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At the end of winter when spring is about to come, if you want to go out and play, in addition to going to Northeast Xinjiang to see the snow, there is also a vast and magical land hiding countless surprising winter scenery.
Its winter has never been explored crazily by the public, but - the mountains here are half in the sky and half on earth; the water here is connected to ice at one end and fire at the other end.
People who have been here say that "every inch of land where the wheels pass is heaven."
With a flight ticket from Hangzhou for only ￥200, you can have a romantic and happy "winter travel" memory that is closer than Xinjiang and warmer than Northeast China. This is western Sichuan.
Western Sichuan is beautiful all year round, but only when you come here in winter can you feel the ethereal, clean and free feeling that you can't feel in other days.
Come meet me in the winter of western Sichuan! A trip to the mountains here is comparable to a trip to the Alps, with snowy scenery and hot springs, it's so pleasant.
The lake here is comparable to Lake Baikal, and you can witness the starry sky and the dreamy blue ice complementing each other.
There are snow mountain huts here that are not inferior to those in Finland, where you can encounter a snowy fairy tale at any time.
There is a seaside on the plateau here. When the unimaginable beauty appears in the same painting, you will sigh "it's worth the trip".
Picture @Photo.net
Here you can also find the magical Elf Kingdom in "The Lord of the Rings", the fairyland-like healing scenery in "Heidi and Grandpa", and the magical realm in "Ghost Blows Out the Light"...
The winter in western Sichuan is another world of ice and snow, different from that in the northeast. The frozen azure lakes, the dazzling golden mountains in the sun, or the evergreen pines covered with snow... everything has a dreamy feeling of a fairy tale world.
In winter, the temperature in western Sichuan, such as Ganzi Prefecture, is much higher than in Northeast China. Ladies who want to take photos in the snow can wear beautiful clothes without worrying about freezing their hands and feet!
Finally, winter is the off-season for tourism in western Sichuan, when the crowds are fewer and the scenery is more beautiful. While many tourists flock to Northeast China and Yunnan, where one-way tickets can easily cost over 1,000 yuan... If you're looking for a trip lately, western Sichuan is the perfect choice!
And in February, flights from Hangzhou to Chengdu are as low as ￥200 one-way! Why not come and see this secret place not far away?
Photo @OTA
Western Sichuan is located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Due to the ancient orogenic movement, seven huge north-south mountain ranges were formed here, collectively known as the Hengduan Mountain Range.
Glacial movement has left countless glacial lakes in western Sichuan. In winter, due to the high altitude and thick ice, the short-wavelength visible light reflected by the lake appears to the human eye as a dazzling and dreamy blue ice.
▲The magical blue ice of Lenggacuo in winter
The blue ice in winter has always been a major reason for many outdoor enthusiasts to go to western Sichuan. The most famous of these is the series of famous lakes on the west side of Mount Gongga.
Lengga Co, Lisuohai, Sang Enyong Co... sunrise, sunset, starry sky, Milky Way, snow-capped mountains, wild animals...
When the weather is good, the water of Lenggacuo Lake is like a mirror, and the main peak of Gongga Peak can be reflected on the lake surface, so it is known as the "Mirror of the Sacred Mountain".
Due to winter forest fire prevention measures, scenic spots within Gongga Mountain Township, such as Lenggacuo and Zimei Pass, were designated as key fire prevention areas and were inaccessible. Consequently, for six months, the team searched the western Sichuan small loop for a spot where they could enjoy both snow-capped mountains and blue ice, unaffected by the fire closures.
Finally, we found a secret blue ice place around Kangding-Xinduqiao, which is not yet known to the public. It has become an excellent alternative to Lenggacuo during winter. Let me take you to see it!
Thanks to the completion of the Ya'an-Kangding Expressway, it only takes 4 hours to drive from Chengdu to Kangding.
This time we went upstream along the Yala River behind Kangding, avoiding the many large trucks on the Zheduo Mountain National Highway, and at the same time experiencing the many hot springs in the valley!
A few kilometers outside of Kangding City lies the historic Erdaoqiao Hot Springs. This "Heavenly Pool Hot Spring," with a year-round temperature of around 37°C, gushes from underground. With 10 small and one large pool, it was a must-see for Qing Dynasty ministers stationed in Tibet.
Picture @Photo.net
Then we passed by Zhonggu Village, formerly known as "Hot Spring Pond", which is another famous hot spring group outside Kangding City. Hot spring pools of various sizes extend all the way to the river.
Today, Zhonggu Village has become a famous hot spring town. Come and soak in the hot springs when the weather is cold, and all your travel fatigue will be swept away.
Picture @Photo.net
When we were almost at the pass, we found the first blue ice lake, which is the Red Lake.
Honghaizi Lake is 4,200 meters above sea level, located in the upper reaches of Mugecuo Lake, facing Bijia Mountain, and connected to Mugecuo Lake by a small river. The snow that never melts all year round forms its beautiful background.
The Red Lake is tightly frozen in winter. Against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, the ice surface appears a faint mysterious blue. Here you can walk on the ice and play freely.
Picture @Photo.net
Many people yearn for the holiness and tranquility of the lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. In fact, in Kangding City, the capital of Ganzi Prefecture, there is also a deep blue holy secret place with beautiful scenery, but few people know about it. It is Mugecuo, which is known as the "Kangding Love Song".
Mugecuo is one of the largest alpine lakes in northwest Sichuan. It has alpine lakes, forest hot springs, grasslands and snow-capped mountains, as well as a lake as colorful as Jiuzhaigou.
In winter, half of the vast lake is covered with thick ice, and the other half is sparkling water, shining like gold.
When the white snow of Mugecuo meets the warm winter sun on the plateau, the snow remains pure white and the sun remains warm.
Mount Gongga, known as the "King of Mountains in Shu", has a main peak at an altitude of 7,556 meters. It is surrounded by 45 snow-capped peaks with an altitude of more than 6,000 meters, forming a majestic and magnificent snow-capped mountain group.
Stingcuo is located on Zheduo Mountain in Kangding, close to Kangding Airport, with an altitude of 4,260 meters. It is currently the only easily accessible viewing platform on the north slope of Gongga. Its features include the reflection of snow-capped mountains and the planes coming and going.
Mount Gongga seen from Sitingcuo is a perfect pyramid shape, with flag clouds often seen rising on the top of the mountain.
It is really a small place and few people go there, but as a viewing platform, the view is very wide. It is really beautiful to come here to chase the sunset!
Gediram is located near Tagong, only 5 kilometers away from Yuzixi, where the fire broke out earlier. Therefore, the scenery seen there is very similar to that of Yuzixi: Gongga Snow Mountain, Zheduo Mountain, Qingrao Sacred Mountain, Yala Snow Mountain...
The difference is that Gediram gathers many Internet celebrity elements, including lighthouses, swings, carousels, cabins...with the background of snow-capped mountains, blockbuster photos for your circle of friends are instantly produced!
Gediram may be more suitable for young ladies and couples who love taking photos, because it is really good to capture the atmosphere!
After crossing the old Gaolusi Mountain Pass, the old road that was once bumpy has been repaired. When you see the tower-shaped prayer flags, you will reach the Blue Ice Lake.
This secret place is located on the huge glacier plain of Gaolusi Mountain on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It has a broad prospect and can take in the entire Great Snow Mountain Range, the reflections of the snow-capped mountains along the line of Jiazi Peak and Gongga Main Peak.
Compared to Lenggatso, this secret place is more accessible, with vehicles directly accessible to the lake! It's also almost twice the size of Lenggatso and shares the same viewpoint as the nearby famous Black Stone City.
But it has more lake landscapes than Black Rock City. In winter, it is a good choice to appreciate blue ice.
Standing by the lake, the Gongga Snow Mountains are lined up in a row. In December, the ice on the lakeside is seven or eight centimeters thick, enough to support us walking on the ice. The frozen lake surface + the Gongga Mountains, the most beautiful scene of western Sichuan in winter is here!
Only by actually walking a new route can you truly know the best spots. Along the way, we'll find the perfect camera positions for Mount Gongga, creating a variety of photo opportunities. From airplanes to Mount Gongga, the sacred mountain's reflections, and the mysterious blue ice... we'll help you capture the most beautiful winter memories of western Sichuan.
During this trip, we will also pass by Moshi Park, which is one of the filming locations of the TV series "Ghost Blows Out the Light" and the only plateau stone forest landscape in China.
Flexible and free small group, 4 people form a group, capped at 12 people, high degree of freedom, flexible itinerary, selected popular places of the season, take you to check in the most beautiful winter in western Sichuan!
Come to western Sichuan at the tail end of winter! Skate on blue ice, chase the sunset on the snow-capped mountains, gaze at the ocean from the plateau...experience the stunning natural scenery and cultural customs that rival those found abroad, and experience the feeling of a thousand-dollar trip abroad!
