Changping Valley Travel Guide - The Popular Hiking and Trekking Valley in Mount Siguniang

The Changping Valley is one of the three main valleys of the Sinungianshan Scenic Area, in Sichuan Province, China, situated between the other two valleys, with the Shuangqiao Valley to the west and the Haizi Valley to the east. These three valleys are a very popular hiking area in Sichuan, and trekkers come from all over China, and indeed the world, to trek across the three valleys.

Camping in Changping Valley

Changpinggou is the valley that is more typical than the other two. Shuangqiao has a wide variety of landscapes, ranging from simple alpine forests to snowy peaks and glaciers, while Haizi is more well known for the large number of alpine lakes it contains. However, being typical does not mean it is not beautiful. Changping has a beauty all of its own along its 30km length. And it is a better place for enjoying such outdoor activities as hiking, horse riding, and camping. It is also the most important base for climbing the mountains of Sanfeng and Yaomeifeng.

Best Time to visit Changping Valley

Changping Valley has different scenery in different seasons, and each season brings its own activities and things to see. In summer the meadows are filled with the sight of thousands of wild flowers in full bloom, giving the grassy meadows a blanket of colors. In autumn the leaves all turn varying shades of red, gold, and amber, which covers the wooded hills of the valley. As the leaves drop in late autumn, the valley is covered with a carpet of red and gold leaves, leaving the bare branches of the trees looking like thin fingers reaching toward the sky. Summer and autumn are great times for hiking along the trails, and getting the best shots of these color-rich scenes, though you need rain gear in summer due to it being the rainy season.

Small rivers trickle down the hillsides.

In winter the valley is a world of white, as snow covers the entire area, and skiing and ice climbing are the best activities for visitors, and it is nice to take walks along the valley through the bed of virgin snow. However, it can get very cold, and sometimes the roads are blocked with the heavy snow falls, so it is advisable not to wander too far unaccompanied. As spring comes around, the temperature gets a little warmer, and the snow in the lower regions of the valley starts its thaw. Small rivers trickle down the hillsides to the main river that runs along the valley floor. As the thaw continues, new buds start to appear on the trees, and the new spring leaves start to cover the branches, while the early blossoms of the clover and heathers form a sea of lilac flowers in the meadows.

How to Visit Changpinggou

Tickets to get into Changpinggou can be purchased at the ticket office in Changping Village. Once you have your entrance ticket, you can wait for the next bus at the tourist center, which will transport you the 5km to the valley entrance.

While you can get a bus from the ticket office in the upper part of Rilong Town to the Lama Temple, there is no sightseeing bus in Changpinggou, however, there is a horse rental company at Lamasery, 7km from the entrance to the valley, where you can hire horses and a guide to ride along the valley. There is also a hiring point for horses at the Lama Temple, where the bus drops off for the start of the trekking trails and horse riding trails.

Trekking Along the Way

Hiking is also an option for getting around the valley, as it is only 30km long, and there are many hiking trails you can follow. For those wanting to stay overnight in Changpinggou, there is not hotel or hostel, so you will need to camp with tents. The campsite of Muluozi is just at the foot of Mt. Siguniang, and the trek to get there from Lamasery is an easy one, on a wood path. Camping permits must be obtained from the Changping Valley Outdoor Visitor Center, in Changping Village, and you will need to take your own food for any excursion into the valley, as there are no restaurants or other places to eat.

Major Attractions along Changping Valley

Changping Valley is a favorite of visitors who enjoy hiking and camping in the lush, green meadows and beautiful deciduous, alpine forests. It is also a favorite spot for day tourists, because they can really get involved with nature within the valley, and discover the beauty of this wooded valley with its ancient cypress trees and green pines and firs, which are intermingled with the deciduous cedars and azaleas.

Day tourists get involved with nature.

Changping Village is one of the main attractions of the Changping Valley. It is a unique village that still retains the Tibetan architectural style and the people live by their traditional customs and beliefs. The largest Tibetan village in Sichuan Province, Changping is the starting point for all visitors to the valley, and a beautiful example of Tibetan plateau culture.

Guozhuangping, which is also known as the Guozhuang Flatland, is the lowland area at the junction of the Changping Valley and the Haizi Valley. The flatland is traditionally used by the Jiarong Tibetans for their worship of the gods of the Siguniangshan Mountains. This festival happens every year in May, and is known as the Siguniangshan Worshipping Festival. The Jiarong people pray to the gods of the mountains for a peaceful life and a good, bumper harvest. The celebrations last for three days, and include lots of praying, music and local Tibetan folk operas, as well as games and competitions, and lots of eating.

The Siguniangshan Worshipping Festival

The Lama Monastery is the only monastery in the valley, and was an important place, both religiously and culturally, for the Jiarong Tibetans. It was destroyed by fire, and now lies only in ruins. Certain structures are still easily recognizable, such as the hall of Sakyamuni, and the market, as well as other areas of the monastery. The ancient temple covers an area of around 21,000 square meters, and was made mainly of wood and stone. In ancient times it was where the local Tibetan people worshipped their gods, and is now one of the best scenic viewpoints in the area.

Popular Hiking Route from Changpinggou to Bipenggou

For those who like an extended trek, there is a 3-day trekking route that runs from Changping Valley to Bipeng Valley. The trekking route follows the ancient trade road known as the “Tangbai Ancient Road”, which runs from Changping Village at the entrance to Changpinggou to the 309 Tree Farm at the entrance to Bipeng Valley. The trek goes over the pass between the two valleys, and reaches an altitude of 4,668 meters above sea level at the highest point.

Horses can be hired the heavier equipment.

The trek normally takes 3-4 days, and hikers will camp out along the route, so tents and sleeping bags are a requirement. The trek is average for most of the route, however, the trek up over the pass is more arduous, and definitely not for the faint-hearted. Horses can be hired for transporting the heavier equipment such as tents, stoves, and sleeping bags, leaving you free to trek more easily, and explore and enjoy this beautiful trekking route.

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

How to Get to Changpinggou from Chengdu

Travel to the Siguniangshan Scenic Area from Chengdu is relatively simple. Regular, long-distance buses leave the city from the Chadianzi Bus Station to Li County three times a day, at 7:10am, 8:10am, and 9:00am. The buses follow a route that takes them through UYingxiu, Wolong, and Mt. Balangshan, before arriving at Siguniangshan Town. It normally takes around four and a half hours to travel the 209km from Chengdu to Sigunuangshan.

There is also a bus that leaves Xinnanmen Station in Chengdu daily, for Xiaojin County, which can drop passengers off in Rilong Town, or 7km past Rilong, at the entrance to the Shuangqiao Valley. It also leaves three times a day, at 6:30am, 12:00 noon, and 3:30pm, although these times can change depending on the time of year.

For the return trip, tickets can be booked in some of the stores in Siguniangshan Town, and there is often a 10 CNY charge.