Songpan

You can easily visit the town on foot, but there are a plethora of tricycle taxis if you get tired. Motor cycles and horses can take you for longer trips.

• While largely a modern touristic recreation, tiny parts of the old city walls are still standing (the gates) and can be climbed.
• Guanyin Pavilion. Southwest of town on a hill. Offers a good view of the town and surrounding mountains. The shrine is closed. 
• The West Gate. Opposite the horse trekking company, follow the stream toward the dam and take the track on the left. About 45 minutes walk. From there, you can continue in many different directions. In particular, there are paths leading to the foot of two 4000-m summits. (32°42'4145N/103°32'361E) 

• Horse treks. Are offered by several guest houses and agencies around town but are serviced by one horse trekking company. Treks can be from one day to as long as a week, and frequently visit Tibetan villages and famous mountains. Prices are usually around ¥200 a day, and include food and camping/village stay. Some of the guides do not get along so well with the local Tibetans, however. Either a 3- or 4-day trip to Ice Mountain will cost the same amount: ¥450. The second day of the 4-day trip is a filler day, where you camp in an extra place, but don't travel very far. Normally you will be riding the horse going uphill, and have to walk near half of the journey on the return downhill trip, in order to let the horse rest. The trek may be physically demanding. Quite limited time on the horse every day, sleeping in tiny tents, the guides do not speak much English. Some guides regularly beat the horses with sticks if you don't like that, it is important to tell the owner of the horse trekking company beforehand that he should tell his guides accordingly. It also helps to tell the guide "no!" very decisively every time he tries to beat the horses after half a day it strongly decreased. 

There are dozens of shops in Songpan that sell locally made crafts including colorful textiles, silver jewelry, Tibetan hats, and fake antiques. Bargaining is a must. To get the best price on silver products go to the far southern end of the main street where there are silver smiths. You might get the opportunity to see a silver smith hammering away on a new piece. The prices in these shops are dramatically cheaper than stores just up the block. One product you should not buy are the many furs for sale. The skins for sale have been poached in China or in neighboring countries. Asia's wildlife is quickly disappearing as China's appetite for illegal animal products increases. Please don't contribute to this crisis.

No shortage of small restaurants, Tibetan and Chinese, in town.

• Emma's kitchen. Very good food (with the exception of the pizza!) (western and Chinese) and coffee! They provide Internet, tour information, book swap, laundry service, car rental and booking tickets from Songpan. About 30 m south of the bus station. Turn left on the main road. Very friendly staff. 
• Sarah Yang. Good Chinese and Western food. Sarah is also very friendly and willing to share information about Songpan. 
• Suan Can Mian Kuai is a Tibetan soup with square-shaped homemade noodles, potatoes, and yak meat. You'll recognize it as having an orange or red color. There's an excellent small family restaurant run by friendly Hui people (Chinese Muslims). If you walk out of Emma's Kitchen and cross the street, walk up the hill for a bit and it'll be on your left. You'll see a pane of glass in front of the kitchen that allows you to watch them make the noodles.

There is not much nightlife in town. To have a beer, visit a restaurant.

Beware of altitude sickness if travelling here straight from the Sichuan Province lowlands.

From the bus station in the north of the town, there are buses to Chengdu (11 hours), north to Zoige and Langmusi (5 hours) on the border of Gansu province, and to Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve (2 hours) and Huanglong National Park.