4 Days and 3 Nights In-Depth Tour of Aba, Western Sichuan! The Complete Autumn Fairy Tale Guide.

4 Days and 3 Nights in Aba, Western Sichuan, Under 5000 RMB Per Person｜The Complete Autumn Fairy Tale Guide! Explore Liánbǎo Yèzé, Moon Bay, and the Ruoergai Grasslands all in one trip. Is Western Sichuan the breathtaking beauty in "Seventy-Seven Days"? Or is it the splash of azure Liánbǎo Yèzé, the winding first bend of the Yellow River, and the endless Ruoergai Grasslands you see on social media? As a travel blogger who has visited Western Sichuan three times a year, this time I took a 4-day, 3-night in-depth small loop in Aba, crossing sacred mountains and lakes, encountering Tibetan autumn colors, staying in nomad tents, and gazing at the Milky Way starry sky. The entire trip caps at 4,960 RMB per person, all-inclusive for food, accommodation, transportation, and activities, offering incredible value. This guide will take you into the true "plateau secret realm" in the most comfortable way. Trip Highlights: Off-the-beaten-path × In-depth × Photogenic × Comfortable, no rush |🛖 Accommodation | Selected Tibetan-style guesthouses + boutique tent camps, snow-capped mountains visible from your window | | 🚗 Transportation | Local chartered 7-seater business vehicle, professional driver-guide + stops for photos anytime | | 🌄 Activities | Liánbǎo Yèzé hiking, Yellow River Bend sunset, horseback riding on Ruoergai Grasslands, starry sky photography | | 📸 Photography | Includes Western Sichuan color grading presets + best photo spots list, over 100 likes on social media | Itinerary: Aba 4 Days 3 Nights Essential Loop (Chengdu round trip) > ✅ Recommended to fly or take high-speed train to Chengdu, with chartered car throughout, suitable for solo travelers, couples, friends, or small groups Day 1: Chengdu → Wenchuan → Ruoergai Grasslands → Zhagana (overnight)｜7-hour drive - Depart from Chengdu in the morning (recommended before 7:00 AM), via Du-Wen Expressway and National Highway G213 - Short stop at the Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Site to pay respects - Afternoon crossing Songpan Grasslands, with distant views of snow mountains and herds of cattle and sheep - Arrive at Ruoergai Grasslands by evening; in September, the autumn grass is golden, like a sun-woven carpet - Optional: 1-hour horseback riding (80 RMB/person) for silhouette photography - Overnight at Zhagana Tibetan Village or boutique guesthouse in Ruoergai County - Recommended: Zhagana Yun Valley Secret Realm / Ruoergai Muyunju - Dinner: Tibetan cuisine including yak meat hotpot, highland barley cakes, and butter tea - 💰 Cost: Transportation 500 + Accommodation 500 + Meals 200 = 1,200 RMB Day 2: Zhagana Morning Mist → Yellow River Bend Sunset → Tangke Town (overnight)｜4-hour drive - Wake up at 5:30 AM to photograph Zhagana morning mist - Sea of clouds over Stone City, smoke from Tibetan homes, interplay of light and shadow, like a fairyland - Depart in the morning for Tangke Town, passing by the Yellow River’s First Bend - Afternoon take the cable car (round trip 90 RMB) to the mountaintop to wait for sunset - The sunset casts golden light on the winding Yellow River, resembling a dragon, breathtaking beyond words - Overnight at comfortable guesthouse in Tangke Town (recommended: Hequ Tibetan Family / Xingyu Tent Hotel) - Optional: starry sky and Milky Way photography (visible to the naked eye on clear nights) - 💰 Cost: Transportation 300 + Cable car 90 + Accommodation 400 + Meals 200 = 990 RMB Day 3: In-depth Liánbǎo Yèzé Tour (Sacred Lakes + Mountains) → Aba County (overnight)｜5-hour drive > ✅ Highly recommended! Liánbǎo Yèzé is known as the "Eastern Magical World," more pristine and stunning than Nianbaoyuze! - Early departure to Liánbǎo Yèzé Stone Valley (4-hour drive, moderate road conditions) - Entrance ticket + sightseeing vehicle total 150 RMB, hike into the core scenic area - Lakes as blue as gems, snow mountains reflected, towering boulders, like stepping into a myth - Recommended route: Fairy Lake → Mayitang → Longga’er Lake, about 5 km, easy hike - Bring your own simple lunch; continue shooting in the afternoon - Head to Aba County by evening (1.5-hour drive) - Overnight in Tibetan guesthouse, experience a traditional Tibetan home-cooked dinner - 💰 Cost: Transportation 600 + Tickets 150 + Accommodation 400 + Meals 200 = 1,350 RMB Day 4: Aba County → Langyi Monastery → Return to Chengdu｜7-hour drive - Morning visit to Langyi Monastery—the largest Bon religion temple in Western Sichuan - Red walls, golden roofs, fluttering prayer flags, mysterious and solemn atmosphere - Opportunity to ask lamas for blessings and listen to scriptures quietly - Lunch in Aba County before heading back to Chengdu - Short stop at Moon Bay (free), where a Yellow River tributary winds like a crescent moon - Arrive in Chengdu around 8:00 PM, end of trip - 💰 Cost: Transportation 500 + Meals 200 + Return transport ≈ 1,500 (if flying back) = 2,200 RMB - 💰 Total cost: about **4,940 RMB per person** (shared by 3-4 people in one car) | Item | Cost Details | |------|--------------| | Round-trip major transport | Flight/train to/from Chengdu ≈ 1,500 RMB (varies by departure city) | | Local charter car | 7-seater business vehicle full trip ≈ 2,000 RMB/person (includes driver, fuel, tolls) | | Accommodation | 3 nights Tibetan guesthouses/boutique tents ≈ 1,300 RMB | | Tickets + activities | Liánbǎo Yèzé + Yellow River Bend cable car ≈ 240 RMB | | Meals | 200 RMB/day × 4 days = 800 RMB | | Total ≈ 4,940 RMB/person | > ✅ Optimization: Choosing hostels or budget inns can reduce accommodation to under 900 RMB, controlling total budget under 4,500 RMB 🍂 5 Major Charms of Aba in September 1. Stunning autumn colors: golden grasslands, sapphire-blue lakes, first snow on mountains, rich layers of color 2. Few tourists: last quiet period before National Day, no photo interruptions 3. Stable weather: high chance of sunny days, perfect for aerial photography and hiking 4. Rich culture: Bon religion temples, nomads’ seasonal moves, and incense-burning ceremonies unfolding 5. Great value: accommodation prices stable, good bargaining room for charter cars ⚠️ Key Tips for Plateau Travel: - Altitude 3,000-3,800 meters, **avoid strenuous exercise**, bring oxygen bottles and Rhodiola (start taking 3 days in advance) - Large temperature difference day and night, 18°C daytime, 0-5°C at night, **bring windbreaker + light down jacket + warm hat** - Respect Tibetan customs: no stepping on door thresholds, no touching heads, no photography inside temples - Check weather in advance, avoid consecutive rainy days (affects road conditions) - Some roads in Liánbǎo Yèzé are gravel; renting a business vehicle or SUV is recommended 📸 Photo Tips (Western Sichuan Photography Guide) - Outfit: Tibetan-style long skirts, wool coats, scarves; red, Tibetan blue, and off-white are most photogenic - Timing: Early morning 6:00-7:30 (Zhagana morning mist), evening 18:30-19:30 (Yellow River Bend sunset) - Composition: Use prayer flags, yaks, and lakes as foreground to enhance storytelling - Equipment: Bring a polarizing filter for lake surfaces, drone for panoramic shots of the Yellow River Bend Aba is not just a name, it’s a heartbeat. It’s hidden in the waters of Liánbǎo Yèzé, In the sunset at Yellow River Bend, In a bowl of milk tea handed by a nomad. Spend less than 5,000 RMB, Visit a place where your soul is cleansed, Gaze upon sacred mountains, spin a prayer wheel, And tell yourself: This world truly has pure lands. This autumn, Don’t just stay anxious in the city, Come to Aba, Step into the gentlest fairy tale of Western Sichuan. 🏔️🌌🐎