Encounter China’s Endemic birds and Wild Red Pandas in Sichuan (13 days)

Begin in Chengdu, where your guide welcomes you at the hotel and each guest enjoys a dedicated airport pick-up by our designated transfer driver. If you arrive early, you may join a city birdwatching walk at Huanhuaxi Park, observing egrets and forest birds in a poetic setting near Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage. In the evening, gather for a welcome dinner and a brief itinerary overview, preparing for the journey ahead.

Depart from Chengdu and travel to Dujiangyan, visiting the China Giant Panda Garden for a close encounter with the giant panda. After lunch, we travel to Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve, one of the world’s low-altitude area with the highest mammal encounter rates. As a core area of the Giant Panda National Park, Tangjiahe is home to Giant Panda, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, Sichuan Takin, Reeves’s Muntjac, and Mainland Leopard Cat. In the afternoon, explore the river valleys in search of wildlife, then check in and rest early for nocturnal observation.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Giant Panda, Sichuan Takin

Other Species: Red Panda, Reeves’s Muntjac, Tufted Deer

Today, we open the day with an early-morning nocturnal wildlife observation in Tangjiahe, using quiet, low-disturbance techniques guided by professionals. Focus on species more active and visible in darkness, especially the elusive Mainland Leopard Cat and Tawny Fish Owl, while searching river valleys and forest edges for sightings or fresh tracks. Later in the day, continue exploring Tangjiahe’s forests by vehicle or on foot for birdwatching and wildlife spotting. At dawn or dusk, patiently search forest edges and grassy slopes for the Sichuan Takin, whose massive golden forms may appear silently from the trees.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Sichuan Takin

Other Species: Tawny Fish Owl, Mainland Leopard Cat, Reeves’s Muntjac, Chinese Goral

After breakfast, continue birdwatching around the hotel before driving to the Laba River Nature Reserve. Located within the Erlang Mountain National Forest Park, Laba River preserves a complete vertical ecological spectrum, from forested valleys to waterfalls and mountain lakes. The reserve supports 32 species of nationally protected wildlife, including Sambar, Tibetan Macaque, and Sichuan Takin.

Staying inside the scenic area allows effective nocturnal observation. As night falls, search for nocturnal species such as the Mainland Leopard Cat, Masked Palm Civet, and the rare Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrel, known for its silent glides through the forest canopy.

Target Species: Mainland Leopard Cat, Masked Palm Civet, Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrel, Sambar

Today focuses on the Chinese Monal, a China endemic known as the “Sacred Bird of Sichuan Mountain.” In the early morning, take the cable car to high elevations and walk the boardwalks in search of this iconic pheasant. In misty conditions, wildlife activity often increases. With luck, Giant Panda may be seen in the trees.

In the afternoon, descend to the valleys to continue observation. From April to June, the journey coincides with the Chinese Monal’s breeding season, offering a chance to witness courtship displays. Night observation continues for nocturnal mammals.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Chinese Monal, Pere David’s Tit, Dove Tree

Other Species: Red Panda, Sambar, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Masked Palm Civet, Asian Black Bear, Lady’s Slipper, Mainland Leopard Cat, Red-and-white Giant Flying Squirrel

After breakfast, continue searching for target species before departing toward Kangding via Pengta Township. The drive follows the Dadu River valley and mountain roads, with flexible stops for birdwatching whenever opportunities arise.

In the afternoon, reach the high mountain zone of Kangding (3400m), the highest elevation of the journey, where alpine species replace those of the lowlands. Tibetan Partridges may cross the road at close range, while Golden Eagles and Bearded Vultures patrol the skies above. Tonight, stay in a mountain homestay, offering a quiet setting surrounded by highland landscapes and birdlife rarely seen in the plains.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Pere David’s Tit, Dove Tree, Cypripedium fasciolatum

Other Species: Golden Eagle, Himalayan Vulture, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Masked Palm Civet, Asian Black Bear, Tibetan Partridge, White-browed Tit-warbler, White-throated Dipper, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Alpine Accentor, Giant Laughingthrush

Today follows a flexible schedule, prioritizing high-altitude birdwatching in the Kangding mountains. The morning is devoted to searching alpine rhododendron scrub for key pheasant species, with particular focus on the Chinese Monal, alongside Blood Pheasant and White Eared Pheasant, which may appear at close range. Once key observation goals are met, travel continues toward Longcang Valley, re-entering the Giant Panda National Park. With favorable conditions, sightings of wild giant pandas are possible. Located on the northern slopes of the Daxiangling Mountains, Longcang Valley is known for its extensive dove tree forests and intact montane ecosystems, offering an immersive forest experience without strenuous hiking.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Chinese Monal

Other Species: Blood Pheasant, White Eared Pheasant, Tibetan Partridge, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Alpine Accentor, Giant Laughingthrush

Spend the day birdwatching in Longcang Valley, moving slowly through forested areas with frequent stops for wildlife observation and photography. The valley is known for the “Three Golds”—Golden-fronted Fulvetta, Golden Parrotbill, and Golden-breasted Fulvetta. Among them, the Golden-fronted Fulvetta is a China-endemic species with a very limited distribution, and Longcang Valley is one of its key habitats. Its presence highlights the remarkable ecological value of this forest ecosystem.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Golden-fronted Fulvetta, Sichuan Bush Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler, Grey-hooded Parrotbill, Dove Tree

Other Species: Golden Parrotbill, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Streaked Barwing, Temminck’s Tragopan, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Great Parrotbill, Tufted Deer, Red Panda

Continue birdwatching in Longcang Valley, with the morning schedule remaining flexible depending on key sightings. Travel onward to Wawu Mountain, where we stay on the plateau for the next two days. Wawu Mountain represents a core habitat for the Emei Shan Liocichla, a China-endemic species with a highly restricted range. Reaching the summit by cable car, continue birdwatching in dense montane forests. Known as the “Parrotbill Capital of China,” Wawu Mountain supports exceptional parrotbill diversity, with representative species including Three-toed Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Grey-hooded Parrotbill, and Fulvous Parrotbill, alongside one of China’s largest wild red panda populations.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Golden-fronted Fulvetta, Sichuan Bush Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler, Grey-hooded Parrotbill,Emei Shan Liocichla, Dove Tree

Other Species: Golden Parrotbill, Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Streaked Barwing, Temminck’s Tragopan, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Great Parrotbill, Tufted Deer, Red Panda, Himalayan Owl, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, Grey-hooded Fulvetta, Necklaced Woodpecker, Red-billed Leiothrix

Spend the full day birdwatching on Wawu Mountain, using the cable car to access high-elevation habitats and explore the summit plateau. In clear weather, the distant silhouette of Mount Gongga, the highest peak in Sichuan, may be visible on the horizon, adding a dramatic backdrop to the day’s wildlife observation.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Emei Shan Liocichla, Three-toed Parrotbill, Grey-hooded Parrotbill, Sichuan Treecreeper, Dove Treen

Other Species: Brown Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Himalayan Owl, Grey-crested Tit, Elliot’s Laughingthrush, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Spotted Bush Warbler, Lesser Cuckoo

Begin the day on Wawu Mountain with a focus on searching for red pandas, alongside parrotbills and the Emei Shan Liocichla. Red pandas are occasionally seen feeding quietly or resting on tree branches, their long, fluffy tails helping them balance among the canopy. The cool, humid forests of Wawu Mountain form an ideal refuge, with dense bamboo, fir, and rhododendron providing both shelter and food. In the afternoon, descend the mountain and drive toward Longhua Ancient Town, passing through the bamboo landscapes of Muchuan.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Emei Shan Liocichla, Three-toed Parrotbill, Grey-hooded Parrotbill, Sichuan Treecreeper, Dove Treen

Other Species: Red Panda, Brown Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker, Himalayan Owl, Grey-crested Tit, Elliot’s Laughingthrush, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Spotted Bush Warbler, Lesser Cuckoo

Today centers on the Sichuan Partridge, a Critically Endangered species endemic to southwest Sichuan. Elusive and highly sensitive to disturbance, it inhabits dense forest undergrowth, making any sighting rare and highly rewarding. The morning is devoted to searching for suitable habitat, including a short forest walk. Birdwatching continues until midday, after which we return to Chengdu for the conclusion of the journey.

Target Species:

China’s Endemic Species: Sichuan Partridgen

Other Species: Temminck’s Tragopan, Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Silver Pheasant, White-browed Bush Robin, Grey Laughingthrush, Red-tailed Minla

The guide will bid you farewell at the hotel and see you off to your vehicle for the transfer to the airport, marking the end of our unforgettable wildlife journey.