Skip to main content
Visa-free transit 240h ✓CNY 7.15 ≈ $1HSR network 45,000 km
Visa CheckerContact
DestinationsToolsVisa GuideContact
DestinationsToolsVisa GuideContact
  1. Home
  2. Ya'an
  3. 14 days
Ya'an — China travel

14 Days in Ya'an

Two weeks across every county seat — pandas and gorges, old towns, the tea mountain, hot springs, the 3,660 m cloud sea, Tianquan, Hanyuan, Shimian, Luding in Garze, and a final honest day in Chengdu.

Browse all itineraries →

Best time: April-June or September-November; the Niubeishan cloud sea is most reliable October to MayBudget: mid-range

Quick Answer

Is 14 days enough for Ya'an?

14 days lets you go beyond Ya'an's core into neighborhoods, food markets, and one or two day trips at a relaxed pace.

Source: NihaoVisit Ya'an guide

14-day Ya'an itinerary at a glance

Use our full Ya'an travel guide as the base and adapt it to 14 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.

Bifengxia panda baseShangli & Wangyu old townsMengding Mountain tea countryNiubeishan sea of cloudsLuding iron-chain bridge (Garze)Hanyuan lake & Anshunchang
1
Day 1

Arrival, Han Stones & Riverside

About 1 h from Chengdu by rail; the museum's Han reliefs, the 209 AD gate-towers, then an evening walk on the corridor bridge.

Scenes from Ya'an, China
  1. yaan city museum
  2. yaan gaoyi que
  3. yaan yazhou corridor bridge
2
Day 2

Bifengxia — Pandas & Gorge

16 km north to the base opened in 2003; the twin gorges (7 km and 6 km) fill the afternoon with shade and water.

Scenes from Ya'an, China
  1. yaan bifengxia panda base
  2. yaan bifengxia gorge
3
Day 3

Shangli Ancient Town

27 km north on the old tea-horse route; linger over the double-arch Erxian bridge and the timber-carved Han courtyard.

Scenes from Ya'an, China
  1. yaan shangli ancient town
  2. yaan han family courtyard
4
Day 4

Wangyu Lanes & Hot Springs

Flagstone lanes above the Zhougong River, about 25 km south, then an evening soak at the Zhougongshan resorts.

Scenes from Ya'an, China
  1. yaan wangyu ancient town
  2. yaan zhougongshan hot springs
5
Day 5

Mengdingshan Tea Country

The 1,456 m tea mountain 15 km southwest, cultivated since 53 BC; cableway, Ganlu Temple, the Imperial Tea Garden, and a terrace-side tea lunch.

  1. yaan mengdingshan
6
Day 6

Longcanggou Forest

The Yingjing national forest park, about 1.5 h southeast, for boardwalk streams and old-growth shade — an easy acclimatization day before the big mountain.

  1. yaan longcanggou forest
7
Day 7

Up to Niubeishan

About 2 h to the Yingjing side, then the scenic-area shuttle to lodgings near the summit; the mountain reopened in 2022.

  1. yaan niubeishan
8
Day 8

Niubeishan Sunrise & Descent

Dawn cloud sea at 3,660 m; on clear days Emei's snowline traces the horizon. Down by noon and back to Ya'an.

  1. yaan niubeishan
9
Day 9

Laoba River Valley

About 2 h west to Tianquan's reserve for wild macaques and takin herds; the boardwalk loops make it a soft day after the summit.

  1. yaan labahe
10
Day 10

Hanyuan Lake & Jiuxiang

About 100 km down the G5; Jiuxiang's old street and, nearby, the wide Hanyuan lake, gongjiao (Sichuan pepper) country all around. Overnight Hanyuan.

  1. yaan hanyuan jiuxiang
11
Day 11

Anshunchang on the Dadu River

Continue south into Shimian county; the riverside site and its small museum read quickly, and the Dadu gorge scenery carries the drive.

  1. yaan anshunchang
12
Day 12

Luding Bridge (Garze)

North into Garze — honestly, a neighbouring prefecture — for the 1706 iron-chain bridge, 13 chains and about 100 m long; overnight back in Ya'an.

  1. yaan luding bridge
13
Day 13

Slow Ya'an

A rest day on the Qingyi riverfront and the panda-themed Green Island park; last rounds of tata noodles and Ya'an fish before packing.

  1. yaan qingyi riverfront
  2. yaan panda green island
14
Day 14

Chengdu Day & Departure

One hour by rail to Chengdu — honestly, the neighbouring metropolis (its own city page covers it) — for a People's Park afternoon before your flight or train home.

  1. yaan chengdu city

Budget for 14 days in Ya'an

TierPer day14 days total
BackpackerUSD $50–$80USD $700–$1,120
Mid-rangeUSD $100–$200USD $1,400–$2,800
LuxuryUSD $300+USD $4,200+

Useful tools

Calculate your trip budgetBuild your custom China itinerary

Book your Ya'an trip

TRIP.COMRecommended

Hotels, flights & tours

One-stop China trip booking · Foreign cards accepted

Hotels from $25/night

We may earn a commission when you book through these links. This does not affect our editorial recommendations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the daily budget for Ya'an?
Budget travelers: USD $50–$80/day. Mid-range: $100–$200/day. Luxury: $300+/day. These cover hotel, three meals, transit, and one paid attraction per day.
Do I need a visa to visit Ya'an?
It depends on your passport — see our <a href="/china-visa-2026/">China visa guide</a> for the latest country-by-country list. Most Western passport holders can enter visa-free for 30 days as of 2026.
How do I get from the airport to the center of Ya'an?
Ya'an's main airport connects to the city center via airport bus, taxi, or metro where available. See the airport transfer section of our Ya'an guide.
Can I use 14 days for both Ya'an and a side trip?
Yes — with 14 days you can pair Ya'an with one nearby city (e.g. a short rail or bus side trip) and still have buffer days.
Is Ya'an safe for tourists?
Yes. Ya'an has very low violent crime rates and is widely considered safe for foreign tourists. Standard petty-theft precautions apply. See our <a href="/is-china-safe-2026/">is China safe</a> page.

See also: Ya'an travel guide, China visa 2026, China trip cost.