Hiking in Western Sichuan

Where is western Sichuan?

Western Sichuan refers to Aba (Ngawa) Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture and Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in tourism. Boasting Jiuzhai Valley, Four Girls Mountain, Daocheng Yading, etc, there are many places worth exploring in western Sichuan. Western Sichuan is the most charming place in Sichuan Province with snow mountains, highland lakes, forests and grasslands.
 

The Sichuan and Tibet section Shanghai-Nyalam Road, which is also known as G318, is a popular highway that tourists like to drive to explore western Sichuan.

Highlights of Western Sichuan

Kangding

Mugecuo(Kangding Love Song Scenic Area): Located in 17 kilometers from city center of Kangding, Mugecuo is known as view of highland lakes, hot springs, grasslands, forests and snow mountains. It is always a beautiful place in different seasons and a nice position to experience the Tibetan culture.
 

Xinduqiao: Xinduqiao is the paradise of photographers. Alongside the G318 Highway, Xinduqiao is famed as its Muya culture, characteristic Tibetan buildings and beautiful natural scenery.
 

Tagong: Located in 113 kilometers from Kangding, Tagong means the place that the Bodhisattva likes in Tibetan. Tagong is known as the Tagong Temple and the Yala Snow Mountain behind it. Tagong Temple is one of the places of pilgrimage of Tibetans.

Daocheng

Daocheng Yading: Yading National Nature Reserve is located in Shangri-La twon, Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. Daocheng Yading is called the Last Shangri-La in the world. Daocheng Yading is mainly composed of the Three Holy Snow Mountains and the rivers, lakes and alpine meadows surround them. The Pearl Lake and the Five Color Lake are famous lakes at Daocheng Yading.

Four Girls Mountain(Mt. Siguniang)

Located in 220 kilometers from Chengdu, Four Girls Mountain refers to the four most famous snows mountains. The Four Girls Mountain is known as three valleys and four mountains, including Shuangqiao Valley, Changping Valley and Haizi Valley.

Jiuzhai Valley

Located in over 400 kilometers from Chengdu, Jiuzhai Valley is known as its beautiful scenery of lakes, waterfalls, valleys and forests. Jiuzhai Valley is beautiful in different seasons. Jiuzhai Valley got its name because there are nine Tibetan villages live here.

Cultural Experience

People live in western Sichuan are mainly ethic group of Tibetan, Qiang ethic group and some Hui ethic group. You can visit the Tibetan monasteries, see the characteristic buildings of ethic groups, know about the festivals and customs of the local ethic groups of western Sichuan. You can communicate with the local people and know more about the ethic groups in China.
 

Characteristic Foods of Ethic Groups

At western Sichuan, you can taste characteristic foods of Tibetan and Qiang ethic groups. You can taste the buttered tea and Zanba, which is like the matching of bread and milk. And you can also taste other characteristic foods, snacks and drinks at western Sichuan. It is a good way to experience the life of the local people to taste the traditional local foods of western Sichuan.

Best Hiking Routes in Western Sichuan

Four Girls Mountain(Mt. Siguniang) Trekking

One Day Trekking at Four Girls Mountain: Changping Valley

Route: Lama Temple-Muluozi-Lama Temple

Changping Valley trekking is about 15 kilometers, which is suitable for a-day trekking. At Changping Valley, you can see the highest peak of Four Girls Mountain. You will feel like that you were walking in the picturesque picture of snow mountains, alpine meadows, rivers and forests.

Three Days Trekking at Four Girls Mountain: Changping Valley-Bipeng Valley

Highlights: snow mountains, primeval forests, alpine meadows, forest of red leaves, gorgeous sunrise and sea of clouds
 

Changping Valley to Bipeng Valley Trekking is 35.7 kilometers long, which takes 3 days to finish the trekking. The average altitude of Changping Valley to Bipeng Valley Trekking is 3,500 meters, and the highest elevation is 4,641 meters. It is one of the most classic trekking routes in China.

Day 1: Siguniang Town-Lama Temple-Kushutan-Muluozi

Day 2: Muluozi-Shuidaba-Kazi Valley Campsite

Day 3: Kazi Valley-Mountain Pass-Three Trees-Bipeng Valley

Daocheng Yading Trekking

Pearl Lake(Erongcuo) Trekking at Daocheng Yading

Route: Zhaguanbeng-Chonggu Temple-Pearl Lake

It will take about 3 hours to get to Pearl Lake from Chonggu Temple and return back. Pearl Lake is a seasonal highland lake. It is a blue lake in summer and rainy season. And it is a white beach in winter, just like a pearl at the foot of the snow mountain, hence the name.
 

Five Color Lake(Danzengcuo) Trekking at Daocheng Yading

Route: Sheshen Cliff(4,180 meters)-Milk Lake(4,600 meters)-Five Color Lake(4,700 meters)

It takes about 5 hours to get to Five Color Lake from Sheshen Cliff and return back. It is not far from Milk Lake to Five Color Lake, but it takes about an hour to get to Five Color Lake from Milk Lake because of the high elevation. Milk Lake is named because the edge of the Milk Lake is white. And Five Color Lake is colorful, whose color is impressive to the tourists to there.

Travel Tips in Western Sichuan

• Be careful of the altitude sickness. The elevation of western Sichuan area is high, please pay attention to the altitude sickness. It is recommended that you quit your trekking when you feel not comfortable.
• Please always be careful while trekking. Keep safety in your mind during your hiking. Some trekking trails is not easy to hike, be careful while walking or climbing.
• Find a local experienced and professional when needed. A local guide is knowledgeable at the hiking place, who will help you smoothly complete your trekking. And you will better know the attractions by the introduction of the local guide.