China Birding (Sichian & Tibetan)

Day 1: Arrival in Chengdu.
Your Sichuan birding adventure begins with a warm welcome on arrival at either Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport or Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, where your private guide or driver will be waiting to greet you. From here, enjoy a comfortable transfer to your centrally located hotel in Chengdu. The remainder of the day is yours to relax after your journey, settle into your surroundings and look forward to the exceptional birding experiences ahead. As the gateway to one of China’s richest birding regions, Chengdu provides the perfect starting point for an unforgettable journey in search of Sichuan’s remarkable birdlife.

Day 2: Chengdu to Yibin.
Before setting out on the drive to Yibin, enjoy your first birding excursion in Sichuan at Chengdu Botanical Garden, widely regarded as one of the city’s premier urban birding sites. Its mature woodland, lush vegetation and extensive tree cover attract an impressive variety of resident birds, making it the perfect introduction to the region’s remarkable avifauna.

Keep an eye out for Chinese Grosbeak, White-browed Laughingthrush, Red-billed Leiothrix, Chinese Blackbird, Collared Finchbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Fork-tailed Sunbird, Japanese White-eye, Long-tailed Shrike, Eurasian Hoopoe and Chinese Bulbul. After this rewarding morning of birding, continue south towards Yibin, where the next chapter of your Sichuan birding adventure awaits.

Day 3: Yibin.
Today is dedicated to the exceptional birding hides around Yibin, offering an outstanding opportunity to observe some of China’s most sought-after forest birds at close range. Set within the beautiful lowland forests of Tanshi Village, these purpose-built hides have transformed the area into one of Sichuan’s premier birding destinations.

Developed with support from the local community and government, the hides are carefully maintained with feeding stations and water sources, creating ideal conditions for both birdwatching and photography while providing a haven for many elusive species.

Highlights may include the endemic Sichuan Partridge (E), Emei Shan Liocichla (E), Temminck’s Tragopan, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Silver Pheasant, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Golden Parrotbill, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Rusty Laughingthrush, Red-billed Leiothrix and Red-billed Blue Magpie.

Spending the day immersed in these peaceful forests is a memorable introduction to the remarkable diversity that makes Sichuan one of Asia’s finest birding destinations.

Day 4: Yibin to Wawu Mountain.
Enjoy another morning birding around Yibin, providing a final opportunity to look for any target species that may have eluded you the previous day. After a rewarding morning in the field, travel approximately four hours to the spectacular Wawu Mountain, one of China’s most celebrated birding destinations.

On arrival, ascend the mountain by cable car before checking into your hotel. With time remaining, begin exploring the surrounding forests, where the birding starts almost immediately. Wawu Mountain is renowned for its exceptional diversity of parrotbills, fulvettas, laughingthrushes and warblers, making it one of the country’s most rewarding mountain birding locations.

Along the trails, there is also an excellent chance of encountering Red-winged, Black-faced and Elliot’s Laughingthrushes, Chinese Hwamei, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Vinaceous, Sharpe’s and Dark-breasted Rosefinches, Red Crossbill, Rufous-vented, Grey-crested and Coal Tits, Spotted, Yellow-bellied and Aberrant Bush Warblers, Ashy-throated, Buff-barred, Hume’s, Greenish, Large-billed, Claudia’s, Chestnut-crowned, Buff-throated, Bianchi’s and Martens’s Warblers, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, and both White-browed and Golden Bush Robins.

This remarkable diversity makes Wawu Mountain an unforgettable highlight of any birding tour to China.

Day 5: Wawu Mountain.
Spend a full day exploring the varied elevations of Wawu Mountain, from dense montane forests to higher-altitude habitats, in search of one of the richest collections of forest birds in China. Every change in elevation brings new possibilities, making this an exciting and rewarding day in the field.

Among the many highlights are the endemic Emei Shan Liocichla (E), Sichuan Thrush (E), Sichuan Leaf Warbler (E) and Sichuan Treecreeper (E), together with Temminck’s Tragopan, Himalayan Owl, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Himalayan Cuckoo, Lesser Cuckoo, White-throated Needletail, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Grey-hooded Fulvetta, Ashy-throated, Grey-hooded, Fulvous, Golden, Great, Three-toed and Brown Parrotbills.

Wawu Mountain is also one of the finest places in China to search for the elusive Red Panda, adding an extra layer of excitement to an unforgettable day in this remarkable mountain wilderness.

Day 6: Wawu Mountain to Labahe Nature Reserve.
Enjoy one last morning on Wawu Mountain, giving you a final opportunity to search for any target species that may still be on your wish list before continuing your journey to Labahe. The scenic drive leads into the heart of the Hengduan Mountains, where ancient mixed forests and dense bamboo thickets protect one of China’s most important wildlife refuges.

Labahe is recognised as a key habitat for the Giant Panda and is one of the country’s finest locations to search for the elusive Red Panda in the wild. Although sightings are never guaranteed, the combination of pristine alpine forest and extensive bamboo understory offers some of the best chances of encountering this charismatic mammal.

Beyond its remarkable mammals, Labahe is also an outstanding birding destination, promising exciting new species as you explore another of Sichuan’s spectacular mountain landscapes.

Day 7: Labahe Nature Reserve.
Spend the day exploring the beautiful Labahe Nature Reserve, birding between 1,800 and 2,600 metres as you follow quiet paved roads through pristine mountain forest. The surrounding woodland, bamboo understory and rocky slopes provide outstanding habitat for an impressive variety of Himalayan and Chinese forest birds, with plenty of opportunities to stop, scan and enjoy the scenery.

Highlights may include the endemic Sichuan Leaf Warbler (E), together with Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Brown and Fulvous Parrotbills, Grey-hooded and Golden-breasted Fulvettas, Stripe-throated Yuhina, Yellow-browed Tit, Fire-capped Tit, Père David’s Tit, Coal Tit, Black-browed Bushtit, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Ferruginous Flycatcher, Golden Bush Robin, Brown Dipper, White-throated Dipper, Little Forktail, White-crowned Forktail, Slaty Bunting, and Chestnut-crowned, Grey-sided, Brown, Aberrant and Yellowish-bellied Bush Warblers, along with Ashy-throated Warbler.

Every bend in the road offers the possibility of another memorable sighting, making Labahe one of Sichuan’s most rewarding mountain birding destinations.

Day 8: Labahe Nature Reserve to Jintang.
Enjoy a final morning birding in the forests of Labahe, giving you another opportunity to search for any remaining target species before departing on the scenic 2.5-hour drive to Jintang. As you descend from the mountains, the changing landscapes introduce a new suite of habitats and birdlife. Jintang and the surrounding countryside provide an excellent setting for the next stage of the tour, with a mix of farmland, woodland and open hills supporting a diverse range of resident and seasonal bird species

Day 9: Jintang to Xiaojin.
Before departing for Xiaojin, spend the morning exploring this remarkable high-altitude birding site, where alpine meadows, rocky slopes and open mountain habitats offer excellent opportunities to search for some of western China’s most iconic birds.

Highlights include the endemic Chinese Monal (E), along with Snow Partridge, White Eared-Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Snow Pigeon, Himalayan Griffon, Sichuan Tit (E), Brown Dipper and Chinese White-browed Rosefinch.

After lunch, continue to Xiaojin, enjoying birding stops along the way as the ever-changing mountain scenery reveals new habitats and the possibility of adding more memorable species to your growing tour list.

Day 10: Xiaojin to Maerkang via Mengbi Mountain.
After breakfast, travel from Xiaojin to Maerkang via the spectacular Mengbi Mountain, one of western Sichuan’s finest high-altitude birding locations. Rising from 2,300 to over 4,000 metres, the route passes through pristine conifer forests, flowering alpine slopes and subalpine scrub that support an exceptional diversity of mountain birds. Reaching the summit area in the early morning, birding is conducted while slowly descending through the different elevations, allowing time to explore each habitat thoroughly.

Mengbi Mountain is particularly renowned for its endemic Chestnut-throated Partridge (E) and the highly sought-after Sichuan Jay (E), two of the tour’s signature targets. Other highlights include White-eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Crested Tit-Warbler, Chinese Fulvetta, the range-restricted Crimson-browed Finch, Three-banded, Pink-rumped and Streaked Rosefinches, White-throated Needletail, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Buzzard, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Long-tailed Thrush, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Himalayan Bluetail, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Goldcrest, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Rufous-vented and Grey-crested Tits, White-winged and Collared Grosbeaks, Grey-headed Bullfinch, Maroon-backed Accentor, Hume’s Warbler, Buff-barred Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler (E), Red Crossbill, Plain Mountain Finch and Tibetan Serin.

With breathtaking mountain scenery and an outstanding diversity of sought-after species, Mengbi Mountain offers one of the most memorable birding days of the entire Sichuan journey.

Day 11: Maerkang to Ruoergai.
Make the most of the early morning birding around Maerkang, with another opportunity to search for any remaining mountain specialties before setting off on the scenic drive to Ruoergai.

As the route climbs onto the vast Tibetan Plateau, the landscape opens into sweeping grasslands, wetlands and high-altitude valleys, revealing a completely different birding experience.

Regular birding stops along the journey provide opportunities to search for Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Partridge, Ruddy Shelduck, Upland Buzzard, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, White-browed Tit, Pink-tailed Rosefinch, Robin Accentor, Giant Grey Shrike, Azure-winged Magpie and Daurian Jackdaw.

Arriving in Ruoergai, one of China’s premier alpine wetland ecosystems, marks the beginning of another exciting stage of this unforgettable Sichuan birding adventure.

Day 12: Ruoergai.
Today is spent exploring the spectacular Ruoergai Marshlands on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, the largest high-altitude marsh system in the world. Covering approximately 2,600 square kilometres at an elevation of around 3,500 metres, this remarkable landscape combines vast wetlands, alpine grasslands and pristine forests, creating one of China’s most rewarding birding destinations.

The morning is dedicated to the ancient forests along the edge of the plateau, where the search focuses on some of the region’s most sought-after woodland birds. Possible highlights include the endemic Sichuan Tit (E), together with Chinese Grouse, Blue Eared-Pheasant, Black Woodpecker, Chinese Nuthatch, Plain Laughingthrush, Elliot’s Laughingthrush, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Crested Tit-Warbler, Dusky Warbler and Slaty-backed Flycatcher.

In the afternoon, continue to the beautiful Flower Lake, where elevated boardwalks provide excellent views across the wetlands. This is one of the best places to observe the elegant Black-necked Crane, while the surrounding marshes and grasslands support an impressive variety of waterbirds and open-country species.

Birds to look for include Bar-headed Goose, Ferruginous Duck, Red-crested Pochard, Common Pochard, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Northern Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, Horned Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Brown-cheeked Rail, Tibetan Sand Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Citrine Wagtail, Ground Tit, Tibetan Lark, Horned Lark, Oriental Skylark, White-rumped Snowfinch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, Himalayan Vulture, Upland Buzzard and Common Kestrel. With a little luck, more elusive species such as Whooper Swan or Eurasian Bittern may also be found.

The marshes are equally rewarding for mammals, with opportunities to encounter Plateau Pika, Himalayan Marmot, Tibetan Fox and Hog Badger, adding another memorable dimension to an exceptional day on the Tibetan Plateau.

Day 13: Ruoergai to Jiuzhaigou.
Begin the day with one final birding session in the forests surrounding Ruoergai, providing another opportunity to search for any remaining target species before leaving the Tibetan Plateau.

From here, enjoy a scenic five-hour drive to Jiuzhaigou as the route descends from the open alpine grasslands and wetlands at around 3,500 metres into lush valleys and forested mountain landscapes at approximately 1,400 metres. The dramatic change in elevation brings striking scenery and a noticeable shift in habitats, with opportunities to watch for birds during suitable stops along the journey.

Arriving in Jiuzhaigou, one of China’s most spectacular mountain regions, you will be perfectly placed to explore its pristine forests and exceptional birdlife over the coming days.

Day 14: Golden Snub-nosed Monkey Reserve to Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve.
An early start takes you to one of the highlights of the tour as you spend the morning photographing the remarkable Golden Snub-nosed Monkey in its natural mountain forest habitat. Watching these striking primates among the ancient trees is a truly special wildlife experience and one of the finest opportunities to observe this iconic species in the wild.

After lunch, travel approximately three hours to Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, one of China’s best-preserved temperate forest reserves and a haven for both birds and mammals. As you enter the reserve, the birding begins immediately, with regular stops along the scenic forest road to explore the rich woodland habitats before reaching your lodge inside the reserve.

Possible sightings include Zappey’s Flycatcher, Fujian Niltava, White-collared Yuhina, Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher, Sulphur-breasted Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Slaty Bunting and Blue Rock Thrush.

With its pristine forests, abundant wildlife and peaceful surroundings, Tangjiahe provides a fitting setting for the final stages of this unforgettable Sichuan birding adventure.

Day 15: Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve.
Spend the day exploring the pristine forests and river valleys of Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, one of China’s finest destinations for both birding and mammal watching. Early morning and late afternoon are the most productive times in the field, when the reserve comes alive with bird activity and mammals begin to emerge from the forest. The mix of mature woodland, rocky cliffs and fast-flowing mountain streams creates exceptional habitat for a remarkable diversity of wildlife.

Birding highlights may include the spectacular Golden Pheasant, Tawny Fish Owl, Mountain Hawk-Eagle, Pacific Swift, Crested Kingfisher, Brown Dipper, Little Forktail, White-crowned Forktail, Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, White-backed Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Mountain Bulbul, Brown-breasted Bulbul, Spectacled Fulvetta and Sooty Bushtit.

Tangjiahe is equally celebrated for its mammals. Takin are regularly encountered and may even be seen feeding beside the road, while Tibetan Macaque, Yellow-throated Marten, Reeves’s Muntjac and Chinese Goral are all possible during the day’s explorations. With patience and a measure of luck, more elusive species such as Chinese Serow, Tufted Deer and Asiatic Black Bear may also reveal themselves.

The combination of outstanding birding, exceptional mammal watching and breathtaking mountain scenery makes Tangjiahe a fitting finale to an unforgettable journey through Sichuan.

Day 16: Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve to Chengdu.
Enjoy a final morning birding in the spectacular forests of Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, making the most of the last opportunities to search for any remaining target species while soaking up the sights and sounds of one of China’s premier wildlife reserves.

As the day progresses, depart on the scenic 4.5-hour drive back to Chengdu, descending from the forested mountains at around 1,500 metres through picturesque valleys and rural countryside before reaching the fertile Sichuan Basin at approximately 500 metres above sea level. The changing landscapes provide a fitting conclusion to an extraordinary journey through Sichuan’s diverse habitats.

On arrival in Chengdu, check into your conveniently located airport hotel and enjoy a relaxing final evening, reflecting on an unforgettable birding adventure filled with endemic birds, remarkable wildlife and spectacular mountain scenery.

Day 17: Departure from Chengdu.
After breakfast, take the short five-minute walk from the hotel to Chengdu Airport to catch your onward flight.

As your Sichuan birding adventure comes to an end, depart with lasting memories of breathtaking mountain landscapes, world-class birding, remarkable wildlife and the many endemic species that make this one of Asia’s most rewarding birding destinations.

We hope to welcome you on another Nature Travel Birding adventure in the future.