Southwest China Travel Guide#
Southwest China includes Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Tibet, featuring plateau scenery, ethnic culture, and natural wonders.
Chongqing#
Highlights#
- Mountain City Characteristics: Three-dimensional transportation, night view, hot pot culture
- Historic Sites: Dazu Rock Carvings, Bai Mansion, Zhazidong
- Cuisine: Chongqing Hot Pot, Xiaomian, Sour and Spicy Noodles
Key Attractions#
- Hongya Cave: Traditional Bayu architecture, brilliant night view
- Free admission, recommended to visit at night for the night view
- Can experience traditional Bayu culture and cuisine
- Liberation Monument: Landmark of Chongqing, commercial center
- Free admission, shopping and dining nearby
- Dazu Rock Carvings: UNESCO World Heritage, treasure house of rock carving art
- Dazu Rock Carvings Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended to hire a guide to understand Buddhist art
- Wulong Three Natural Bridges: UNESCO World Natural Heritage, karst landform
- Wulong Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Can experience the filming location of “Transformers 4”
Sichuan#
Highlights#
- Natural Scenery: Jiuzhaigou, Mount Emei, Leshan Giant Buddha
- Cultural Sites: Dujiangyan, Mount Qingcheng, Du Fu Thatched Cottage
- Cuisine: Sichuan Cuisine, Hot Pot, Mapo Tofu
Key Attractions#
- Jiuzhaigou: UNESCO World Natural Heritage, fairyland
- Jiuzhaigou Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended to book in advance, avoid holidays
- Recommended 2-3 days visit, experience four-season beauty
- Mount Emei: UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage, Buddhist mountain
- Mount Emei Official Website - Ticket and cable car information
- Recommended 2-3 days visit, can see sunrise and sea of clouds
- Leshan Giant Buddha: UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage, world’s largest stone Buddha
- Leshan Giant Buddha Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Can view from boat or walk up close
- Dujiangyan: UNESCO World Heritage, ancient irrigation project miracle
- Dujiangyan Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Learn about ancient irrigation engineering wisdom
Guizhou#
Highlights#
- Natural Scenery: Huangguoshu Waterfall, Libo Xiaoqikong, Mount Fanjing
- Ethnic Culture: Miao, Dong, Buyi and other minorities
- Cuisine: Guizhou Cuisine, Sour Fish Soup, Siwawa
Key Attractions#
- Huangguoshu Waterfall: China’s largest waterfall
- Huangguoshu Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended to visit in summer when water volume is at its peak
- Libo Xiaoqikong: UNESCO World Natural Heritage, emerald on the Earth’s belt
- Libo Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended 2 days visit, experience karst landform
- Xijiang Thousand Miao Villages: China’s largest Miao settlement
- Xijiang Thousand Miao Villages Official Website - Ticket and accommodation information
- Recommended to stay in the Miao village, experience Miao culture
- Mount Fanjing: UNESCO World Natural Heritage, Buddhist mountain
- Mount Fanjing Official Website - Ticket and cable car information
- Recommended 2 days visit, can see sunrise and sea of clouds
Yunnan#
Highlights#
- Natural Scenery: Lijiang Ancient City, Dali, Shangri-La
- Ethnic Culture: 25 ethnic minorities, diverse culture
- Cuisine: Yunnan Cuisine, Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles, Steam Pot Chicken
Key Attractions#
- Lijiang Ancient City: UNESCO World Heritage, Naxi ethnic cultural ancient city
- Lijiang Ancient City Official Website - Ticket and accommodation information
- Recommended to stay in the ancient city, experience Naxi culture
- Can visit Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, etc.
- Dali: Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon, Bai ethnic cultural ancient city
- Dali Official Website - Tourism information
- Recommended 2-3 days visit, experience Bai culture
- Can visit Erhai Lake, Cangshan Mountain, Shuanglang, etc.
- Shangri-La: Paradise on earth, Tibetan Buddhist sacred site
- Shangri-La Official Website - Tourism information
- Recommended 3-5 days for in-depth visit, experience Tibetan culture
- Can visit Pudacuo, Songzanlin Monastery, etc.
- Stone Forest: UNESCO World Natural Heritage, first wonder of the world
- Stone Forest Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Recommended half day to one day visit
Tibet#
Highlights#
- Plateau Scenery: Potala Palace, Namtso, Mount Everest
- Tibetan Buddhism: Lhasa, Shigatse, Jokhang Temple
- Cuisine: Tibetan Cuisine, Butter Tea, Highland Barley Wine
Key Attractions#
- Potala Palace: UNESCO World Heritage, pearl on the snow-covered plateau
- Potala Palace Official Website - Ticket and booking information
- Recommended to book in advance, daily visitor limit
- Note altitude sickness, recommended gradual adaptation
- Jokhang Temple: Sacred site and center of Tibetan Buddhism
- Jokhang Temple Official Website - Ticket and tour information
- Can experience Tibetan Buddhist culture
- Namtso: World’s highest saltwater lake
- Recommended 2 days visit, note altitude sickness
- Best travel time: May to October
- Mount Everest: World’s highest peak
- Border permit required, recommended to join a tour
- Note altitude sickness, recommended to adapt in advance
Travel Tips#
- Best Time: Spring and autumn are pleasant, summer is rainy, winter is cold
- Transportation: Plateau areas require attention to altitude sickness, recommended gradual adaptation
- Chengdu-Chongqing: About 1.5 hours by high-speed rail
- Chengdu-Kunming: About 6 hours by high-speed rail
- Kunming-Dali: About 2 hours by high-speed rail
- Altitude Sickness: Tibet and parts of Yunnan have high altitude, recommended to adapt in advance
- Special Experiences: Experience ethnic culture, taste authentic cuisine, experience natural wonders
- Useful Links: