Live Your Best Lives
This year's Genyen South Trail hike is truly a hot topic! Open Xiaohongshu or Douyin, and you'll be flooded with descriptions like "God's Backyard," "Pure Land on Earth," and "Breathtakingly Beautiful."
Yes, Genyen is truly stunning, and the scenery is truly breathtaking! You can see snow-capped mountains, lakes, canyons, grasslands, glacial ruins, and other plateau scenery. The Eye of Genyen resembles the Eye of the Earth, the snow-capped mountains and meadows rival those of Switzerland, and the cabins amidst a sea of flowers are truly stunning. It's no exaggeration to call it "the last secret place in western Sichuan"!
But to be honest, it made me scratch my head. This place is really beautiful, and it’s also a “trap”, but you didn’t say anything about the hard work in the process!
If you are attracted by the “ceiling of western Sichuan” and “secret places with few people” on Xiaohongshu, you might as well read this honest article of mine first to give you some precautions before you recommend it responsibly!
The Genyen South Line is divided into forward and reverse routes. The forward route runs from Litang to Batang. The last section of the Zawala Pass in Batang is paved, but it is poorly maintained and has many falling rocks. If it rains, landslides are likely to occur, so this section can be abandoned directly.
The highlight section we chose is from Litang → Tiejiangshan Pass → Heart of Genyen → Eye of Genyen → Lenggu Temple → Hangda Camp → Redi River Valley, and then ends at Tiejiangshan Pass and returns.
The winding dirt road to the Eye of Genyen is quite spacious, but there is a 10-kilometer road with shell craters from the Handa Camp to the Redi River Valley, which makes you question your life!
The winding dirt road to the Eye of Genyen is quite spacious. The 10-kilometer, shell-cratered road from the Handa Camp to the Redi River Valley was truly breathtaking! Fortunately, the main advantage of the route was a gradual decrease in altitude. On the second day of the trip, we traveled from Chengdu to Yajiang, and on the third day, from Yajiang to Ranrika Village. Both trips were by car, allowing us to fully acclimate to the high altitude.
The altitude of the journey ranges from 4014 meters in Litang to 2600 meters in Yajiang, so there is a buffer period even if you suffer from altitude sickness.
Advantages: The standard hike on the southern slope of Genyen is relatively easy! It doesn't require the "eyes in heaven, the body in hell" kind of torment. It only takes four days and a total of 40 kilometers, with a difficulty level of 4 stars (out of a 7-star scale), making it a suitable hike for the general public.
There are few people and the scenery is wild. You can see many marmots on the meadows of the Redi River Valley. As long as you exert some physical strength to go deep into the scenic spot, you can enjoy a sea of snow-capped mountains and flowers to yourself. This kind of primitive feeling cannot be given by other mature scenic spots!
Disadvantages: Having said that, the lack of crowds and beautiful scenery also means being difficult to reach and having poor facilities. To witness this isolated and pure beauty firsthand, you need extraordinary endurance! In addition to the average 10 kilometers of hiking per day, some days the drive takes an average of 6 hours per day. For the beauty, even a strong butt is a must!
Genyen has little commercial appeal! The infrastructure is poor, and much of the area is practically undeveloped. Don't expect a luxurious stay, or private bathrooms or hot water at your leisure. We spent three days staying in local farmhouses, mostly shared rooms. "Clean, warm, and clean" is the highest praise! It's recommended to bring your own sleeping bag liner/dirt bag, and all disposable toiletries.
There are basically no signals and no clear road signs during the trip, so traveling with a group is the most basic safety guarantee.
If you can accept the above 3 points after reading this, then you can consider going to Genyen, and there is a 60% chance that you will see Genyen like this:
There are also such:
There are also such:
Why is the probability only 60%? Because although Genyen is beautiful, it is really dependent on the weather!
The weather was good, and the Genyen peaks under a clear blue sky were breathtaking! The river valley, the lake, the sea of flowers...it was definitely worth the trip.
But! The plateau changes faster than the pages of a book! Clouds and fog can appear suddenly, reducing visibility to zero in an instant. Rain or snow can also lead to muddy and slippery conditions. The plateau can be a place where all four seasons are possible.
Manage your expectations: You won't necessarily see a stunning panorama of "sunlit golden mountains" just by visiting. On a bad day with a gusty wind, you might just remember being cold and unable to see anything.
Who says summer is the "peak season" with crowds of people? Here in Genyen, you can still enjoy the snow-capped mountains and meadows and the scenery all to yourself!
Core point, don’t miss the essence!
Zeba Village, nestled at the foot of Mount Genyen, is one of the villages closest to the main peak! Just look up and you'll see a massive glacier! In the summer, you'll witness breathtaking scenery of snow-capped mountains and a sea of flowers. On a clear day, you can even witness the stunning sunrise in the mornings and evenings, where golden sunlight bathes the snow-capped mountains, seemingly draping them in a golden veil.
Eye of Genyen: There is water only for two or three months a year. The Eye of Genyen, photographed by a drone, is the "Eye of the Earth".
To the naked eye, it is just a small puddle with a diameter of several tens of meters, surrounded by flowers and plants, dancing in the wind. You have to wait until the wind is calm before you can see the reflection of the snow-capped mountains.
Lenggu Temple: The old Lenggu Temple is full of mystery, facing the sacred Mount Genyen, and is ancient and vicissitudes of life. As the birthplace of the White Sect, many eminent monks have come here to worship in order to achieve perfection in merit.
After visiting the Lao Leng Ancient Temple, you can enjoy the beautiful canyon scenery of the river and forest at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, and return to the Xin Leng Ancient Temple in due time, one of the accommodation options.
Redi River Valley: A classic hiking section with magnificent valley scenery. It is an excellent place to see the sea of flowers and snow-capped mountains. It is especially beautiful in July when you go down to the valley, with the meadows full of yellow and purple wildflowers.
Genyen is very suitable for summer and autumn from July to October, but I personally think the peak of beauty must be the flowering period in midsummer! The second best time is autumn.
July and August are highly recommended! Imagine: at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, along the banks of the river valley, fields of alpine wildflowers are in full bloom!
Late autumn (mid to late October) has many layers of color. The advantage of autumn is that the weather is stable, which is suitable for taking extreme blockbusters such as the sun shining on the golden mountain. However, when it comes to the colorful forests in autumn, I have other choices.
If you like the layered feeling of green everywhere, snow-capped mountains + meadows + sea of flowers + cabins, choose midsummer!
Litang starts at 4,014 meters above sea level, and the Eye of Genyen is over 4,700 meters! A head-on wind can easily cause altitude sickness! Be especially careful to protect yourself from the wind and stay warm. A hat and a thermos are essential, and drinking plenty of hot water is really helpful!
Before departure, be sure to understand the symptoms of altitude sickness and how to alleviate them, exercise in advance to get your body into optimal condition, stop exercising a week before departure, and ensure adequate sleep and a healthy mood!
Adapt in advance: The first day of gathering and the second day in Xinduqiao are mainly for adapting to the high altitude. Do not take a shower or wash your hair to see how it reacts.
Move slowly: Don't show off, don't run or jump, walk at your own pace, don't rush, and walk slowly.
Essential medicines: Ibuprofen (to relieve headaches) and my usual gastrointestinal medicine.
Mental health: A mild headache and shortness of breath are normal, so don't panic. But if something feels off (vomiting, severe headache, confusion), descend immediately! Save your life! You'll enjoy the scenery later!
Don't underestimate the summer in July and August! The plateau has a huge temperature difference, and you can experience four seasons in one day!
Onion dressing method: Quick-drying T-shirt (perspiration wicking) + fleece/thin down (warmth) + windproof and waterproof jacket/hard shell (windproof, rainproof and snowproof) is the best choice!
Pants: Quick-drying hiking pants/combat pants, scratch-resistant and rain-proof.
Shoes: Non-slip and waterproof hiking shoes and river trekking shoes! Don't wear regular sneakers! The road is gravel and muddy, and there are sections where you cross streams, and the water level may be up to your calf!
The four-piece sun protection set: SPF50 + sunscreen + wide-brimmed hat + magic headscarf + sunglasses. Don't underestimate the ultraviolet rays in the plateau, you can get sunburned in minutes!
Others: Thermos cup (drinking hot water is very important), raincoat (preferably outdoor raincoat), backpack (with good carrying system)
There are some online special forces check-in plans for a four- or five-day trip to Genyen. Please don't try! It's too rushed! It's physically and mentally exhausting, and the experience is worth it! Genyen is worth taking your time.
The Genyen Ranch Essence Hiking Tour lasts for 8 days and 7 nights. Four of the four days involve a total of 40 kilometers of hiking, with no camping required. The overall difficulty is not high. The first three days are mainly for acclimatization to the high altitude. The hike begins on the fourth day. The route has a reasonable altitude gradient, making it suitable for beginners of high-altitude hiking.
Kick-off on July 19th! This is the only major event of the year!
Avoid the peak traffic during May Day and National Day, and the group fee will be reduced by 500+ yuan
Airline tickets are at their lowest point, saving over 1,000 yuan on round trips
Exclusive combination of flower sea and snow mountain, miss it and wait another year!
As a limited-time event only available once a year, we have created a five-star hiking experience for tourists:
1. Exclusive gift package
Register and receive an exclusive gift pack: a windproof headscarf, a commemorative badge, a unique medal that doubles as a refrigerator magnet, and a soft outdoor backpack. After the hike, a certificate will be presented, and a celebration dinner will be held, including a raffle for secret prizes!
2. Full video recording
A professional photographer will accompany your group for snap shots, and a videographer will be added for groups over 50. We'll also capture aerial footage of the flower sea hike and give you a bonus event recap video—we've got you covered for Instagram-worthy content!
3. Comfortable food and accommodation
No need to camp! Two accommodation options available in Ranrika Village
Zeba Village arranged a rich group meal, and a celebratory banquet was given on the last day of the hike to Yajiang.
4. Improve logistics services
Travel light throughout the trip, arrange personnel transfer and luggage transfer, and provide trekking poles free of charge.
Mature high-response emergency processing mechanism eliminates worries.
Different from regular tours, the conference also provides exclusive experiences such as medals, certificates, photography services, etc., and a video review at the end of the event will record the beautiful memories of the journey.
The Genyen South Line is for romantics who can endure hardships.
It doesn’t have five-star hotels or internet-famous coffee shops, but it has the Milky Way within reach and the shock that will make you scream even when you gasp for breath.
if you:
Have some knowledge/experience with plateau;
Able to endure the hardships of the journey (bumpy roads, limited conditions);
Willing to slow down and feel the most primitive magnificence with your body and eyes;
Be fully prepared physically and mentally (especially for altitude sickness)...
So, go for it! Do your homework, lower your expectations, and choose the right time (midsummer blooms!)
The gifts of Genyen will make you feel that all the hard work is worth it!
What it can give you is the pure feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle and blending into the world!
