A Five-Star Secret Hidden at the Summit of the Min Mountains

Amid the renowned Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, on the western slope of the Min Mountain range lies a time-favored secret—Hongxingyan Sea. At an altitude of 4,300 meters, this asymmetrical pentagon-shaped alpine lake, like a sapphire set among ochre-red rock walls, fuses the vicissitudes of Quaternary glaciers, Tibetan devotion, and the clarity of the plateau into an irreplaceable masterpiece. This is a geological wonder sculpted by nature. Billions of years of glacial activity have created the towering red rock formations, with rock walls glowing a warm reddish-gold under the sun. The mysterious red rock cave in the middle of the cliff emits a lively red light on sunny days and disappears into a fairyland when shrouded in mist—its origin remains an unsolved mystery. The 480,000-square-meter lake surface is unfathomably deep, with dark blue waves reflecting snowy mountains and drifting clouds. When the wind blows, ripples gently sway, as if the five stars are revolving between heaven and earth. The lakeside wetlands bloom with colorful flowers, pine waves rustle in the primeval forest, and the horizontal roots of white birch trees, like inverted silver nails, anchor into the permafrost, witnessing the long passage of time on the plateau. This is the spiritual homeland for hikers. Following the Awonggou plank road, a 7-kilometer light-load route connects canyons, forests, and alpine lakes, with a gentle 300-meter ascent that allows most people to reach the heart of the secret. The winding plank road beneath your feet lets sunlight filter through the leaves onto moss-covered stone steps. Occasionally, you’ll encounter Tibetan prayer flags fluttering in the wind, expressing reverence for nature. For those choosing a two-day heavy-load trek, after crossing a 4,000-meter pass, the colorful Qicaitan and the mirrored reflections of Cuoni Lake will appear one after another, each step treading on a painting where “snow mountains serve as the backdrop and forests as the carpet.” This is a vibrant carrier of Tibetan culture. Local Tibetans regard Hongxingyan as a sacred mountain, with mani stone piles by the lake embodying sincere prayers. Renting a set of Tibetan clothing for 50 yuan to walk among the prayer flags easily yields stunning photos blending with the lake and mountains. A love legend passed down for thousands of years adds tenderness to the landscape—the encounter between Jade Maiden and Tashi Hongxing fills every breeze with romance. When tired, step into a nearby Tibetan guesthouse; a bowl of steaming butter tea drives away the plateau chill, and the tender hand-pulled mutton paired with the barley cake’s wheat aroma is the most genuine Tibetan hospitality. Through the changing seasons, Hongxingyan Sea reveals different wonders. In spring, flowers crowd the lakeside, with rhododendrons and wildflowers laying a colorful carpet; in midsummer, the forest is lush and the temperature around 20°C makes it a natural summer retreat; in autumn, colorful forests contrast with red rocks, and the lake reflects a sky woven with gold and red; in winter, ice and snow cover the lake and mountains, forming a tranquil icy fairy tale, with occasional frost adorning the branches like a wonderland. No need to chase crowds, just bring a heart full of reverence. Here, you can wait for the morning mist to drift over the lake, overlook the sea of clouds from the pass, and quietly listen to the whispers between the lake water and rocks under the starry sky. Remember to bring a jacket and sunscreen, carry a small oxygen tank to cope with altitude sickness, and capture the most vivid image of the Five-Star Lake in the soft light between 8 and 9 a.m. Starting 18 kilometers from Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport and a 15-minute drive from Chuanzhusi Town, you can reach this secret place. Hongxingyan Sea is never a regular on popular lists, but it is the white moonlight in the hearts of true travelers. It waits quietly deep in the Min Mountains, ready for you to cross mountains and seas for an encounter with glaciers, lakes, red rocks, and Tibetan faith.