Where to Trek in Sichuan: How to Choose the Best Sichuan Trekking Route

Sichuan is a large province in southwest China, and is a favorite spot for hikers and trekkers from all over the globe. With some of the best mountain and valley treks in Asia, the western part of Sichuan, which is mostly located on the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, has much to offer both the seasoned trekker and the novice hiker.

Trekking is a fantastic way to stay fit and explore a destination

There exists in Sichuan a vast range of treks for every level of ability, but it can be hard to narrow down the choices to something that you can manage, have time for, or is a good fit to what you are looking for in a trek. Trekking is a fantastic way to stay fit and explore a destination that you have always wanted to visit. However, if you choose the wrong trek, the whole thing could be a disappointment, or worse, a non-starter. By looking at all the things you want to get from your experience, and any time and distance constraints you may have, you can be guaranteed to select the right trek for you.

Narrowing Your Choice by Physical Condition

Trekking in the mountains and valleys of Sichuan can get very intense, with increases in elevation and long hard climbs, and it is not for the faint-hearted. If you are new to trekking, or if you do not have a lot of time to spend on this particular trek, limiting it to something that is not too hard and not too long can be a great way to start choosing.

Easy Hiking Trails

For the novice trekkers, a short and relatively easy trek is the best choice. Majority of Sichuan trekking tours have levels of difficulty, from novice to experienced trekker, and there are plenty of easier treks to choose from if you are just getting started. Many are just 2-4 days long, and are perfect to get you into the swing of hiking around the world.

Mount Emei is a relatively easy trek.

Mount Emei is a relatively easy trek, with the minimum of physical demands. A 2 or 3-day tour takes you through Leshan and the Giant Buddha Statue to Emeishan, where the hike to the summit is made easier by the cable-car section, allowing you to view the scenery without being exhausted.

One of the most stunning places to trek in Sichuan is Jiuzhaigou, a beautiful valley that is like something out of a fairyland. The three-day tour is classed as leisurely, and as well as visiting the delightful Five-color Lake you will get to visit Huanglong National park, a short drive from Jiuzhaigou, which is famous for its colorful lakes, beautiful valley, virgin forests, and snow-capped mountains.

Jiuzhaigou - a beautiful valley that is like something out of a fairyland.

Shuangqiao Valley is set in the beautiful scenic area around the famed Mount Siguniang. One of three valleys in the area that are favorite spots for trekkers, and with specially constructed plank roads along the valley, it is great for the novice trekker.

Moderate Hiking Trails

Changping Valley is the most popular of the three valleys for trekkers to Siguniang that have a little experience, and includes the hire of horses, which can be for riding or as pack-carriers. A great moderate trek, the two day hike along the valley is a delightful experience.

Changping Valley - the most popular of the three valleys for trekkers.

Changping Valley can also be combined with Bipenggou in a trek that covers both valleys, and normally lasts five days. The trek is good for hikers with some experience, as it climbs to the heights of the Ya kou Pass between the two valleys, which is at 4,668 meters above sea level.

The two trekking routes in Daocheng Yading are great to experience and are known as the small kora and the big kora. The small kora is only a 2-day trek, but the big kora is seven days long, and goes all the way around the three mountains, Xiannairi, Xianuoduoji, and Yangmaiyong.

Serious Trekking Trails

At 7,556 meters high, Mount Gongga is known as the King of Mountains in Sichuan. Treks around the Mount Gongga Scenic Area are more demanding due to the increased altitude stay inside the area. While it does not get up to the height of the peak, the trek does reach elevations of over 4,000 meters, and can be hard work.

Mount Yala - another trek that can be hard.

Mount Yala is another trek that can be hard, especially as this is on the side of a mountain that is permanently covered in snow. It is physically demanding and requires equipment needed for high-altitude camping and hiking. Definitely one for the experienced trekker, Yala Kamiyama is one of the most beautiful trekking locations in the world.

Mount Genie, or Geyen Mountain is the third highest peak in Sichuan, and is just as demanding as Yala and Gongga. A virtually untapped scenic area, Genie is one of the most spectacular sights in Sichuan, and the camp site for the stay in the area is right under the main peak of the mountain.

Narrowing Your Choice by Time

Time constraints are an important consideration when choosing your trek, and if time is an issue, there are plenty of treks that can accommodate most requirements. Trekking can be done in whatever time you have, and there is no limit to how long or short it can be. there are even day-long trekking routes for those that just want to travel to one place and spend a day hiking along the valleys, before moving on to somewhere else. Most people, however, are looking for something that will give them a little more enjoyment though, and for that, treks can be anything from three days to almost two weeks.

3 to 4 Days Trekking Trails

Most areas have short, 3-4 day tours where you can spend a few days, a long weekend, or a short break trekking in the areas of western Sichuan. Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong, Changping, and Shuangqiaogou all have short treks and are ideal for short breaks and trekking getaways. Yala Snow Mountain is also a great tour for a four-day trek, as is the shorter Changpinggou/Bipenggou trek, and the Genie Holy Mountain trek.

Genie Holy Mountain

Around 7 Days Trekking Trails

For those who want a longer trek, for around a full week, there are several seven-day treks available that are a little more physical, and cover much more ground along their routes. Great treks for a week-long tour are the Qizanggou Valley, Mount Gongga, and Yala Snow Mountain. A seven-day trek also gives you more time to enjoy the stunning scenery and amazing views along the trails, and experience more of the landscape and culture of the Tibetan people in Sichuan Province.

Qizanggou Valley

More than 7 Days Trekking Trails

For the really serious trekker, there are much longer treks that can sometimes last for as much as up to two weeks. From an eight-day tour trekking around the Qizanggou Valley area, with horses to either ride or use for your packs, to 11-day long pilgrimage treks around Minya Konka, a holy mountain in Tibetan Buddhism, where you can follow the pilgrim’s trails around the “King of Mountains”. Minya Konka is also a place where you can experience more of the Tibetan culture of the region, with many mani walls, prayer flags, and elaborate gompas along the trail.

Minya Konka

If You Don’t Want to Camp

Camping is not for everyone, and there are treks in Sichuan where you can either trek a different valley each day, staying in a hotel or hostel at night and ones where the trails actually have hostels and guest houses along the route, which you can stay in instead of camping. Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area is a perfect place for trekking, with its close proximity to Jiuzhuang Airport, and short, day-long treks are available in the area in the Jiuzhai Valley, Huanglong Park, and Munigou valley.

Mount Siguniang is one of the most popular areas for trekking without camping, as there are a number of hostels and guest houses in the areas of the treks. These classic treks in the Siguniangshan Mountain Range are great for average trekkers as well as experienced ones, and in many of the valleys you can hire horses for the treks as well.

Hailuogou Glacier Park is a popular place for those who do not like camping, or prefer a few comforts and a warm bed at the end of a hard day’s trekking. There are several different single-day treks around the valleys in the area, as well as some excellent sights, including ice caves, steep ice bridges, and plunging glaciers.

If You Want to Camp

Camping is something that many people love to do, and is part of a unique trekking experience. For those who want to experience the intense feeling of camping out under the stars halfway up a mountain on the shores of a lake, there is a wealth of trails in Sichuan that can easily accommodate you. From a few nights to more than a week, areas such as Mount Siguniang, Minya Konka, and Qizanggou offer the perfect camping treks. Heavy camping gear such as high-altitude tents and thermal sleeping bags are required for many of the places, due to the altitude and the fact that, even in summer, the areas in the mountains of Sichuan can get very cold.