Written by Veronica |
As a 5A tourist attraction in China, Hailuogou is the only glacier forest park in China and features glaciers, primeval forests, snow mountains, hot springs, wildlife and other natural landscapes. In particular, the lowest point of the glacier is only 2850 meters above sea level. It extends into the primary forest for 6 kilometers and formsĀ the wonder of the harmonious symbiosis with the forest.Ā Because of its large height difference, there are also abundant plants and wild animals inside the forest. Hiking has been a popular way to explore this magical park.
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- Hailuogou Glacier National Park Facts
- What is Special about Hailuogou Glacier National Park
- What to See and Do in Hailuogou Glacier National Park
- Best Time to Visit Hailuogou National Park
- How to Get to Hailuogou Glacier National Park
- Recommended Visiting Routes at Hailuogou Glacier National Park
- Attractions nearby Hailuogou National Park
- Hailuogou Glacier Park Tickets & Fees
- Hailuogou Glacier Park Useful Travel Tips
- Travel with China Xian Tour for a Hailuogou Adventure
Hailuogou Glacier National Park Facts
- Location: border area of Luding, Kangding, and Ya’an of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, Sichuan Province, China
- Ticket Price: 90 yuan/person for entry; 70 yuan/person for round-trip shuttle bus; 135 yuan/person for cable car
- Opening Time: 7:00-17:30 (no entry at 15:00)
- Recommended Visiting Time: at least 1 day
- Altitude: 1,600 – 3,600 meters
- Best Time to Go: winter, spring and autumn
What is Special about Hailuogou Glacier National Park
- Low-altitude glaciers: the lowest altitude of the glacier tongue is only 2,850 meters. Tourists can approach without experiencing severe high altitude sickness.
- Coexistence of glacier and forest:the glacier tongue extends into the primary forest for 6 kilometers, which is rarely seen in the world.
- Magnificent Great Icefall: it is the worldās second largest ice waterfall with a height of 1,080 meters and a width of 1,100 meters.
- Coexistence of glacier and hot spring: there are about 10 hot springs inside the park whose water temperature ranges from 40 – 90 ā. Tourists can experience the ultimate feeling of “two worlds of ice and fire”.
- Vertical natural zone: due to its large height differences, both subtropical plants and permanent snow can be found here.
What to See and Do in Hailuogou Glacier National Park
1. Yanzigou
Located on the eastern side of Gongga Mountain, Yanzigou is famous for its abundant natural landscape and unique ecological environment, including 15 peaks above 6,000 meters, red stones, glaciers, snow mountains, alpine cuckoo bushes, etc. It is also a famous international mountaineering route, and many hiking lovers set up base camps here. There are as many as 400 types of wild animals in the Yanzigou area, such as red panda, antelope, takin, and so on.
2. Hailuogou National Forest Park
āHailuogou Glacier National Park is an ideal place for nature exploration and outdoor activitiesā. You can enjoy the magnificent view of the coexistence of glaciers and forests, China’s highest ice waterfall and endless Lush virgin forests in sight. In addition, āHailuogou Glacier National Park has a hot spring waterfall with temperatures as high as 80ā, which is rare in the world.
In āHailuogou Glacier National Park, you can appreciate the renowned āGolden Snow Mountainā scenery. When the sky is clear, numerous golden rays shine directly on the peaks around the foot of Hailuogou Mountain, forming a picture of unparalleled sight. āHailuogou Glacier National Park is also a multi-ethnic cultural gathering area, where you can feel the charm of Han, Yi, Tibetan, and other ethnic groupsā cultures.
3. Red Rock Park
The stones in Red Rock Park are covered with a layer of red algae, which gives them a bright crimson color. The stream in the park is filled with large red rocks, forming a spectacular scenery, which attracts countless photography enthusiasts to come. In addition, Red Rock Park is also a flora and fauna garden, with more than 4,800 species of animals such as Kangding Magnolia, cuckoo, and red panda, known as “China’s Alpine Botanical Garden”.
4. Four Camps of Hailuogou Glacier National Park
Camp |
Highlights |
No.1 (1940 m) |
Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Kangding magnolia, Crossoptilon harmani, 56ā hot spring, distant viewing of glacier |
No.2 (2660 m) |
Yew, birch, takin, macaque, 92.5ā glacier hot spring |
No.3 (2980 m) |
Glacier starting point, Tibetan macaques, large leaf rhododendrons, primitive forest |
No.4 (3600 m) |
Snow lotus,Ā ropeway,Ā ice waterfall, overlooking the main peak of Gongga Mountain |
Primeval Forests & Trails
The endless lush virgin forests in Hailuogou cover an area of about 70 sq km. They are home to over 2,500 kinds of wild plants ranging from subtropical to frigid zones and over 400 types of wildlife. Several trails have been paved for tourists to explore the forests, including the caohaizi trail, glacier trail, black pines forest trail, etc.
Massive Glacier Tongue
The glacier tongue is the most eye-catching natural wonder in in Hailuogou Park. It runs from Gongga Mountain and extends deeply into the primitive forest. Its scale is as massive as 16 sq km. The length is about 14.7 km and the thickest part can reach 100 – 130 meters. The most important is that the lowest end is only at an altitude of 2,850 meters. Without professional equipment, you can also stroll through this glacial world.
Panoramic views of the Gongga Mountain and the Great Icefall
Gongga Mountain is the highest mountain in Sichuan Province. Its main peak is 7,556 meters above sea level. And the Grand Icefall ranks second in the world and first in China in terms of scale. Tourists can take the cable car from the No. 3 camp to the No. 4 camp, where a dedicated observation deck is set for a panoramic view of both the Gongga Mountain(Minya Konka) and the Great Icefall.
Sunrise & Cloud Sea (Sea of Clouds)
With the snow mountains and glaciers as the backdrop, the sunrise and cloud sea in Hailuogou Park have become more splendid natural scrolls. No. 3 camp is the best place to watch the sunrise. As the highest point of the scenic area, No. 4 camp is the first choice to overlook the vast sea of clouds. Sometimes, the cloud is as calm as a mirror; sometimes, it cascades down along the ridge, forming a spectacular cloud waterfall.
Capture the contrast of ice, forest, and snow-capped peaks
One of the most astonishing wonders of Hailougou Park is the harmonious coexistence of glacier, primitive forest and snow-capped peaks, creating a contrasting visual feast. Here, the towering snow peak becomes the background of the ice. The glacier stretches into the forest, so you will see the wonder of āpalm trees grow beside the glacier and glaciers flow beneath the green treesā. Capture the picture at the No. 4 camp.
Golden Snow Mountain
The section of road about 500 meters near the Jinshan Hotel in No. 3 Camp is the classic position to appreciate the scenery. It offers you a view of both snow mountains and glaciers and has the undulating forest as the foreground. When the sky is clear, numerous golden rays shine directly on the peaks around the foot of Hailuogou Mountain, forming a picture of unparalleled sight. Though the process is short, the charming landscape will leave an unforgettable impression on you.
Best Time to Visit Hailuogou National Park
The best time to visit āHailuogou Glacier National Park is winter and spring, as well as autumn.
āWinter (November to February)ā: During this period, you can enjoy wonderful snow scenery with fresh air in āHailuogou Glacier National Park. It is also the best season for hot springs, where you can enjoy the snow views while soaking in the hot springs.
āSpringĀ (March-May): You can watchĀ the beautiful scenery of rhododendrons and Kangding magnolias in full bloom.
āAutumn (September to November): The climate is cool and comfortable, and the primitive forest leaves turn colorful red or yellow so you can take pictures of gorgeous autumn scenes.
Sichuan āHailuogou Glacier National Park tips:
- It is better to bring oxygen bottles, band-aids, and other medicines because of high-altitude factors.
- You could be exposed to sunshine and under strong ultraviolet rays for a long time, so it is recommended to wear sunglasses and sunscreen.
How to Get to Hailuogou Glacier National Park
If you plan to travel to Hailuogou Glacier National Park in Sichuan, you need to arrive in Chengdu City first whether you take an airplane or train. Then head to the Xinnanmen Bus Station to take a direct bus to āHailuogou Glacier National Park. The bus departs at 9:30 am and the journey takes about 7 hours, with a fare of 135 yuan per person.
There areĀ Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, and Chengdu East Railway Station, Chengdu West Railway Station, Chengdu South Railway StationĀ for your reference to arrive at Chengdu.
Recommended Visiting Routes at Hailuogou Glacier National Park
To meet the requirements of different tourists, the following 2 routes of different difficulty levels are recommended. You can choose according to your own body condition.
- 2-day relaxing tour route:
Day 1: Arrival at Moxi Ancient Town and go sightseeing – bathe in the hot spring in the evening.
Day 2: Take the sightseeing bus to the final stop Ganheba – take the cable car to No. 4 camp for a panoramic view of Gongga Mountain and Great Icefall – Return by cable car and head to No. 3 camp – Hike to the Glacier Tongue and Crescent Lake – Go back by sightseeing car.
- 2-day challenging hiking tour route:
Day 1: same as above.
Day 2: hiking route: Caohaizi – Primeval Forest Trail – Dongga Monastery – Glacier Rainforest Trail – No. 3 Camp – Black Pine Forest Trail – Iceberg Viewing Platform
Attractions nearby Hailuogou National Park
Daocheng Yading: It is a fairytale world of glaciers, meadows, lakes, and snow-capped mountains. You can learn about the Tibetan cultural traditions and beliefs while visiting.
Bifengxia: The Panda Conservation and Research Center in the Bifengxia area is one of the largest and most comprehensive panda conservation institutions in the world. Every day thousands of tourists come to see the lovely pandas.
Hailuogou Glacier Park Tickets & Fees
- Entrance Fee (must):CNY 90
- Sightseeing Bus (must): CNY 70 for a round-trip
- Cable Car (recommended): CNY 135 for a round-trip
- Hot Spring (optional): CNY 100 – 300
Hailuogou Glacier Park Useful Travel Tips
- Accommodation: Moxi Ancient Town is the choice of most travelers because of its cost performance and convenience. Photographers and tourists who seek for in-depth experience can live inside the park, such as the area near No.3 camp.
- Altitude sickness: the core viewing platform is over 3,600 meters, so it is advised to prepare some medicine and portable oxygen bottles to prevent severe conditions. And keep a slow pace during the tour.
- Packing tips: layered clothing, hiking shoes, sunscreen, common drugs, thermal mug, power bank, some high-calorie snacks.
- Safety tips: do not enter the unopened area when hiking on the glaciers, because there may be ice cracks.
Travel with China Xian Tour for a Hailuogou Adventure
Considering the natural conditions in Hailuogou Glacier National Park, travelling with a tour group can be a more reliable choice. China Xian TourĀ can tailor a trip for you. If needed, other attractions in Sichuan can also be included in the itinerary. The most important is that we will assign a professional guide for you, who can tackle the emergencies and ensure your safety during the tour. Of course, we will also book the hotel and arrange a driver for you to ensure a smooth tour. Just contact us now.
