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Are you tired of the bustling city skyline and longing to see a smog-free sky? Many people envy Chengdu residents, who enjoy a sleek, modern cityscape while still being able to explore the mountains just a few hours' drive away.
I love the blue skies and white clouds of western Sichuan, and I really enjoy its scenery. This guide will mainly introduce three off-the-beaten-path travel secrets, hoping to give you more suggestions for choosing a destination.
Western Sichuan mainly refers to the Tibetan plateau areas of Aba Prefecture and Ganzi Prefecture in western Sichuan. When talking about Western Sichuan, everyone knows about the red Buddhist country Seda, the last pure land Daocheng Yading, Tagong grassland, the light and shadow world of Xinduqiao, the most beautiful village Danba Tibetan village, the crossing from Changpinggou to Bipenggou in Siguniang Mountain, the meadows of Litang, the highest city in the world, and the grasslands, snow-capped mountains, wastelands, forests, Tibetan villages and temples. However, the three secret places I want to recommend today are not very popular.
Maybe you haven't heard of it, but the beauty of western Sichuan does not have to be famous among internet celebrities to be beautiful, because any place in western Sichuan is beautiful.
If you want to take blockbuster movies📸 If you want to see the blue sky and white clouds of western Sichuan🏞 If you want to hike but are afraid of the hardship🌠 If you want to camp and see the stars and the Milky Way🌌 If you want to lie on the grass under the stars and drink a beer, if you want a special self-driving tour that is not too far away, this is a peaceful and pristine land, a paradise for people who love photography, mountain climbing, hiking and exploration; scientific research and people who want to breathe fresh air.
This route is not long but allows you to enter undeveloped natural areas, suitable for both public photography and self-torture!!!
Four people togethercheck the details
Sirentong, after Niubei Mountain, is another popular photography spot and viewing platform. Located on a hill opposite Niubei Mountain in Yingjing County, Sichuan Province, it stands at an altitude of 3,510 meters. Climbing to the 360-degree viewing platform at the summit offers the chance to witness sunrises, sunsets, Buddha's light, seas of clouds, waterfalls, the sun shining on the Golden Mountain, the sun and moon shining together, the Milky Way, and a sky filled with stars. The terrain is both flat and open, offering breathtaking views. In the distance, towering mountains rise, the sky rises, clouds drift across the canyon, and the horizon stretches as far as the eye can see. Nearby, verdant bamboo, rhododendrons, ancient fir trees, and mist shroud the mountains... Sirentong rivals Niubei Mountain in its beauty. It's even fair to say that Sirentong boasts everything Niubei Mountain offers, and even what Niubei Mountain lacks, Sirentong also possesses.
Recommended months: November to February
4509 recommendations, 2979 visits
Sirentong, a somewhat unusual place name, is another popular photography spot and viewing platform after Niubei Mountain. Sirentong is located on a hill opposite Niubei Mountain in Yingjing County, Sichuan Province, at an altitude of 3,510 meters. Climbing to the 360-degree viewing platform at the summit offers a chance to witness sunrises, sunsets, Buddha's light, seas of clouds, waterfalls, the sun shining on the Golden Mountain, the sun and moon shining together, the Milky Way, and a sky filled with stars.
Tips:
Geographical location:
Located in Luding, part of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, it is 265km away from Chengdu, about a 4-hour drive.
Itinerary planning:
1. From Chengdu, take the Yakang Expressway to Lengqi Town. From Lengqi Town, hike up the mountain to the Changhaizi hiking spot (stay at the top of the mountain).
2. After watching the sea of clouds and sunrise, we slowly descended the mountain and returned to Chengdu in the afternoon.
When hiking for the first time, you should pay attention to protecting your knees. It is best to wear knee pads and trekking poles. Since the weather in western Sichuan is unstable, you should also prepare raincoats and waterproof shoes.
It takes about 5 to 6 hours for four people to complete the one-way trip. Of course, professionals may be able to complete it in 4 hours.
We are all ordinary people, so it is important to have the mentality of ordinary people. You can take an off-road vehicle up and down the mountain. However, since you are here to hike, it is best to stick to the whole thing.
The accommodation on the mountain is really, really bad. It is the worst place I have ever stayed in my life. I suggest you bring a sleeping bag!
There are still several accommodations on the top of the mountain. There are those small wooden houses at the top. They look pretty good, but the accommodation conditions are still worrying. Please be prepared before you set off, as the conditions are worrying!
Majiagou is located in Xiaojin County, Aba County. It is a secret place in western Sichuan that is very close to Chengdu and easy to reach. It is about 350 kilometers away from Chengdu, with convenient transportation. The altitude is about 3k. The highest point reached during the hike is about 4k above sea level.
The Majiagou Mountains run in a southwesterly direction, with the terrain high in the northwest and low in the southeast. The gully entrance (mountain gate) is 3,090 meters above sea level, and the gully tail (Moon Lake) is 3,900 meters above sea level. There are several snow-capped peaks over 5,000 meters in the gully. Modern glaciers have developed at the gully tail, and the polar landform features are obvious.
Travel Mode:
Self-driving (car rental)
Route arrangement:
Chengdu - Majiagou (Chengdu - Dujiangyan - Wenchuan - Lixian - Miyaluo - Ma'erkang - Majiagou.)
1) The road from Chengdu to Ma'erkang is a highway and is easy to drive on without any technical problems.
2) The section between Ma'erkang and Xiaojin is undergoing construction of the Mengbishan Tunnel and renovation of the S210 (Zhuoxiao Highway). The road conditions are not optimistic, and there are many bends. Please pay attention to driving safety!
The main attractions in the scenic area include: Moon Lake, the large and small Bulang Waterfalls, Liulin Bay, the Five-Color Sea, the Lovers' Dream Forest, and the ruins of the ancient post station.
The straight-line distance from the entrance to the end of Majiagou is about 15 kilometers, the road distance is about 20 kilometers, and the entire scenic area is about 100 square kilometers.
We live in the village, and the villagers' small vans are responsible for picking us up and dropping us off in the ditch. Private cars are not allowed to enter the ditch!
After entering the scenic area, the main activity is hiking. Hiking at an area of about 4,000 meters is actually very demanding on the body, so those who go there should do it according to their ability.
When you enter the scenic area, there will be people selling roasted corn and sweet potatoes along the way. It is recommended to buy some food at this time, because there will be no food after you reach the top of the mountain. After all, hiking requires physical strength.
The reception capacity of Magagou is limited. At that time, there were only three inns that could be booked online (Chaohong Station, Mima Hiker Camp, and Zhangjunzi Inn). They were all simple local farmers' Tibetan inns that provided catering, accommodation, and parking.
Under normal circumstances, you can choose to stay in a hotel in the town. If you like camping, you can also stay in the ditch and have a campfire barbecue at night (but accommodation in the ditch is divided into time periods. Sometimes, I don’t know if the government is rectifying it or what, but they don’t allow you to stay). If you really want to camp, it is recommended that you bring your own tent.
Lenggacuo is located in a lake on the back mountain of Bangmujide Village, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is an alpine lake at the foot of Mount Gongga. It is still in an undeveloped state. It is about 4,550 meters above sea level. The villagers there are still very simple and the world there is still very peaceful.
Itinerary planning:
Day 1: Depart from Chengdu - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Shangmuju
Day 2: Shangmuju - Lenggacuo - Zimei Pass - Shangmuju
Day 3: Shangmuju - Quanhua Beach - Xinduqiao - Chengdu
Quanhua Beach
Quanhua Beach is located in Yulongxi Village, Gonggashan Township (formerly Liuba Township), Kangding City, on the western slope of Mount Gongga, at an altitude of approximately 4,000 meters. Its landscape is characterized by alpine valley meadows. Mount Gongga lies to the southeast, making Quanhua Beach an ideal vantage point for gazing at the King of Sichuan Mountains.
Quanhua Beach, formed by chemical precipitation from a spring containing a large amount of chemicals, stretches over 900 meters long and 100 meters wide, forming eight terraces that cascade down the mountain. Each terrace boasts a dozen colorful pools of varying sizes and shapes, each 40-70 centimeters deep. The pools, dotted with aquatic plants and dotted with rock flowers, resemble a fairyland descending to earth.
There are three levels in total at Quanhua Beach. The first and second levels are the best, and the third level feels like a spring. The climb is not too tiring, and the whole 2-hour round trip allows for photo opportunities.
Lenggacuo
Lenggacuo is so unpopular that it still doesn't have an entry on Baidu. It's the best spot to photograph the reflection of Mount Gongga, located at an altitude of about 4,550 meters. It's like a teardrop from Mount Gongga, shining like a diamond beneath the sacred mountain.
The highlight of the entire Lenggacuo scenic area is the lake after reaching the summit, but the entire route is also worth photographing. The hiking process is also very challenging. Although the scenery is beautiful, it is really tiring.
If you are in good physical condition and the weather is good, you can reach the mountain in 3 hours, and it takes about 2 hours to go down the mountain.
There are plenty of inns to stay in Shangmu. This time, I stayed at Aka Inn, which has the best facilities I've ever had in western Sichuan. It just so happens that Bosco Wong and Ouyang Nana also stayed there in August. It was amazing! It even had hot water! Hot water is a top priority in western Sichuan.
Altitude sickness is a concern when traveling to western Sichuan and Tibet, and many people are deterred by this fear. Generally speaking, the above destinations are all quite good, much milder than Tibet. With the exception of Lengka Co, which is the highest point, you shouldn't feel too bad in the other places.
Preparations to prevent altitude sickness:
Rhodiola rosea
It is recommended to take it about ten days in advance, because psychological factors are very important. After taking it, you will feel that it is somewhat useful. If you don’t take it, you will feel empty and worried and think too much, and then you will suffer from altitude sickness.
【Cold, Fever and Pain Relief】
You can prepare some medicines for treating fever and headache, such as Shanlietong, Baijiahei, etc. Because altitude sickness generally causes headache and sore throat, if it is really uncomfortable, it is recommended that you take some medicine to control it yourself. It is important to get a good night's sleep.
【Spleen and stomach nourishing】
Wei Xianyou, Ota Wei Powder, Clam Shell Wei Powder
The above are all my treasure recommendations. I hope that the children who go there will cherish every plant and tree there. The tranquility and beauty of western Sichuan are protected by each of us~
