4-Day Pear Blossom Tour from Chengdu to Jinchuan

Day 1: Panoramic Tour of Central Jinchuan County's Pear Blossom Belt Route: Chengdu → Maerkang → Jinchuan County → Ge'er Township → Songping Viewing Platform → Shenxian Bao Driving time: About 6 hours from Chengdu to Jinchuan, approximately 2 hours within scenic areas Highlights: - Ge'er Township Pear Blossom Avenue: Drive along the "Pear Blossom Corridor" in the Dajinchuan River Valley to experience the harmony between the thousand-acre pear orchard and Tibetan residences. Arrive before sunset to capture the layered flower sea using side backlight. - Songping Viewing Platform (Qingning Township): Located at an elevation of 2,200m, overlook the "Taiji" landscape formed by pear blossoms and highland barley fields. Telephoto lens recommended for capturing details. - Shenxian Bao (Sha'er Township): Best shooting spot at sunset, where golden sunlight falls on century-old pear trees, creating dramatic contrast with distant snow-capped mountains. Accommodation: Jinchuan County Tips: - Some road sections between the county town and Ge'er Township have one-way traffic during the Pear Blossom Festival. Avoid tourist bus peak hours from 11:00-16:00. - Bring a thermos. Local restaurants mainly serve Tibetan cuisine. Try butter tea and Tibetan cured meat. Day 2: Cultural Exploration of Zhonglu Tibetan Village in Danba Route: Jinchuan County → Danba County → Zhonglu Tibetan Village Driving time: About 2 hours (70 km) Highlights: - Zhonglu Tibetan Village: Ancient Tibetan watchtowers complement the pear blossoms. Recommended hiking route: "Kege Yi Village → Ancient Watchtowers → Viewing Platform" loop (about 3 hours). Capture prayer flags and new pear tree buds along the way. - Jiaju Tibetan Village (optional): If time permits, visit this slightly more commercialized but panoramic site. Accommodation: Zhonglu Tibetan Village Guesthouse Tips: - Roads in the village are narrow. Park at the village entrance parking lot and explore on foot. Day 3: Ultimate Stargazing and Sea of Clouds Experience at Niubei Mountain Route: Zhonglu Tibetan Village → Kangding → Lengqi Town → Niubei Mountain Driving time: About 5 hours (200 km) Highlights: - Lengqi Town to Niubei Mountain: The last 30 km is a winding mountain road. Recommend hiring local 4WD vehicles (about CNY 500/vehicle). Drivers must be experienced in highland mountain driving. - Niubei Mountain Star Camping: Stay in mountaintop tent hotel (includes heater, electric blanket, and oxygen generator). Capture Gongga Mountain's golden sunset and photograph the Milky Way arch at night using wide-angle lens. Accommodation: Niubei Mountain Summit Tent Hotel (book 3 days in advance, health certificate required for guests over 65) Tips: - Summit temperature ranges from -5°C to 15°C. Bring down jackets and attach anti-slip chains to shoes. - If you encounter a sea of clouds, photograph the "cloud waterfall" phenomenon the next morning. Arrive at viewing platform before 6:30. Day 4: Niubei Mountain → Chengdu (Natural Scenery and Cultural Integration) Route: Niubei Mountain → Ya'an → Chengdu Driving time: About 5 hours Highlights: - Bifengxia Gorge in Ya'an (optional): If time permits, stop by to visit the gorge waterfalls and panda base to relieve driving fatigue. - Return trip tips: Avoid Ya'an-Chengdu Expressway evening rush hour (16:00-19:00). Recommended to depart after lunch in Ya'an. Tips: - Niubei Mountain entrance fee: CNY 120/person. Karting from Qiankunling to summit: CNY 180/vehicle (seats two). Hiking to summit takes about 1.5 hours. - Bring oxygen bottles (about CNY 50/bottle at scenic area) to prevent altitude sickness. Key Notes 1. Transportation: - National Highway 248 from Jinchuan to Danba has good road conditions with no traffic restrictions in April. - Recommend hiring local vehicles for Niubei Mountain section to avoid self-driving risks. 2. Blossom Season and Weather: - Peak pear blossom season is from mid-March to early April, blooming progressively with elevation. Itinerary can be adjusted flexibly. - Niubei Mountain typically has clear weather in March and April, with 60% chance of sea of clouds. Check "Niubei Mountain Weather" WeChat account for real-time forecasts. 3. Accommodation Booking: - Book Zhonglu Tibetan Village guesthouse 5 days ahead and Niubei Mountain hotel 3 days ahead. Prices increase 30% during holidays. 4. Equipment Recommendations: - Photography: Telephoto lens (for pear blossom close-ups), tripod (for stargazing), polarizing filter (to reduce water reflections). - Clothing: Windproof jacket, fleece liner, quick-dry pants, waterproof hiking boots. This itinerary perfectly combines the visual feast of Jinchuan pear blossoms, cultural charm of Zhonglu Tibetan Village, and ultimate natural scenery of Niubei Mountain, balancing depth and comfort.