Hello Peter,

I am really very confused. Which route should I do?
How many days is enough for Chengdu? Maybe I Change my route. First I go to Chengdu, from Chengdu to Xishuanbanna, xishuanbanna to Zhongdian and going donw (lijiang-Dali - Kunming) From Kunming come back to Barcelona ( Spain ).
So how many days would be enough for Chengdu.
lijiang and dali as is very Commercial just stay for 2 days each, what about Shangrila? how many days?

Xishuangbanna for trekking sounds is really nice!

Thanks for your comments.

You need to have a more clear idea about all the possibilities, your own prefrences & abilities and a general idea about the areas mentioned. Just asking randomly which way you should go will lead nowhere. It actually sounds somewhat Chinese, are you Chinese by any chance? Heh.

I have mentioned Chengdu, as it is a convenient logistical point on a route through Eastern Tibetan areas. Not as a city from where to fly to Xishuangbanna. Look on the link and map I sent in first message. I think enough said from here by now.

Maybe except,

Good luck.

Hi Peter, thank you for your advise.
Then I am thinking start from Chengdu, spend one day for Panda Research, next day go to Leshan and continue to Emei Shan (2 days in Emei Shan is enough?
How can I go from Chengdu to Leshan and Leshan to Emei Shan by bus????
Then from Emei Shan to Chengdu by bus?

Chengdu to Shangrila (2 nights) and going down to Lijiang (shuhe 2 nights) Shuhe to Shaxi in Dali ( 2 nights) and the to Kunming.

Then I have doubts how can i move Chengdu to Leshan- Leshan to Emei Shan, can you help me?

Thank you.
Sandra

My point about Chengdu is just that it's an old, important city in Chinese history and there are many things to do and see there, but that South China, and Sichuan generally, are simply too big to add it. I would suggest you either stick to Yunnan or stick to Sichuan. The land trip north into Sichuan would be interesting, as I mentioned, and there is some logic to continuing on to Chengdu, as Peter mentioned, but my point is just: 18 days are nothing, don't try to cover too much ground too lightly.

Sandra, whatever else you do you must be sure you see the sea gulls at Green Lake in Kunming. Unbelievable. I go down there almost daily looking for them. You have never seen anything like them.

Ok. Thank you both for your advices! I will start my trip entry through Chengdu, and from Chengdu i will go to Shangri-la.
But does someone know how many days i should spent for Chengdu-Eshan and Emei Shan?

Thank you!

If you go to Emei Shan, you might consider climbing it on foot - would take two days. Tiring but worth it. Or you could just zip up to the top, see the sight, then leave - in that case, personally, given your tight schedule, I'd rather skip it - I just don't like popping around too much - but it's your choice.