Where is the nearest fairyland on earth hidden from you? The answer is hidden in Du Fu's famous sentence for thousands of years: "The window is cold and the snow is thousands of autumns in Xiling, and the door is anchored in the ship of Dongwu Wanli." The "thousand autumn snow" in the poem refers to the continuous snow peaks on the western Sichuan Plateau on the west side of the Sichuan Basin.
And today, I want to introduce you to the West Sichuan Small Ring Road, which is known as the "King of Shu Mountain" Gongga Mountain and "after Shu Mountain" Siguniang Mountain, although this route is only more than 900 kilometers, but the essence of the beautiful scenery of West Sichuan is exhausted, it is definitely an excellent choice for short-distance self-driving tours, and the traffic is extremely convenient.
Our journey begins in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, which is not only full of food, but also the starting point for you to taste the flavors of Sichuan. After just over 60 kilometers, we will arrive at Dujiangyan, which is a rare plain road. Dujiangyan is the key node of the Minjiang River from the western Sichuan Plateau into the Sichuan Basin, and it is Li Bing and his son who built the great Dujiangyan here, which gave birth to the Sichuan Basin, a country of abundance with fertile fields and thousands of miles.
Leaving Dujiangyan, we will officially enter the mountainous area, the first stop is Siguniang Mountain Town, the whole journey is more than 140 kilometers, during which the first snow-capped mountain will be crossed. As soon as you enter the mountains, you will be blown away by the grandeur of the Zipingpu Reservoir, which crosses the lake by road to kick off our journey.
Moving on, we will pass through Wolong Town, more than 1,900 meters above sea level, which is a famous giant panda nature reserve in the mainland.
As we move forward, the elevation will rise dramatically and the continuous hairpin bay will come into view. After the peak loop, the first snow-capped mountain along the way, Balang Mountain, will be presented in front of our eyes, with an altitude of 4,523 meters.
Although there is a tunnel road on this mountain, we recommend walking or driving a motorbike to get closer to nature. It takes 2 hours to drive from Chengdu to the top of the snow-capped mountains, feel the snow in the hot summer, watch the sunrise over the sea of clouds, and on the other side of the pass, there is the beautiful Xiling Snow Mountain.
After descending the mountain, we will officially enter the western Sichuan Plateau, and the average altitude will also rise significantly. At the foot of the mountain is Siguniang Mountain Town, with an altitude of more than 3,200 meters. To the right, the valley leads to Siguniang Mountain, and to the left, you continue along the ring road. Siguniang Mountain is known as the Alps of the East, in the long and narrow valley, the snow-capped peaks are towering, magnificent and majestic, giving people a strong visual impact, and the grassland at the foot of the mountain is extraordinarily soft. This contrast is what makes the beauty of the place so much appreciated.
After leaving Siguniang Mountain, we will return to the main road and continue on our way to Xiaojin County, a total distance of 54 kilometers. Descend along the Xiaojin River to Xiaojin County, which is 2,165 meters above sea level, which is not only one of the lower towns along the way, but also a good place to rest and recharge. It takes about five and a half hours to drive from Chengdu to here.
After leaving Xiaojin County, we will drive to Danba and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Tibetan village, the whole journey is 58 kilometers. The river valley along the way is beautiful, but you need to watch out for rockfalls. The houses of the Tibetan village are scattered irregularly on the mountainside, presenting an idyllic picture, and it was once known as one of the ten most beautiful villages in China.
After leaving Danba, we will have another climb and the average altitude will also increase. The next stop is the Tagong Grassland, which is 118 kilometers long. Going up the valley, we will climb over the Yarra Snow Mountain, with grasslands on the other side of the mountain. Here you can enjoy the beautiful view of the Yarra Snow Mountain Observation Deck.
After crossing the pass, we will arrive at the grassland town of Bamei, from here, the grassland will accompany us all the way. A short walk along the town of Bamei is the exotic planet Moshi Park on the plateau. These black stone forests scattered along the fault zone rise from the grassland, and you can enjoy the rare geological wonders and marvel at the magic of nature.
After leaving Moshi Park, we will arrive at the end of this section, Tagong Grassland. Behind the grassland is the Yala Sacred Mountain with an altitude of more than 5,800 meters, and the Tagong Temple in the grassland and the Yala Snow Mountain contrast with each other, which looks solemn and solemn, and has become one of the landmark scenic spots of the Tagong Grassland.
After leaving the Tagong grassland, we will drive to the next stop, Xindu Bridge, which is located on the Sichuan-Tibet line, with a total distance of more than 40 kilometers. Some tourists may have altitude sickness, so it is important to rest, seek medical attention or take oxygen in time. Xindu Bridge is known as a photographer's paradise, and its unique mountain structure creates a wonderful effect of light and shadow, which is especially charming in the golden autumn season.
A short distance from the Xindu Bridge is a fork in the road, to the left is the return route, and if you continue to go forward, you can see the king of Shushan Gongga Mountain up close. The road conditions on this section of the road are complicated, so it is recommended that non-off-road vehicles choose carefully. From the fork in the road through the Jiaba Yaha Pass to Lenggacuo, the whole journey is about 130 kilometers. Here, you will have the opportunity to witness the majesty of Gonggar Mountain and feel the endless charm of nature.
First, we follow the valley to the picturesque Jagan Dam, which is similar to the Xindu Bridge and has an amazing view. From here, we will cross two mountain passes and end at the beautiful Lenggacuo. Crossing the valley behind the Jiahei Dam, we climbed to the first mountain pass, the Pressure Pass, which reached an altitude of 4,500 meters. Here, the magnificent Gonggar Mountain comes into our eyes, and it has become an excellent place to see the Gongga Snow Mountain. However, at the end of Lenggacuo, we may be able to enjoy the more shocking scenery of the king of Shu Mountain.
After crossing the Yaha Pass, we entered another valley and followed the valley until we finally arrived at the village of Upper Chijishi. This is the farthest a car can reach. Next, we will rely on the motorbikes or horses of local villagers to cross the valley and walk for 30 minutes before we can witness the magnificent scenery of Lenggangco. The clear spring-like lake, Lenggacuo, which is directly opposite the Gongga Mountain, although the journey is difficult, but seeing such a beautiful scenery will dissipate all fatigue. The lake is like a mirror, reflecting the majestic posture of Gongga Mountain, and the snow-capped peaks reaching into the sky bring us endless shock. But be sure to pay attention to the weather and road traffic conditions to ensure a smooth trip.
After leaving Lengatso, we will return to the fork in the road, passing through Zheduoshan and Kangding, and finally arrive in Luding, a distance of about 250 kilometers. At 4,298 meters above sea level, we will hover down a winding mountain road. During the downhill process, be sure to pay attention to the braking condition, keep the low gear, and turn on the brakes to ensure driving safety. At the foot of the mountain is the city of Kangding, the capital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The Kangding River runs through the city, dividing the city into two, and at the same time carrying the romantic feelings of Kangding's love songs.
After turning a U-shaped bend along the valley, we will arrive at Luding on the banks of the Dadu River. The Luding Bridge spans the Dadu River and bears witness to the heroic battles of the past.
After leaving Luding, we continued our journey, passing through Ya'an, and finally arrived at the end point Chengdu, a high-speed journey of 275 kilometers. At this point, our journey will also come to an end.