Mountains of Ba, Waters of Shu · Chengdu, Jiuzhaigou & Wulong 9 Days (Jiuzhaigou + Huanglong + Wulong Karst + Furong Cave + Wujiang Gallery + Mountain City Nights)

Walking properly into Jiuzhaigou, you realise photographs struggle to express its beauty. Crystal-clear lakes, tier upon tier of waterfalls and forests that change with the seasons interweave. Set aside a full day to explore the three valleys of the Y-shaped layout at an unhurried pace — only then do you feel the real pull of Jiuzhaigou.

Follow the gorge walkway deep underground, sheer cliffs towering overhead and streams murmuring underfoot. The deep gorge is green throughout while waterfalls pour down the rock face in a haze of water. Walking slowly along the timber boardwalk with the sound of water and mountain springs in your ears, the further you go the more you feel nature's force, as if you have stumbled into a hidden sanctuary among the mountains.

Set among green hills, this is one of the largest Miao architectural complexes in the country. Layer upon layer of stilt buildings climb the hillside, upturned eaves magnificent and timber construction showing Miao craftsmanship throughout. The towering nine-tiered main stilt building stands among the hills, striking and unique. Wandering the town, you admire architecture rich in ethnic character and take in the deep, centuries-old appeal of Miao culture.

Cruise the Wujiang Gallery as the green water winds through towering green peaks. Steep cliffs run along both banks, thick with vegetation, strange peaks reflected in the clear river. As the boat moves slowly forward with the breeze on your face, the view changes step by step, the gorge scenery unrolling like an ink-wash scroll — the Wujiang's own poetic landscape.

Walk the Eighteen Steps, a single lane linking the old town to the new. Look up and there are modern towers; look down and there are stilt houses strung with lights — old and new Mountain City meeting and blending here. The stone steps wind up and the lights scatter layer by layer, showing the city's distinctive three-dimensional night face. Step into an old teahouse inside, timber tables and bamboo chairs quietly elegant, and sit with tea and conversation to feel Bayu everyday life in slow time and read the story of old Chongqing.

Hidden in the dense forest of Nanshan, Laojun Cave's ancient halls have upturned eaves and fine painted decoration, incense curling upward. Red ribbons of blessing fill the courtyard as visitors burn incense and make wishes in a traditional folk ritual. Wandering the quiet Daoist temple with the sound of wind in the hills, you take in Chinese blessing culture and make your own wish in an antique setting.

Come to Liziba to experience the delight of a monorail passing through a building. The train roars straight through the middle of a residential block, a spectacle unique to the Mountain City. Wait quietly on the viewing platform and the moment it passes through has real visual impact. Photograph the famous "eating the monorail" pose here and marvel at the ingenuity of Chongqing's eight-dimensional terrain, witnessing this engineering marvel first-hand.

Take in a fine Sichuan opera performance up close: gorgeous costumes, expressive singing and the astonishing face-changing feat, all showing the distinctive appeal of traditional opera. The performers' bearing is graceful and every gesture is skill. Visitors can also pose for photographs with the face-changing performers, an immersive taste of this intangible heritage — reading the artistic depth of traditional opera through both watching and taking part.