Western Sichuan｜Summer Moments on the Grassland (Plus My Random 3-Day Self-Driving Itinerary)

Every day on the grassland is full of surprises—"waking up to sea of clouds, seeing cattle and sheep grazing at your feet, and watching the sunset at dusk." How wonderful it is to live such simple, joyful days! 🚶FOLLOW ME (Must-Pack Items) ❶ ID card (especially important) ❷ Oxygen cans (helpful for high-altitude areas) ❸ Neck pillow, eye mask, and slippers (for comfort during long rides) ❹ Hat and sunscreen (to protect this adorable face from tanning) ❺ Face masks and lip balm (the weather in Aba is super dry—hydration is key!) ❻ Makeup and skincare (still working on my skills, but practice makes perfect! For now, I bring travel-sized products for convenience.) ❼ Warm clothes and jackets (temperatures vary greatly between day and night in Tibetan areas) 👔 Outfit Tips Wear whatever makes you happy! Light-colored outfits give a fresh vibe, but bold colors can also create a striking contrast against the vast grassland. 🗺️ Rough Itinerary Day 1: Chengdu → Hongyuan → Tangke Day 2: Tangke → First Bend of the Yellow River → Zoige → Jiuzhaigou Day 3: Jiuzhaigou → Songpan → Chengdu 👒 Key Attractions 🔘 Hongyuan 🔘 First Bend of the Yellow River 🔘 Zoige 🔘 Jiuzhaigou 🔘 Songpan Holy Land Flower Sea (Lavender Fields) 1.) Hongyuan The distant blue sky, white clouds, rolling hills, and pastures—every shot feels like a painting. Sometimes I wonder if the beauty along the way leaves a deeper impression than the destinations themselves. Ah, another day of gratitude for nature’s gifts! The sunset today, though fleeting, felt like a divine miracle in just 10 minutes. 2.) First Bend of the Yellow River For some reason, I felt compelled to salute the Yellow River—haha! "Salute, shake hands, and we’re friends!" We skipped the official scenic area and parked nearby for a view of the river bend. 3.) Zoige June is the perfect time to embrace the vast grassland—a sea of milky green under the pale blue sky. A girl in a white dress might just crave a grass-flavored ice cream here. 4.) Jiuzhaigou Tickets (around ¥200) must be bought in advance. The shuttle from the entrance goes straight to Long Lake and Five-Flower Lake, with a transfer at Nuorilang. After crossing a long bridge on foot, you’ll reach Five-Flower Lake, where you can see fish darting in the crystal-clear water. Rumor has it there’s a heart-shaped lake—or maybe I misheard while dozing off, haha! Walking from the wooden path to Pearl Shoal, I discovered a hidden gem behind a gentle waterfall. The light drizzle felt so refreshing! At rest spots, sunlight refracts to reveal an elegant ink-wash hue in the lake. *Mini rant:* The Nuorilang transfer point is needlessly confusing—left, right, right, and a detour through a gift shop! My poor dizzy head… Ugh! Long Lake, the highest and largest lake in Jiuzhaigou, has the deepest blue water I’ve ever seen. Descending further feels like stepping into the colorful pools of a fairy tale—small but breathtaking under the sun. 5.) Songpan (Lavender Fields) For just ¥60, you get the Holy Land Flower Sea! Snapped pics of my student-day favorite flower (too lazy to edit them). If not for forcing myself to write this, I’d procrastinate till month-end. Filter: DIY on *Xingtu* (let me know if you want the settings!). 🔹 Travel Tips Exhaustion = instant bed magnet. Slept like a log! ☑️ Thank goodness for Jiao’s sudden brake—saved us from a million-yuan lawsuit! ☑️ Psst… At Tangke, mention "Tangke Ranch Hotel" for a discount on yak meat hotpot! (The amount doesn’t matter—it’s the joy that counts, haha!) ☑️ Realized too late: "Waking up to clouds, grazing livestock, and sunset views" were the real highlights. ☑️ On the way back: torrential rain + gales + earthquake. Grateful to be alive and to Jiao for driving through the storm! ☑️ Lastly, big thanks to everyone for the mutual patience and understanding. Group photo at the end—lol! If possible, let’s travel together someday! 🌿✨