Hailuogou Scenic Area is located in Moxi Town, Luding County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction with an area of 906.13 square kilometers and an important part of the Gongga Mountain Scenic Area. The scenic area has "six wonders": glaciers, hot springs, snow-capped mountains, red stones, clouds and mist, and primeval forests. It is rich in geothermal resources and has a variety of natural hot springs. The unique conditions bring rare climate and astronomical landscapes such as winter and spring snow scenes and the golden mountain under the sun. The No. 1 Glacier in the scenic area, namely the Great Glacier Waterfall, is 14.7 kilometers long, 500-1100 meters wide, with a drop of 3900 meters and an area of 16 square kilometers. It is the tallest and largest glacier waterfall discovered so far in China.
History and Culture
From May 28 to June 3, 1935, the main force of the Central Red Army during the Long March passed through Moxi under Gongga Mountain. Comrade Mao Zedong stayed in the priest's room of Moxi Catholic Church and held the famous "Moxi Conference" here, deploying the specific plan for "capturing the Luding Bridge by surprise".
Kangba area is located in the transition zone from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the Sichuan Basin and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. The diverse geographical environment leads to the diversity, compatibility and openness of the local culture. There are 13 ethnic groups including Han, Yi and Tibetan in the area, forming unique folk culture and ethnic customs.
From the Tang and Song dynasties to the Republic of China, the "Tea-Horse Road" was formed between the Han and Tibetan peoples. It is mainly composed of the Sichuan-Tibet Road, Yunnan-Tibet Road and Qinghai-Tibet Road. It is not only a road network, but also promotes the integration of cultures along the route. The tea-horse culture has accumulated rich historical and cultural connotations.
Main Attractions
Great Glacier Waterfall
Located in Hailuogou, it is the No. 1 Glacier, 14.7 kilometers long, 500-1100 meters wide, with the highest altitude of 6750 meters, the lowest altitude of 2850 meters, a drop of 3900 meters and an area of 16 square kilometers. It is the tallest and largest glacier waterfall discovered so far in China.
Four-Faced Buddha
It is one of the best places to watch the Hailuogou Great Glacier Waterfall and the main peak of Gongga Mountain, and also the only way to the Red Stone Beach.
Red Stone Beach
The stones here are bright red due to a layer of red algae attached to their surface. Against the backdrop of green mountains and clear waters, they look particularly gorgeous, forming a unique natural landscape.
Caohaizi (Grass Lake)
Caohaizi is the entrance to the Glacier Rainforest Walking Corridor, located in the mountain warm temperate coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest zone, at an altitude of 2850 meters, with a water area of nearly 5000 square meters. It is an ancient moraine lake from the last ice age. There are 1-2 meters high tofu grass growing in the lake, surrounded by green primitive trees, most of which are national third-class protected plants such as Abies georgei and Picea brachytyla.
Tour Route
Tourists can first reach the tourist center and take a sightseeing bus to enter the scenic area. After arriving at the No. 3 Camp, they can voluntarily choose to take the cableway to the No. 4 Camp according to the weather conditions to visit attractions such as the Great Ice Waterfall Viewing Platform, Wolf Totem Viewing Platform, Red Stone Beach, and Mountaineering Monument. They can also get off at the Caohaizi stop to visit attractions such as Caohaizi and Dongga Temple.
Tour Suggestions
- Learn about the weather in the scenic area in advance, bring appropriate clothes, and take measures to keep warm and protect against the sun.
- The altitude of the scenic area is relatively high, so strenuous exercise is not advisable. You can prepare some medicines to prevent altitude sickness in advance.
- Arrange your time reasonably and leave enough time to enjoy the beauty of each attraction.
- You can choose to stay in homestays or hotels in the scenic area to experience the local living atmosphere.
Notes
- The scenic area has strong sunlight, strong ultraviolet rays, and strong sunlight reflection. It is necessary to bring sun protection products such as sunglasses and sun hats.
- The alpine climate is changeable. It is necessary to bring cold and rainproof clothes. Do not enter the scenic area in high heels, plastic-soled or slippery shoes, shorts or skirts.
- Do not litter at will, take good care of the scenic environment, do not pick flowers and plants, or step on or carve on red stones.
- The vegetation in the scenic area is precious. Do not smoke in the scenic area to prevent fires.
Transportation
- Starting from Chengdu, you can take a bus to Hailuogou, which takes about 4-5 hours.
- You can also first go to Luding County, then transfer to a bus to Moxi Town to reach Hailuogou Scenic Area.
- If you choose to drive by yourself, you can go to the scenic area via roads such as the Yakang Expressway, and the road conditions are good.
Opening Hours
May 1 - October 31 (summer and autumn): 07:00 - 15:00; November 11 - April 30 of the next year (winter and spring): 08:00 - 14:30. Subject to the actual opening hours of the scenic area.
Tickets
Scenic area ticket + sightseeing bus: 160 yuan/person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area "海螺沟旅游" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.