17-Day Sichuan Endemics Birding Tour Itinerary
Day 1 (Arrival Day) — Chengdu
Chengdu airport pickup and transfer to hotel.
Main targets in Chengdu: Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Chinese Grosbeak, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher, Tiger Shrike, White-browed Laughingthrush, Chinese Blackbird, Chinese Bulbul etc.
Overnight: Chengdu
Day 2 — Morning Chengdu Park Birding → Drive to Chuanzhusi
Morning birding at Chengdu urban park, then drive to Chuanzhusi.
Main targets in Chuanzhusi: Tibetan Snowcock, Blue-eared Pheasant, Grandala, Siberian Rubythroat, Chinese Rubythroat, White-bellied Redstart, Red-fronted Rosefinch, Streaked Rosefinch, White-browed Tit-Warbler, Crested Tit-Warbler, White-browed Tit, Salim Ali’s Swift.
Overnight: Chuanzhusi
Day 3 — Morning Chuanzhusi Birding → Drive to Ruoergai after lunch
Morning birding around Chuanzhusi; after lunch drive to Ruoergai with roadside stops.
Overnight: Ruoergai
Days 4–5 — Two full days birding in Ruoergai area
All-day birding across Ruoergai plateau habitats.
Main targets in Ruoergai: Blue-eared Pheasant, Chinese Grouse, Tibetan Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush, Plain Laughingthrush, Giant Laughingthrush, Sichuan Jay, Spectacled Parrotbill, Crested Tit Warbler, Chinese Fulvetta, Three-banded Rosefinch, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Chinese Nuthatch, Sichuan Tit, Siberian Rubythroat, Streaked Rosefinch, Blanford’s Rosefinch, White-browed Tit Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Hume’s Leaf Warbler, Buff-barred Warbler, Slaty-backed Flycatcher etc.
Overnight: Ruoergai
Day 6 — Ruoergai → Maerkang (roadside birding, focus on Przevalski’s Finch)
Drive south to Maerkang with continuous roadside birding, prioritizing Pinktail / Przevalski’s Finch.
Main targets en route from Ruoergai to Maerkang: Przevalski’s Finch (Pinktail), White-browed Tit, Giant Grey Shrike, White-browed Tit Warbler, Little Owl, Eagle Owl etc.
Overnight: Maerkang
Day 7 — Morning Mengbishan Birding → Drive to Wolong
Morning birding on Mengbishan slopes; drive to Wolong with en route birding stops.
Main targets in Mengbishan: Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Sichuan Jay, Crested Tit Warbler, Three-banded Rosefinch, Chinese Fulvetta, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Maroon-backed Accentor, Giant Laughingthrush, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Slaty-backed Flycatcher etc.
Overnight: Wolong
Day 8 — Full day birding in Balangshan
Full high-altitude birding on Balangshan Pass.
Main targets in Balangshan: Chinese Monal, Golden Pheasant, White-eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Koklass Pheasant, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Slaty Bunting, Chinese Babax, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Indian Blue Robin, Rosy Pipit, Buff-barred Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler etc.
Overnight: Wolong
Day 9 — Half day Balangshan Birding → Drive to Kangding
Morning short birding at Balangshan, then drive to Kangding.
Main targets in Kangding: Chinese Monal, White-eared Pheasant, Snow Partridge, Blood Pheasant, Golden Bush Robin, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Red-fronted Rosefinch, Crimson-browed Finch, Dark-breasted Rosefinch, Alpine Thrush, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, occasional Grandala & Solitary Snipe.
Overnight: Kangding
Day 10 — Half day Kangding Birding → Drive to Hailuogou after lunch
Morning birding around Kangding; after lunch drive to Hailuogou.
Overnight: Hailuogou
Day 11 — Full day birding in Hailuogou
Full day forest birding along Hailuogou trails.
Main targets in Hailuogou: Sichuan Treecreeper, Pere David’s Tit, Fire-capped Tit, Streaked Barwing, Scaly-breasted Cupwing (Chinese Cupwing), Himalayan Shortwing, Slaty-blue Flycatcher, Blue-fronted Robin, Collared Grosbeak.
Overnight: Hailuogou
Day 12 — Morning Erlangshan Birding → Drive to Longcanggou (3–4 hours)
Early morning birding at Erlangshan, then 3–4 hours drive to Longcanggou.
Main targets in Erlangshan: Firethroat, Rufous-tailed (Moupinia) Babbler, Barred Laughingthrush, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Yellow-throated Bunting, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird.
Overnight: Longcanggou
Day 13 — Half day Longcanggou Birding → Drive to Wawushan
Morning birding in Longcanggou valleys, transfer to Wawushan afterwards.
Main targets in Longcanggou: Gold-fronted Fulvetta, Sichuan Bush Warbler, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Golden Parrotbill, White-backed Woodpecker, Bay Woodpecker, Brown Dipper, Emei Leaf Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler etc.
Overnight: Wawushan
Day 14 — Full day birding in Wawushan
All-day multi-elevation birding at Wawushan, reliable chance for Red Panda.
Main targets in Wawushan: Grey-hooded Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill, Golden Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Crimson-breasted Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Three-toed Woodpecker, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Emei Shan Liocichla, Spotted Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon, Lesser Cuckoo, White-throated Needletail, Bianchi’s Warbler, Marten’s Warbler, Alström’s Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Warbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Red-tailed Minla, Blue-winged Minla, White-browed Shrike-babbler, Yellow-bellied Bush Warbler, Spotted Bush Warbler, White-bellied Redstart etc, and RED PANDA.
Overnight: Wawushan
Day 15 — Half day Wawushan Birding → Drive to Pingshan
Morning wrap-up birding at Wawushan, then drive to Pingshan.
Overnight: Pingshan
Day 16 — Morning Pingshan Birding → Drive back to Chengdu
Morning pheasant-focused birding in Pingshan, full drive back to Chengdu.
Main targets in Pingshan: Sichuan Partridge, Chinese Bamboo Partridge, Temminck’s Tragopan, Silver Pheasant, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Emei Shan Liocichla, Buffy Laughingthrush, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Sichuan Bush Warbler etc.
Overnight: Chengdu
Day 17 (Departure Day) — Chengdu airport send-off & departure
Transfer to Chengdu CTU / TFU airport for outbound flight. End of tour.
