blended with bronze leaf juice, which enriched the connotation of the Tibetan buildings.

Stay overnight in Batang

Litang Residence House

Xinduqiao Residence House

After breakfast, we’ll leave Batang and drive over the Haizishan Mountain Pass. You’ll have a bird view of the two turquoise highland lakes named Sister Lake. They lie close to each other like two emeralds. Then we keep driving on the grassland. If in summer, the whole prairie is dyed with colorful flowers. Soon we’ll arrive at the world’s highest town - Litang County. After a short rest, we keep driving. Over the Kazila Pass, Jianziwan Pass and Gao’ersi Pass, you will see a picturesque paradise. Magical light, boundless grassland, crooked brook, golden cypress, rolling hills, Tibetan villages scattering everywhere, and yaks and sheep calmly grazing...This is Xinduqiao, the fascinating "light and shadow World", "photographer's paradise." Enjoy the beauty of the area upon arrival.

Stay overnight in Xinduqiao

Tagong

Kangding

Get up early in the morning after dinner, the tour guide will tell the story of Xinduqiao Minya residence. Houses are mostly built by hills and they use rocks to set walls with red, black, white and other colors painting Sun, Moon and Triangle pattern, the symbol of population prosperity, bumper grain. After that, we’ll visit a temple of thousand years, Tagong Temple. Tents along the way are the symbol of nomadic life. Colorful tents scatter on the vast green grassland, showing a gorgeous plateau scenery. Then we’ll return to the Xinduqiao and climb the Zheduoshan Pass before arriving in Kangding.

Stay overnight in Kangding

Leaving early from Kangding, today we’ll drive back to Chengdu via Luding and Ya’an. Have a good rest at the hotel in Chengdu.

Stay overnight in Chengdu

Our guide and drive will transfer you from the hotel to the airport/train station. Tour ends.