Top 5 Off-the-beaten-path Trekking Routes in Sichuan

Located in Southwest China, Sichuan Province is known as a land of abundance, with excellent cuisine, spectacular giant pandas, beautiful Tibetan towns and villages, and a host of mountains and valleys that cover over half of the province, in the west.

Sichuan has become increasingly popular for hikers from across China

As a hugely popular place for trekking, Sichuan has become increasingly popular for hikers from across China, and all around the world. From the amazing multiple peaks of Mount Siguniang and the massive King of Mountains, Mount Gongga, to the beauty of Yala Kamiyama and the ancient Tibetan villages of Danba, Sichuan has some of the world’s most spectacular countryside and breathtaking scenery.

Also, there are more destinations for trekking in Sichuan that are less traveled by foreign tourists, which offer great outdoor experiences with charming natural beauty.

Trekking and Horseback Riding in Qizanggou Valley

Everyone knows Jiuzhaigou Valley but few know Qizanggou Valley. Setting in the mountains to the north of the Chengdu Basin, the beautiful valley of Qizanggou is only accessible on foot at the back of Jiuzhaigou Valley. Getting there from Chengdu is not as hard as it may sound, since there are 2-3 flights to the nearby Jiuzhaigou Airport daily, and regular buses every day from Chadianzi Bus Station. Tickets for the bus cost around 110CNY each, one way, and the trip takes around 10 hours. If you are in a hurry, or do not like long bus rides, the flight only takes around forty minutes, with an hour-long car ride to Songpan, the setting off point for treks in the area.

Horseback Riding in Qizanggou Valley

Sample Trekking Route in Qizanggou Valley

Once you are in Songpan, the trek will start on the mountain path that runs from Awenggou Valley, the way in to Qizanggou, towards the Yuhaizi Lake. 2,600 meters above sea level, the lake is known locally as Fish Lake, and the waters shine a beautiful turquoise color in the sunlight. The trek along the Awenggou Valley takes around four hours, and the first stop is at the Yuhaizi Lake, where you will camp for the night.

The beauty of the stunning landscape surrounding Qizanggou Valley.

The following morning the trail heads out from Yuhaizi Lake towards Hongxing Ya Kou, a 4,600 meter-high mountain pass between the valleys. From the top of the pass you can look down upon the beauty of the stunning landscape surrounding the Hongxinghaizi Lake. Sitting in the Qizanggou Valley, at an altitude of around 3,800 meters, Hongxinghaizi Lake is a very sacred place for the local people in Songpan. The lake is surrounded by green-backed mountains, and is fed by the valley streams and snow melts of spring. After a while at the lakeside, you will trek back along the same route to Yuhaizi Lake campsite, where you stay for the second night.

The last day of trekking takes you back along the Awenggou Valley to Awenggou Goukou, where you will be collected to spend the last night in Songpan, before transferring back to Chengdu.

5 Days Songpan Qizanggou Valley Hiking Tour (Rout 1 - Level: Easy)

Price From: USD 465

Trekking and Hiking in Wuxu Lake Trekking Tour

Located in a relatively untraveled part of Garze, a little southwest of Kangding, is the beautiful site of Wuxuhai, or Wuxu lake. Part of the mountainous Jiulong county, few foreign visitors venture out there in the wilds of Garze, despite there being some of the best alpine scenery in Sichuan. As it was put by explorer Joseph Rock, in his 1928 Nat Geo article, “the scenery hereabouts is overwhelmingly grand. Probably it is like cannot be found elsewhere in the world. A scenic wonder of the world, for centuries it may remain a closed land.” Wuxuhai it Tibetan for “A blazing and sunny lake”, and the deep blue water of the lake reflects the surrounding forests and peaks as if looking into a mirror.

Wuxu Lake

Wuxu Lake is an idyllic scenic area that is flanked by a long range of peaks to the south known as the 12 Sisters, which drop to meadows that run down to the water’s edge. Around 25 kilometers from the nearest town of Jiulong, getting to the lake requires a hired vehicle, and while the concrete road does not go all the way to the lake, the dirt road does, and is fairly passable, except in rainy seasons.

Getting to Wuxu Lake by tour is done often as part of one of the Mount Gongga encircling tours, which are 7-day tours in Mount Gongga area, covering the Hailuogou Glacier Park, Tagong Grasslands, Shangmuju Village, Rilukou Grassland, Wuxu Lake, and Jiulong Town. The tour includes some of the best attractiosn around Minya Konka, as well as almost a full day exploring the stunning countryside of Wuxu Lake.

Trekking in Nianbaoyuze Mountain Scenic Resort

Taking in the famous Aba loop, the tour of Nianbaoyuze also incorporates the stunning Ruoergai Prairie, Huahua Lake, the Langmusi Temple, and the idyllic landscape of the Jiuzhaigou Valley. The climax of the tour is the trek to see the uncanny beauty of the Nianbaoyuze Scenic Area, high up in the mountains in Jiuzhi County of Qinghai Province. This holy mountain is worshipped by the Tibetan people in the area as the God of Mountain, and is full of steep peaks, icy glaciers, and deep, perilous gorges.

Nianbaoyuze Mountain Scenic

Sample Route of Niangbaoyuze Trekking Tour

Starting from Chengdu, you will be taken to Aba County, in northern Sichuan, where you will stop briefly at the Hongyuan Grassland, before continuing to the day’s destination. The following morning is a drive to Nianbaoyuze Scenic Area, some 125 kilometers north of Aba, and the trek around Nianbaoyuze will begin after lunch. The area is said to be an ancient battleground of the legendary Tibetan hero, King Gesar. The area is also believed to be inhabited by all the natural spirits and several deities.

Camping in Nianbaoyuze Mountain

After camping he night at Nianbaoyuze, you will have the whole day trekking around the area, from Xiannu Lake to Yaonu Lake, which are conjoined like twins by a narrow, 100-meter-long channel squeezed in the foot of Mount Nianbaoyuze. After the treks, you will be driven back to Aba County for the night, before being driven to the Hongyuan Prairie, where you can see the first bend of the famous Yellow River. Then it is on to the Ruoergai Grand Prairie, one of the most beautiful natural wetlands in China, where you can explore the stunning Huahua Lake. The lake is a natural migratory ground for birds, and is surrounded by wetlands and swamps on all sides. Walking to the lakeside is done over a wooden walkway.

After a short drive northward to explore the Langmusi Temple, on the border of Sichuan and Gansu, it is on to Langmusi Town for the night, and then to Jiuzhaigou to prepare for the trek around the scenic area. The Jiuzhai valley takes up the whole of the next day, with dozens of beautiful green, blue, and turquoise lakes, the triple-valley formation of Rize, Shuzheng, and Zechawa, and some of the nine Tibetan villages in the valley. After the last night of rest from the busy day of Jiuzhai Valley, it is back to Chengdu.

Trekking and Camping in Yala Snow Mountain

One of the four holy mountains in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Region of Sichuan Province, Yala Snow Mountain is situated at the juncture of three counties in Sichuan, Kangding, Danba and Daofu. It is considered very sacred by the local people, and worshipped as the head of the nine gods of the mountains. At an elevation of 5,884 meters, the scenic area is popular with trekkers, and is widely known as one of the best trekking routes in western Sichuan. Treks normally start at Zhonggu Village, around 30 kilometers from Kangding, and the area includes an abundance of natural attractions that you will enjoy and will take your breath away. The classic trek in Yala Snow Mountain includes the scaling of Yala Pass, 4,216 meters above sea level, as well as some of the most beautiful lakes in Sichuan Province.

Yala Snow Mountain

Sample Route of Yala Kamiyama Trekking Tour

The trek starts from Zhonggu Village as the sun rises, and the first day is spent on the four-five hour trek along the easy part of the trail. The wide track leads from Zhonggu to the Xindianzi Grassland, as you head into the isolated and serene area of Yala Snow Mountain. The first stop for the night is on the grasslands at the East Hillside Base Camp.

In the morning you will ascend the mountain to the top of the Yala Pass, at 4,216 meters. The trek to the top of the pass takes around three hours, and from there you will get a great view of the peak of the holy mountain. The trek through the pass takes around two to three hours, after which you will arrive at the Sisters Lakes, 4,200 meters above sea level. After another short walk, you will finally reach the campsite for the night, at the shores of the beautiful, jade-green Yalayoucuo Lake. At 3,980 meters above sea level, the lake is a beautiful sight this high up the side of the mountain, and a perfect place to get some great scenic photographs.

Getting a great view of the peak of the holy mountain.

After a restful night on the shores of the spectacular Yalayoucuo Lake, the hike starts down towards the Taizhangou Valley. The route goes past the mountain peaks, and you will be able to experience the snow-capped peaks as you pass the summit of Yala Holy Mountain, and the Donggu Hot Spring. The walk down to Taizhangou Goukou is easy going, and a relaxing change from the hard climb to Yala Pass. After a short break at Taizhangou Goukou, at 3,400 meters, you will continue on down to Zhonggu Village, where the car awaits to take you back to Chengdu.

4 Days Sichuan Mount Yala Trekking and Camping Tour

Trekking in Genie Mountain

The third highest mountain in Sichuan, Genie Mountain is well known for its high peaks, the Lenggu Temple, Open grasslands, and ancient forests. Covering over 500 square kilometers, the Genie Natural reserve is a spectacular place for hiking. There are three main peaks in the area, Geneie Main Peak at 6,204 meters, Xiaozha Holy Mountain at 5,807meters, and Kemailong Holy Mountain, at 5,780meters.

Genie Mountain

As an untapped and mostly unexplored scenic area, Genie Mountain is a good place for hiking and exploring. Taking a guide along if you are trekking alone is recommended, as is renting a horse for your pack to make the hike easier.

The main hiking route in Genie Mountain covers the trekking trail from Zhangna to Naiganduo Village, and then on to Hupiba, which is the best place to first view the mountain. The next day is spent touring Lenggu Temple after a short hike to get there, where you can see the three treasures of the temple; the legendary female antler, the anti-helical conch shell, and the rare white stone. After, you will trek back to Naiganduo Village for the night, and in the morning head up to Zetong Village, and the Lazai Ya Kou. From the top of the pass you can see the line of the mountains stretching out into the distance, before heading down to Lamaya Township and a car to Litang.