Participants: Christian Dortu, Denis Parkes, Stefan Ambs, Anita Marie Ambs, Theresa Duna, Stefan Hage, Morgan Svensson, Pontus Gronvall, Anders Kornestedt
We observed 317 species on 4-23 June 2024 scheduled Sichuan birding tour, including these endemics (37 species), breeding endemics, near endemics and highlight birds:
16 species of pheasants: Chinese Monal(E), White-eared Pheasant(E), Blue-eared Pheasant(E), Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Golden Pheasant(E), Temminck’s Tragopan (E), Verreaux’s/Chestnut-throated Monal-partridge(E), Tibetan Partridge, Chinese Grouse (E), Snow Partridge, Tibetan Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Sichuan Partridge(E, heard), Silver Pheasant, Chinese Bamboo Partridge(heard), Common Pheasant, Tawny Fish Owl, Himalayan Owl, Streaked Barwing,Grandala,Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush(E), Plain/Pere David’s Laughingthrush(E), Elliot’s Laughingthrush(E), Barred Laughingthrush (E), Giant Laughingthrush (E), Emei Shan Liocichla(E), Buffy Laughingthrush(E), Black-faced Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, Chinese Babax, 9 species of parrotbills: Grey-hooded Parrotbill (E), Spectacled Parrotbill (E), Golden Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill(E), Sichuan Jay(E), Salim Ali’s Swift (E), Tibetan Lark, Black-necked Crane, Saker Falcon, Chinese Rubythroat, Siberian Rubythroat, Firethroat, Przevalski’s Finch/Pinktail(E), Three-banded Rosefinch(E), Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch (E), White-bellied Redstart, Indian Blue Robin, Golden Bush Robin, White-browed Bush Robin, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Pere David’s Tit(E), Sichuan Tit(E), White-browed Tit(E), Yellow-bellied Tit(E), Fire-capped Tit , Ground Tit(E), Sooty Bushtit (hybrid with Black-browed Bushtit), Giant Grey Shrike, Tiger Shrike,Snow Pigeon, Speckled Wood Pigeon, White-backed Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Darjeeling Woodpecker, Necklaced Woodpecker, Brown Bullfinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch, Chinese Nuthatch, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Bar-tailed Treecreeper, Sichuan Treecreeper(E), Gold-fronted Fulvetta(E), Chinese Fulvetta(E), Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Spectacled Fulvetta, White-browed Tit Warbler, Crested Tit Warbler(E), Maroon-backed Accentor, Pygmy Cupwing, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Bianchi’s Warbler, Marten’s Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Alstrom’s Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler(E), Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Alpine/Tickell’s Leaf Warbler , Humes Leaf Warbler, Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Sichuan Bush Warbler(E), Brown Bush Warbler, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler, Abberant Bush Warbler, Little Forktail, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Chinese Blackbird (E), Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Moupinia/ Rufous-tailed Babbler(E), Slaty Bunting(E)
Top five birds on tour (turned out to be many):
No.1 : Chinese Monal, Gold-fronted Fulvetta, Verreaux’s Monal-partridge, Temminck’s Tragopan, Parrotbills (all of them!)
Sensitive species observed on tour but not shown in the trip list: Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Saker Falcon, Emei Shan Liocichla, Buffy Laughingthrush, Ural Owl (Sichuan Wood Owl), Chinese Hwamei
left to right: Denis, Stefan, Morgan, Stefan, Anders, Pontus, Christian, Theresa, Anita, Summer
Sensitive species seen on tour but not shown in the trip list: Hainan Peacock-Pheasant, Eastern Barn Owl, Oriental Bay-Owl, Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Chinese Hwamei, Black-throated Laughingthrush
Videos of birding scene, hotels, foods, scenery photos on the bottom of this page
We had observed 289 species of birdson 4-23 June 2024private Sichuan birding tour, including these Endemics (37 species), breeding endemics, near endemics and highlight birds :
13 species of pheasants:Chinese Monal(E), White-eared Pheasant (E), Blue-eared Pheasant (E), Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Golden Pheasant (E), Temminck’s Tragopan (E), Verreaux’s/Chestnut-throated Monal-partridge (E), Tibetan Partridge, Chinese Grouse (E), Tibetan Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Sichuan Partridge (E), Common Pheasant, Tawny Fish Owl, Himalayan Owl, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush (E), Plain/Pere David’s Laughingthrush (E), Elliot’s Laughingthrush (E), Barred Laughingthrush (E), Giant Laughingthrush (E), Emei Shan Liocichla (E), Buffy Laughingthrush (E), Black-faced Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, Chinese Babax,10 species of parrotbills: Grey-hooded Parrotbill (E), Spectacled Parrotbill (E), Golden Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Grey-headed Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill (E), Sichuan Jay (E), Salim Ali’s Swift (E), Tibetan Lark, Black-necked Crane, Saker Falcon, Siberian Rubythroat, Firethroat, Przevalski’s Finch/Pinktail (E), Three-banded Rosefinch (E), Blanford’s Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Streaked Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch (E), White-bellied Redstart, Indian Blue Robin, Golden Bush Robin, White-browed Bush Robin, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Pere David’s Tit (E), Sichuan Tit (E), White-browed Tit (E), Yellow-bellied Tit (E), Fire-capped Tit , Ground Tit (E), Snow Pigeon, Speckled Wood Pigeon, White-backed Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Brown Bullfinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch, Chinese Nuthatch, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Sichuan Treecreeper (E), Gold-fronted Fulvetta (E), Chinese Fulvetta(E), Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Spectacled Fulvetta, White-browed Tit Warbler, Crested Tit Warbler (E), Maroon-backed Accentor, Pygmy Cupwing, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Buff-throated Warbler, Bianchi’s Warbler, Marten’s Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Alstrom’s Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler (E), Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Alpine/Tickell’s Leaf Warbler , Humes Leaf Warbler, Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Sichuan Bush Warbler(E), Brown Bush Warbler, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler, Abberant Bush Warbler, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Long-tailed Thrush, Chinese Blackbird (E), Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Moupinia/ Rufous-tailed Babbler (E), Slaty Bunting (E)
We had observed 284 species of birdson 14 May – 2 June 2024private Sichuan birding tour, including these Endemics (35 species), breeding endemics, near endemics and highlight birds:
12 species of pheasants:Chinese Monal(E), White-eared Pheasant (E), Blue-eared Pheasant (E), Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Golden Pheasant (E), Temminck’s Tragopan (E), Verreaux’s/Chestnut-throated Monal-partridge (E), Tibetan Partridge, Chinese Grouse (E), Tibetan Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Common Pheasant, Himalayan Owl, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush (E), Plain/Pere David’s Laughingthrush (E), Elliot’s Laughingthrush (E), Barred Laughingthrush (E), Giant Laughingthrush (E), Emei Shan Liocichla (E), Black-faced Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, Chinese Babax,9 species of parrotbills: Grey-hooded Parrotbill (E), Spectacled Parrotbill (E), Golden Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill (E), Sichuan Jay (E), Salim Ali’s Swift (E), Tibetan Lark, Black-necked Crane, Saker Falcon, Siberian Rubythroat, Firethroat, Przevalski’s Finch/Pinktail (E), Three-banded Rosefinch (E), Blanford’s Rosefinch, Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Streaked Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch (E), White-bellied Redstart, Indian Blue Robin, Golden Bush Robin, White-browed Bush Robin, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, Chinese Blue Flycatcher,Pere David’s Tit (E), Sichuan Tit (E), White-browed Tit (E), Yellow-bellied Tit (E), Fire-capped Tit , Ground Tit (E), Snow Pigeon, Speckled Wood Pigeon, White-backed Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Brown Bullfinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch, Chinese Nuthatch, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Sichuan Treecreeper (E), Gold-fronted Fulvetta (E), Chinese Fulvetta(E), Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Spectacled Fulvetta, White-browed Tit Warbler, Crested Tit Warbler (E), Maroon-backed Accentor, Pygmy Cupwing, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Buff-throated Warbler, Bianchi’s Warbler, Marten’s Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Alstrom’s Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler (E), Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Alpine/Tickell’s Leaf Warbler , Humes Leaf Warbler, Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Sichuan Bush Warbler(E), Brown Bush Warbler, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler, Abberant Bush Warbler, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Long-tailed Thrush, Chinese Blackbird (E), Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Moupinia/ Rufous-tailed Babbler (E), Slaty Bunting (E)
This is a private birding tour for Peter, during this tour he got 640 sound recordings of 191 bird species. He added them to our eBird checklists, and also uploaded them to Xeno Canto.
Participants : Carolyn Louise Stewart, Brian Casatelli, Jörg Hanoldt & Sioh Eng Woo, Stefan Obytz, Bradford Lee Carey, Rudolf Floris Koes, Mark Philippart, Martin Ulrik Junker Nielsen
We had observed 289 species of birdson 22 April – 11 May 2024 scheduled Sichuan birding tour,including these Endemics (36 species), breeding endemics, near endemics and highlight birds:
12 species of pheasants: Chinese Monal (E), White-eared Pheasant (E), Blue-eared Pheasant (E), Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Golden Pheasant (E), Temminck’s Tragopan (E), Verreaux’s/Chestnut-throated Monal-partridge (E), Tibetan Partridge, Chinese Grouse (E), Tibetan Snowcock, Blood Pheasant, Common Pheasant, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush (E), Plain/Pere David’s Laughingthrush (E), Elliot’s Laughingthrush (E), Barred Laughingthrush (E), Giant Laughingthrush (E), Emei Shan Liocichla (E) – sensitive species, which is not shown on the public ebird trip list, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Red-winged Laughingthrush, Spotted Laughingthrush, Chinese Babax, 9 speices of parrotbills: Grey-hooded Parrotbill (E), Spectacled Parrotbill (E), Golden Parrotbill, Fulvous Parrotbill, Great Parrotbill, Brown Parrotbill, Ashy-throated Parrotbill, Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Three-toed Parrotbill (E), Sichuan Jay (E), Salim Ali’s Swift (E), Tibetan Lark, Black-necked Crane, Saker Falcon – sensitive species, which is not shown on the public ebird trip list, Siberian Rubythroat, Firethroat, Przevalski’s Finch/Pinktail (E), Three-banded Rosefinch (E), Chinese White-browed Rosefinch, Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch, Streaked Rosefinch, Pink-rumped Rosefinch, Vinaceous Rosefinch, Dark-rumped Rosefinch, Sharpe’s Rosefinch, Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinch (E), White-bellied Redstart, Indian Blue Robin, Golden Bush Robin, White-browed Bush Robin, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Sapphire Flycatcher, Chinese Blue Flycatcher, Pere David’s Tit (E), Sichuan Tit (E), White-browed Tit (E), Yellow-bellied Tit (E), Fire-capped Tit , Ground Tit (E), Sooty Bushtit (E), Snow Pigeon, Speckled Wood Pigeon, Himalayan Owl, White-backed Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Woodpecker, Brown Bullfinch, Gray-headed Bullfinch, Chinese Nuthatch, Przevalski’s Nuthatch, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Sichuan Treecreeper (E), Gold-fronted Fulvetta (E), Chinese Fulvetta (E), Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Spectacled Fulvetta, White-browed Tit Warbler, Crested Tit Warbler (E), Maroon-backed Accentor, Pygmy Cupwing, Scaly-breasted Cupwing, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Buff-throated Warbler, Bianchi’s Warbler, Marten’s Warbler, Grey-crowned Warbler, Alstrom’s Warbler, Emei Leaf Warbler (E), Sichuan Leaf Warbler, Alpine/Tickell’s Leaf Warbler , Humes Leaf Warbler, Claudia’s Leaf Warbler, Kloss’s Leaf Warbler, Chinese Leaf Warbler, Sichuan Bush Warbler (E), Brown Bush Warbler, Grey-sided Bush Warbler, Yellowish-bellied Bush Warbler, Abberant Bush Warbler, Little Forktail, Spotted Forktail, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Long-tailed Thrush, Chinese Blackbird (E), Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Moupinia/ Rufous-tailed Babbler (E), Slaty Bunting (E)
2025 May 2-May 21 (20 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 9-10 pax, cost: 3950 USD, tour is full
2025 May 22-June 10 (20 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , private tour, tour is full
2025 June 11-June 30 (20 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 9-10 pax, cost: 3950 USD, tour is full
2026 April 27-May 16 (20 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 9-10 pax, cost: 3950 USD
2026 May 19-June 7 (20 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 9-10 pax, cost: 3950 USD
2026 June 10-June 29 (20 days) Bird guide: Summer Wong , private tour,tour is full
2027 April 28-May 17 (20 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 9 pax, cost: 4300 USD
2027 May 20-June 8 (20 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 9 pax, cost: 4300 USD
2027 June 11-June 30 (20 days) Bird guide : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, group limit : 9 pax, cost: 4300 USD
Each tour itinerary may vary slightly depending on target species and the latest birding conditions, in order to maximize your birding experience.
Besides scheduled & private tours, we also offerbudget tours. For more details, feel free toContact Us
Single Room Supplement (19nights) : USD 600 per person
Tour Cost Includes:
All ground transportation by private car/van/coach
Accommodation in twin-share or single rooms
All meals (including daily bottled water, packed breakfasts, and lunches/dinners mostly at local restaurants)
All necessary entrance fees and nature reserve permits
Guide/driver’s meals, accommodation, and service fees
Tour Cost Excludes:
International and domestic flights
Travel insurance
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Tips for local staff
Scroll down to check out the itinerary, map, photos of hotel, food & vehicle, plus birds, mammals, and stunning scenery
Our Best of Sichuan Itinerary is based on many years experience of taking tours in this Province of China. The birding, scenery and food are all outstanding. We aim to try to find as many of Sichuan’s endemic or near-endemic breeding species as possible, along with a host of other more widespread Asian breeding species. Birds we will target include Chinese Monal, White-eared, Blue-eared, Lady Amherst’s and Golden Pheasants, Temminck’s Tragopan, Verreaux’s Monal-partridge, Sichuan and Tibetan Partridges, Chinese Grouse, Tibetan Snowcock, Sichuan Wood Owl, Snowy-cheeked, Black-necked Crane, Pere David’s, Elliot’s, Barred, Buffy and Giant Laughingthrushes, Emei Shan Liocichla, Moupinia/ Rufous-tailed Babbler, Grey-hooded, Spectacled, Golden, Fulvous, Great, Brown, Ashy-throated and Three-toed Parrotbills, Sichuan Jay, Tibetan Lark, Slaty Bunting, Golden, Chinese and Spectacled Fulvettas, Yellow-streaked, Buff-throated, Sulphur-breasted, Bianchi’s, Marten’s, Grey-crowned and Alstrom’s Warblers, Emei, Sichuan, Alpine, Humes, Claudia’s, Kloss’s and Chinese Leaf Warblers, White-browed and Crested Tit Warblers, Sichuan, Spotted and Baikal Bush Warblers, Pere David’s, Sichuan, White-browed, Fire-capped and Ground Tits, Przevalski’s Nuthatches, Hodgson’s and Sichuan Treecreepers, Siberian and Chinese Rubythroats, Firethroat, Chestnut, Kessler’s and Sichuan Forest Thrushes, Three-banded, Chinese White-browed, Himalayan Beautiful, Streaked, Pink-rumped, Dark-breasted, Dark-rumped, Sharpe’s and Chinese Long-tailed Rosefinches, Rufous-necked and White-rumped Snowfinches and Przevalski’s Finch, now in its very own family!
PS: Our final tour itinerary may change a little bit due to the latest birding situation. Birding spots in Sichuan tour : Tangjiahe, Chuanzhusi / Gonggangling, Ruoergai, Maerkang / Mengbishan, Wolong / Balangshan, Wawushan, Longcanggou, Hailuogou, Luding / Erlangshan, Labahe, Pingshan (Tanshi Village) etc.
Day 1 Arrive in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan. Night in Chengdu Atour Hotel.
Day 2 In the early morning we will visit a park which offers a good opportunity to see some interesting birds including Vinous-throated Parrotbill, Black-throated Tit, Yellow-billed Grosbeak ( Chinese Grosbeak ), Chinese Blackbird, White-browed Laughingthrush, Little Egret, Little Grebe and perhaps Chinese Bamboo Partridge then head to Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve for an overnight stay.
Day 3 Tangjiahe National Nature Reserve is a good place to see a number of species including Golden Pheasant, Temminck’s Tragopan, Slaty Bunting and the rare Tawny Fish Owl and we will target these species during our stay. Commoner birds that we might encounter include Mountain Hawk Eagle, White-backed Woodpecker, Collared Finchbill, Brown-breasted Bulbul, , Elliot’s and White-throated Laughingthrush, Red-billed Blue Magpie, Yellow-bellied and Green-backed Tit, Crested Kingfisher, Fujian Niltava, Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher, Claudia’s Leaf Warblers, Sulphur-breasted Warbler and Alstrom’s Warbler. Many mammals also occur in this area, including Takin, Reeve’s Muntjac, Tufted Deer, Tibetan Macaque, Chinese Serow, Chinese Goral and Yellow-throated Marten. If we are lucky we might see a couple of these species, and there is also an outside chance of encountering the rare Golden Snub-nosed Monkey or even Asiatic Black Bear.
Day 4 After the morning birding in Tangjiahe we head to Chuanzhusi, long drive day around 7-8 hours, birding on the way looking for Collared Crow and Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, lunch and birding stop at Huangtuliang Pass with chances for Spotted and Chestnut-crowned Bush Warblers, Long-tailed Thrush and Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch.Night in Songpan.
Day 5 Early morning birding in Gongganglin forest, then head to Ruoergai, night in Ruoergai
Gongganglin is an area of high altitude coniferous forest not far from Juizhaigou, and is one of the best places to encounter Sichuan Wood Owl, which we will search for as it gets light. After that we will concentrate on other target species that are sometimes seen in this area, including Blue-eared Pheasant, White-browed and Crested Tit Warblers, Chinese White-browed, Pink-rumped and Three-banded Rosefinches, Siberian Rubythroat, White-cheeked Nuthatch, Maroon-backed Accentor, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, White-throated and White-bellied Redstart, Severtzov’s (Chinese) Grouse is also very occasionally seen in this area, but very hard to find.
Days 6- 7 Birding in the Ruoergai area including Baxi forest and the Tibetan Plateau, night in Ruoergai.
We will spend two days birding near Ruoergai, with one morning concentrating on Baxi forest and the other on the Tibetan Plateau. Baxi is the probably the best place in Sichuan to find Blue-eared Pheasant, Chinese Grouse, Three-banded Rosefinch, Przevalski’s (White-Cheeked) Nuthatch, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush, Chinese Fulvetta, Sichuan Tit, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Giant Laughingthrush and Black Woodpecker, and we will concentrate on these species. Commoner birds here include species such as Chestnut and Kessler’s Thrush, Chinese, Greenish and Buff-barred Warbler, and Grey-headed Bulfinch. Wolves have been seen in this vicinity, but are extremely rare.
Our second morning will be either spent at Baxi, if we have missed anything important there, or we can potentially target Przevalski’s Finch (Pink-tailed Bunting) and Tibetan (Black-winged) Snowfinch about an hour from our hotel. In the afternoon we will visit the high plains of the Tibetan Plateau where we will look for Black-necked Crane, Tibetan Lark, Rufous-necked and White-rumped Snowfinch, Horned Lark and perhaps Twite. Tibetan Grey Shrike is sometimes also seen in the Ruoergai area whilst Ground-tit is fairly common, even at the edge of town.
Day 8 Today is a rather long travel day (320km), our destination being Maerkang, but there are plenty of good birds to see on route and we will stop several times at key sites for birds that we still need. These may include Tibetan Partridge, Saker Falcon, Przevalski’s Finch (if still needed), White-browed Tit Warbler, Sichuan Tit, White-browed Tit, Pere David’s (Plain) Laughingthrush, Azure-winged Magpie, Tibetan Snowfinch, and Little Owl. Night in Maerkang.
Day 9 In the early morning we will drive up into the mountains to visit the beautiful pine forests of Mengbishan. This is the best place in Sichuan to find the often elusive Sichuan Jay and Verreaux’s Monal-partridge (Chestnut-throated Monal Partridge), and there is a good supporting cast including Blood Pheasant, Giant Laughingthrush, Long-tailed Thrush, Crested Tit-Warbler, Chinese Fulvetta, Crimson-browed Finch and Collared Grosbeak. Other notable birds in this area include Himalayan Bluetail, Giant Laughingthrush, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Streaked, Himalayan Beautiful, Pink-rumped and Chinese White-browed Rosefinches. White Eared Pheasant, Three-banded Rosefinch and Black Woodpecker are also possible but rare. Night in Maerkang.
Day 10 This is a travel day, with birding on the way, passing some magnificent scenery on route to Wolong, where we spend the night. Birds we will search for on route include Long-tailed Rosefinches of the distinctive race henrici, Wallcreeper, Yellow-streaked Warbler, Hill Pigeon, Hodgson’s Redstart and Asian House Martin along with both species of chough. If we arrive early enough in Wolong we will also have time to look for the recently recognized Sichuan Forest Thrush and Firethroat.
Day 11 We will start the day very early, have breakfast in an area that is good for Chinese Monal and White-eared Pheasant and occasionally Koklass Pheasant before we head back up towards the Balang Shan Pass if the weather is good. Balang Shan supports a number of high-altitude species, including Tibetan Snowcock, Snow Partridge, Red-fronted and Streaked Rosefinch, Brandt’s Mountain Finch, Alpine Accentor, Rosy Pipit, and with luck, Grandala. We will bird down the mountain during the afternoon and eventually spend the night in Wolong. On route we will stop frequently to look for a variety of species including Himalayan Griffon, Yellow-billed and Red-billed Chough, Firethroat, Giant and Barred Laughingthrushes, Alpine Thrush, Sichuan Forest Thrush, Slaty Bunting, recently split Chinese Rubythroat, Crested Tit Warbler, Chestnut-crowned Bush Warbler, Collared and White-winged Grosbeak, Kessler’s and Chestnut Thrushes. The area we visit is extremely good for Rosefinches, and we might encounter any of the following species during our two full days here: Sharpe’s Chinese Beautiful, Chinese White-browed, Dark-breasted, Vinaceous, and Pink-rumped Rosefinch. Night in Wolong.
Day 12 We will head back into the mountains before light, this time probably concentrating first on some birds in the lower part of the valley (although this depends on weather and what we saw the previous day). Night in Wolong.
Day 13 After another early start, we spend the morning birding between Wolong and Rilong, before heading to Wawu Shan, where we spend the night. If time allowed we will spend the afternoon looking for some low altitude species such as Grey-crowned Warbler, Alstrom’s Warbler, Ashy-throated Parrotbill in Wawu Shan.
Day 14 This will be a full day in Wawu Shan which is the best place for parrotiblls in Sichuan, with chances of seeing Three-toed, Fulvous, Golden, Great, Brown and Ashy-throated Parrotbills and also Grey-hooded. There is also a reasonable chance of Temminck’s Tragopan along with a number of other special species such as Grey-hooded, Gold-fronted and Golden-breasted Fulvetta, Sichuan Treecreeper, Red-winged, Buffy, Spotted and Elliot’s Laughingthrushes, Emei Shan Liocichla, Spotted Bush Warblers and White-bellied Redstart. Red Panda is also seen here regularly.
Day 15Morning birding in Wawu Shan for missed species previously then drive from Wawu Shan to Luding. Night in Luding.
Day 16 Luding is not far from Erlang Shan, where we will spend the day looking for a different set of birds. Erlang Shan is the best place to see Lady Amherst’s Pheasant and Moupinia (Rufous-tailed Babbler) and we will target these two species along with Chinese Song Thrush, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Streaked Barwing, Gold-fronted Fulvetta, Yellow-bellied Tit, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Black-browed Bushtit, Golden Bush Robin, Brown, Grey-hooded, Fulvous and Great Parrotbills and a number of species that we may have missed previously, such as Firethroat and Barred Laughingthrush. Sharpe’s Rosefinch is also a possibility at this site. Night in Luding.
Day 17 After morning birding in Erlang Shan for missed species previously then head to Labahe, night in Labahe.
Day 18 Full day birding in Labahe Provincial Nature Reserve, Night in Labahe.
Labahe is another great place for Lady Amherst’s Pheasant, Temminck’s Tragopan along with other rare birds like Sichuan Treecreeper, Pere David’s and Fire-capped Tit, quite a few parrotbill species : Fulvous, Brown, Great and Golden Parrotbills.And other nice small species : Chinese and Pygmy Wren-babbler, Ashy-throated Warbler, Sichuan, Large-billed and Claudia’s Leaf Warblers, David’s Fulvetta , Stripe-throated and White-collared Yuhina, Mrs. Gould’s Sunbird, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Chestnut-flanked White-eye, Goldcrest, Fujian Niltava, Verditer, Slaty-blue, Ferruginous and Rufous-gorgeted Flycatchers, Himalayan (White-browed) Shortwing and Brown Dipper. Red Panda has a possibility there.
Day 19 After morning birding in Labahe then drive back to Chengdu with a brief stop for Swinhoe’s Minivet (near Ya’an) and Forest Wagtail. Night in Chengdu Atour Hotel.
2025 July 14-25 (12 days) Leaders : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, cost: 2900 USDtour is full
2026 July 14-25 (12 days) Leaders : Summer Wong , scheduled tour, cost: 2900 USD
Lhasa extension July 25-28 (4 days) cost: 1400 USD
Besides scheduled & private tours, we also offer budget tours. For more details, feel free toContact Us
Single Room Supplement: USD 450 per person
Tour Cost Includes:
All ground transportation by private car/van/coach
Accommodation in twin-share or single rooms
All meals (including daily bottled water, packed breakfasts, and lunches/dinners mostly at local restaurants)
All necessary entrance fees and nature reserve permits
Guide/driver’s meals, accommodation, and service fees
Tour Cost Excludes:
International and domestic flights
Travel insurance
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages
Tips for local staff
Scroll down to check out the itinerary, map, photos of hotels and food, plus birds, mammals, and stunning scenery
Day 1 Arrive at Xining, birding at Xining hills, night in Xining
Possible birds in Xining hills: Przevalski’s Partridge, Red-billed Chough, Pied Wheatear, Meadow bunting, Godlewski’s Bunting, Rufous-breasted Accentor, Rufous-tailed/Common Rock Thrush, Common Pheasant, Little Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl
Day 2 Morning birding at Dongxia forest park , drive to Gonghe, 185km, 3 hours drive, birding at Gonghe, night in Gonghe
Possible birds in Dongxia forest park : Gansu Leaf Warbler, Przevalski’s and Chinese Nuthatch, Crested Tit Warbler, Goldcrest, Siberian Rubythroat, Chinese White-browed and Common Rosefinches, Yellow-streaked Warbler, White-throated Redstart, Chinese Song Thrush, Elliot’s Laughingthrush, White-winged Grosbeak, Black-faced Bunting, Grey-headed Bullfinch
Possible birds near Gonghe : Mongolian Finch, Desert Finch, Lesser Whitethroat, Pine Bunting, Black-faced Bunting, Isabelline and Desert Wheatear, Rock Sparrow, Twite, White-rumped and Rufous-necked Snowfinches
Day 3 Birding at Longyangxia Valley and Mt.Ela then head to Maduo, 340km, 4 hours drive, night in Maduo
Main bird targets in Longyangxia Valley ( this is a new place found by Chinese birders for Pale Rosefinch during the covid ):Pale Rosefinch,Przevalski’s Partridge, Desert Finch, Mongolian Finch, Lesser Whitethroat
Main bird target birds in Mt.Ela : Roboroveski’s/Tibetan Rosefinch, Guldenstadt’s/White-winged Redstart, Tibetan Snowfinch, Brandt’s and Plain Mountain Finches
Main bird targets on the way from Gonghe to Maduo: Mongolian Lark, Przevalski’s Finch, Streaked Rosefinch, White-browed Tit, Black-winged Snowfinch, Guldenstadt’s/White-winged Redstart etc
Day 4 Drive from Maduo to Nangqian via Yushu, night at Nangqian, 500km, 7 hours drive, night in Nangqian
Target birds on the way from Maduo to Nangqian : Ibisbill, Upland Buzzard, Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, Saker Falcon, Daurian Jackdaw, Little Owl, Mongolian Lark, Ruddy Shelduck, Bar-headed Goose, Common Redshank, Brown-headed Gull, Common Tern, Pale Martin, Citrine Wagtail, Salim Ali’s Swift, Eurasian Crag Martin, Asian House Martin, White-rumped, Black-winged and Rufous-necked Snowfinches, Common Hoopoe, Kessler’s Thrush, Giant Grey Shrike, Brown Deeper, Black, Hodgson’s and Blue-fronted Redstart, Tickell’s/Alpine Leaf Warbler, Red-rumped Swallow, Streaked and Great Rosefinches
Mammals: Kiang, Tibetan Gazelle, Tibetan Fox, Kiang, Wolf
Day 5 Birding at Kanda Shan, night in Nangqian
Main target birds in Kanda Shan : Tibetan Bunting, Tibatan Snowcock, Tibetan Partridge, White-eared Pheasant, Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge(Buff-throated Partridge),Tibetan Babax, Chinese Rubythroat, White-browed Tit, Sichuan Tit, White-browed Tit Warbler, other possible species: Wallcreeper, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Golden Eagle, Grandala, Chinese Beautiful, Red-fronted and Streaked Rosefinches, Snow Pigeon, White-capped Redstart, Plain Mountain Finch, White-winged Grosbeak
There is also good chances for Blue Sheep
Day 6 Birding at Baizha forest, night in Nangqian
Main target birds in Baizha forest : Szechenyi’s Monal-Partridge (Buff-throated Partridge), White-eared Pheasant,Tibetan Babax, other possible species: Elliot’s and Giant Laughingthrush, Three-banded, Pink-rumped and Common Rosefinches, Crested Tit Warbler, White-throated Dipper, Hodgson’s Treecreeper, Long-tailed Thrush, Black and Grey-headed Woodpecker, Himalayan Bluetail, Slaty-backed Flycatcher, Rosy Pipit, Rufous-vented, Grey-crested and Sichuan Tit, Chinese Fulvetta, Black-streaked Scimitar Babbler, Rufous-breasted and Maroon-backed Accentors, Salim Ali’s Swift, Aberrant Bush Warbler, Sichuan Leaf Warbler
There is also good chances for Blue Sheep
Day 7 Drive from Nangqian to Qumalai, birding and mammal watching on the way, night at Qumalai, 400km, 5 hours drive, night in Qumalai
Possible birds on the way from Nangqian to Qumalai: Ibisbill, Black-necked Crane, Upland Buzzard, Himalayan Griffon, Lammergeier, Saker Falcon etc
Mammals : Kiang, Wolf, Tibetan Fox
Day 8 Drive from Qumalai to Golmud, 480 km, 6 hours drive, birding and mammal watching on the way, night at Golmud
Main target birds on the way from Qumalai to Golmud : Tibetan Sandgrouse, Tibetan Sand Plover, Saker Falcon, Upland Buzzard, Little Owl, Lesser Whitethroat etc
Mammals: Tibetan Antelope, Tibetan Gazelle, Tibetan Fox, Kiang, Wolf
Day 9 Drive from Golmud to Dulan via B, birding on the way, 350km, 4 hours drive , night in Dulan
Main target birds on the way from Golmud to Dulan: Henderson’s Ground Jay, Tarim Babbler ( a new place found by local Chinese birders during the covid ), Lesser Whitethroat, Asian Short-toed Lark, Isabelline Shrike, Bearded Reedling etc
Mammals: Goitered Gazelle
Day 10 Drive from Dulan to Chaka, birding on the way, night in Chaka
Main targets birds on the way from Dulan to Chaka: Przevalski’s Redstart, Przevalski’s Partridge, Daurian Partridge, Pine Bunting, Giant Grey Shrike, White-winged Grosbeak, Black Redstart etc
Day 11 Morning birding in Chaka area then head to Rubber mountain and Koko Nor lake / Qinghaihu lake, drive to Xining, night in Xining
Main target birds in Chaka area: Pallas’s Sandgrouse, Henderson’s Ground Jay, Mongolian Lark, Blanford’s/Plain-backed Snowfinch, Desert and Isabelline Wheatears
Main target birds in Rubber mountain: Przevalski’s Finch, White-browed Tit, White-rumped, Rufous-necked and Black-winged Snowfinch, Robin and Brown Accentor, Dusky Warbler, Tickell’s / Alpine Leaf Warbler
Main target birds in Koko Nor lake : Black-necked Crane, Bar-headed Goose, Brown-headed Gull, Ground Tit, Mongolian, Hume’s Short-toed and Tibetan Lark, Pere David’s Snowfinch, Pale Martin ect
Mammals: Przewalski’s Gazelle
Day 12 Morning birding in Xining area if time allowed. Departure
Lhasa extension
Day 1 Lhasa airport pick up, check in hotel, visit Jokhang Monastery , Barkhor Street, night in Lhasa
Day 2 Morning birding in Luobulinka Park, visit Potala Palace in the afternoon, night in Lhasa
Day 3 Full day birding in Xiongse Monastery and around Lhasa, night in Lhasa
Day 4 Morning birding in Lhasa area if time allowed, then drive to airport send off, departure
Booking
To book a tour or design a custom private trip, pleasecontact us
If you’re an international birding company looking for ground agent rates, pleasecontact us
