Here is a tentative list of events in March, April and May
March 6-7 – Bike trip to Pingle Ancient town and bamboo forest – 75 kms over 2 days
We leave Chengdu at 930 and go about an hour in the van to start in Anren ancient town. There you can see the old town and see Liu’s Manor Museum if you’d like. Then we have lunch and begin the bike ride on backroads to Qionglai. Then there is a bike path off the road from Qionglai to Pingle ancient town. The whole ride is about 40 kms and pretty flat except the last part to Pingle which is a couple kms of climbing. In the ancient town we will get rooms or camp and then explore and get dinner.
The next day we will bike up several kms into the bamboo forest and then back down to Qionglai on the bike path. Its about 35 kms total. We can have lunch on the way and then head back to Chengdu in the afternoon.
March 13-14 – Biking the greenway and camping
The green way is a bike path next to the fourth ring road that goes around Chengdu. We will do about 40 kms in the south east of Chengdu. We can do for the day or even go camping nearby on some side roads that lead to some decent camping areas. The next day we could go out to Loudai ancient town before returning
March 20-21 Biking to Sancha lake
We leave Chengdu in the morning and take the van halfway to Sancha lake. We have lunch and then I drop you off in the mountains above Sancha lake. Then we will bike down to the lake to camp or get a hotel. The next day we can bike around the other side of the lake, have lunch and head back to Chengdu in the afternoon.
March 27-28 – Hiking and camping on the Old Tea Horse Trail
We can go past Dujiangyan to hike the Old Tea Horse Trail. Its about a 2 hour hike to the top where there is a where there are great views and bbq. The next day we can hike up on a nearby tea horse trail for a few hours before heading back to Chengdu.
April 3-5 Qing Ming holiday- Retreat and hiking in Danba (this trip is already full)
We leave Chengdu in the morning on Sunday and head 6 hours to Danba. People can explore the village and in the evening we will make pizza and chicken wings. Saturday we can divide into a couple groups and go hiking. One of the hikes will be easier and the other more difficult. In the evening we will do a bbq and the next day we will head back in the morning.
April 10-11 – Bike ride and camping at Jingtang lake
People can bike from Chengdu and bike about 45 to Tuanjie lake where you can camp at a nice lake. We can get lunch along the way and bbq in the evening. The next day you can take a different route back to Chengdu which is also about 45 kms. I can use the van for a support vehicle.
April 17-18 Dayi hiking trip and hotel with epic views
We can leave Chengdu in the morning and head out to the mountains above Dayi. We can hike a bit to a waterfall and explore and then head back to a hotel on the top of a mountain with great views. The next day we can do another hiking trail nearby and head back to Chengdu in the afternoon.
April 23-25 – Motorcycle Recon trip or other bike or hiking trip. To be announced
May 1-5 Labor Day holiday – 3 day Yala mountain hike and explore Tagong area
We can leave Chengdu in the morning and head out about 4 hours to begin hiking Yala mountain near Kangding. We can hike out to a beautiful lake next to mountain and camp. The next day we can begin going up over the other pass to camp again. On the third day we can hike down into Tagong and spend the next day there exploring the towns temples and monasteries and other areas.
May 8-9 Camping in Wolong near Ganhaizi (2500)
Here is a short hike near Wolong up to some nice views. The hike up to where we camp is only about 40 minutes where there are great views. Then people can continue hiking up more or relax in that area. The next day we can explore that area more or do another trip up to another peak nearby like Panda valley.
May 15-16 River Gorge Hike and camping near Hongkou
We leave in the morning and head out in the van to the Hongkou area near Dujiangyan to do a river hike. We can hike a few kms into the gorge and camp. The next day we can continue more into the gorge before coming back.
May 22-23 Waterfall hiking and swimming near Yaan
Here we will go down near Yaan about three hours away to a nice village where there are a couple nice areas to swim and a nice large waterfall. The first day we can do slip on slide over a large flat rock and have a bbq afterwards at our guesthouse. The second day we can explore and swim in the larger waterfall before having lunch and heading back.
May 29-30 Emerald Lake Hike and camping (3300) before Danba
We leave Chengdu early and drive about 4 hours to where we can have lunch and swim for a bit before heading up to the top of the mountain where a beautiful alpine lake is. Its about a 40 minute hike to get up there. The next day people can hike around and explore more before heading back to Chengdu.
June, July, August (I’ll add dates later)
Jiuding hike (3700m) up to see yellow flowers near Maoxian
Minya Gongo hike to Alpine lake near Kangding
Alpine hikes near Songpan
12 day bike trip from near Tibet border (Ganzi) back to Chengdu
Langmusi hiking and exploring trip for a few days
Sirentong hike
Dragons gorge
