Trekking Four Sisters Mountain in West Sichuan Tour

Welcome to China! Your local guide will pick you up at the airport and accompany you into Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. Take a quick tour of the city and visit the People’s Park, admiring the old centre’s ancient alleys with a gorgeous mountain backdrop. Get some rest in the hotel tonight for a great week ahead.

After breakfast, depart for a stopover at the Bifengxia Panda Base, which has rescued over 20 pandas where they now roam among a preserved habitat. The mountain roads you’ll drive on today will take your breath away with views of the Tibetan Plateau’s impending peaks. Arrive in Kangding for the night and learn about this significant area known as the gateway to Kham. Tibetan and Han people have a history here, which you’ll note in the architecture and local traditions.

Today is filled with cultural stops along the Sichuan-Tibetan Highway. After driving over Zheduo Shan Pass, you come upon the Lhagang Monastery, where monks practice the Sakya sect of Tibetan Buddhism. You’ll feel the spirituality here surrounded by three peaks symbolizing those who seek enlightenment (Bodhisattva). Continue to the Gyergo Nunnery to see and hear the nuns praying in their convent surrounded by the stunning Hepingfahui wall. Take a short walk around here to the hill next to the Muya Golden Pagoda to get an impressive view of Yala Mountain in the distance. Before reaching the final destination of Danba village, make a stopover in Jiaju village to snap some pictures of the unique architecture of the residential homes.

In the morning, take time to wander the ancient stone structures in Danba and Suopo, unique brick towers jutting out from the forested landscape. Hop in the car and head to the beginning of your hiking destination in Siguniangshan Town. As you draw nearer, you will see the imposing 5000-metre peaks from the window—these are the Four Sisters. When you arrive, take an leisurely hike in the nearby Shuangqiao Valley and stay outside to watch the sunset illuminate the peaks in shades of pink and purple. Get a good rest tonight because your trek starts tomorrow.

In the morning, take a sightseeing bus (about 20 km) into the Changping Valley. After arriving at Lama Temple, we will start our three-day trekking trip. Changping Valley is 29 kilometers long and covers an area of about 100 square kilometers. The canyon is long and gentle. The Siguniang Mountain is located 16 kilometers away in this valley. In Changpinggou Valley, there are ancient cypress road, Lama temple, Kushutan (withered tree shoal), Ganhaizi (dry lake) and dozens of meters high waterfalls, as well as bizarre rocks. In summer, mountain flowers and rape blossoms bloom lushly; in autumn, red birch and red maple are in full bloom. At noon, take a break at Ganhaizi and have lunch (meal box). In the evening, camp at the Muluozi camp at the foot of Yaomei Peak (6250 meters) in Siguniang Mountain. If the weather is well, you can admire the golden Camel Peak (Luotuo Feng) at sunset.

Get up early to shoot the scenery of golden Camel Peak at sunrise, and the whole Changping Valley is very beautiful. After breakfast, leave Muluozi camp and hike to the end point of the Changping Valley. After passing through Shuidaba meadow, Luotuo Feng (Turtle Rock) and Yangmantai (“platform full of sheep”), you arrive at Chazigouwei (the end point of Chazigou Valley) for camping. Today you’ll reach the camp early, have a rest and prepare for the long and hard trek the next day.

Today is a difficult day. Breakfast at 03.00 o’clock, set off from Chazigouwei camp at 03.30! The first section of the path is very steep, uphill about 400 meters. Then the slope is slightly gentler, and after passing through a large platform, the highest pass (Yakou, 4668 m) is in front of you. The hiking from Chazigouwei camp to theis pass is about 7 km long and it takes you about 4 hours. When the weather is good, you can see the beauty of golden mountains at sunrise and the spectacular sea of clouds. Cross the pass, go downhill all the way into Bipenggou Valley, and arrive at Sankeshu (three trees) Camp. Then continue to visit Bipenggou on foot, accompanied by beautiful scenery along the way, especially in autumn, when the bright red maple leaves covered the whole valley. After passing Bailong (100-dragon) Waterfall and Zhuoma Lake, you will reach the Shanghaizi (Upper Lake) Reception Station, get on the car waiting for you here, return to Chengdu. On the way visit the Taoping village of Qiang minority. The village is located in the epicenter of Sichuan's major earthquake on May 12, 2008 and has been severely damaged. As part of the reconstruction program, the Qiang national stonemasons and villagers have masterfully restored their village from the rubble heaps. The Qiang nationals are descendants of an ancient ethnic group of China. "Qiang" is a historical ethnic group of China, which was found on 3,000-year-old oracle bones. Over time, records of other nationalities in China such as Han (Han Chinese), Zang (Tibetan), Yi, Naxi, Bei, Hani and Lisu emerged. Their way of life is the evidence of ancient traditions practiced. The villages with the tower-like stone houses testify the advantageous of a high-building life, especially in the epochs of warlike conflicts.

Enjoy a final breakfast with your trekking group before packing up and saying goodbye. Get a ride to the airport or train station in time to check-in for your journey home. Zaijian!