Southwest China

Southwest China spans Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou and Tibet, with landscapes of remarkable variety: the food-loving cities of Chengdu and Chongqing, Jiuzhaigou and Daocheng, Dali and Lijiang in Yunnan, Guizhou's karst country, and Tibet's snow peaks and sacred lakes.

Under the standard division of China into seven geographic regions, Southwest China covers five provinces and municipalities: Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou and Tibet. Its terrain runs from the Sichuan Basin and the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, making it the most naturally and culturally diverse region in China. Highlights: Chengdu and Chongqing are known for their food, pandas and mountain-city night views. Western Sichuan has Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, Daocheng Yading, Mount Siguniang, Hailuogou, Sertar (Seda) and the Zoigê Grasslands, while Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha are a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. Yunnan offers Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Lugu Lake, Xishuangbanna, the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Tengchong and Meili Snow Mountain. Guizhou is represented by Huangguoshu Waterfall, Libo's Xiaoqikong, Xijiang Thousand-Household Miao Village, Zhenyuan Ancient Town and Mount Fanjing. Tibet brings Lhasa's Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, Namtso, Nyingchi, Shigatse, Everest Base Camp and Ngari's Mount Kailash. Classic itineraries: the Chengdu–Western Sichuan loop, 7–10 days; the northwest Yunnan route of Kunming–Dali–Lijiang–Shangri-La, 7–9 days; Guiyang–Huangguoshu–Libo–Xijiang, 5–7 days; Lhasa–Nyingchi or Lhasa–Shigatse–Everest, 7–10 days; and Chongqing city plus Wulong, 2–4 days. Getting around: the main hubs are Chengdu Tianfu and Shuangliu, Chongqing Jiangbei, Kunming Changshui, Guiyang Longdongbao and Lhasa Gonggar, with regional airports at Lijiang, Xishuangbanna, Jiuzhai Huanglong, Daocheng Yading, Nyingchi and elsewhere. High-speed rail links include Chengdu–Chongqing, Guiyang–Guangzhou, Shanghai–Kunming and Chongqing–Guiyang, while high-plateau routes such as the Sichuan–Tibet and Yunnan–Tibet highways are mostly done by self-drive or chartered car. Practical notes: altitude sickness is a risk in western Sichuan and Tibet, so acclimatize gradually; the Sichuan–Tibet Highway is prone to landslides in the rainy season; some border areas of Tibet require a border permit, and places such as Ngari call for advance planning.

Destinations

Itineraries