18 days · Sichuan
An 18-day deep-dive into Sichuan's extraordinary biodiversity, tracking rare birds and elusive mammals across bamboo forests, alpine meadows, marshlands, and primeval woodlands—from Red Pandas and Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys to Temminck's Tragopan and the endemic Chinese Monal.
Duration
18 days
Region
Sichuan, China
Group Type
Private or small group
Best Time
Spring
Price
On Request
Overview
This expedition is crafted for serious wildlife enthusiasts and photographers seeking China's most spectacular avian and mammalian diversity. Journey from the lowland forests of Yibin to the high-altitude marshes of Ruoergai, visiting bird hides, panda bases, and nature reserves. Target species include the near-mythical Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Temminck's Tragopan, Chinese Monal, Snow Partridge, Red Panda, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Takin, and Tibetan Fox, etc. With expert local guides, prime timing, and carefully selected routes, this is the ultimate Sichuan wildlife safari.
Highlights
Track the elusive Red Panda in its natural habitat at Wawu Mountain—widely considered the best site in China for wild Red Panda sightings—alongside a stunning array of parrotbills, laughingthrushes, and warblers.
Experience excellent bird hides in Yibin and Kangding, offering outstanding photography opportunities for rare and skulking species including Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Temminck's Tragopan, Sichuan Partridge, and the spectacular Chinese Monal.
Explore the vast high-altitude marshes of Ruoergai—the largest plateau wetland on Earth—home to the elegant Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Fox, Chinese Mountain Cat, and a rich diversity of waterfowl and grassland birds.
Search for Sichuan's iconic mammals—Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys, Takin, Tibetan Macaques, Chinese Serow, and Asiatic Black Bears—across Tangjiahe Nature Reserve and the Golden Monkey Reserve.
Scale the elevational gradient from 700m to 4,800m, traversing bamboo groves, primeval forests, alpine meadows, and glacial scree, targeting a curated list of Sichuan endemics and regional specialities.
From the Journey
Day 1
Arrive in Chengdu, settle into your hotel, and begin with a gentle introduction to Sichuan before the route moves deeper into reserve country. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a short city walk and an easy first meal together to sync with your guide.
Day 2
Before driving to Yibin, we enjoy a birding session at Chengdu Botanical Garden, one of the city's best birding parks thanks to its diverse flora and extensive woodland. We search for urban and resident species such as Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Chinese Bulbul, White-browed Laughingthrush, Red-billed Leiothrix, Japanese White-eye, Chinese Blackbird, Chinese Grosbeak, Collared Finchbill, Long-tailed Shrike, Fork-tailed Sunbird, and Eurasian Hoopoe.
Day 3
Spend a full day exploring several birding hides around the Village, home to excellent low-altitude forest habitat. With support from the local government, villagers maintain hides with food and water that attract an impressive variety of birds. These sites offer excellent opportunities to observe and photograph elusive species such as Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Temminck's Tragopan, Sichuan Partridge, Silver Pheasant, Grey-chested Babbler, Rusty Laughingthrush, Golden Parrotbill, Black-browed Warbler, Tawny Owl, Collared Scops Owl, Bay Woodpecker, Hwamei, Spot-breasted Scimitar Babbler, Beautiful Laughingthrush, Red-tailed Laughingthrush, Mountain Scrub Warbler, Sichuan Bush Warbler, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Grey-throated Parrotbill, and Spot-breasted Parrotbill, etc.
Day 4
This morning, we continue birding around Yibin and search for any key species still missing from our list. We then drive to Wawu Mountain, one of Sichuan's most important destinations for forest birds and wild Red Pandas.
Day 5
Wawu Mountain is not only a spectacular mountain destination but also one of China's outstanding birding sites for parrotbills, fulvettas, laughingthrushes, and warblers. It is also one of the best places to search for wild Red Pandas. We explore different elevations and habitats in search of Grey-headed, Three-toed, Brown, Red-billed, Golden-fronted, and Golden Parrotbills, as well as Red-mantled Rosefinch, Sichuan Willow Warbler, Orange-barred Willow Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler, Black-billed Leaf Warbler, Coroneted Leaf Warbler, White-tailed Leaf Warbler, Emei Bush Warbler, Golden Bush Robin, White-bellied Redstart, Yellow-necked Woodpecker, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Black-headed Sibia, Temminck's Tragopan, Sichuan Thrush, Three-toed Woodpecker, Sichuan Treecreeper, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Blue-throated Sunbird, Himalayan Shortwing, and many other forest specialties.
Day 6
We spend the morning searching for any key birds or mammals still missing from our list at Wawu Mountain. Afterward, we leave the forested landscapes behind and travel west to Kangding, the gateway to the Tibetan Plateau.
Day 7
We spend the morning in a birding hide near Kangding, where we search for and photograph Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Chinese Grassbird, Baoxing Fulvetta, Spotted Laughingthrush, Giant Laughingthrush, and Black-browed Long-tailed Tit, etc. The surrounding habitat also offers a chance to encounter Tufted Deer. After birding, we continue our drive to Jintang.
Day 8
We spend the day exploring this fascinating high-altitude site between 3,500 and 4,800 meters. A birding hide and the surrounding alpine habitats provide opportunities to search for the endemic Chinese Monal, White Eared Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Plain Mountain Finch, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Vivid Niltava, Grandala, Collared Accentor, Alpine Thrush, Crimson-browed Finch, Brandt's Mountain Finch, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Spot-winged Rosefinch, Solitary Snipe, White-browed Tit-Warbler, White-browed Tit, and Wallcreeper, etc.
Day 9
In the morning, we return to the Chinese Monal site and focus on any target species still missing from our list. We then descend from the high mountains and drive to Dujiangyan, where we explore a nearby mountain area for Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Black Bulbul, Collared Finchbill, Fire-breasted Flowerpecker, and other low-elevation species.
Day 10
This morning, we visit a nearby panda base set within beautifully landscaped gardens and rich collections of endemic plants. Here, we enjoy close views of both Giant and Red Pandas while also looking for additional low-elevation birds. We then travel to Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, stopping at a small ancient village and local market to admire traditional architecture and experience a glimpse of local life. Upon entering Tangjiahe, we begin our wildlife search. Our hotel inside the reserve gives us excellent access during the prime wildlife-viewing hours of early morning and late afternoon.
Day 11
Tangjiahe is one of China's finest destinations for both birding and mammal watching. We explore the reserve from morning to dusk in search of Golden Pheasant, Slaty Bunting, Tawny Fish Owl, Oriental Scops Owl, White-tailed Leaf Warbler, Coroneted Leaf Warbler, Pale-tailed Bush Warbler, Crested Kingfisher, Yellow-throated Bunting, Yellow-bellied Tit, White-throated Dipper, Northern Boobook, Eurasian Hoopoe, Brown Dipper, and Collared Crow, etc. Mammal activity is particularly rewarding in spring, and we keep watch for Sichuan Takin, Tibetan Macaque, Yellow-throated Marten, Reeves's Muntjac, and Chinese Goral. More elusive species such as Chinese Serow, Tufted Deer, Leopard Cat, and Asiatic Black Bear require extra patience and luck.
Day 12
We spend most of the day continuing our birding and mammal search in Tangjiahe, focusing on any key species still missing from our list. In the afternoon, we travel to a nearby nature reserve known for its Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys.
Day 13
We start early and search for Golden Snub-nosed Monkeys in their mountain forest habitat. We also look for birds such as Sichuan Bush Warbler, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Elliot's Laughingthrush, and Mrs. Gould's Sunbird. After the visit, we continue towards Ruoergai and enjoy birding stops along the way as we enter the vast landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau.
Day 14-15
The Ruoergai Marshlands lie on the eastern Tibetan Plateau and form one of the world's largest high-altitude wetland systems. At around 3,500 meters above sea level, the region supports a remarkable diversity of birds and mammals. Over two full days, we explore pristine mountain forests, vast grasslands, and alpine wetlands. In the forests, we search for Chinese Grouse, Blue Eared Pheasant, Black Woodpecker, Chinese Nuthatch, Père David's Laughingthrush, Elliot's Laughingthrush, Sukatschev's Laughingthrush, Sichuan Tit, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Crested Tit-Warbler, Dusky Warbler, and Slaty-backed Flycatcher. We also visit Flower Lake to look for the elegant Black-necked Crane and scan the wetlands and grasslands for Bar-headed Goose, Great Crested Grebe, Horned Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Tufted Duck, Northern Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Ferruginous Duck, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Brown-cheeked Rail, Tibetan Sand Plover, Citrine Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover, White-rumped Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Ground Tit, Tibetan Lark, Horned Lark, Oriental Skylark, Himalayan Vulture, Upland Buzzard, and Common Kestrel. More elusive species such as Whooper Swan and Eurasian Bittern occasionally appear. We also keep watch for plateau mammals including Tibetan Fox, Red Fox, Chinese Mountain Cat, Gray Wolf, and Tibetan Gazelle.
Day 16
We spend the morning birding and wildlife watching around Ruoergai, giving us another opportunity to search for key plateau species. Later, we leave the grasslands and travel to Chuanzhusi for an overnight stay.
Day 17
We explore a nearby mountain in search of the rare and endemic Sichuan Wood Owl, also known as Père David's Owl, as well as the elusive Tibetan Snowcock. Other possible species include Grandala, Three-banded Rosefinch, Crested Tit-Warbler, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Goldcrest, and Chinese Rubythroat. After birding, we drive to Songpan Railway Station and take a high-speed train back to Chengdu, where we transfer to our hotel for the night.
Day 18
The hotel is located close to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, allowing you to make your own way to the terminal for your departure flight. The AbsolutePanda service ends as your 18-day Sichuan birds and mammals expedition comes to a close.
This expedition involves regular birding walks on forest trails, mountain paths, grasslands, wetlands, and high-altitude terrain. Some days include early starts and extended time in the field, while the daily pace remains flexible according to birding conditions and target species. A moderate level of fitness and good mobility are recommended.
Weather conditions vary greatly between lowland forests and the Tibetan Plateau. Temperatures can change quickly, especially at higher elevations. Warm layers, waterproof clothing, comfortable hiking shoes, and sun protection are essential.
A few practical questions travelers ask before sending an inquiry.
Plan Your Journey
Perfect for birders and wildlife enthusiasts seeking an immersive journey through Sichuan’s richest habitats, from ancient forests and mountain valleys to alpine wetlands and the Tibetan Plateau.
