There are three routes to Mount Siguniang National park from Chengdu, varying in distance and scenery.
The most direct route is to come from Chengdu through Dujiangyan and Wolong, and over Mount Balang pass, which, at over 4500masl, affords some spectacular views. Whilst this route is only 220km, the road was badly damaged in the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake and is still under repair, so expect the trip to take between five and eight hours. The roadworks are planned to be completed in late 2010. There are currently no buses taking this route due to the road condition, so a taxi or van needs to be arranged from Chengdu. These should cost around 150 yuan.
A better road exists between the city of Yaâan and Rilong, via the towns of Baoxing, Yaoji and Dawei. This road is currently in much better condition than the road through Dujiangyan and Wolong. Yaâan is approximately 2 hours south west of Chengdu via bus, and buses go directly from Chengdu to Yaâan or Baoxing. Travellers can get a taxi or van from Baoxing to Rilong for 500-600yuan, or a cheaper option is to take a bus from Baoxing to Yaoji, and take a taxi to Rilong from there. The road crosses Mount Jiajin pass, which is around 4100masl, and also has some excellent views. Expect this route to take a full day.
The least direct way to get to Rilong is to catch a bus to the city of Xiaojin from Chengdu, and then pay 20yuan for a seat in a van for the final 55km to Rilong. This route passes through Yaâan and the cities of Luding and Danba, and has excellent views. There is only one stop along the way, however, and the total travel time on the bus is around fourteen hours.
