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How to Explore Western Sichuan from Chengdu Without a Private Car – A 12–15 Day Public Transport Guide for Foreign Travelers

Updated: Oct 29

You want to see Tibetan monasteries, snow-capped peaks, and emerald alpine lakes.But you don’t want to rent a car or join a tour.


Here’s the truth:

You CAN do the full 317 + 318 loop to Daocheng Yading using only buses and shared rides—if you plan right.

I’ve lived in Chengdu for over 10 years.

I’ve taken this exact route three times—once with a Brazilian backpacker, once with a UK couple, and once solo.All of us used only public transport.


This guide gives you:

✅ Exact bus times from every town

✅ 12-day core itinerary + 15-day extended version

✅ Real talk on altitude, timing, and where NOT to cut corners

No fluff.

Just what works.


Western Sichuan by Bus: What Foreign Travelers Need to Know

It takes 12–15 days—don’t rush it

Western Sichuan isn’t Disneyland.Buses run once or twice a day, often before 9 a.m.

And the roads? Winding, high, and slow.

A Canadian friend tried to squeeze it into 7 days.

He missed three buses, got stuck in Kangding, and gave up.

Trust me:

12 days is the minimum.15 days is ideal—especially if you want to hike Yading without collapsing.

Plan for one bus per day.Use extra days to rest, recover from altitude, and enjoy the views.

（Public transport to Western Sichuan from Chengdu for foreign tourists）


Day-by-Day Itinerary: Chengdu to Yading and Back (Public Transport Only)


A vibrant cityscape with red buildings and a river, mountain backdrop, colorful murals, and street lanterns. Cars and pedestrians animate the scene.
Kangding

Day 1: Chengdu → Kangding (Gāngdìng, 康定)

  • Bus: New South Gate Bus Station (Xīnnánmén Chēzhàn) → Kangding

  • Time: 4.5 hours | Price: ¥90

  • Departure: Daily at 7:30 a.m. (buy ticket the day before)

  • Stay: Near Liu Liu Cheng (Liúliú Chéng, 溜溜城)—walkable to bus station

  • Tip: Kangding is at 2,560m—perfect for first-night altitude adjustment


Yaks graze on a vast, dry grassland with snowy mountains in the background under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
Daofu

Day 2: Kangding → Daofu (Dàofú, 道孚)

  • Bus: Kangding Bus Station → Daofu

  • Time: 5.5 hours | Price: ¥110

  • Departure: 7:00 a.m. (only one bus)

  • Stop: 10 min at Zheduokou (Zhéduō Kǒu, 折多山口)—4,298m, great for photos

  • Must-see: “Bengke” wooden Tibetan houses—bright red, white, and blue


Lakeside view with red-roofed houses, clear blue water, and calm surroundings. A car is parked near the shore, enhancing tranquility.
Luhuo

Day 3: Daofu → Luhuo (Lúhuò, 炉霍) → Ganzi (Gānzī, 甘孜县)

  • Daofu → Luhuo: 1.5 hrs, ¥30, 8:00 a.m.

  • Luhuo → Ganzi: 3 hrs, ¥60, 10:30 a.m.

  • Total travel: ~5 hours

  • Highlight: Gesar King City (Gésā’ěr Wáng Chéng, 格萨尔王城)—epic Tibetan hero museum

  • Altitude: 3,390m—sleep with oxygen if possible


Snowy Tibetan village with white houses and tall, ancient towers set against a backdrop of majestic blue mountains and clear blue sky.
Ganzi

Day 4: Ganzi → Dege (Dégé, 德格)

  • Bus: Ganzi → Dege

  • Time: 4.5 hours | Price: ¥80

  • Departure: 7:30 a.m.

  • Stop: 20 min in Manigange (Mǎnígānggē, 马尼干戈)—wild, windswept town

  • Must-do: Dege Parkhang (Dégé Yìnjīng Yuàn, 德格印经院)—300,000+ wooden printing blocks

  • Note: Bring passport—required for entry


White stupas line a grassy path under a blue sky with clouds, flanked by a stone wall. The scene is calm and serene.
Dege

Mansion on grassy hilltop with red walls, snow-capped mountains in background. Clear sky, warm light, tranquil setting.
Manigange

Day 5: Dege → Manigange → Litang (Lǐtáng, 理塘)

  • Dege → Manigange: 2 hrs, ¥40, 8:00 a.m.

  • Manigange → Litang: 5 hrs, ¥90, 11:00 a.m.

  • Altitude: 4,014m—highest town in the world!

  • Do NOT hike today—just rest and drink water

  • Visit: Changchun Gesar Monastery (Chángchūn Kē’ěr Sì, 长青春科尔寺)—one of Tibet’s great monasteries


Turquoise lake nestled between snow-capped mountains under a bright blue sky. Rugged terrain surrounds the tranquil water.
Daocheng

Day 6: Litang → Daocheng (Dàochéng, 稻城县)

  • Bus: Litang → Daocheng

  • Time: 3.5 hours | Price: ¥70

  • Departure: 8:00 a.m.

  • Stops:

    • Tu’er Shan (Tù’ěr Shān, 兔儿山)—rock formations like rabbit ears

    • Haizi Shan (Hǎizǐ Shān, 海子山)—twin lakes (Sister Lakes)

  • Stay: Daocheng town (3,700m)—better sleep than Litang


Snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky. A river flows through a grassy valley with green trees, creating a serene, natural landscape.
Yading National Park

Day 7–8: Daocheng → Yading National Park (Yàdīng, 稻城亚丁)

  • Bus: Daocheng → Shangri-La Town (Xiānggélǐlā Zhèn, 香格里拉镇)

  • Time: 2 hours | Price: ¥50 | Departure: 7:30 a.m.

  • Park entry: ¥266 (includes 3-day pass + shuttle bus)

  • Day 7 (easy): Short hike to Pearl Lake (Zhēnzhū Hú, 珍珠海)—3 hours round trip

  • Day 8 (hard): Long hike to Milk Lake (Niúnǎi Hú, 牛奶海) and Five-Color Lake (Wǔsè Hú, 五色海)—6 hours, bring oxygen!

  • Stay: In Shangri-La Town (2,900m)—best for recovery


Golden-roofed temple buildings against snow-capped mountains and a foggy sky, creating a serene and majestic landscape.
Litang

Day 9: Yading → Daocheng → Litang

  • Return bus: Same as Day 6, reverse

  • Use Litang to rest—your legs will thank you


Aerial view of a winding turquoise river through a mountain valley with dense city buildings, trees, and hills. Clear skies overhead.
Yajiang

Day 10: Litang → Yajiang (Yǎjiāng, 雅江) → Xinduqiao (Xīndūqiáo, 新都桥)

  • Litang → Yajiang: 2 hrs, ¥40, 8:00 a.m.

  • Yajiang → Xinduqiao: 1.5 hrs, ¥30, 11:00 a.m.

  • Alternative: Share a ride from Yajiang (¥25–30)—more flexible

  • Xinduqiao = “Photographer’s Paradise”—golden fields, red-roofed houses, distant Gongga Snow Mountain

Optional add-on: Fish Zi Xi Viewpoint (Yúzǐxī Guānjǐngtái, 鱼子西观景台)

  • Cost: ¥80 round-trip shared car

  • Best at sunset—clear days show Gongga + Yala Snow Mountains


Day 11: Xinduqiao → Kangding

  • Bus: Xinduqiao → Kangding

  • Time: 3 hours | Price: ¥80

  • Departure: 8:00 a.m.

  • Stop: Zheduokou again—different light, different view


Day 12: Kangding → Chengdu

  • Bus: Kangding → Chengdu

  • Time: 4.5 hours | Price: ¥90

  • Departure: 7:30 a.m.

  • You’re back!

Extended 15-Day Option: Add Luding & Hailuogou


River with a rocky bank, flowing through a valley with fall foliage trees. A few houses have red roofs. Mountains form the backdrop.
Xinduqiao

Day 13: Xinduqiao → Luding (Lúdìng, 泸定)

  • Bus: ~2.5 hrs, ¥60

  • See: Luding Bridge (Lúdìng Qiáo, 泸定桥)—famous red history site, ¥10 entry


Aerial view of people crossing a suspension bridge over a green river. Traditional buildings and lush hills line the riverside.
Luding

Day 14: Luding → Hailuogou (Hǎiluógōu, 海螺沟)

  • Bus: 1.5 hrs, ¥30

  • Do: Glacier cable car + hot spring soak (¥120)

  • Altitude: Only 1,300–2,800m—great for recovery


Majestic glacier framed by rugged gray and green mountains under a clear blue sky, evoking a serene, awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Hailuogou

Day 15: Hailuogou → Chengdu

  • Bus: 3.5 hrs, ¥90


Critical Tips for Foreign Travelers


Bus Tickets & Timing

  • Book 1 day ahead at the bus station

  • Bring passport—some stations require it

  • Peak season (May–June, Sept–Oct): Buses run reliably

  • Off-season (Nov–Apr): Roads may close due to snow—avoid


Altitude Sickness Prevention

  • Never skip Kangding or Daocheng—they’re your “altitude buffers”

  • Buy oxygen in Chengdu (¥20/can)—it’s ¥50+ in Litang

  • Symptoms? Headache + nausea = go lower. Don’t push.


Temple & Cultural Etiquette

  • No shorts/skirts in monasteries

  • No photos of Buddha statues

  • Walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels


Why This Works—And What Others Get Wrong

I’ve seen travelers waste days waiting for non-existent buses.

Or skip acclimatization and end up in a Litang clinic.


But with this plan?

“We saw everything—monasteries, glaciers, lakes—and never paid for a private car.”— Irina, Russia
“The bus from Dege was packed with locals. Felt like real travel.”— Diego, Brazil

This isn’t just a route.It’s a slow, deep dive into Tibetan Sichuan—the way it’s meant to be seen.


Grab the Full Chengdu + Western Sichuan Travel Guide

Want exact bus station addresses, screenshots of ticket booking, altitude chart, and phrase cheat sheet for bus drivers?


Chengdu Travel Guide – The Ultimate 96-Hour Relaxation Itinerary

Chengdu 96 hours Ultimate Relaxation Itinerary
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Don’t gamble with your dream trip.

Plan it right—with local-tested details.

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