China 2025

Our tour starts at the heart of panda conservation, where you’ll get a look at efforts to preserve these beloved creatures. We then venture to the breathtaking Siguniang Shan, a haven of rare flora including Cypripedium tibeticum and Lilium lophophorum. The journey continues over towering passes, Geda Liangzi and Xiangpishan, surrounded by a rich tapestry of wildflowers like Cremanthodium and Saussurea.

We will ascend Zheduo Shan Pass to a breathtaking 4290m. Here, we’ll encounter a stunning array of alpine flowers like Pedicularis, Meconopsis, and primulas. Moving on, we’ll visit Hailuogou, famed for its rhododendrons and primulas, a highlight in the guide to ‘Flowers of Western China’. Our adventure continues back to Kanding and the serene Grey Lake, where the landscape is richly adorned with rhododendrons and Chionocharis.

We will then spend one more day on Zheduo Shan and see Meconopsis henrici, Primula melanantha, Potentilla macrophylla, Primula secundiflora, Primula florindae and Cassiope selaginoides.

Litang marks the furthest point of our Sichuan adventure, offering us a chance to study the rare Androsace bisulca. The peaceful Qingkeer monastery awaits our visit as well.

We will visit three other high passes: Kazila Pass (4718m), Tuershan Pass (4650m) and Meizishan Pass (4700m). Plant highlights here are Pleurospermum hedinii, Incarvillea compacta, Ajuga lupulina, Soroseris hirsuta and Sorbus vilmorinii.

From here we’ll switch to Jeeps and journey to Hongshan where we will stay for a couple of nights. This will give us time to explore both sides of the pass in search of Rheum nobile, Anemone demissa, Lloydia oxycarpa, Androsace delavayi, the beautiful Corydalis melanochlora, Corydalis benecincta, the rare Fritillaria delavayi and Saussurea wardii among others.

Our last outing takes us to the heart of Shangrila, where we will visit the ‘Small Potala’, the Alpine Garden, and we will enjoy the natural beauty of flowers at Napa Lake.