Mount Gongga Trekking Guide

Mount Gongga, also known as Minya Konka, is located in the east edge of Tibetan Plateau. With the altitude of 7556m, Mount Gongga is the highest mountain in Sichuan, so called the “King of Shushan”. The splendid scenery in and round this famous mountain has attracted many trekking lovers and mountain climbers to explore. Snow mountains, glaciers, hot springs, valleys and alpine lakes are linked together by those trekking roads.

5 Days Mt.Gongga Trekking Tour

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To some extent, trekking is not only the best way to enjoy the marvelous and natural scenery around Mount Gongga, but also the best way to get close to the real life of local Tibetan people and to appreciate the local culture.

Trekking Man in Mount Gongga

Getting to Mount Gongga

Since the start point of Mount Gongga trekking is near Kangding, most trekkers choose to stay over in Kangding for a night. Then they can start their Minya Konka trekking the next day. There are mainly three means of transportation avaliable for you to get to Mount Gongga from Chengdu via Kangding. There are mainly three transportations available for you to get to Kangding from Chengdu. You can go to Kangding from Chengdu by car, by bus or by air. It only takes about 1 hour from Chengdu to Kangding by air while it takes about 6.5 hours by car or by bus.

Best Time to Mount Gongga

Mount Gongga is located in Tibetan plateau and its climate is influenced by altitude. The temperature decreases and the rain capacity increases as the altitude rises. And the rainy season in Mount Gongga is from June to November while July, August and September rain the most. The dry season is from November to May. Considering safety, the best time to climb Mount Gongga is from late May to early Jun and in mid-Nov, the time period between the rainy season and dry season.

Recommended Mount Gongga Trekking Routes

Since Minya Konka is very huge, there are many trekking routes available for you to choose. In addition, you can also design your trekking route according to your own requirement. There are three recommended trekking routes listed as following which you can refer to.

Mount Gongga Trekking Map

5 Days Shangmuju-Caoke Minya Konka Trekking Route

DAY 1: Kangding-75km-Xinduqiao(3400m)-3km-Waze Country-60km-Shade-59km-Liuba Country-13km- Quanhuatan-Shangmuju Village (3700m)
Set out at 7 o’clock. If it is a sunny day, you have chance to see sunrise and clouds sea at Zheduo Mountain. The whole journey for today is about 130km, 4 hours’ driving. You can tour the scenic spots along the way, such as Xinduqiao and Quanhuatan. When you arrive at Shangmuju Village, find a hostel to check in and have a rest.

DAY 2: Shangmuju Village-12km-Zimei Pass (4550m) - Upper Zimei Village (3400m)
It is about 22km from Shangmuju to Zimei Pass. You can choose to rent a horse to carry your luggage. Around 3pm, you can arrive at Zimei Pass which is one of the best places to take pictures of Mount Gongga. Then, move forward to Upper Zimei Village which is 15km away from Zimei Pass. You can choose to camp at Upper Zimei Village or live in a Tibetan hostel.

DAY 3: Upper Zimei Village- Gongga Temple (3850m)
Gongga Temple is only 8km away from Upper Zimei Village. At Gongga Temple, you can see the grand Mount Gongga closely. From here, you can also trek to see glaciers of Mount Gongga that is 24km away. You will camp at Gongga Temple tonight.

DAY 4: Gongga Temple-Lower Zimer Village (3000m)- Bawang Lake(3200m)
You leave Gongga Temple for Bawang Lake in the moring. You trek about 10km to get to Lower Zimei Village. Bawang Lake is about 17 away from Lower Zimei Village. You will arrive at Bawang Lake at about 3pm. When you arrive at Bawang Lake, you can camp at first, then have a rest or just walk around to take photographs.

DAY 5: Bawang Lake-Caoke-Shimian(1320m)
You can take pictures of beautiful Bawang Lake in the morning. Then start your trekking to Jiebei Stone. It is 26km from Bawang Lake to Jiebei Stone. It will take about 6 hours for trekking. Then you can hire a car to Caoke where you can have a meal and get rest. You can choose to stay over in Caoke or just rent a car to go to Shimian and stay over in Shimian. You can return to Chengdu the next day.

Bawang Lake

5 Days Laoyulin-Shangmuju Minya Konka Trekking Route

DAY 1: Kangding(2600m )-10km-Laoyulin-11km-Gexi Pasture(3400m)
Get up in the morning and then move to Laoyulin where you can hire a guide and horse. After lunch, you start to trek about 2 hours to arrive at Gexi Pasture. Gexi Pasture is today’s campsite.

DAY 2: Gexi Pasture(3400m)- 8km-Liangcha River(3780m )-Xiariwuqie-4km-Shangriwuqie(4350m)
Take pictures in the morning. Start today’s trekking at 8am. About 3 hours later, you will reach Liangcha River. On the right of the Liangcha River, it is the road to Panpan Mountain. You can choose the road on the left which leads to Riwuqie Pass. It will take about 4 hours to get to Shangriwuqie. Along the way, you can see the splendid Tianhaizi Mountain which is 6070m above sea level and other snow mountains. The view is really impressive. You camp at Shangriwuqie tonight.

DAY 3: Shangriwuqie- 6km-Riwuqie Pass(4900m)-12km-Campsite at the end of Moxi Valley(4100m)
After breakfast, start to climb over Riwuqie Pass. You can enjoy the snow mountains and glaciers along the way. Riwuqie Pass is at the altitude of 4830m. It costs much energy to climb over Riwuqie Pass. Riwuqie Pass is the boundary between Wuqie Valley and Moxi Valley. After the Pass, you will go downhill to Moxi Valley. Today, camp at the end of Moxi Valley.

DAY 4: Campsite at the end of Moxi Valley-25km- Winter Pasture- Gongga Temple (3750m)
Start today’s trekking in the morning. Walking along the Moxi Valley and go across the Winter Pasture. Then you will get to Gongga Temple. The altitude descends all the way. Gongga Temple is at the altitude of 3750m. It is not only a famous religious shrine, but also one of the best places to take pictures of Mount Gongga. Here, you do not need to camp. You can sleep in the mood bed in the temple.

DAY5: Gongga Temple-6km-Upper zimei Village-8km- Zimei Pass(4550m)-12km- Shangmuju(3700m)-63km- Shade- 60km-Waze-71km-Kangding(2900m)
Set out in the morning and trek to Upper zimei Village. Here you can take a car or just trek to Zimei Pass. Zimei Pass also has the best view to see Mount Gongga which is really stunning. After take a rest at Zimei Pass, you start to go downhill to Shangmuju Village. Then move for Kangding via Shade, Waze and Zheduoshankou. Stay over in Kangding.

Trekking Road of Mount Gongga

6 Days Laoyulin-Caoke Minya Konka Trekking Route

DAY 1: Kangding(2600m )-10km-Laoyulin-11km-Gexi Pasture(3400m)-8km- Liangcha River
Get up in the morning and then move to Laoyulin where you can hire a guide and horse. After lunch, you start to trek about 2 hours to arrive at Gexi Pasture. Move another 8km to get to Liangcha River. Today you can camp at the Liangcha River.

DAY 2: Liangcha River (3780m )-Xiariwuqie-4km-Shangriwuqie(4350m)
Start today’s trekking in the morning. The road on the right of Liangcha River leads to Panpan Mountain while the road on the left leads to Riwuqie Pass. You keep trekking on the left road to Riwuqie. It will take about 4 hours to get to Shangriwuqie. Along the way, you can see the splendid Tianhaizi Mountain which is 6070m above sea level and other snow mountains. The view is really impressive. You camp at Shangriwuqie tonight.

DAY 3: Shangriwuqie- 6km-Riwuqie Pass(4900m)-12km-Campsite at the end of Moxi Valley(4100m)
The altitude rises about 400m during today’s trekking and you have to climb over Riwuqie Pass. Today’s trekking is the most challenging one but the scenery is the most beautiful for the whole trekking. You can enjoy the snow mountains, glaciers and alpine lakes along the way. Riwuqie Pass is the boundary between Wuqie Valley and Moxi Valley. After climbing over the Pass, you will go downhill to Moxi Valley. You can camp at the end of Moxi Valley tonight.

DAY 4: Campsite at the end of Moxi Valley-25km - Gongga Temple (3750m)- Upper Zimei Village
Walk along the Moxi Valley and go across the Winter Pasture. Then you will get to Gongga Temple. The altitude descends all the way. Gongga Mountain is at the altitude of 3750m. It is not only a famous religious shrine, but also one of the best places to take pictures of Mount Gongga. Then, keep moving for Upper Zimei Village. Today you will live in Tibetan houses here.

DAY5: Upper zimei Village-8km- Zimei Pass (4550m)-12km- Lower Zimei Village
Today is the most relaxing day. You can go to Zimei Pass by car. Zimei Pass is also one of the best places to see Mount Gongga. The view is really stunning. After take pictures at Zimei Pass, you go downhill to Lower Zimei Village by car. Stay over in Tibetan houses at Lower Zimei Village tonight.

DAY 6: Lower Zimei Village- 12km- Bawang Lake- Jiebei Stone- Caoke
This is the last day for trekking with 26km trekking road. You can choose to take a car to Bawang Lake. When you arrive at Bawang Lake, you have to trek through a wood. Then, you will reach Jiebei Stone. Take a car to Caoke from Jiebei Stone and your trekking is completed.

7 Days Mt. Gongga Trekking Tour - Classic Minya Konka Trekking Tour

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High Altitude Sickness in Mount Gongga

You may get high altitude sickness when you trek in Mount Gongga (Minya Konka) since Mount Gongga is in Tibetan highland with high altitude,. Therefore, you have to take some measures to prevent it before you go. You can eat some anti-altitude sickness drugs (for example: Hongjintian) in advance and make sure you are in great fit. If you really get an altitude sickness, don’t worry too much. Just be relaxed, take enough rests and sleep well. Don’t drink alcohol and do not do excessive exercises.

Packing List for Trekking in Mount Gongga

1. Prepare good-qualified camping equipment (tent, sleep bags, moisture pad), backpacks, trekking poles, waterproof clothes and boots, rain gear, cookers, sunscreen products and other things you need.
2. Take Complex vitamins, glucose products and commonly used drugs (cold medicine, gastrointestinal drugs, trauma medicine, and anti-altitude sickness drugs) with you during your trekking.
3. Take sufficient high-energy food by yourself for your trekking.