Conquering the Southern Genyen Route with Kids in 7 Days: Avoid These Pitfalls!

Just got back from a trip along the Southern Genyen Route with my 8-year-old son. We covered 230 km with no altitude sickness and no meltdowns! I highly recommend this "concentrated scenic beauty" route in Western Sichuan to all parents who want to show their kids the world 👇 🌟【Why take your kids on the Southern Genyen Route?】 1⃣ Daily drives < 3 hours! Compared to Xinjiang or Tibet, where drives can easily reach 5 hours, this route is much more kid-friendly. 2⃣ Geography lessons come to life: On Day 2, we learned about glacial erosion at Genyen Eye Lake, and on Day 4, we saw geothermal springs in Cuopugou. Way more exciting than any textbook! 3⃣ Immersive Tibetan cultural experience: My son learned to make tsampa with a Tibetan grandma at Hangda Camp and copied Tsangyang Gyatso's Tibetan poems at Renkang Ancient House (his essay material is overflowing now 😏). 🚗【The most mom-friendly itinerary】 Hangda Camp on Day 3 deserves special praise! Our tent faced Mount Genyen, and while we were having hot pot with glacial water in the evening, the owner taught the kids how to start a fire with cow dung (they screamed that it was more fun than LEGO). At 3 am, wrapped in sleeping bags, we watched the Milky Way fall into Genyen Eye Lake, and my son suddenly said, "Mom, the stars are covering the mountain with a blanket!" ✨ Feeding marmots in Batang Cuopugou Scenic Area on Day 4 was amazing! Remember to bring plain biscuits. Those chubby creatures will stand up and wave their paws, so cute that the kids couldn't walk away. But keep a close eye on your snacks—I saw a Tibetan uncle's beef jerky get snatched 😂. ⚠【Lessons learned the hard way】 1⃣ Don't hesitate to buy oxygen canisters in Litang, even if they're expensive! A mom from Chengdu we met bought a CNY 20 oxygen canister in Chengdu, but it wouldn't work at Genyen Eye Lake (you need medical-grade ones at 4200+ meters!). 2⃣ Pack two pairs of shoes for your child: hiking boots + water shoes! Water shoes were a lifesaver for this mom when we were playing in the Rehti Valley—the rocks on the riverbed were incredibly slippery. 3⃣ Sunscreen every inch of skin! I put SPF 50+ on my son, but missed the gaps between his fingers, and he came back with what looked like black gloves 😭. 📚【Hidden culture】 We met Grandma Zhuoma herding yaks in Changqing Village, and she pointed at Mount Genyen and told the kids the legend of King Gesar. The most amazing thing was when we passed Genyen Eye Lake, my son suddenly shouted, "This is King Gesar's telescope, right?!" (My cultural knowledge was totally outmatched). Now my son keeps talking about going back to see his marmot friends, and all I can think about is that pot of Tibetan hot pot cooked with glacial water at Hangda Camp... This route is seriously addictive! But if you ask me if it's worth taking your kids, I'd say: Go before it becomes the next Yading!