Have you thought of a visit to Western Sichuan?

Though I travel for work almost every month, my most recent trip to Western Sichuan was by far the most impressive this year. Some unforgettable moments include: tramping through a muddy mountain road after a rainstorm, nearly being unable to breathe because of altitude sickness, meeting adorable little Tibetan boys, gazing at snow-capped peaks, watching a rainbow stretch across the bright blue sky, seeing crystal-clear streams and the bones of yaks scattered across green pastures. It was so moving it brought tears to my eyes.

On the day that I climbed the Yala Snow Mountain, I jotted down a memo to myself. Before heading off to Western Sichuan, a place that can take your breath away, you’d better take note of a few things.

Weather

Before setting out, I did some research online and was a bit confused about what clothes to pack. Some wore down jackets and some wore their sexiest attire. Eventually I figured out I’d have to bring clothes for different seasons.

It turns out that’s absolutely a right decision though it entails quite a bit of effort. Local weather is brutal. You can never tell when it might pour rain, or how long it will take to clear up. On sunny days, the rays just beat down. On rainy days, it’s cold and cloudy, with the occasional hailstone plopping out of the sky. Locals told me that June temperatures were usually pretty stable, but this year’s rainy season came earlier than expected, thus I had no choice but to cancel the bulk of my original itinerary.

Basically, bring some sort of thin down jacket, outdoor sports jacket or any other practical coat for extreme weather or if you decided to ascend one of the snow-capped peaks I mentioned earlier. You’ll also want some beautiful dresses or summer fits to take photos on sunny days.

Moreover, some items are in common use. Rain boots for example, are apt gear for travel in rainy season. And cow dung is nothing strange in frequented tourist attractions, in which case, rain boots can self-evidently keep you clear of dirt. And on sunny days, rain boots pair well with a summer outfit.

Some of you may be worrying about getting smelly feet wearing boots for so long. But it wasn’t that bad. You’ll grow to love your hunter boots pretty quickly. Admittedly, boots do take up some luggage space. But since you’re road tripping, it’s the least of your worries, I think.

Various hats (sun hat/outdoor hat/beanie) are essential for UV protection, styling up your outfit and protecting yourself from the wind when hiking.

And don’t forget to bundle up with wind-proof and rain-proof coats. I bought this Mackage coat & vest combo for my father, which make a nice outfit unexpectedly! The khaki-and-white oversize coat with a hoodie or sweater inside, works in the chilly highland in particular, and it looks great for your photos and selfies.

Last but not least, you’re gonna need climbing shoes and leggings. Just bring what you like. I brought two pairs of Salomon shoes with me during the trip. They look good and stand up to outdoor adventure!

I searched for the best season for travel in Western Sichuan and what follows is the best answer for your reference.

“The best season for a Western Sichuan roadtrip is from September-October. Early autumn turns Western Sichuan into a veritable Shangri-la. At this time of every year, it feels pleasantly cool in the fresh and crisp breeze. In autumn, Western Sichuan becomes a picturesque place with a wide palette of colors: red leaves, yellow grass, and snow-white mountain dotted with patches of golden forest.

During mid-late Autumn, Miyaluo is blanketed with snow and red leaves that are yet to fall. The stunning view makes a strong impact, which, matched with clear sky and clouds, presents a spectacular landscape along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.”

But as far as I’m concerned, local weather has barely no impact on travel experience. Though it rained most of time, views seemed more beautiful in the rain (which may or may not mean a rainbow).

Altitude sickness

I didn’t really have much altitude sickness during the trip. I merely felt unwell one day when I had my period. The rest of the time, while doing strenuous exercises, e.g., yelling, running or jumping, I huffed and puffed. But atop the 5300m-tall snow mountain, I felt fine. Some companions suffered from serious altitude sickness, so we dropped our trip to Litang. (Litang County is at high altitude, 4,014m or so)

Here are some tips for you to avoid altitude sickness.

-Slow down-

Be sure to slow down when you get up to higher altitudes, around 2500m in particular. Adapt to the environment gradually. Don’t climb higher than 600m above where you stayed a day earlier and allow some time for adjustment for every 1km rise.

-Rest-

The best way to cope with altitude sickness is rest. So long as you rest at regular intervals, you can reduce the odds of altitude sickness. And before departing for a high-altitude area, take a few days’ time to take a good rest and adapt to the new environment.

-Oxygen inhalation-

In high-altitude areas, bring some oxygen cylinders just in case. Some say once you use oxygen, you’ll have to keep it up for the rest of your high-altitude journey. Anyway, whether you need them really depends on your own physical condition.

-Medication-

Before departing for a high-altitude area, be sure to buy some drugs for altitude sickness at the hospital, and inform your doctor of any allergies.

The above are some strategies I learned online for combatting altitude sickness. Take precautions and play it safe.

Photography

Prior to departure, we were stunned by the sheer type and quantity of photographic equipment we had altogether.

Of course, the most common photo equipment is really your smart phone, which is great for sunny days. I also brought my ace – the Ricoh GR – which works unexpectedly well in well-lit condition.

I took tons of highlights with my blogging camera, but the lack of an anti-shake feature made it almost unusable. The Sony A7R3 produced the best photographic effects but the equipment, complete with the 24-70 lens, was heavy to lug along all the time. Our drone was also essential, which provided us aerial view of scenery.

Accommodation

I barely did no research as far as travel plans for our trip to Western Sichuan beforehand and just kind of went with the flow. At the end of trip, we managed to rein in our full spending during the eight-day trip to around 4,000 RMB (not including plane tickets). The accommodation was unexpectedly acceptable for us.

We checked in to four B&Bs and hotels, most of which were affordable with a good environment and experience. Lucky for us, accommodation was not a concern. And the most noteworthy was a B&B at Tagong Grassland.

The inn was situated in the vast expanse of grass. You may catch sight of blue sky and white clouds on sunny days, which is so soothing and refreshing. If you’re lucky, you may also get a clear night for star-gazing. We were lucky enough to see a rainbow after a storm.

Frankly, the inn had its issues, but we had complex feelings about this place. For starters, the staff were down-to-earth and nice. It was pouring rain when we checked in. Some Tibetan girls rushed to carry our baggage and shyly praised us for being good-looking. Appreciating sunny day rain and rainbow, we chilled out and forgot about city life.

Honestly, some of the B&Bs didn’t meet expectations, Kongshan B&B, for example, where we made our first stay in the trip to Western Sichuan. The inn is near the Four Girls Mountain, with convenient transportation to and from Chengdu, thus it’s recommended by loads of tourists.

But as a matter of fact, inns weren’t really as cost-effective, and the signature scenery was inferior to subsequent views along the way. If you schedule a long stay in Western Sichuan, why not stretch it out and cover more distance? You’ll appreciate more breath-taking natural views. However, if you plan a day trip from Chengdu, the inn will be an acceptable place for a night’s stay. So much for today. Hope the advice was helpful.

Notwithstanding some emergencies and surprises during the trip to Western Sichuan, everything was a beneficial experience. Because the best part of the journey lies in the unknown.