This marks the third time I’ve travelled to China. I’ve been long interested in the Western regions, especially in Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai where Tibetan culture can be explored without the hassle of a permit or a guided tour. The Western part of Sichuan in particular is renowned for its remarkable scenery, Tibetan monasteries, alpine lakes and scenery among China travel enthusiasts. I visited Danba, Daofu, Luhuo, Ganzi, Dege, Baiyu, Batang, Litang, Daocheng, Mount Gongga and Mount Siguniang in that particular order.
One thing I would highly recommend is getting a temporary driver’s license and renting a car, as accessibility is a huge barrier to exploring this region outside of the common tourist circuit. I rented an off-road SUV for ten days which was affordable and accessible (not to mention G318 being an amazing scenic drive as well, can’t recommend it enough)
Overall I would say a month was more than enough time to explore the entirety of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. You'd drive around 3-400 kilometers a day while seeing three to four attractions. Many Chinese people do it at a faster pace while focusing on Kangding - Xinduqiao - Tagong and Litang sequence which I didn't visit. However, the monasteries in Baiyu and Dege were absolutely amazing with barely any tourists around. The alpine lakes were gorgeous as well. The only part of the trip that felt rather touristy was Daocheng Yading which I enjoyed on its own. There were plenty of authentic Tibetan culture and natural scenery that I dare say holds up to Tibet, or maybe even better. Either way I highly recommend this trip to someone who's looking for nature, culture and something off-the-beaten path.