Looking for the Empty Valley of Blue Ponds, Lotus Lake, Sichuan—Wuxuhai Crossing Guide

Looking for the Blue Pond Empty Valley Sichuan Lotus Lake - Wu Xuhai Crossing Strategy

Website editor: Xuantian

Published time: 2016-04-21

Photography: Traveling in a hurry

Route introduction:

Lianhua Lake is about 4,100 meters above sea level and is located in Pusharong Township, Kangding County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. An undeveloped virgin land. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the sun is pure and the sky is blue. Everywhere is green carpet-like alpine meadows, starry wildflowers, sapphire-like plateau lakes, silver-chain-like streams, Kham horses watching us silently, and Prayer flags swaying in the wind...

Wu Xuhai is an important part of the national Gongga Mountain Scenic Area. It is located in the north of Jiulong County and is a collection of snow-capped mountains, primeval forests, waterfalls, and five-flowered flowers. Meadows, mountain lakes in one. Wu Xuhai is known as the "mirror for fairies to dress up" by the locals. It not only has beautiful plateau lakes, three-dimensional intertwined primeval forests, but also rich and colorful Tibetan and Yi ethnic customs.

Crossing from Lianhua Lake to Wu Xuhai, passing through virgin forests, quiet valleys, alpine lakes, and crossing the pass at an altitude of 4,900 meters, this is a relatively unpopular hiking route, hidden deep in the mountains. Far away from the hustle and bustle, little known, it is the "Shambhala" in the minds of travel enthusiasts.

Route itinerary:

Chengdu - Kangding - Xindu Bridge - Shade - Forestry Farm (hiking starting point) - Moon Lake - Hot Spring - Lotus Lake - Big Platform - Pass - Tianchi - Wuxu Sea (hiking end point)-Kowloon-Xinduqiao---Kangding-Chengdu.

This hiking route has the following characteristics:

1. Moderate difficulty. The hiking time is 4 days, and the hiking time is 5-9 hours every day;

2. The altitude is high. The altitude of the three-day camp is 4063 meters, 4580 meters, and 4329 meters respectively, and the altitude of the pass is 4914 meters;

3. There are many river crossings. On the second day, we have to pass through a wetland and there is a lot of wading;

4. It is easy to get lost. Some sections of the road have no obvious traces, and the section going down the pass and crossing Tianchi is more dangerous;

5. Free hot springs. On the first day of hiking, there is a natural open-air hot spring before arriving at Lianhua Lake, which is worth a dip.

6. Beautiful scenery. Primeval forests, mountain lakes, snow-capped mountains, waterfalls and meadows.

Detailed itinerary:

Day1: Shade (3145 meters) - Forestry Farm (3572 meters) - Lianhua Lake (4063 meters)

5 hours of hiking, altitude Rise 500 meters, standard -

Difficulty: ** Today’s road is easier to walk

Intensity: *** The first day of plateau hiking, team members need to adapt slowly

Scenery: ***** Moon Lake, Lotus Lake

After breakfast, Shade chartered a car to the forest farm, which took about an hour. This is the starting point for hiking. There are many Tibetans on holidays, just like going to the market.

You can rent horses or hire porters here, but the caravans cannot cross the pass and usually only go to Lianhua Lake. In order to make money, the village committee stipulated that the forest farm could only rent horses when going to Lianhua Lake, but could not hire porters. After passing the Lotus Lake, no one cares about the porters. The village committee has to collect tolls, which are in the name of health management fees. They are 15 yuan per person. It is best to ask them to issue a receipt to avoid repeated inspections and repeated tolls.

After hiking for a while, you can see Moon Lake on the right. Although the lake is not big, it is very beautiful.

The scenery along the way is good, not only lakes, but also snow-capped mountains and autumn colors.

Before arriving at Lianhua Lake, there are several natural open-air hot springs. The water temperature is just right and worth a dip. It's best to bring a swimming suit and soak here for a while.

Shortly after the hot springs, there is today’s camp, Lotus Lake. The campground is huge and the scenery is beautiful. Today's hike is not long and not too difficult. The scenery along the way is beautiful and the hot springs are very refreshing. It is a very enjoyable day.

Day2: Lianhua Lake (4063 meters) - large platform (4580 meters)

8 hours of hiking, 550 meters of elevation gain, standard +

Difficulty: * *** Walking through wetlands, crossing glaciers, and crossing rocky slopes

Intensity: **** The altitude rises quickly and the hiking distance is long, a very hard day

Scenery: *** * Lotus Lake, alpine meadows, and valley scenery

Get up early and take photos. The Lotus Lake in the mist is like a fairyland. Go for a walk by the lake, breathe fresh air and enjoy the beautiful scenery at the same time; it not only exercises your body but also cultivates your sentiments.

Shortly after leaving Lianhua Lake Camp, we had to cross an artificial bridge.

Looking back at the Lianhua Lake Campground, it still feels so beautiful!

After crossing the bridge, we have been walking in a large wetland.

There is grass, water and yaks here

Crossing the river is a must. Pay attention to safety when crossing the river. Fortunately, the water in these places is very shallow, so it is easy to pass by taking off your shoes.

After walking through this wetland, we started to climb uphill, and the road after that became more difficult. The trail is not obvious and you have to pass through a rocky slope. If you are not careful, you will go the wrong way.

Climbing to the upper end of the valley, there are several places where large rocks cross the river. You need to protect each other and pass carefully. There is a place where it is safer to cross the river riding on rocks.

Just remember the general direction. Our destination is above the valley until we see a larger platform, which is our camp today.

Day3: Big platform (4580 meters) - Pass (4914 meters) - Tianchi (4329 meters)

8 hours of hiking, ascending 335 meters, descending 585 meters, challenge

Difficulty: **** The descent is steep and you have to pass through the rocky slope

Intensity: ***** The most difficult day

Scenery: **** Pass , Tianchi

The campground is more beautiful after snowing, but the difficulty of crossing the pass has increased a lot.

After leaving this large platform camp, we started to climb uphill and over the pass. When walking on large rocks covered with snow, our feet can easily slip. We need to be extra careful and be sure to keep our feet on the ground with every step.

It is difficult to go up the pass and even harder to go down the pass. This section is full of big rocks. Sometimes we need to protect each other to avoid falling.

A place like this is scary to look at. But we still have to grit our teeth and descend bit by bit.

After passing this crushing rocky slope, you can see the beautiful Tianchi. The road is much easier to walk, all the way down.

Our camp is located by the beautiful Tianchi Lake.

Day4: Tianchi (4329 meters) - Wu Xuhai (3367 meters) - Kowloon (2900 meters)

7 hours of hiking, 960 meters of altitude drop, standard +

Difficulty: **** There are several dangerous cliffs

Intensity: *** Long hiking distance

Scenery: ***** Alpine lakes, virgin forests , waterfall group

Today is all the way downhill, but the first section of the road is a bit dangerous because we have to pass through the jungle and cliffs on the left side of Tianchi.

The Tianchi we see at this time is like a sapphire inlaid in the silent valley.

Some sections of the road are more dangerous. We have to climb up and down steep rock walls, and protection is needed here.

After walking around Tianchi, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief. You can rest, take photos, have lunch at the outlet of Tianchi, and enjoy the hard-won beautiful scenery.

Don’t be too happy, there are still several rivers waiting for you. Although there are artificial bridges, if you accidentally fall off, the consequences will be disastrous. Carefully pass through the water outlet, come to the right side of the valley, and enter the primeval forest. Another scene is in front of you.

We can't really relax until we see the beautiful Wu Xuhai, which is a mature scenic spot that has been developed.

You can take a short break here and contact the driver on the phone. There are snack shops nearby where you can replenish food. Then walk along the plank road on the left side of Wu Xuhai to the gate of the scenic spot. At the end of the walk, take a bus to Jiulong County to have a good time.

Transportation:

1. Gather in Chengdu from all over the country;

2. Take the shuttle bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen Long-distance Bus Station to Kowloon and get off at Shad Car;

3. Shade hires a local van to go to the forest farm. When you arrive at Shade, just find a car temporarily;

4. After walking to Wu Xuhai Scenic Area, call a local van in Kowloon Come pick me up. It is best to let the guide contact you in advance;

5. Take the Kowloon shuttle bus to Chengdu. Buses are tight during holidays, so it’s best to book round-trip tickets in advance; save the local van driver’s phone number in your phone for easy contact.

Best season:

The suitable season for hiking is May to October. The weather on the plateau is changeable. The sun may be strong at noon and snow may fall in the afternoon. As the saying goes, the weather varies ten miles apart and there are four seasons in one day. When hiking, bring extra clothes and change clothes frequently.

Equipment requirements:

1. Personal equipment

Essential equipment

1-2 pieces of quick-drying clothes;

1-2 pieces of quick-drying pants;

2-3 pieces of quick-drying sweat-wicking underwear;

1-2 pieces of quick-drying sweat-wicking underwear (long) pieces;

2-3 pairs of briefs, preferably lightweight and sweat-wicking and of better quality;

2-3 pairs of sports socks, including one pair of wool socks;

Wide-brimmed sunhat;

1 pair of gloves;

A jacket, jacket, pants, and raincoat;

Fleece top;

2-3 headscarves, multi-purpose, can be changed every day;

1 pair of high-top hiking shoes;

1 insulated kettle, about 1 liter;

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2 hiking poles;

1 large backpack, about 70L for male team members and 60L for female team members;

1 backpack rain cover;

1 headlamp, 2 sets of spare headlamp batteries;

1 pair of sunglasses;

Various skin care products including hand cream;

Sunscreen 1 bottle, more than 30 times, 1 sunscreen lip balm;

2-3 waterproof bags (large and small models);

1 sleeping bag, comfortable temperature below -10 degrees; < /p>

1 moisture-proof pad;

Personal items (ID card, camera, charger, battery, garbage bag, toiletries, toilet paper, wet wipes, etc.);

Lifesaving card: blood type, drugs you are allergic to, emergency contact phone number, etc.;

Optional equipment:

1 Swiss Army Knife, required for male team members, optional for female team members;

Paper and pen;

1 pair of light sandals;

2 knee pads. People with knee injuries are best to bring them. They will protect the knees when going down the mountain. ;

Fleece pants, down jacket (more than 300 grams), bring with you if you are afraid of the cold;

1 small bag or camera bag;

2. Male ***Equipment

First aid kit: 2 pcs

Walkie-talkies: 3 or more

GPS: 2 or more

Stove, gas Several cans and sets of pots

Tent: two for one use

3. Medicine list

1 box of cold medicine. Choose the cold medicine that suits you, such as Ganmaoling, Contac, Tylenol, Baijiahei, etc. It is very easy to catch a cold on the plateau;

1 box of gastrointestinal medicine. You can choose the one you are used to including berberine, fluoropic acid, Xianglian capsules, Zhengchang pills, etc. Diarrhea on the road is very annoying;

1 box of anti-inflammatory drugs. Cephalosporin, amoxicillin, etc.;

1 box of gunpowder. Yiqing Capsules, Qinghuo Tablets, Niuhuang Jiedu Tablets, etc.;

Anti-altitude reaction drugs (a must for those who go to the plateau for the first time): 3 boxes of Gaoyuanan, carry them according to the 5-day usage, Baifu Ning or Bu 1 box of Lufen analgesic tablets;

Bruise medicine: Band-Aid, Huoluo oil, Yunnan Baiyao spray, Voltaren, Shangshi analgesic ointment, etc.;

Anti-allergic drug: Karri Tan, Astamine, Piyankang, etc.;

Motion sickness medicine, vitamin C, eye drops, cooling oil, carminative oil, etc.;

Other personal medicines.

The weather on the plateau is changeable, and you are more likely to get sick than usual, so it is best to bring more medicine.

Food plan:

A personal food plan consists of three parts: mobile food, road meals, and backup food.

Mobile food, snacks that can be eaten while walking: chocolate, nuts, toffee, biscuits, small packages of beef jerky, etc.;

Road meals, foods to eat during lunch breaks: baked goods Naan, bread, ham, mustard, etc.;

Backup food, food for emergencies and accidents: compressed biscuits, energy bars, etc.

For breakfast and dinner, it is recommended to organize cooking in small groups, with 4-6 people in each group. Breakfast: noodles, vermicelli, oatmeal, etc.; dinner consists of 3-4 dishes, the staple food is rice or noodles, plus some Laoganma, pickles, Shuanghui beef, etc.

Difficulty assessment:

1. The hiking time is 4 days, and the hiking time is 5-9 hours every day;

2. Horses cannot cross the pass and need to carry their own weight or Please ask a porter;

3. The camp is at 4000-4600 meters, and the pass is 4900 meters. It is a high-altitude hiking area, and some people will have altitude sickness;

4. Many times The water in the river is cold this season, but fortunately the water is very shallow, below the knees, so it is easy to pass;

5. Some sections of the road are not obvious, and it is a bit dangerous to go down the pass and cross Tianchi, so you need to protect each other to pass;

6. The pass has a high altitude and sometimes there is snow.

Please do not hire a guide or porter, ride a horse or not, and walk for 4 days or 6 days, which will directly affect the difficulty of this route. It is still difficult to carry a heavy load without a guide, so please choose carefully.

Risk control:

The possible risks of this activity mainly include the following aspects:

1. Altitude sickness. Some team members who have no plateau experience may experience varying degrees of altitude sickness. Before departure, let newcomers understand the knowledge about altitude sickness, overcome their fear, take appropriate medicines such as rhodiola rosea and Gaoyuanan, control the speed of hiking on the plateau, and evacuate to low altitude areas in time if severe altitude sickness occurs.

2. Loss of temperature. The weather on the plateau changes quickly, so you should bring more clothes and change clothes frequently during hiking. When signs of hypothermia appear, stop hiking immediately, put on warm clothes, set up a tent if necessary, and get into a sleeping bag to keep warm.

3. Slip and fall. When encountering dangerous road sections, do not rush in and arrange for experienced people to protect you.

4. Traffic accident. The road from Chengdu to Shade is long and in poor condition, which can easily cause traffic accidents. We should take the following measures: find a vehicle from a regular company, try not to drive at night, have someone take turns to observe the road conditions in the passenger seat, supervise the driver to drive safely, and do not rush or speed.

5. Personnel conflicts. Including: between us and the guide or other local people, between us and other teams, and between our team members. Team leaders and collaborators should pay attention to observation, discover problems in a timely manner and solve them appropriately.

6. Team members retreat. If a team member is unable to complete the journey due to physical reasons, guides and team members will be arranged to accompany the team members during the descent to ensure the safety of the team members during the descent.

Practical information:

1. Rescue hotline

1) Sichuan Mountaineering Association Gao Min: 028-85437259, 13981907558;

2 ) Xiong Anping of the Ganzi Prefecture Mountain Rescue Team: 13990487899;

3) Kowloon Tourism Bureau: 0836--3323577;

4) Jiulong County Public Security Bureau: 0836-3322028.

2. Hotels and Inns

1) Chengdu Longtang International Youth Hostel, address: No. 26 Kuan Alley, Qingyang District, Chengdu, Tel: 028-86648408. Good location, high grade, expensive price;

2) Chengdu No. 4 Factory International Youth Hostel, address: No. 4, Xiaotong Lane, Zhongtongren Road, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Tel: 028-86265770. Good location, moderate price;

3) Chengdu Lvyouji Youth Hostel Backpacker Inn, address: No. 23, Renjiawan, Xinghui West Road, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Tel. 028-83222271.

4) Manager Wang of Deqing Hotel in Kowloon: 0836--3321318. The room rate is slightly more expensive during the National Day period, with a standard room of 180 yuan.

5) Kangding Yongzhu Inn: 0836--2832381, the owner is a Tibetan.

3. Local delicacies

Authentic Sichuan cuisine, Chengdu snacks, and fish shops along the way. We especially recommend the cold chicken and chicken soup at Qiaotoubao in Tianquan County on National Highway 318. It is famous far and near, and many drivers are If you eat here, you have to take it away.

4. Surrounding routes

1) Gongga Hiking;

2) Niubei Mountain Hiking;

3) Yala Mountaineering .