Most people think Western Sichuan is just two administrative prefectures. But to me, real Western Sichuan means the massive Hengduan Mountains, covering 237,000 square kilometers — bigger than the entire Guangxi region.

In the summer of 2022, I packed my drone and drove more than 5,000 kilometers over 21 days. I traveled through southern and northern Kham, starting from Highway S434, Yala Pass, Zimei Pass, the Genyen South Route, Daocheng Yading, Dege Scripture Printing House, Shiqu Mani stone monuments, then crossed the rarely-seen Meihan Road and arrived at Hongyuan in Aba.

Here lies Mount Gongga — King of Sichuan’s mountains, the three sacred peaks of Yading, Yala Mountain, Genyen, countless alpine lakes, ancient Tibetan villages and centuries-old religious sites. I also drove along a mountain highway built at great human cost. Along the way I met local kids, wild animals, and witnessed the fragile balance between humans and the highland wilderness.

Most travel creators only show you a few crowded internet-famous viewpoints. This journey reveals Western Sichuan in its full, raw form. No heavy filters, no staged scenes.

If you are fascinated by remote mountain landscapes and Tibetan culture, stay with me for this long road trip documentary.