Pick autumn fruits/Pick mushrooms/Feed marmots! Dangling + Jiayu Lacao + Yuke, this wild fun loop in western Sichuan unlocks the golden autumn that 99% of people miss

All the following pictures are real photos taken by the team. Any unauthorized use of these pictures will be pursued

“Embark on an Exploration Journey

Go to a place without a ceiling

PART. 01

Highlights of Scenic Spots

God crushed the Alps

It was privately hidden at the foot of the Four Sisters Mountain

Wandering through a 40-mile scroll, with snow-capped peaks as hairpins and lakes as mirrors,

The primeval forest breathes through the clouds and mist.

Ancient sea buckthorn trees entwined into a tunnel of fairies

The Baiyangping meadow is covered with a yellow velvet carpet.

When the sun sets and tints the Youngest Sister Peak with gold, the bonfire ignites the Milky Way

–

Lying in the tent, I fall asleep listening to the mountains by a ray of starlight.

God crushed the Alps

It was privately hidden at the foot of the Four Sisters Mountain

Wandering through a 40-mile scroll, with snow-capped peaks as hairpins and lakes as mirrors,

The primeval forest breathes through the clouds and mist.

Ancient sea buckthorn trees entwined into a tunnel of fairies

The Baiyangping meadow is covered with a yellow velvet carpet.

When the sun sets and tints the Youngest Sister Peak with gold, the bonfire ignites the Milky Way

–

Lying in the tent, I fall asleep listening to the mountains by a ray of starlight.

The watchtower hangs in the clouds; reaching out, I pluck a season of sweetness

The morning mist enveloped the thousand-year-old stone village, and the pear branches caught the prayer flags.

Pushing open the carved wooden window, the Kapama Snow Mountain rises and falls among the terraced fields.

Carrying a bamboo basket into the orchard

Fragrant pears adorn the crooked branches

–

Take a bite of the honey of the sun, put the snow-capped mountains in the basket and head home.

Fall into the palette of the gods
At the summit of the 4,200-meter snow-capped land,
The sacred lake, as blue as the eyes, falls asleep quietly.
The autumn colors ignite the surrounding layers of forests, with golden and red colors splashing down.
The reflection sank to the bone of ice and jade. The wind swept by
The ripples crumbled the scorching heat all over the mountains.
This is the palette closest to heaven.
It is the end of the pilgrimage for hikers.
Fall into an unreal illusion of late autumn.

A secluded paradise hidden deep in western Sichuan
Crossing the mountains and forests, one falls into an undisturbed, primitive picture.
The wild hot spring is shrouded in mist and steam, and the colorful forest in autumn scatters the world.
This is the ultimate dream of hikers.
A treasure trove of light and shadow for photographers.
Escape the hustle and bustle and embark on a soulful dialogue with pure nature.
A hidden paradise that one must visit in this lifetime awaits the brave to unveil its veil.

Altay in Kham
The golden autumn pastoral song supports 360 snow-capped mountains
When the 3,700-meter-high plateau is ignited by the autumn wind,
The jade plants spread out into a flowing golden ocean.
Snow-capped mountains as the backdrop and streams bathed in light
The herds dance like musical notes on the grass waves.
The horseback galloped through the colorful forest, leaving behind lines of Kham poetry all over the ground.
This is “Kangba Altay”.
In the vast expanse of the world, the most magnificent symphony of autumn.

This is not a grassland.
It is the golden epic presented by the earth
The 3,700-meter-long wilderness was ignited by the autumn wind.
Golden waves swept across the battlefield where King Gesar had galloped.
The Mandala sand altar rises and falls in the slanting sun.
The prayer flags flutter, and the shepherd’s long tune shatters the clouds.

Break into the abandoned iron smelting furnace of the gods
The jagged black pillars pierced the horizon.
The iron limestone blade is quenched in the wind.
The ochre-red fault exposes the ribs of the planet.
The sulfur spring was steaming incantations in the dark crevice.Antelopes skimmed over the Xuanwu stone array, while eagles and falcons carried the flowing clouds and swooped down
When the moonlight soaked through the stone forest, the entire maze began to float.

A fairy tale world in the autumn of western Sichuan
The golden meadows stretch on and on
A romantic village at the foot of the snow-capped mountains
The babbling brook and the golden meadow
Romantic snow-capped mountains and herds of cattle and horses
The colorful forest and the warm and peaceful little village
It’s as if one has stepped into a fairy-tale world
Standing on the grassland, freedom follows the wind

On the prayer wheel closest to heaven
Catch the waterfall of light pouring down from the sacred mountain
A 4,200-meter autumn feast
The prayer flag array stirs the golden wind
The Three Sacred Mountains are framed together on the glazed dome
The meadow has faded into a warm brown color, and the pastoral path winds like a rope
Tear down the evening clouds of the blue crow sky

The Golden Rhapsody of the Light and Shadow Magician
The morning mist tears through the golden foil barrier of the green poplar forest.
The stream, carrying the silver leaves, winds through the meadow.
The white spire of the Tibetan style pierces through the blue sky
The black yak was moving with frost grains on its back.
The asphalt road winds into lines of poetry.
At the end of the ten-mile corridor, the Gongga Mountain range is dotted with snow-green and ochre red.
When the dusk burned through the prayer flag array,
The fragrant smoke of pine branches rose from the herdsman’s wooden house.
With every breath the shutter takes, it captures a slice of the autumn in heaven.

The Gongga Mirror Hall is tinted with the color of autumn
The lake surface is icy blue, soaked through with the shadows of the clouds.
The withered yellow meadows surround it like a gilded picture frame.
The Shudugang Snow Range is adorned with a silver crown of rime ice. As the flight passed by,
It startles the golden wings of the ruddy ducks by the water’s edge.

The red gem lost to the world
A 4,100-meter-long lake ripples through the autumn sky.
The rhododendron bushes have turned rust-red.
The ice cracks lift up the reflection of Yala.
The prayer flag bridge locks in the west wind.
Scatter the gold coins left behind by the poplar trees onto the water surface.

Itinerary details

DAY1
Chengdu – Cat Nose Bridge Observation Deck – Four Sisters Mountain
Mileage/driving time: Approximately 200 kilometers, 4 hours (excluding traffic jams)
Core Experience
Cat’s Nose Bridge Observation Deck: A landmark observation deck before reaching the Four Sisters Mountain, it is one of the best spots to capture the panoramic view of the Four Sisters Mountain, especially at sunset when the mountain peaks are majestic and imposing.
Shuangqiao Valley of the Four Sisters Mountain: Shuangqiao Valley (the most well-developed, with a full sightseeing vehicle, allowing you to easily enjoy the scenery of snow-capped mountains, meadows, forests and sea buckthorn forests). The Redwood forest, Budala Peak and Sigunna Co are must-visit spots.
Initial altitude adaptation: Gradually climb from 500 meters in Chengdu to 3,200 meters in Siguniang Mountain Town. Slow down the pace of activities, drink plenty of water, and avoid strenuous exercise.

DAY2
​Mileage/driving time: Approximately 200 kilometers, 5-6 hours (the road conditions in the second half are complex)
Core Experience
Zhonglu Tibetan Village: Unlike the commercialized Jiaju Tibetan Village, Zhonglu is more primitive and peaceful.​ There is also seasonal fruit picking.
Head to the secret place: Then drive to the true secret place – Dangling Village. The road conditions have deteriorated, so drive carefully. On the way, you can go up the mountain to pick wild mushrooms, and at night, the collector will process the freshest ingredients.

DAY3
Dangling Village – Jia Yilacao – Yuke Grassland
Mileage/driving time: Hiking + driving, rich experience throughout the day.
Core Experience
Hiking to Jia Yilatso Lake: Depart from Dangling Village in the morning and hike or ride a horse (about 2-3 hours) to Jia Yilatso Lake (also known as the Couple’s Sea). This is a breathtaking lake hidden at the foot of a snow-capped mountain. The water is clear and blue, and the environment is quiet and primitive. It is one of the highlights of this trip.
Galloping on Yuke Grassland: Bid farewell to Dangling in the afternoon and drive to Yuke Grassland. This place is like a paradise beyond the mundane world. The continuous snow-capped mountains, wide river valleys, undulating meadows and leisurely herds of yaks form a breathtaking picture. In autumn, everything is golden.
Tips
Hiking at Jia Yi La Co requires a certain level of physical strength. You can choose to ride a horse according to your own situation (the cost is at your own expense).

DAY4
Yuke Grassland – A Secret Realm in Western Sichuan – Xinduqiao
Mileage/drive: Approximately 200 kilometers, 5-6 hours (walk and play at the same time)
Core Experience
Yuke Grassland Morning Light: In the morning, you can freely capture the dawn light of the grassland and enjoy the peaceful time.
The Secret Route: A full-day journey along the scenic road in western Sichuan that passes through Dao Fu, Ba Mei Mo Shi Park and Ta Gong. The scenery along the way is picturesque and you can stop at any time to take pictures.
​Arrive at the photography paradise: Arrive at “The paradise of photographers” – Xinduqiao in the evening. Attend the popular bonfire party in the evening.

DAY5
Xinduqiao – Sitingcuo – Honghaizi – return to Chengdu
Mileage/drive: Approximately 350 kilometers, 7-8 hours (including tour time)
Core Experience
Sidingco: Depart from Xinduqiao in the morning and head for Sidingco. This is a plateau lake at an altitude of approximately 4,200 meters, capable of reflecting both the Yala Snow Mountain and the Gongga Snow Mountain simultaneously. It is an ideal spot for capturing the reflections of snow-capped mountains, serene and breathtaking.
Honghaizi (Jiaxia La) : Then head to another alpine lake, Honghaizi. The lake surface is as smooth as a mirror, with the snow-capped peaks of Bijia Mountain in the background. The scenery is magnificent and perfect for taking photos.

A successful return journey: With a wealth of memories and photos, we drove onto the Ya ‘an-Kangding Expressway via Kangding and returned to Chengdu, bringing to an end our unforgettable trip to western Sichuan.