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15-Day Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan Road Trip

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Three provinces, fifteen days, one car. This loop strings together Southwest China’s finest: Yunnan’s snow mountains and ancient towns, Guizhou’s waterfalls and Miao villages, Sichuan’s Buddhist peaks and hotpot. Total ~3,500km; at 200–300km/day without rushing, plenty of time to stop and explore.

Start from Chengdu — cheapest flights, easiest car rental, eat hotpot first to steady your nerves. Pick up the car near Chunxi Road (Shenzhou or eHi, SUV recommended, ~¥300–400/day). Afternoon: stroll Kuanzhai Alley or drink gaiwan tea at People’s Park. Evening: the little bar on Yulin Road (from Zhao Lei’s song), or dive into a street-side fly restaurant for Sichuan cuisine.

Day 2: Drive to Leshan (~150km, 2h) to see the Giant Buddha. 71m tall; the cliff-path from summit to Buddha’s feet and back takes ~2 hours. Ticket ¥80. Lunch: Leshan’s boboji (cold skewers in chili oil, ¥3–5/skewer) and sweet-skinned duck.

Day 3: Leshan to Xichang (~300km, 4.5h) via Ya-Xi Expressway — one of China’s most scenic highways, crossing the Dadu River gorge and Yi ethnic mountain areas. Xichang is “Moon City”; walk along Qionghai Lake at night, the moon over the lake enormous and round.

15-Day Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan Road Trip

15-Day Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan Road Trip

Lugu Lake from Xichang is ~250km but mountain roads mean 5 hours. Visibility: 12 meters; blue looks color-corrected. Stay on the Sichuan side at Dazu Village or Yunnan side at Lige Village (lakeside guesthouses ¥200–500/night). Day 5: loop the lake ~70km by e-bike or car, passing Grass Sea, Walking Marriage Bridge, Goddess Bay. Day 6: drive to Lijiang (~200km, 4h), evening in Lijiang Old Town.

One day in Lijiang (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car ¥182 + ticket ¥100, or skip the mountain and zone out in Shuhe Old Town). Day 8: drive to Dali (~200km, 3h). Dali’s pace is slow — e-bike around Erhai, coffee in Shuanglang, posuo baba in Xizhou. Day 9: drive to Kunming (~350km, 4.5h). Kunming is a transit stop; eat crossing-bridge rice noodles (try Qiaoxiangyuan, chain but authentic), stroll Golden Horse and Jade Rooster Gate night market.

Enter Guizhou. Kunming to Xingyi ~330km (4h); Xingyi’s Wanfenglin (Ten Thousand Peaks Forest) is China’s most spectacular karst peak forest — thousands of peaks packed like wheat stalks. Cycling through Wanfenglin’s village roads (bike rental ¥30/day) is the best way. Day 11: Libo Small Seven Holes (~280km, 4h), ticket ¥130 — called “the emerald on Earth’s belt,” green water, cascading waterfalls, primeval forest blocking the sky.

15-Day Yunnan-Guizhou-Sichuan Road Trip

Libo to Xijiang Miao Village ~300km (5h mountain roads). Xijiang is the world’s largest Miao settlement — 1,000+ stilted houses clinging to hillsides, nighttime lights like the Milky Way poured on a mountain. Ticket ¥90; stay in village guesthouses (¥100–300/night); evening Miao song and dance show (included in ticket). Day 13: Huangguoshu Waterfall (~300km, 4h), Asia’s largest waterfall — you can walk through the Water Curtain Cave behind it. Yes, the inspiration for the Monkey King’s cave. Ticket ¥160 (includes Tianxingqiao and Doupotan).

Day 14: Huangguoshu to Zunyi (~250km, 3.5h). Zunyi Conference Site is free (turning point of the Chinese revolution); eat Zunyi lamb rice noodles (¥15/bowl, fresh broth, tender meat). Day 15: Zunyi to Chongqing (~300km, 3.5h). Chongqing hotpot (nine-grid style, ¥80–120/person), Hongyadong night view (free), then Chongqing to Chengdu by HSR 1.5h to return the car. Loop complete.

Car rental 15 days ~¥5,000–6,000; fuel ~¥2,500 (92 octane); tolls ~¥1,500; accommodation 15 nights ~¥4,000–6,000 (guesthouses/budget hotels); tickets ~¥1,500; meals ~¥3,000. Per person for two: ~¥9,000–11,000, cheaper than group tours with ten times the freedom.

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