Best Things to Do in Southwest China

Southwest China is the country’s most scenically diverse region: from the tropical Xishuangbanna (sharing a border with Laos and Myanmar, with tropical rainforest and Buddhist Dai culture) through the sub-alpine landscapes of the Lijiang and Shangri-La region (4,000m+, snow peaks, glacier lakes, Tibetan culture) to the Giant Panda reserves of Sichuan and the extraordinary limestone plateau of Jiuzhaigou. The things to do in Southwest China require serious planning and time — distances are vast, altitude is a real challenge in the northwest of Yunnan and Tibet, and the cultural diversity (Han, Yi, Bai, Naxi, Tibetan, Dai, Miao, and dozens more minority nationalities) rewards patient exploration.

Best time to visit

The best timing varies dramatically by area. Yunnan lowlands and Xishuangbanna: November through April (dry season). Yunnan highlands (Lijiang, Shangri-La): May through October for green landscapes and hiking; March-April for spring flowers; winters are cold but clear. Jiuzhaigou and Sichuan: October-November for peak autumn color; May-June for the green season. Tibet: May through September is the main trekking season; October-April is cold and some roads close. Chengdu is accessible year-round but is often overcast and drizzly (little direct sunlight year-round, earning it the name ‘baseless sky city’).

Getting around

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Chengdu Shuangliu Airport are the main gateways for Sichuan. Kunming Changshui International Airport is the main gateway for Yunnan. High-speed rail connects Chengdu to Kunming (3 hours on the new high-speed line, opened 2022). Lhasa’s Gonggar Airport requires a Tibet Tourism Bureau permit for foreign visitors; most organized Tibet tours can arrange this. Within the region, domestic flights are essential for reaching Jiuzhaigou (GYS), Lijiang (LJG), and Shangri-La (DIG). For rural Yunnan exploration (the ancient Tea Horse Road tea-growing areas, the rice terraces of Yuanyang), a combination of local buses and hired vehicles is needed.

What to eat and drink

Sichuan cuisine is one of China’s most influential: the mala flavor (numbing and spicy, from Sichuan peppercorns and chilies) appears in mapo tofu, dan dan mian, kung pao chicken, and hotpot. Chengdu’s hotpot — a communal pot of spiced broth for cooking raw meat and vegetables at the table — is the city’s most celebrated dining experience. Yunnan cuisine is the most botanically diverse: wild mushrooms (particularly the prized porcini-like matsutake and dozens of others sold at Kunming’s Dounan flower and vegetable market), flower salads, fermented goat cheese (rubing), and Yunnan-style rice noodles. Tibetan food is simple and high-calorie for the altitude: tsampa (roasted barley flour), yak butter tea (salty, an acquired taste), and yak meat in various preparations. The highland areas of Yunnan and Sichuan produce some of China’s finest pu-erh and green teas.

Top things to do

Chengdu Giant Panda Base – The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the world’s best place to see giant pandas in a near-natural setting. Around 50 pandas in a forested research facility, visible from close range on walking paths. Arrive before 9am for the morning feeding (most active period). Volunteer programs for longer stays are available with advance booking.

Tiger Leaping Gorge trek, Yunnan – One of Asia’s great multi-day treks: 2-3 days hiking above the Jinsha (Yangtze) River where it cuts through the gorge between the 5,596m Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and 5,396m Haba Snow Mountain. The gorge is one of the world’s deepest (3,790m from river to peak). The high trail (the classic route) is 22km over two days; guesthouses at Halfway House and Tina’s provide accommodation.

Jiuzhaigou National Park – A UNESCO World Heritage valley of extraordinary turquoise lakes connected by waterfalls and travertine terraces, surrounded by snow mountains. The lakes’ vivid blue-green color (from calcium carbonate in the water) is unlike anything in China. Visitor numbers are controlled (18,000/day); book in advance. The park suffered earthquake damage in 2017 and has been partially rebuilt.

Lijiang Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – Lijiang’s old town (Dayan, UNESCO World Heritage) is a well-preserved Naxi trading settlement of cobblestoned canal streets, wooden architecture, and independent teahouses and guesthouses. Overwhelmed by tourism in peak season but genuinely beautiful in early morning. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (5,596m) above the town has cable cars accessing glacier terrain at 4,500m; altitude sickness is possible.