Guide to the self-driving tour of Western Sichuan in May on the classic small ring road in Western Sichuan

Some people say that you must go to Western Sichuan once in your life to see its mysterious scenery. Western Sichuan has always been my obsession. So what are the classic routes we can take to drive to Western Sichuan in May? What should you pay attention to when driving in western Sichuan? Let us experience the mystery of western Sichuan together.

Recommended classic small loop route in western Sichuan in May

D1: Chengdu-Siguniang Mountain-Danba Zangzhai Residence: Danba Zangzhai

D2: Dan Ba-Bamei-Tagong Grassland-Xinduqiao Residence: Xinduqiao

D3: Xinduqiao-Kangding-Hailuogou Residence: Hailuogou

D4: Hailuogou- Shimian-Chengdu

The small loop line is more than 900 kilometers long, with beautiful scenery along the way, including almost the most beautiful scenery in Sichuan: Xindu Bridge, a photography paradise, Tagong Grassland, the favorite place of Bodhisattva, Danba, Renmei Valley, There is also the Siguniang Mountain in the Alps to the east, with beautiful views all the way.

Danba Zangzhai

Danzangzhai Village was featured in "China National Geographic" and "Beauty Pageant China". Special Edition" was rated as the most beautiful ancient rural town in China. I have been to some ancient towns, such as those in Jiangnan, Hongcun Xidi in Huizhou, Wuyuan and Yaoli in the southwest, and Shuhe in Lijiang.

Danzang Village is the most famous in the Jiaju, Zhonglu, Suopo and Renmei river basins. The village is mainly made of wood, using the most primitive materials. Its walls are white and its eaves are red. It is like a quiet believer, crawling in the mountains.

Guide to self-driving travel in Western Sichuan in May

Vehicle types and road conditions

The road conditions along the Western Sichuan Ring Road are in good condition, mainly national highways and provincial highways. But after entering Ganzi, due to the terrain, there are many winding mountain roads, which go up and down, and are always winding. General cars can pass, but considering the special terrain and routes in the plateau area, if you charter a car to drive yourself, it is best to choose an off-road vehicle: Toyota Overlord, Prado, Highlander, Pajero, Toyota RAV, Cheetah, etc. If there are a large number of people traveling, you can choose commercial vehicles: Buick GL8, Weiting, Ruifeng, etc.

Food Introduction

Sichuan cuisine and Tibetan cuisine are the main foods in western Sichuan. Tibetan flavors such as C-ba, flour, highland barley, butter tea, yak meat, etc. They are all common, but the vegetables are completely imported from the mainland, so they are expensive; mutton is also relatively rare and needs to be imported from other places.

For example, Sichuan-style braised pork, bacon, chicken stew, etc. Homely, but it can satisfy the desire to eat meat on the plateau. Hotels are mainly concentrated in towns. Generally, noodles are 10 yuan, vegetarian dishes are 15-17 yuan, and meat dishes are 25-35 yuan. In plateau areas, there are few restaurants and shops, rice and noodles are not easy to cook, and the cut texture is not good. If you can’t get used to it, my friend recommends bringing your own dry food.

Note:

High resistance. Height varies from person to person. When you are in a situation, remember not to be careless.

Car condition. The original order was a logo 2008, but due to the road conditions on the return route, it was changed to a four-wheel drive Yeti. It does feel more confident to drive. It is necessary to check the appearance of the four tires before setting off every day. It would be better if the vehicle itself has a tire pressure monitoring function. It is best to be cautious on unfamiliar road conditions. While the locals can be very arrogant, it's best to err on the side of caution when you only have one non-full-size spare tire and no acquaintances within 500 kilometers. It is still possible to get a flat tire on the road. Although it is slow, it is still safe to be cautious.

Accommodation:

Ya'an: Ibis, 200, hotel chain, recommended.

Xinduqiao, 140, Jacques International Youth Hostel, recommended

Shangri-La Town, Tibetan Theme Cultural Hotel, 260, wooden house, average sound insulation, average value for money.