Trekking in Sichuan in Winter: Is it too cold to go from December to February?

While many people love to go trekking in the peak season, there are those who like to see the area in its winter coat, and there are other benefits for trekking in winter, too. For one, there are fewer tourists around. Winter is the low season for tourism in Sichuan Province, and with less tourists around there are more places to stay, often cheaper accommodation, and less crowded trekking routes.

Clear skies and excellent views of Minya Konka.

There are also other opportunities to see scenery and attractions that are not available from spring to autumn, and which can only be experienced by taking a winter tour of the regions. Moreover, winter is not necessarily all snow-drifts and icy roads. Although the west of Sichuan is on the Tibetan Plateau, there is not as much snow and ice as in the higher regions of the plateau, and many of the valleys are still open for trekking. And the “winter wonderland” scenery is even more spectacular, with clear skies and excellent views of the amazing high peaks such as Minya Konka and the beautiful Yala Snow Mountain.

Why Go Trekking in Winter

Best Time to See the Glacier

Glaciers are a natural attraction in the high-altitude regions of the Tibetan Plateau and western Sichuan, and are often best seen in the winter, when their pristine white majesty is at its best. Glaciers were formed millions of years ago, and consist of a mass of ice that moves across the land like a huge, frozen river. With one of the world’s most spectacular glaciers - Hailuogou Glacier – and several other amazing glaciers in the area, Sichuan Province in winter is one of the best places to explore this wonder of ancient nature in all its glory.

The World’s Most Spectacular Glaciers - Hailuogou Glacier

Enjoy Hot Spring

Another special attraction of the area in winter is the hot springs, hidden either in virgin forests or under the cover of snow and ice. In many of the locations of hot springs, such as Conch Gully, the springs gush out of the ground from cracks in the rocks all year round. Water temperatures can easily reach as high as 90 degrees, and where they gush into the small ponds makes an ideal place for bathing in the warm, refreshing waters.

Enjoying the marvelous hot springs at the foot of the mountain after a day hiking in the mountain.

Hot springs are notable for their healing effects and benefits for people with arthritis, gastroenteritis, and neuralgia, and are the perfect end to a long day trekking, for relaxing and easing away the aches of the treks.

If you take a Mount Emei hiking tour, you can enjoy the marvelous hot springs at the foot of the mountain after a day hiking in the mountain. When you take the trip to Mount Gongga to enjoy the great glacier in Hailuogou, you will not miss the chance to enjoy the hot springs.

Low Season for Cheaper Price

Low season in Sichuan Province means that you can take advantage of certain benefits that are not available in the high season. Peak season travel normally includes a high price tag for everything from flights to accommodation and entrance fees. Winter, however, being the low season, means that flights are often cheaper and there are great deals available on hotel and hostel accommodation, since there are a lot less people coming into the region at this time of year. Entrance fees to many attractions in China are often cheaper during the low season as well. And with fewer tourists crowding out the towns and villages, the locals are often friendlier than normal, and have more time to chat with visitors when the places are less crowded.

Weather Condition of Sichuan in Winter

Weather in Sichuan Province can be divided into three main areas, with very different climactic conditions in each. While the eastern part of Sichuan, inside the Sichuan Basin, may not get all that cold in winter, the higher elevations of the northwestern plateau area and the high mountains and deep valleys of the southwestern area see a slightly harsher winter, although not as harsh as other regions of Tibet.

Snow is prevailing in the southwest region.

In the northwest, around Xiling and Shiqu County, the winter is long, and temperatures can reach as low as minus 35 degrees, although the average temperature is normally around minus ten. Slightly higher temperatures prevail in the other areas of the plateau region of Sichuan, and snow is the predominant weather in the area. In the southwest region, the area is sunny and slightly warmer that the northwest, although snow is also prevailing in the area, and the valleys and parks take on a winter wonderland feel, with a white landscape full of skeletal trees and blinding, white peaks.

Recommended Trekking Routes in winter

Winter trekking has its own attraction for visitors, and can be just as stunning as in the high season, and sometimes more so. There are several places that are excellent to visit in winter, with spectacular attractions that are not available during the rest of the year.

Hailuogou Valley in Mount Gongga

Hailuogou National Glacier Forest Park is located in the southeast of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, on the east face of Mount Gongga (Minya Konka), at the eastern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau. Inside the park, there are hanging glaciers, hundreds of ice caves, giant icefalls and quiet forest. Among these amazing glaciers, the Great Icefall is around 1,000 meters long and 1,100 meters wide. Majority of the glaciers are located at an elevation of around 2,800 meters above sea level.

Hailuogou National Glacier Forest Park

The park boasts many geographic attractions, including ancient glaciers, the grand glacier cascade, virgin forests, wild animals and hot springs. The best time to visit this beautiful place, and see the glaciers and ice falls at their best is in winter, when there is less chance of the ice falls collapsing, as they often do during the warmer weather of spring and summer.

Mount Siguniang

Mount Siguniang, or the Four Maidens Mountain, is located in western Sichuan, around 200 kilometers west of Chengdu. The Siguniangshan Scenic Area comprises of four adjacent mountain peaks, which are known as the “Four Maidens”, and are: Dafeng, Erfeng, Sanfeng, and Yaomei Feng. The unspoilt natural beauty of the park - as well a//s the famous Ice Climbing Festival - is just some of the main attractions of the park.

Ice climbing Festival in Shuangquiao Valley

The ice climbing Festival in Shuangquiao Valley is one of the most amazing events in the Sichuan Winter calendar. Several schools in the area offer training courses for the festival, and can teach you how to climb the ice walls, and the festival has different courses for the different levels of ability, including one for beginners. The ice formations used include icefalls, frozen waterfalls, and ice-covered cliffs and rock slopes.

6 Days Mount Siguniang Dafeng and Erfeng Climbing Tour

While trekking in Siguniangshan is normally preferred in the high season, the area has a special, virgin quality to it when the snows cover the valleys and mountains. While some of the higher passes and peaks may be off-limits at times due to heavy snow, the area as a whole has some astounding treks, which can be done just as well in winter as in summer.

5 Days Mt. Siguniang Changping Valley to Bipeng Valley Hiking Tour

Tips for a Winter Trekking Tour

Dress in layers - This is really the key to being outside in cold weather; add and remove pieces as needed. Do not overlook packing a hat and gloves even in shoulder-seasons – they offer an easy way to control temperature. With layers, you can remove a piece to cool down and dry out some, then put it back on.

Resist the temptation to dress too warmly - When you are shivering at the trailhead, you may think you need heavier stuff than you really do. You may be chilly for the first 15 minutes, but once you get moving you will warm up quickly. Moreover, if you will be doing a lot of uphill, you will heat up more than level hiking. If you heat up too much and start sweating, you can risk hypothermia. It can be tough to get the balance right but adjust your temperature by adding/removing hat and gloves, and opening/closing pit zips or other clothing vents.

Daylight hours are limited - Know when sunset is. Start early and pack a headlamp in case you get caught out in darkness. A small, lightweight one can be bought relatively cheaply and is easier to hike with than a flashlight.

Trekking Poles – They can add stability in slippery conditions. Even if you don’t normally use them, you may want them for hiking in snow or ice.

Tip for chilly starts - If you tend to run cold and always find yourself shivering for the first 15 minutes of a hike, try jogging in place for a few seconds at the trail head, or do a couple of jumping jacks to kick start your body a bit. Yes, you may look stupid, but you will not be cold.