●The Tibetan region of Sichuan is the second largest Tibetan region nationwide, primarily including Aba Autonomous Prefecture, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Muli County, Liangshan Prefecture.

　　●The Tibetan region of Sichuan is located at the transition zone between the Tibetan Plateau and Sichuan Basin, tilting from northwest to southeast. Plateau and mountain valleys are two dominating topography.

　　●The Tibetan region of Sichuan finds itself embracing the sources of both the Yangtze River and the Yellow River and over 570 large tributaries along with great ravines and gullies. A variety of natural landscapes coexist such as forests, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, valleys and grasslands.

　　●The Tibetan region of Sichuan possesses 3 world natural heritages such as Jiuzhai Valley, Huanglong, and the giant panda habitat, 4 "Man and Biosphere Reserve Network" nature reserves such as Daocheng Yading, 10 national nature reserves, 4 national geological parks, 5 national scenic spots, 3 AAAAA national tourist attractions, and 6 national forest parks.

　　The evening of April 9 saw the “Night of Sichuan” in Boao Forum for Asia where the “Top 10 finest tourist routes in Sichuan Tibetan region” made its sparkling debut. The distinguished guests around the globe received a sincere invitation from the Tibetan region of Sichuan who had been attracted by this breathtaking scenery.

　　At this moment, in the Tibetan region of Sichuan 3,000 kilometers away from Boao, warm air from the Pacific Ocean catalyzes the first blossom of the year 2014. The flourishing spring flowers in Tibetan area are a gift dedicated to tourists, while the ten fine Tibetan tourist routes are a fine scenery feast for worldwide tourists.

　　Photo offered by the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Tourism

　　Footsteps – Encounter Beautiful Scenery form Journey

　　In the eyes of a thousand men, there are a thousand beautiful impressions on the Tibetan region of Sichuan. The white cloud over the Paoma Mountain, the gorgeous water in the Jiuzhai Valley, the pure land in Daocheng Yading, the snow-like sheep flocks in the Hongyuan prairie, the innocent smile in the Tibetan children's face… 

　　These different impressions about Tibetan areas of Sichuan lure tourists worldwide to step into this vast land of unique charm and to explore the fantastic scenery of his or her mind. Currently, Sichuan Tibetan region has accelerated to build a world-class tourist destination, greeting world visitors with more beautiful appearance.

　　The brand-new top 10 finest tourist routes provide top 10 tour routes with most charming Tibetan features in an area of 249,700 square kilometers. Ten different itineraries meet different needs of tourists, travel tour ranging from 300 km to 1730 km, and 2 days to 10 days. What you need to do is to choose your own route and to enter into the Tibetan region of Sichuan, and then an exciting trip is about to set off.

　　The Top 10 finest tourist routes cannot embrace all the world-class tourism resources in Tibetan areas of Sichuan. Currently, Sichuan Province is actively conducting the “two prefectures and one county” project, and joining hands to build tourism demonstration area for minority areas in China. In future, once visitors enter into Tibetan region of Sichuan, they will just enter the scenic area. 

　　Mountain, water and people there are all appealing sceneries. Even the Yellow River lingers over the touching views, slows its flow, gently turns in the western Sichuan soil and rolls on eastward leaving a wandering shadow. So, people in a journey, ah, please take your time, enjoy the charm of Sichuan Tibetan region, and encounter the beautiful scenery during your trip.

　　Seasons – Collect Unforgettable Moments

　　The spring breeze dyes the pear flowers white in Jinshuan Valley; the summer rain baptizes the sea of flowers in the Flower Lake; autumn frost reddens the leaves in Xindu Bridge; winter snow will not freeze the hot spring in Hailuogou. The shift of four seasons put different makeup on Tibetan areas of Sichuan, representing distinct charms of four seasons. The ten fine tourist routes presented embrace the gorgeous sceneries of each season in this region, while every route is worth travelling around the year.

　　Take the route featuring in the prairie and red culture for example. This tourist route includes scenic spots such as the Taoping Qiang Village, Jiuding Mountain, Ruoergai Prairie, the Flower Lake, the First Bend of the Yellow River, the Hongyuan Prairie, and Miyaluo. With the shift of seasons, tourists can enjoy the flowers at the Taoping Qiang Village in spring, ride horse at the Ruoergai Prairie in summer, admire the magnificent colors of leaves at Miyaluo in autumn, and go skiing and play with snow at the Jiuding Mountain in winter. At each season, tourists will experience something brand-new and unique. 

　　Some say best moments are obtained on the road, and time is the best magician that portrays each piece of memories during the trip with bright colors and touching strokes. 

　　In order to better the impression from tourists, Sichuan Province unceasingly enhance infrastructure in Sichuan Tibetan region and improve its development functions, building Sichuan Tibetan region the most beautiful Tibetan region in China. This year, the Province will formulate and implement a "three-year Action Plan for the Development of Sichuan Tibetan Tourism (2014-2016)", build key tourist towns, and develop the seamless joint among tourist attractions, the airport and the passenger transport hub. Meanwhile it will develop a complete self-driving service system by constructing a number of self-driving tourist service areas, car camps and motels. The province also plans to build a number of Tibetan and Qiang cultural tourism towns, improves tourism public service facilities in Tibetan areas, and enhances tourism bearing capacity and accommodation capacity. 

　　Time not only writes memoir for visitors, but also witnesses the pace of development in Tibetan areas of Sichuan. In the future, 10 fine tourist routes will bring more wonderful travel experiences and memories to visitors.

　　Meet with the long-awaited self

　　In the journey, people not only capture the best moments, but also find another self. Attentively read the following list of 10 fine tourist routes which embrace a vast expanse of prairies, historical architectures, crystal clear water , blue sky ...... This land has everything that cities don’t.

　　Tourists can wander in Tibetan areas of Sichuan along the 10 fine routes, and enjoy the simply beauty anywhere and anytime. In the Prairies, the grass dances along with the wind and flocks of sheep and cattle fool around. At the Lugu Lake, an array of stars embellishes the night sky, and the simple pleasures of childhood are found again. Walking through the Tibetan region of Sichuan, you can feel the warmth between people by a simple smile or a simple greeting. When travelling, you become happy and pleased in a simple manner and don’t even know how, just as a poem goes “that year, I plodded around mountains, waters, and Buddhist temples to encounter you in my journey”. The “you” here may be your long-lost self who enjoys the simplicity and pureness of life.  

　　In the vast Tibetan areas of Sichuan, there are many magnificent sceneries undiscovered. This is another “self” of Sichuan Tibetan shown to tourists.

　　Besides Jiuzhai loop tour and East slope of Gongga Mountain tour routes well known by tourists among the top 10 finest tourist routes, there are new tour routes presented like Hongyuan-Jiuzhai Valley and Huanglong landing self-drive tour route,  the "re-take Locke Road " route. In July of this year, the Hongyuan airport will be in operation at the most beautiful season. At that time, it will only take 40 minutes in flight to depart from Chengdu and arrive at the Hongyuan Prairie. The airport incubates the new travel route of Hongyuan-Jiuzhai Valley and Huanglong landing self-drive tour. This summer, you can simply fly to the Prairie and drive through the grassland with blues sky over your head, green grass beneath your feet and snow-capped mountain right away from you. All of your worries are gone with the wind and finally, you meet the long-lost happy self.

　　Top 10 Finest Tourist Routes in Tibetan Region of Sichuan

　　Huanglong-Jiuzhai Valley World Natural Heritage Classic Tour (Nine Loop Route):

　　Chengdu - Dujiangyan - Wenchuan - Jiuding Mountain (Mao County) – Songpan Ancient City, Muni Valley (Songpan County) - Huanglong – Jiuzhai Valley - Mianyang - Chengdu
Distance: 870 km

　　Estimated time: 4 to 6 days

　　China Wenchuan Earthquake Disaster Site and the New Look of Reconstructed Area Tour:

　　Chengdu - Dujiangyan - Shuimo Ancient Town, Yingxiu Town, Wenchuan Special Tourism Zone (Wenchuan) - Chengdu 

　　Distance: 310 km

　　Estimated time: 2 to 4 days

　　Giant Panda Hometown Eco-tourism Tour (West Loop Route) :

　　Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base - Bifengxia Panda Base ( Ya'an ) - Lushan - Panda Ancient City, Fengtong Village (Baoxing County) - Jianjin Mountain - Mount. Siguniang, Dawei Bridge (Xiaojin County) – Jiaju Tibetan Village, Suopo Ancient Watchtowers, Beauty Valley (Danba) - Luding Bridge (Luding) - Ya'an - Chengdu

　　Distance: 850 km

　　Estimated time: 3 to 6 days

　　Prairie and Red Culture Tour:

　　Chengdu - Dujiangyan - Taoping Qiang Village, Ganbao Tibetan Village (Wenchuan) - Jiuding Mountain (Mao County) - Songpan Ancient City, Muni Valley (Songpan) - Ruoergai Prairie , Flower Lake (Ruoergai – Langmu Temple) - First Bend of the Yellow River (Tangke) - Hongyuan Prairie, Moon Bay Scenic Spot (Hongyuan) - Miyaluo , Gu’ergou , Bipeng Valley (Li County) - Wenchuan - Chengdu Extension Line: Hongyuan Prairie, Moon Bay Scenic Spot (Hongyuan) – Lianbao Yeze (Aba)

　　Distance: 1010 km

　　Estimated time: 4 to 7 days

　　Hongyuan - Huanglong and Jiuzhai Valley Landing Self-drive Tour:

　　Hongyuan Airport – Hongyuan Prairie, Moon Bay Scenic Spot (Hongyuan) – Waqietalin (Waqie) - First Bend of the Yellow River (Tangke) - Ruoergai Prairie, Flowers Lake (Ruoergai) - Red Army Long March Monument (Chuanzhu Temple) – Jiuzhai Valley - Huanglong - Jiuzhai-huanglong Airport

　　Distance: 300 km

　　Estimated time: 2 to 4 days

　　East Slope of Gongga Mountain Tour: Chengdu – Luding Bridge (Luding) – Mugecuo, Paoma Mountain, Kangding Love Song City (Kangding) – Yajiageng – Yanzigou Valley, Hailuogou Valley (Moxi Town) - Anshunchang (Shimian) – Ya’an – Chengdu

　　Distance: 650 km

　　Estimated time: 3 to 5 days

　　Yading - Kangding China's Most Beautiful Landscapes Avenue Landing Self-drive Tour: Yading Airport - Daocheng Yading – Litang Temple (Litang) – Muya Scenic Resort (Ya River) - Mugecuo, Paoma Mountain, Kangding Love Song City (Kangding) - Kangding Airport (- Luding - Ya'an - Chengdu)

　　Distance: 980 km

　　Estimated time: 4 to 7 days

　　Tibet-Qiang Culture Corridor and Beauty Valley Tour:

　　Chengdu - Dujiangyan – Shuimo Ancient Town – Taoping Qiang Village, Ganbao Tibetan Village (Wenchuan) - Moutuo Village, Pingtou Village (Maoxian) – Dagu Glacier, Segu’er Tibetan Village (Heishui) - zhuokeji Headmen’s Village, Songgang Ancient Towers (Ma’erkang) - Guanyinqiao Scenic Spot, Gada Hill Scenic Resort (Jinchuan) – Jiaju Tibetan Village, Suopo Ancient Towers, Beauty Valley (Danba) – Luding Bridge (Luding) - Ya'an - Chengdu

　　Distance: 1060 km

　　Estimated time: 5 to 7 days

　　"Re-take Locke Road" Tour (Muli - Daocheng):
Chengdu - Xichang - Lugu Lake (Yanyuan) – Mulida Temple, Wa’erzhai Temple, Cunduo Lake (Muli) - Xichang - Chengdu 

　　Distance: 1550 km 

　　Estimated time: 6 to 10 days

　　Kangba Cultural Deep Experience Tour: Chengdu - Ya'an - Luding Bridge (Luding) - Mugecuo, Paoma Mountain, Kangding Love Song City (Kangding) – Bamei Soil and Stone Forests, Huiyuan Temple (Bamei) – Lingque Temple, Daofu Dwellings, Longdeng Prairie (Daofu) - Shouning Temple, Luhuo Sarcophagus Graves (Luhuo) - Langjiqudeng Pagoda, Seda Larong Wuming Buddhist Institute (Seda) - Ganzi Temple, Ganziyalong Bay, Zhariyongkang (Ganzi) - Chengdu

　　Distance: 1730 km

　　Estimated time: 6 to 10 days