[2025 Songpan Attraction] Travel Guide for Qizanggou Scenic Spot (Updated May)

Guide to Escaping the Crowds: Sichuan's Qizang Valley—A Hidden Yet Stunning Chinese Paradise, Unlock Your Exclusive Travel Memories In today's overcrowded Jiuzhaigou, true travelers have already set their sights on the mountain folds of northwestern Sichuan—Qizang Valley in Aba Prefecture. This hidden paradise, called "the Silver Crown of the Mountain God" by Tibetan locals, has become the ultimate choice for escaping crowds with its pristine forests, emerald lakes, and uncommercial Tibetan culture. --- I. Exploring the Hidden Paradise: A Mirror Image of Jiuzhaigou, an Emerald Necklace Fallen to Earth Qizang Valley is located in Songpan County, Aba Prefecture, at an altitude of 3,000 meters, nestled in the embrace of Kaka Valley's main peak. Here, without Jiuzhaigou's hustle and bustle, you'll find more pure natural gifts: - Mirror Lake Morning Mist: Pine needle paths shrouded in morning fog, lakes reflecting snow-capped mountains like mirrors, mist flowing over virgin forests like flowing milk soaking the green wilderness. - Kaka Valley Main Peak: Known as "the Mountain God's Silver Crown" by Tibetan guides, its snow-covered peak reflects sacred silver light in the sunshine, a pilgrimage coordinate in hikers' hearts. - Highland Ecological Gallery: The unpolluted ecological environment nurtures wildlife such as blue sheep and snow leopards; while hiking, you can often spot the agile silhouettes of blue sheep darting across meadows. --- II. In-Depth Experience: 4 Keys to Unlock Exclusive Travel Memories 1. Transportation Tips: An Adventure Road Through Falling Rocks and Rainbows Take a bus from Chengdu's Chadianzi Station to Songpan (about 6 hours), then hire a car to Qizang Valley entrance (150 yuan/car). During rainy season, renting local SUVs is recommended, and caution is needed on rockfall sections. Along the way, you might encounter herdsmen driving yak herds, and rainbows often hang between valleys—a wild romance rarely found in cities. 2. Living in a Painting: Tibetan Lifestyle with Snow Mountains Outside Your Window - Cloud Pasture Homestay: Tibetan wooden cabins at the valley entrance, where owner Zhaxi will serve hot butter tea. Wake up to panoramic snow mountain views and fall asleep to the sound of pine trees. - Starry Sky Campsite: Temporary tents set up by herdsmen (80 yuan/night), simple but offering a pure experience of sleeping under the sky. Bringing a -15°C sleeping bag is recommended, as the night sky is so clear the Milky Way seems within reach. 3. Culinary Secrets: Healing Guide for Highland Appetites - Tibetan Yak Hot Pot: Highland yak meat paired with matsutake mushrooms and snow tea, turning the biting cold into warmth in your stomach. Air-dried beef is the energy booster for crossing mountain passes, with a salty flavor carrying the ruggedness of pastoral areas. - Butter Tea with Tsampa: Standard Tibetan breakfast, where the grainy aroma of tsampa perfectly blends with the salty richness of butter tea, a natural supplement for high-altitude adaptation. 4. Cultural Codes: Mountain Circumambulation Festival and Epic of King Gesar Every year on the fifteenth day of the sixth month in the Tibetan calendar, a "Mountain Circumambulation Festival" is held in the valley: - Monks holding prayer wheels circle the sacred lake chanting sutras, crimson robes and colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind, chanting sounds intertwining with pine whispers into heavenly music. - If staying at a Tibetan homestay, you can sit around the fire pit listening to elders sing "The Epic of King Gesar," their hoarse voices narrating the heroic epic from a thousand years ago. --- III. Travel Tips: How to Perfect Your Journey to This Hidden Paradise - Best Season: June to October (summer for wildflowers, autumn for colorful forests). - Photography Tips: - Arrive at Mirror Lake 1 hour before sunrise to capture the magical moment of morning mist and snow mountain reflections; - Use telephoto lenses to photograph blue sheep herds; wearing camouflage clothing is recommended for getting closer. - Altitude Sickness Response: Avoid strenuous exercise on the first day, carry oral glucose solution, and try the Tibetan remedy "Rhodiola butter tea" to alleviate symptoms. --- IV. Why Choose Qizang Valley? There are no five-star hotels or trendy cafes here, but there is the most authentic collision of nature and culture. When your palm touches glacier-polished rocks, when mountain winds carry prayer flag chants past your ears, that resonance with heaven and earth is travel's most precious gift. Every frame of scenery in Qizang Valley reminds us: true travel is never a check-in competition, but a gentle breakthrough to life's authenticity. --- Unlock your exclusive memories: Pack your bags, avoid the crowds, and let Qizang Valley's snow mountains, prayer flags, and butter tea fragrance become your most unique travel footnote of 2025.

📍Location: Qicanggou is located north of Chuanzhusi Town, Songpan County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is adjacent to Huanglong Airport and forms the back mountain section of Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong Scenic Areas. 🚗Transportation: To reach Songpan Qicanggou, you can choose from the following transportation options: Take a bus from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station to Chuanzhusi Town or Songpan County, which takes about 7 hours. Upon arrival, you will need to hire a car or rent a car to reach the Kaka entrance of Qicanggou. If you are driving, follow National Highway G213 and turn onto Provincial Highway S301 after reaching Chuanzhusi Town. Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport is only 10 km away from Qicanggou, making it the fastest transportation option. 👍️Must-see attractions: Recommended must-see attractions in Songpan Qicanggou: Changhaizi, a long and narrow plateau lake with crystal-clear water, surrounded by mountains, offering a serene and magnificent view. Hongxinghai, the largest lake in Qicanggou, is shaped like a five-pointed star with azure water and towering snow-capped mountains surrounding it. It is considered a sacred lake by the locals. Yuhaizi and Caohai are also not to be missed. Yuhaizi is abundant with aquatic plants, while Caohai is a typical plateau wetland, both boasting pristine and unspoiled scenery. 🎟️Tickets: Songpan Qicanggou is currently free of charge and open to the public all day. 💗Other tips: When visiting Songpan Qicanggou, it is recommended to bring warm clothing and waterproof gear, as the altitude is high, with significant temperature differences between day and night, and frequent rainfall. Pay attention to safety while hiking, follow the guide's instructions, and avoid going alone. Qicanggou is an undeveloped, pristine area, so bring your own food and water. Additionally, respect the local culture and natural environment. Do not swim or fish in the lakes, especially the sacred Hongxinghai Lake.

Once upon a time, in our hearts, if there was a fairy-tale dreamland, it would definitely be Qicanggou! Wondering where 'Qicanggou' is? It is located to the north of Chuanzhusi Town, adjacent to Huanglong Airport, and is part of the back mountain of the famous Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong scenic areas. This area covers about fifty square kilometers, gathering various beautiful scenes of mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas. Especially the lakes in Qicanggou, like a string of pearls, form this classic hiking route. Among them, Changhaizi is known as 'the eyes of the ghost', and its tranquility and mystery are captivating. Cao Hai - this is a typical plateau wetland, while the Emerald Shuanghaizi are like two green gems sparkling. The Hongxing Haizi is shaped like a pentagram, beautiful and unique. This classic hiking route in Western Sichuan is of moderate difficulty, especially beautiful in autumn, and very suitable for beginner hikers. The entire route is about 68 kilometers long, with a difficulty rating of three stars, the highest altitude being 4250M (Emerald Sea Pass), and a total ascent of 1350M. It is suitable for outdoor enthusiasts and people with some experience in plateau travel. Below, I recommend the best route for everyone: 1. Chengdu-Wenchuan-Songpan-Chuanzhusi 2. Then depart from Chuanzhusi to Kaka Valley entrance 3. At Kaka Valley entrance, we will proceed to Niupengzi and then reach Changhaizi 4. After Changhaizi Pass, we will pass through the abandoned pasture to reach Yuhai Zi Camp 5. After Yuhai Zi Camp, we will head to Cao Hai, then reach Hongxing Hai, and camp overnight at Hongxing Hai Camp 6. The next day, we will depart from Hongxing Hai Camp, head towards Emerald Sea Pass, and finally reach Emerald Shuanghaizi Camp 7. Finally, return to Tazi Valley Camp and continue back to Chengdu I hope you can fully experience the fairy-tale beauty and mystery on this trip.

Red Star Sea: The sacred lake of Qizang Valley From a distance, it resembles the shape of a 'peach heart', nestled in a mountain hollow at an altitude of 3900m and surrounded by mountains. The area is strewn with rocks, and snow-capped mountains can be seen when looking up. Changhaizi: A lake in Qizang Valley with a soul, the lake surface is very long, about 3km, and the water is clear and rippling, hence it is also known as 'the eye of the spirit'. Standing in front of Changhaizi can take one's breath away with its stunning beauty. Yuhai Zi: Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, it is named for the abundance of a type of high mountain fine-scale fish. At night, the cosmic starry sky is shockingly beautiful. Caohai Zi: A typical plateau wetland. Due to geological movements, the lake has dried up, and now the lakebed is covered with various types of flowers and plants, resembling a fairyland. Here, the 'Min River cold water fish' can be found, growing up to 18cm in length, very rare and precious, belonging to the feast of lakes in Western Sichuan. Tips: 2. The altitude is quite high, be aware of altitude sickness. 3. There are many loose stones, use a walking stick to probe unclear paths. 4. Do not cross Jiuzhaigou/Huanglong, if caught, you will face a hefty fine. 5. There is no waste disposal capacity here, please take all your trash with you. 6. Don't worry about missing the scenery if you don't complete the whole journey; even a partial trek will offer different views during the hiking trip.

Qicanggou is located in the northern part of Songpan County, Aba, behind the Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou scenic areas. The greatest charm of the scenic area lies in its pristine beauty, which allows visitors to experience the spectacular sights of nature. ~ Attractions Introduction: 1. In Qicanggou Scenic Area, you can see the most pristine landscapes. The area mainly includes attractions such as Kaka Valley, Aweng Valley, and Hongxing Valley. In addition, the natural landscapes like Changhaizi and Aweng Valley Grass Sea are also incredibly beautiful, with each spot being uniquely remarkable. 2. Qicanggou, with its deep grass and dense forests, towering peaks, is most charming for its primitiveness and tranquility. The scenery along the way is intoxicating, making it a holy land eagerly sought after by hiking and photography enthusiasts. It also allows visitors to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and appreciate the most beautiful scenery in the world. ~ Transportation: Self-driving: Drive on G213 towards Jiuzhaigou and Songpan, and after reaching Chuanzhusi Town, head towards Huanglong Airport and Hongxing Rock. By bus: It is recommended to take a bus to Chuanzhusi Town first, and then hire a car or find a local outdoor club to go there.

Sichuan Qicang Gorge This scenic spot is just behind Jiuzhaigou, but few people know. The scenery is magnificent, the stream is gurgling, very quiet and beautiful. Qicang Gorge

|The first five-day and four-night long-distance heavy-duty hiking.⛳Qi Cang Gou| The first five-day and four-night long-distance heavy-duty hiking 🚃【Itinerary D1-D2 Chongqing-Wenchuan-Maoxian-Songpan-Chuanzhusi-Kakagou-Changhai Arrived at noon, decided to go up the mountain early, 18km arranged to walk in two days ✨D3 Changhai Camp-Changhai Pass-Awenggou-Yuhai The climb was okay, because we didn't camp at the campsite, we camped by the stream next to it, we can walk on the flat road before climbing, which is more reasonable. The most points along the way are the mountains surrounded by the pass, the colorful forest, and the endless downhill road ✨D4 Yuhai Camp-Caohai-Hongxinghai Camping by the sea is too cool, enjoy the beautiful scenery alone Hongxing can also circle the lake 180 degrees, the color of the sea is different from each angle, if the weather is good, you can go to the pass on the right of the sea to see the sea of clouds ✨D5 Campsite below Hongxinghai-Feicuihai Pass-Feicui Shuanghai-Tazigou Campsite-Changgou Village-Chuanzhusi The hardest day is to cross one pass after another, constantly downhill, the sun is too big to resist tips: 1. There is a signal at the pass 2 Contact the driver in advance for pick-up and drop-off (there are slaughters) 3. Not necessarily camping at the campsite, good scenery needs to be discovered by yourself 4. You can prepare waterproof socks, there are more streams 5. There are water sources throughout the journey, you need to filter with a water purifier and then boil 6. Check the equipment when you go out, the teammate's shoe sole was opened on the first day, and he could only return

Qizanggou, located in the northwest of Sichuan Province, belongs to the mountainous area in the southeast of Songpan Grassland. To the north is Jiuzhaigou and to the south is Huanglong, which together constitute a natural scenic area composed of mountains, alpine lakes, primitive jungles and alpine meadows under the control of subtropical climate.