Day 1: Station Pickup & Transfer: Huanglong Jiuzhai → Baxi Forest Farm
Morning / Midday: Pick-up at Huanglong Jiuzhai Train Station (Chuanzhusi). Group meet-up and pre-tour briefing. Start with a birding session around the Chuanzhusi perimeter (targets: White-throated Dipper, Black-faced Laughingthrush, Chestnut Thrush, Tibetan Snowcock, White-browed Tit-warbler, Alpine Fulvetta, Golden Eagle, Himalayan Vulture, and Chinese Grouse) followed by lunch.
Afternoon: Self-drive (private chartered vehicle) transfer to Bazi Forest Farm. Travel slowly with en-route birding stops through pristine coniferous forest habitats. Search for montane woodland species such as Ibisbill, White-browed Rosefinch, Hodgson's Redstart, and Alpine Leaf Warbler. Enjoy the blooming alpine wildflowers along the way.
Accommodation: Baxi Forest Farm local guesthouse.
Key Habitats: Alpine meadows, virgin coniferous forests, and river valley woodlands.
Day 2: Full-Day Deep Birding at Baxi Forest Farm
Early Morning (Prime Birding Window): Spend a full day exploring the pristine old-growth forests of Baxi Farm. This is your best shot at rare and elusive forest specialists.
Target Species Checklist: Sichuan Jay*, Sichuan Wood Owl*, Plain Laughingthrush, Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush*, Chinese Grouse, Blue Eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant, Himalayan Buzzard, Spectacled Parrotbill, Three-banded Rosefinch, Long-tailed Rosefinch, Sichuan Tit, Alpine Fulvetta, Hodgson's Redstart, Chinese Leaf Warbler, and Black Woodpecker*. (Species marked with * have a low encounter rate – please maintain patient, silent observation.)
Midday: Rest and acclimatize to the altitude.
Late Afternoon: A second forest walk to fill gaps and target crepuscular species.
Accommodation: Baxi Forest Farm.
Key Habitats: High-altitude primary coniferous forests and understory thickets.
Day 3: Bazi Forest Farm → Ruoergai Grassland → Tangke Town
Early Morning: Bird the Bazi Forest Farm vicinity and mountain passes. Primary targets include Verreaux's Monal Partridge, Blue Eared Pheasant, Chinese Grouse, Blood Pheasant, and Przevalski's Rubythroat.
Midday: After a short rest, depart for the vast Ruoergai (Zoigê) Grassland. Enjoy en-route birding across alpine meadows and wetland habitats.
Grassland & Wetland Targets: Black-necked Crane, White-browed Tit-warbler, Crested Tit-warbler, White-browed Tit, Przevalski's Rubythroat, White-cheeked Nuthatch, Rufous-necked Snowfinch, White-rumped Snowfinch, Twite, Little Owl, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Saker Falcon, Upland Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Steppe Eagle, Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), and Himalayan Vulture. Keep your eyes peeled for high-plateau mammals such as Tibetan Fox, Red Fox, and Chinese Mountain Cat.
Evening: Arrive at Tangke Town. Look for the elusive Przevalski's Finch. Enjoy the iconic sunset over the First Bend of the Yellow River, with a short wetland birding session for roosting waterbirds along the shore.
Accommodation: Tangke Town.
Key Habitats: Alpine cold steppe, high-altitude wetlands, and the Yellow River valley.
Day 4: Tangke Town → Xue Shan Liang (Snow Mountain Ridge) → Chuanzhusi Town
Morning: Dawn birding at the Tangke Yellow River wetlands. Focus on waterfowl, larks, and snowfinches within the expansive grassland ecosystem.
Afternoon: After lunch, drive back towards Chuanzhusi via the scenic grassland highway. Make plenty of roadside stops to observe steppe birds and photograph the vibrant summer wildflowers.
Accommodation: Chuanzhusi Town.
Key Habitats: Open grasslands and coniferous forest edges.
Day 5: Chuanzhusi Area Final Birding & Departure Transfer
Early Morning: A final morning birding session around the Chuanzhusi riverways and foothills to tick any remaining targets.
Final Push Targets: Blue Eared Pheasant, Blood Pheasant (Gansu subspecies), Black-faced Laughingthrush, Tibetan Snowcock, and Crested Tit-warbler.
Late Morning: Group transfer to Huanglong Jiuzhai Train Station, Songpan Train Station, Huangshengguan Train Station or Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport for your onward journey. Service ends.