The name Sichuan means Four Rivers, which pays tribute to the mightiest of the 1300+ rivers meandering across the southwest’s most expansive province, and dictating a way of life for those that live beside them. In the west, the sparsely populated Tibetan plateau, birthplace of these waterways, pushes skyward with each kilometer. Gradually, the rivers spill eastward into the fertile Chengdu basin, which supports one of the densest populations on the planet.

Sichuan is home to towering snow mountains, including the 7500m+ Mt. Gongga and numerous 6,000m+ peaks in the Four Sisters range. Perhaps its most famous natural wonder is the incomparably beautiful Jiuzhaigou, whose dozens of lakes feature shades of blue, green, and turquoise not seen anywhere else in China – or on earth!

Sichuan also boasts a rich culture, sprung from one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. This includes numerous Daoist temples and Buddhist holy mountains, Sichuan opera, ―face-changing, masked performances, and a cafe culture that revolves around tea. And of course no discussion of Sichuan would be complete without mentioning its world famous cuisine, the staple of which is the chili pepper and other fiery spices.

Our Sichuan programs take in many of these elements with both broad and specific programming, ranging from short stays in and around Chengdu, the provincial capital, to longer sojourns to the west and the north of the province. We currently offers programs in 5 different locations in Sichuan: Mianyang, Ya’an, Dujiangyan, Dayi, and Wenchuan. From team-building and soft adventure, to spending time with the pandas, to learning how to cook Sichuan food to getting up close and personal with Tibetan culture, our Sichuan trips really are among the most diverse that we offer.