17 great photo spots on Mount Gongga, each one more stunning than the last!

Preface

Mount Gongga, also known as Muya Gongga, is located at the junction of Luding, Kangding, Jiulong, and Shimian counties in Sichuan Province. It is the main peak of the Great Snow Mountain Range. At 7,556 meters above sea level, Mount Gongga is the highest peak in Sichuan Province and is known as the "King of Sichuan Mountains." The mountain's numerous peaks, deep ice and snow, and numerous obstacles make it a more difficult climb than any other 8,000-meter-high peak in the world, making it a popular destination for mountaineering enthusiasts.

Besides climbing, there are many other ways to experience the majestic splendor of this mountain, including hiking and off-road driving. But if you want to see the splendor of Mount Gongga, finding the right viewing point is crucial! This article lists 17 excellent viewing spots on Mount Gongga and how to get there.

🌊Holy Lake

Lenggacuo

🔸4500m above sea level

⭐The best place to take photos of the reflection of Mount Gongga, Lenggacuo, known as "a tear of Mount Gongga", is located in the back mountain of Yulongxi Village. It is famous because of Gongga and is one of the lakes closest to the main peak of Gongga.

🚙Route:

Route A: Chengdu - Ya'an - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Jiagenba - Bangmujid Village - Lenggacuo. The last section of the road starting from Bangmujid Village is not accessible by vehicles and can only be reached by horseback, motorcycle, or on foot. The hike takes more than 3 hours.

Route B: This is the backup route when Route A is blocked. From Shangchijixi Village, ride a motorcycle to the foot of Lenggacuo Mountain, hike over the mountain to the pass, and then walk down to the lake.

Risohai

🔸Altitude 4550m

⭐The lake closest to Gongga Snow Mountain has two upper and lower lakes, both of which can capture the reflection of Gongga Snow Mountain, but the angle of the upper Lisuo Lake is better.

Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Gonggashan Town - Shangmuju Village - Lisuohaizi. The final stretch from Shangmuju Village to Lisuohaizi is about 9 kilometers long and is a villager-built path in poor condition. You can take a motorbike or hike, which takes about 4 hours.

Stinzo

🔸Altitude 4260m

⭐You can see Gongga Snow Mountain and Yala Snow Mountain at the same time. The telephoto lens can capture the more precipitous side of Gongga Mountain. The field of view is very broad. If you are lucky, the plane, snow-capped mountains, lakes, and reflections will complement each other, which is beautiful.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Kangding - Sidingcuo, convenient transportation, accessible by car

Guandejie Lake

🔸Altitude 4550m

⭐From here, you can see the north and south ridges of Gongga Mountain, which are balanced and symmetrical. You can also camp here and wait for a magnificent starry sky.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Jiagenba - Shangchijixi Village - Guandejie Lake. By the end of 2022, local villagers have built a road and can drive to the lake. 10 kilometers of unpaved road, the road surface is smooth, and the navigation is "Xiongluo Village".

San Encuo

🔸Altitude 4580m

⭐Beautiful scenery, few people, it is very close to Lenggacuo, visually more open, you can see more snow-capped mountains, there are many haystacks by the lake as the foreground, whether it is pure landscape photography or selfie angles, are more abundant

🚙Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Quanhuatan - Bangmujid Village - San'encuo. From Bangmujid Village to San'encuo, you can hike, ride a horse, or take a motorcycle. The hike takes about 4 hours.

🗻Pass

Zimei Pass

🔸4500m above sea level

⭐The viewing platform closest to Gongga Snow Mountain offers direct views of the main peak, the magnificent sea of clouds, the rare Buddha's light, and the dazzling sunset over the Golden Mountain.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Luding - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Shade - Shangmuju - Zimei Pass, accessible by off-road vehicles and SUVs, road closures are common.

Yaha Pass

🔸Altitude 4568m

⭐The best location to view the Gongga Peaks, a place that can bring visual shock, whether it is the knife-like texture eroded by the glacier or the perfect mountain curve of Gongga, they are all clearly visible.

Route: Chengdu - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Jiagenba - Yalong Village - Yaha Pass, accessible by off-road vehicles and SUVs. After years of construction, the road is finally complete and accessible to cars, but it's not open to the public yet and is closed at Yalong Village.

Xuerenbu Pass

🔸4200m above sea level

From here, you can see the main peaks of the Hengduan Mountains, including the Great Snow Mountain, from Little Gongga to Gongga Peak. In the canyon ahead, you can also see the calcified slopes of Jiagenba and Yaha Pass.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Jiagenba - Yalong Village - Xuerenbu Pass, navigate to Yalong Village, go up the mountain after arriving at the village. The road up the mountain is a dirt road, the road surface is flat and narrow. After reaching the parking lot at the top of the mountain, walk for 10 minutes to reach the first platform.

Yulong West Pass

🔸4500m above sea level

⭐The view here is wide, and you can face the main peak of Gongga. The mountain shape is more beautiful and it is so close that you can touch it. Due to its remote location, few people come here to visit

Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Luding - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Shade - Shangmuju - Yulong West - Yulong West Pass. A 3-kilometer hike. The hike up the mountain from Bangmujid or Xiarilangze is a steep and rugged one.

🗻Mountaintop

Caviar

🔸4200m above sea level

⭐The easiest place to take photos of Gongga Mountain. No need to hike. Drive directly to the mountaintop viewing platform, which has a 360-degree unobstructed viewing angle. The sunset in Yuzixi is the most gentle, and the golden light will illuminate the entire snow-capped mountains. The Gongga peaks in the distance are also immersed in this orange sea.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Yuzixi. There is an unpaved road at the end that is accessible by car.

Niubei Mountain

🔸3666m above sea level

⭐It is not only the best photography spot on the east slope of Gongga, but also the largest and most beautiful snow mountain viewing platform in China, with unparalleled sea of clouds, cloud waterfalls, and golden mountain in the sun.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Erlang Mountain - Lenqi - Changhaizi. Transfer to the scenic area sightseeing bus at Changhaizi. Any bus can go to Changhaizi.

Gaolusi Mountain Black Stone City

🔸4300m above sea level

⭐The Black Stone City is located on the Gaolusi Mountain. There is no city, only black stone piles of Mani stones and low walls. It is full of legendary colors and offers a panoramic view of the Gongga Snow Mountain and the Yala Snow Mountain.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Gaolusi Mountain - Heishi City. To get to Gaolusi Mountain, you need to take the old National Highway 318. After leaving the old National Highway 318, there are several kilometers of dirt roads with poor road conditions. It is only accessible by off-road vehicles.

Huajian Mountain

🔸3540m above sea level

Huajian Mountain, also known as the "Calf's Back Mountain," offers unobstructed views, offering a panoramic view of nearly all of Sichuan's famous mountains. To the east, Mount Emei and Mount Wawu loom in the distance, while to the northwest, Mount Gongga and Mount Yala are clearly visible.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Erlang Mountain - Lengqi - Haiziping Village - Huajian Mountain, starting from Haiziping Village, hike 6 kilometers, or take a motorcycle

Nama Peak

🔸Altitude 5588m

⭐As one of the satellite peaks of Gongga, the King of Mountains in Shu, it is connected to the main peak of Gongga by a ridge, with a straight-line distance of only 8 kilometers. You can enjoy the magnificent scenery of the main peak of Gongga and the northwest ridge up close.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Jiagenba - Zimei Village. Start climbing from Zimei Village. Suitable for those with mountaineering experience.

Wang Gangping

🔸3000m above sea level

⭐Here you can see many snow-capped mountains with an altitude of more than 5,000 meters. It is the best place to watch the golden mountain Gongga in the sun. It is a photo spot that photography enthusiasts cannot miss.

Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Shimian - Wanggangping - Visitor Center. You can reach the Visitor Center by car. Then take the cable car up the mountain.

Red Rock Top

🔸3500m above sea level

⭐The 360-degree natural viewing platform has a majestic, steep, magical and quiet original landscape, and a unique historical connotation of the fusion of Tibetan and Han cultures. It faces Gongga across the sea of clouds, and you can also overlook the surrounding peaks such as Mount Emei, Mount Siguniang, and Mount Erlang.

🚙Route: Chengdu Ya'an - Erlang Mountain - Hongyanding, follow National Highway 318 over Erlang Mountain, and take the old road up the mountain

Kangding Airport

🔸Altitude 4290m

Kangding Airport, China's most beautiful plateau airport, is set against the backdrop of Mount Gongga, the king of Sichuan mountains, and a group of snow-capped mountains. On the rainbow road to Kangding Airport, you can see the Gongga Snow Mountain and Stingcuo close at hand, as well as herds of cattle. When you look up, you can see planes taking off and flying across the Gongga Mountains.

🚙Route: Chengdu - Ya'an - Kangding - Kangding Airport, all paved roads, convenient transportation