Sichuan BirdingGreenWing

Bird watching in Sichuan, China

Follow the mountains. Find the birds.

Private journeys from subtropical forest to the Tibetan Plateau, planned around Sichuan’s endemic pheasants, rare songbirds and high-altitude specialists.

Compare five journeysmawnehui33@gmail.comWhatsApp +86 13992284405
202+illustrated route birds
5complete 4, 7 and 15-day routes
4,500 mfrom basin forest to alpine pass

Why Sichuan

China’s richest mountain birding circuit

Sichuan rises from warm evergreen forest to old conifers, bamboo, alpine scree and the wetlands of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Each change in elevation brings a different set of birds.

These routes put enough time into each key site for early starts, weather changes and difficult endemic species instead of treating the mountains as a simple sightseeing loop.

Detailed itineraries

Choose the route, then see every day

Two four-day choices, two seven-day choices and one complete fifteen-day circuit. Open any journey for its daily plan and full illustrated target list.

Emei Shan Liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis)
4-day journey

Private tour · Best April to June

Wawushan & Longcanggou Forest Specialties

Route
Chengdu → Wawushan → Longcanggou → Chengdu
Targets
86 illustrated specialties

A compact journey through humid broad-leaved forest, summit bamboo and shaded river valleys, designed around Sichuan’s parrotbills, liocichla and endemic forest birds.

Emei Shan LiocichlaBuffy LaughingthrushRed-winged LaughingthrushBlack-faced LaughingthrushWhite-throated LaughingthrushElliot’s Laughingthrush

From $820 per person · 5–6 guests

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Chinese Monal (Lophophorus lhuysii)
4-day journey

Private tour · Best Late April to July

Balangshan Pheasants & Alpine Birds

Route
Chengdu → Wolong → Balangshan → Chengdu
Targets
72 illustrated specialties

The fastest route from Chengdu to western Sichuan’s conifer forest, rhododendron scrub and alpine scree, with a strong focus on pheasants, snowcock and high-mountain songbirds.

Chinese MonalWhite Eared PheasantBlood PheasantTibetan SnowcockSnow PartridgeGolden Pheasant

From $880 per person · 5–6 guests

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Chinese Monal (Lophophorus lhuysii)
7-day journey

Private tour · Best April to June

Sichuan Forests to Chinese Monal Valley

Route
Chengdu → Wawushan → Longcanggou → Kangding Lianghekou → Chengdu
Targets
101 illustrated specialties

A week linking humid endemic-rich forests with the dry high valleys west of the Sichuan Basin, combining parrotbills and Emei specialties with exceptional Chinese Monal viewing.

Emei Shan LiocichlaBuffy LaughingthrushRed-winged LaughingthrushBlack-faced LaughingthrushWhite-throated LaughingthrushElliot’s Laughingthrush

From $1,560 per person · 5–6 guests

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Rufous-headed Robin (Larvivora ruficeps)
7-day journey

Private tour · Best Mid-May to July

Jiuzhaigou & Ruoergai Plateau

Route
Chengdu → Jiuzhaigou → Ruoergai → Chengdu
Targets
84 illustrated specialties

A northern circuit for the exceptionally local Rufous-headed Robin, conifer-forest endemics and the open wetlands and grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau.

Sichuan TitPrzevalski’s NuthatchRufous-vented TitGrey-crested TitGreen-backed TitWhite-collared Yuhina

From $1,650 per person · 5–6 guests

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Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus)
15-day journey

Private tour · Best May to June

Grand Sichuan Endemics Circuit

Route
Chengdu → Yibin hides → Wawushan → Erlangshan → Labahe → Lianghekou → Balangshan → Mengbishan → Ruoergai → Chengdu
Targets
177 illustrated specialties

The complete province-spanning circuit: southern endemic pheasants, Wawushan bamboo birds, western monals and alpine gamebirds, then the rare forest and wetland specialties of northern Sichuan.

Emei Shan LiocichlaBuffy LaughingthrushRed-winged LaughingthrushBlack-faced LaughingthrushWhite-throated LaughingthrushElliot’s Laughingthrush

From $3,250 per person · 5–6 guests

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Sichuan specialties

The birds that define the province

Thirty defining Sichuan targets, from Wawushan’s seven parrotbills and Longcanggou’s “three golds” to Balangshan gamebirds and the specialties of Yibin and Ruoergai.

Grey-hooded Parrotbill (Suthora zappeyi)
Chinese endemic

Grey-hooded Parrotbill

Suthora zappeyi

A Chinese endemic that moves quickly through high-elevation bamboo in compact flocks.

Key area
Wawushan bamboo
Great Parrotbill (Conostoma aemodium)

Great Parrotbill

Conostoma aemodium

The largest parrotbill, favouring dense montane bamboo and often detected by its powerful calls.

Key area
Wawushan and Labahe
Brown Parrotbill (Cholornis unicolor)

Brown Parrotbill

Cholornis unicolor

A bamboo specialist of cool upper-elevation forest.

Key area
Wawushan and Labahe
Three-toed Parrotbill (Cholornis paradoxus)
Chinese endemic

Three-toed Parrotbill

Cholornis paradoxus

A scarce Chinese endemic associated with thick mountain bamboo.

Key area
Wawushan and Labahe
Golden Parrotbill (Suthora verreauxi)

Golden Parrotbill

Suthora verreauxi

A tiny, bright bamboo bird that travels in fast-moving flocks.

Key area
Wawushan and Longcanggou
Ashy-throated Parrotbill (Sinosuthora alphonsiana)

Ashy-throated Parrotbill

Sinosuthora alphonsiana

A characteristic bird of scrub and cultivated bamboo on the lower access road.

Key area
Longcanggou foothills
Fulvous Parrotbill (Suthora fulvifrons)

Fulvous Parrotbill

Suthora fulvifrons

A high-elevation bamboo specialist and the seventh member of Wawushan’s celebrated parrotbill set.

Key area
Wawushan summit bamboo
Golden-fronted Fulvetta (Schoeniparus variegaticeps)
Chinese endemicNear Threatened

Golden-fronted Fulvetta

Schoeniparus variegaticeps

A colourful Chinese endemic of mixed flocks in dense broad-leaved forest.

Key area
Longcanggou and Wawushan
Golden-breasted Fulvetta (Lioparus chrysotis)

Golden-breasted Fulvetta

Lioparus chrysotis

A jewel-like member of fast-moving mixed flocks in bamboo and rhododendron.

Key area
Wawushan and Balangshan forest
Chinese Monal (Lophophorus lhuysii)
Chinese endemicVulnerable

Chinese Monal

Lophophorus lhuysii

A spectacular, globally threatened endemic of western China’s high mountains.

Key area
Lianghekou, Labahe and Balangshan
White Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon)
Chinese endemicNear Threatened

White Eared Pheasant

Crossoptilon crossoptilon

A large Chinese endemic of alpine scrub, meadow edge and open conifer forest.

Key area
Lianghekou, Balangshan and Mengbishan
Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus)

Blood Pheasant

Ithaginis cruentus

A high-elevation pheasant often feeding quietly along the edge of snow and scrub.

Key area
Labahe, Balangshan and Mengbishan
Tibetan Snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus)

Tibetan Snowcock

Tetraogallus tibetanus

A classic high-pass target, usually found by scanning distant scree and listening at dawn.

Key area
Balangshan alpine zone
Snow Partridge (Lerwa lerwa)

Snow Partridge

Lerwa lerwa

A cryptic gamebird of rocky alpine grassland near the snowline.

Key area
Balangshan alpine slopes
Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus)
Chinese endemic

Golden Pheasant

Chrysolophus pictus

An iconic Chinese endemic, usually found around bamboo and dense forest edge.

Key area
Balangshan lower forest
Temminck’s Tragopan (Tragopan temminckii)

Temminck’s Tragopan

Tragopan temminckii

One of Sichuan’s most spectacular forest pheasants, best sought at quiet dawn feeding sites.

Key area
Yibin, Erlangshan and Labahe
Koklass Pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha)

Koklass Pheasant

Pucrasia macrolopha

A shy forest pheasant most often detected by its dawn calls before it crosses a quiet mountain road.

Key area
Balangshan and northern conifer forest
Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge (Tetraophasis obscurus)
Chinese endemic

Verreaux’s Monal-Partridge

Tetraophasis obscurus

A restricted Chinese endemic of high conifer forest and alpine edge.

Key area
Mengbishan
Sichuan Partridge (Arborophila rufipectus)
Chinese endemicVulnerable

Sichuan Partridge

Arborophila rufipectus

A globally threatened Chinese endemic and the defining target of the Yibin forest hides.

Key area
Yibin hills and southern Sichuan
Sichuan Jay (Perisoreus internigrans)
Chinese endemicVulnerable

Sichuan Jay

Perisoreus internigrans

An elusive Chinese endemic and one of the most prized birds of western Sichuan.

Key area
Mengbishan conifer forest
Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush (Ianthocincla sukatschewi)
Chinese endemicVulnerable

Snowy-cheeked Laughingthrush

Ianthocincla sukatschewi

A threatened Chinese endemic with a very restricted range in northern Sichuan and Gansu.

Key area
Jiuzhaigou and Ruoergai forests
Chinese Grouse (Tetrastes sewerzowi)
Chinese endemicNear Threatened

Chinese Grouse

Tetrastes sewerzowi

A range-restricted Chinese endemic of willow scrub and conifer forest.

Key area
Baxi and Ruoergai forest
Emei Shan Liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis)
Chinese endemicVulnerable

Emei Shan Liocichla

Liocichla omeiensis

A range-restricted Sichuan specialty that keeps low in dense evergreen undergrowth.

Key area
Yibin, Wawushan and Longcanggou
Rufous-headed Robin (Larvivora ruficeps)
Chinese endemicEndangered

Rufous-headed Robin

Larvivora ruficeps

A globally threatened Chinese breeding endemic and Jiuzhaigou’s signature summer target.

Key area
Jiuzhaigou
Sichuan Treecreeper (Certhia tianquanensis)
Chinese endemicNear Threatened

Sichuan Treecreeper

Certhia tianquanensis

An old-conifer specialist with a small global range centred on Sichuan.

Key area
Wawushan, Erlangshan and Labahe
Sichuan Bush Warbler (Locustella chengi)
Chinese endemic

Sichuan Bush Warbler

Locustella chengi

A recently described Chinese endemic, usually located first by its repeated song.

Key area
Longcanggou and montane scrub
Firethroat (Calliope pectardens)
Chinese endemicNear Threatened

Firethroat

Calliope pectardens

One of China’s most desired songbirds, breeding in dense mountain scrub.

Key area
Erlangshan and Labahe
Przevalski’s Finch (Urocynchramus pylzowi)
Chinese endemic

Przevalski’s Finch

Urocynchramus pylzowi

The sole member of its family and a major Tibetan Plateau target.

Key area
Ruoergai plateau scrub
Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis)
Near Threatened

Black-necked Crane

Grus nigricollis

The emblematic bird of the eastern Tibetan Plateau’s marshes and wet grasslands.

Key area
Ruoergai wetlands
Chinese Rubythroat (Calliope tschebaiewi)
Chinese endemic

Chinese Rubythroat

Calliope tschebaiewi

A brilliant endemic breeding in dense scrub above the treeline.

Key area
Balangshan alpine scrub

Your local team

Meet the Sichuan bird guides

Local field knowledge, patient target-bird searches and practical support from the basin forests to the Tibetan Plateau.

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Lead Sichuan bird guide

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Mountain birding specialist

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Local birding guide

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Local birding guide

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Local birding guide

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From the field

Recent field notes

Conditions, sightings and practical lessons from recent journeys.

Field notes · Across Sichuan

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Recent sightings, access conditions and trip summaries can be published from the private content manager.

Plan your visit

Tell us which birds you hope to see.

Share your dates, group size and priority species. We will adjust the route to season, current access, altitude and recent field information.

mawnehui33@gmail.comWhatsApp +86 13992284405
English-speaking guiding · Custom routes · Small groups