10 Days in Aba

Morning at the Shenshuping panda base in the Wolong reserve, then over the Balang pass (or its tunnel) with a photo stop at Maobiliang viewpoint; overnight in Siguniangshan town.

1. aba wolong panda base
2. aba balang mountain pass

A shuttle-linked valley of forests and 5,000-metre rock walls; boardwalks make it the easiest of the three gullies.

1. aba shuangqiaogou

Enter on foot or by horse; the classic turnaround is the Muluoz meadow facing the four peaks of Siguniang.

1. aba changpinggou

Drive up the Xiaojin valley to Barkam; the Zhuokeji tusi manor and its Tibetan-Qiang architecture tell the region's history.

1. aba zhuokeji tusi manor

Grassland drive with stops at Moon Bay's oxbow bends and Waqie's prayer-flag stupas; sunset at the First Bend of the Yellow River near Tangke.

1. aba moon bay
2. aba waqie pagoda forest
3. aba first bend of yellow river

Boardwalks over Flower Lake's reed marshes in late-morning light; reach the border town of Langmusi by dusk for its monastery rooftops.

1. aba flower lake
2. aba langmusi

A long but scenic drive across the Zoige grasslands to Chuanzhusi and up to Zhangzha; yak-herd country the whole way.

1. aba zoige grassland

Start with the right fork for Five-Flower Lake in morning light; leave Nuorilang Falls for mid-afternoon when crowds thin.

1. aba jiuzhaigou valley
2. aba five flower lake

Cableway up, boardwalk to the Five-Color Pond, slow descent; overnight in Chuanzhusi or Songpan.

1. aba huanglong valley
2. aba huanglong five color pond

Morning on the old-town walls and market lanes, then depart from Jiuhuang Airport or the Huanglong-Jiuzhai rail station.

1. aba songpan ancient town