Hiking in Genie

Went to Litang with friends in January to play in the snow❄️ This place is called the "City in the Sky" – the altitude is high but the scenery is absolutely stunning! We stayed in a super unique Tibetan-style homestay and unlocked a new way to explore Genie Mountain through hiking~
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🏔️Recommended Genie experiences:
📍Genie Eye: A mysterious circular lake that turns into a sky mirror when frozen in winter – every shot is postcard-perfect! (Address: Zhangna Village, Litang County)

📍Genie Sacred Mountain: Perfect for winter hiking with unreal pure snowscapes. Recommended route: Small loop trail (~5-6 hours, 6204m altitude, beginners should hire a guide)

📍Zeba Village: Stayed at the popular Genie Mountain Lodge – the Tibetan host was super warm, making us butter tea and offering amazing stargazing at night (Address: Zeba Village Homestay Area)
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🎒Gear checklist:
√ Altitude sickness meds are a must! We started taking rhodiola a week early
√ Sunglasses + sunscreen – UV rays are intense at high altitudes
√ Waterproof hiking boots (snow hiking will get your feet wet)
√ Bring plenty of hand warmers – temps drop to -20°C at night!
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🍵Food recommendations:
▫️Tibetan hotpot: Super tender yak meat with flavorful broth
▫️Butter tea: So fun learning to churn tea from our homestay host
▫️Barley pancakes: Perfect with yogurt
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💡Pro tips:
1. From Chengdu, carpooling is recommended – the G318 highway views are breathtaking
2. Book homestays early! Winter gets fully booked quickly
3. Avoid showering on the first day to prevent altitude sickness
4. Bring enough cash – poor signal makes mobile payments unreliable in the mountains