Crossing Haizigou, the new route of Siguniang Mountain, passing through nine large seas, you can see the reflection of the snow-capped mountains from multiple angles!
Preface
The famous line “The window contains the eternal snow on the Western Hills, and the door is moored with ships from Dongwu that have traveled thousands of miles” is timeless and will be passed down through the ages.
But every time I think of Mount Siguniang, I hate that the poet didn't mention it by name! This pearl of the snow-covered land has remained unknown for so many years, and has only been called a "late bloomer".
However, as long as the light is bright enough, the order of appearance is not so important. This group of peaks that "parted the clouds" caught everyone's attention with its flaming and flying momentum. After years of ups and downs, it was crowned the queen in one day.
Snow-capped mountains + alpine lakes best represent the natural scenery of the snowy plateau. Travel through the Haizi Valley of Siguniang Mountain and it’s newly launched!
Siguniang Mountain
In southwest China, the powerful force of plate movement squeezed the land together, squeezing, colliding, and overwhelming it, creating the Hengduan Mountains in an unstoppable manner.
Map by @Qitian
Under the domineering name of "Hengduan Mountains", seven veins and six rivers converge on this 360,000 square kilometers of land. This is a world of mountains and a paradise for climbers.
Graphics by @Qitian&Qixi
The Qionglai Mountains, one of the seven transverse mountain ranges, are a place where rocks, glaciers, and alpine coniferous forests face each other in the distance. Fierceness is hidden in the tranquility, and gentleness flows in the solemnity. Siguniang Mountain stands quietly among them, guiding travelers.
Little sister! Little sister!
Siguniang is a typical rocky peak group. The powerful glacial erosion and weathering have completely cut away the fragile rock mass on the periphery of the peak.
Almost all the peaks above 4,500 meters above sea level in the Siguniang Mountain area are rugged and sharp.
The most proud thing about this family is that the youngest sister in the family is the main peak of the Qionglai Mountains. The Yaomei Peak of Siguniang Mountain, with an altitude of 6,250 meters, has won the title of "Queen of Shu Mountains" for its unique and beautiful mountain shape and snow that never melts all year round.
Dozens of towering rock peaks surround Yaomei Peak, and more than ten canyons are arranged in a crisscross pattern, tightly surrounding the "Queen of Shu Mountains".
▲Yaomei Peak, the main peak of Siguniang Mountain, is 6,250 meters above sea level
Of course, Yaomei is more than just beautiful. She is an eternal classic and a symbol of technical climbing. Her three walls are almost vertical, and each one makes climbers despair.
Stunning lakes along the way
Snow-capped mountains and blue lakes are the most representative natural scenery of the snowy plateau.
The earth's crust here has risen sharply and the geological structure is complex, with mountains, valleys and lakes scattered everywhere. Changpinggou, Haizigou, Bipenggou, etc. are arranged in sequence, interspersed among the mountains.
▲Map of the valleys of the Qionglai Mountains
The protagonist of this trip is Haizigou, which is 19.2 kilometers long and covers an area of 126.48 square kilometers. The terrain from Guozhuangping to the end of Haizigou is like a giant dragon, so the locals also call it "Dragon Raising its Head".
There are many alpine lakes in the valley, such as Huahaizi, Rhinoceros Lake, and Bajiaopeng Lake. The water is crystal clear and you can see the bottom. You can also enjoy the reflection of Yaomei Peak from all angles.
▲Rhino Sea
Many ancient scaleless fish have been preserved here, becoming living fossils that allow people today to understand this land. Standing by the crystal-clear lake, watching the plateau yellow ducks flying on the water and listening to the melodious chirping of birds in the empty mountains, one can feel an endless and ethereal meditation...
▲Dahaizi
Huahaizi is located at an altitude of about 3,830 meters. In spring and summer, when the flowers bloom and the grass is lush, it looks like a plate of emerald jade scattered among the flowers and plants. Under the sunlight, it appears colorful and shining.
Legend has it that the beautiful Third Girl often came here to pick flowers. One day, she heard that a flood had broken out, destroying many villages. In desperation, she threw the flowers she had gathered into the floodwaters. The water was stopped, saving the people downstream. The flowers she had picked gradually sank to the bottom of the lake, forming the Flower Lake we see today. The round stones surrounding the lake are the corals and agates that the Third Girl wore on her chest. From a distance, they look like scattered pearls.
Standing on the beach, listening to the waves hitting the shore, it sounds like the sound of a human heartbeat, or the sound of bright drums in a temple.
The highest camp for climbing Yinggezui Peak - Bajiaopeng Haizi, is also in Haizigou of Siguniang Mountain. It is an ideal location for photographing the reflection of Siguniang Mountain, and you can see the south side of Yaomei Peak from here.
▲Octagonal shed lake light rail
Camping in the Starry Sky Camp, the sky is extremely clear, dotted with stars, there is no wind, and the lake is like a mirror. At dusk, the sun shines on the golden mountain, and at sunrise, the light fills the lake.
Route itinerary
DAY1 Chengdu gathering day
The first day is the gathering day, and we gather in Chengdu, a city with delicious food and fun.
Get enough rest, don’t stay up late, don’t drink alcohol, and change your sunrise eating habits to prepare for the hike ahead.
DAY2 Chengdu-Mt. Siguniang
After breakfast, we will visit Maobiliang to see the panoramic view of Mount Siguniang and acclimatize to the altitude. We will depart from Chengdu and drive past Dujiangyan and Zipingpu Reservoir, then up the Minjiang River, passing through several newly built tunnels and the 8.8km-long Balangshan Tunnel.
From the Maobiliang Observation Deck, you can enjoy the panoramic views of Siguniang Mountain and the main peak, Yaomei Peak. In the afternoon, you will have free time to do some exercise and acclimate to the plateau environment.
DAY3 Siguniang Mountain - Dahaizi - Huahaizi
At Guozhuangping, you can see the scenery of Siguniang Mountain, Dahaizi and Huahaizi. After breakfast, you will meet up with the caravan and set off. At Guozhuangping, you can see the Dayersan Peak and Yaomei Peak. In summer, this place is also a beautiful place with flowers everywhere.
Afterwards, we rested and had lunch at the reserve management station. We continued hiking in the afternoon and camped at the pasture between Dahaizi and Huahaizi.
▲Dahaizi
DAY4 Huahaizi-Big Yellow Cattle Shed-Rhino Sea
The scenery of Haizigou, Rhino Sea and the east wall of Yaomei Peak. Set off after breakfast and continue hiking towards the depths of Haizigou. Today's camp is at Rhino Sea at an altitude of 4,300 meters, which is also the end of Haizigou. When the weather is fine, you can see the rare east wall of Yaomei Peak.
▲Rhino Sea
If time and road conditions permit, the team leader will lead everyone on foot to explore the more secluded Shuanghaizi, which is 4,650 meters above sea level, surrounded by gravel and rarely visited.
DAY5 Rhino Lake - Big Yellow Cattle Shed - Shibulong Lake
The sunrise over Yaomei Peak and the scenery of Shibulong Lake are all from the hillside near Rhino Lake, which is a good place to view the sunrise over Yaomei Peak and the scenery of Shibulong Lake. Friends who like photography should not miss it.
After breakfast, we will leave at the right time and head to Shibulong Lake at an altitude of 4,500 meters. The angle for viewing the reflection of Yaomei Peak is better here. The lake water is deep blue, and the alpine pastures beside the lake are full of wild flowers in summer.
▲Shibulong Lake
DAY6 Shibulong Lake-Octagon Lake
Don't miss the sunrise over Yaomei Peak, the reflection of the snow-capped mountains, and the scenery of Bajiaopeng Lake. Don't miss the sunrise over Yaomei Peak today, where you'll also have the opportunity to admire the reflection of the snow-capped mountains. After breakfast, leave at an appropriate time and hike to Bajiaopeng Lake.
Bajiaopeng Lake is one of the best choices for viewing the reflection of Yaomei Peak. If the weather is good, it will not disappoint photographers.
DAY7 Bajiaopeng Lake - Siguniang Mountain Town - Chengdu
The sunrise on Yaomei Peak, the reflection of snow-capped mountains, and the scenery of Haizigou. Bajiaopeng Haizi is one of the best places to take pictures of the sunrise on Yaomei Peak and the golden mountain. After breakfast, we will leave in time and hike back to Siguniang Mountain Town to end our plateau hiking trip.
Outdoor equipment
Carrying system: hiking backpack (reference: 15-30L), trekking poles (double poles are recommended), pannier bag (reference: 90-120L);
Sleeping system: sleeping bag (down sleeping bag is recommended, comfortable temperature range -10℃ ~ -5℃);
Clothing system: Underwear, thermal layer (fleece, cotton, down), protective layer (soft shell, hard shell), wool socks, sun hat, warm hat, gloves, hiking shoes (cross-country running shoes), headscarf, snow cover; dress in layers and combine them flexibly with the ambient temperature;
Electronic systems: headlights (backup batteries), mobile phones, mobile power supplies, etc.;
Personal care system: toothpaste, toothbrush, paper towels, towels, etc.;
Others: ID card, cash, waterproof bag, medicine, sunglasses, thermos cup, etc.
photography equipment
Camera body: Professional cameras are best, such as Nikon D810, D850, Canon 5D MARK3, 5D MARK4, Sony a7R3, a7R4, etc.
Lens: Since this is astronomical photography, a wide-angle lens is a must, such as Canon's 16-35mm or Sigma's 14mm/20mm fixed-focus starry sky lens;
Shutter cable: prevents camera shaking when pressing the shutter button, and is also beneficial for starry sky photography;
Tripod: A professional tripod is the best choice to ensure the best image quality possible;
Storage medium: large-capacity memory card or mobile hard disk.
Conclusion
Here you can see crystal clear lakes, towering peaks that soar into the clouds, foggy valleys, the wonder of clouds and snow coexisting, and dreamlike reflections of snow-capped mountains that seem to shatter at the slightest touch.
This new route is full of freshness and surprises - crossing the Haizigou of Siguniang Mountain. Don’t you want to see it for yourself?
