Kangding Love Song Scenic Area is located in Yala Township, Kangding City, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, approximately 17 kilometers away from the urban area of Kangding. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, a World Natural Heritage nominee, and a national key scenic spot. Covering an area of about 350 square kilometers with an altitude ranging from 2,600 to 3,780 meters, the scenic area is situated at the northern foot of the Hengduan Mountains, belonging to the Daxue Mountain Range. It serves as a transitional zone between the western marginal mountains of the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Featuring plateau lakes, primeval forests, hot springs, snow-capped peaks, exotic rocks, and the 8-kilometer-long Qianbao Gorge (Thousand Waterfalls Gorge), the scenic area presents a beautiful and colorful landscape. It is an ideal destination for sightseeing, entertainment, relaxation, recuperation, fitness, summer resort, and scientific research. There is no relevant data on the scenic area's buildings.
History and Culture
Kangding Love Song Scenic Area is the birthplace of the famous Chinese folk song Kangding Love Song. People here have been known for their passionate and unrestrained personalities as well as their beautiful yearning for love since ancient times. The line "On the rolling horse-riding hill..." from the song has resounded throughout China, making this land the "hometown of love songs" in people's hearts. Meanwhile, it is also the birthplace of Guozhuang culture. Guozhuang Dance is a traditional dance form of the Tibetan people; during festivals or gatherings, people dance around bonfires, showcasing the unique folk customs of the Kangba region.
Major Attractions
Fragrant Grassland
Covering an area of over 10,000 square meters, it spreads like a vibrant carpet among the mountains and dense forests. With lush green grass and wildflowers everywhere, it is a natural paradise for horse riding and outdoor leisure activities (known as "Shuabazi" in local dialect). It is also the starting point of the love story of the protagonists in Kangding Love Song.
Seven-Color Lake
Located at an altitude of 2,600 meters, it is a plateau lake where lake water merges with hot springs. The lake surface is crescent-shaped, covering an area of about 20 hectares with a water depth of more than 20 meters. The lake water is clear and transparent, displaying seven color variations with changes in sunlight and weather. The spring on the right side of the lake has a water temperature as high as 67°C, making it an ideal place for bathing and recuperation. In the dense forest to the southeast, there is also a satellite lake called "Love Sea".
Azalea Gorge
Connecting Seven-Color Lake in the east and Wild Man Lake (Mugecuo) in the west, the gorge is 8 kilometers long. The streams in the gorge sometimes rush forward and sometimes flow gently, splashing water droplets like pearls and jade. Both sides of the stream banks are covered with lush forests, and the primitive azalea forests showcase various postures and bright colors.
Yaochi Boiling Springs
Located 3 kilometers away from Seven-Color Lake at an altitude of 3,500 meters, there are more than 20 high-temperature hot spring outlets here, with the highest water temperature reaching 90°C. The water contains a variety of trace elements beneficial to the human body, and different spring outlets have unique curative effects on eye diseases, stomach diseases, rheumatism, and other ailments.
Mugecuo (Wild Man Lake)
As one of the largest alpine lakes in northwestern Sichuan, it sits at an altitude of 3,780 meters, covering a water area of nearly 4 square kilometers with a water depth of over 70 meters. Surrounded by mountains, forests, and grasslands, it is encircled by dozens of small lakes such as Red Sea, Black Sea, and White Sea, like stars surrounding the moon. The mountain peak on the left side of the lake's outlet is named Rhinoceros Peak.
Red Sea Grassland
It gets its name from the alpine Red Sea Lake. Local Tibetans call Red Sea Lake "Xiao Haizi" (Small Lake). With lush grass and scattered wildflowers, visitors can take a boat from Mugecuo Holy Lake to the Red Sea Grassland on the opposite bank.
Golden Coast (Beach)
It is approximately 110 meters long and 80 meters wide, with a total area of about 8,800 square meters. The shining fine sand is like a golden border inlaid on the azure Mugecuo Lake. Although there are many lakes around Mugecuo, only the side of Golden Coast is covered with golden sand, forming a spectacular scene similar to ocean tides—sand is covered when the water rises and exposed when the water falls.
Tour Route
Start by taking a sightseeing bus from the scenic area entrance to Mugecuo Holy Lake. Enjoy the "Plateau Blue Love Sea" and the golden beach by the lake, watch Tibetan dance performances, and participate in interactive games. Next, head to Red Stone Beach to admire the red spectacle at the foot of Gongga Mountain. Then, visit Yaochi Boiling Springs to experience foot-soaking in hot springs and taste eggs boiled in hot springs. Finally, go to Seven-Color Lake and enjoy the morning mist and the magnificent view of "Sunlight on Golden Mountains" from the viewing platform on the east side of the lake.
Travel Tips
- The scenic area is at a relatively high altitude. Pay attention to preventing altitude sickness—prepare anti-altitude sickness medicine in advance and avoid strenuous exercise.
- Bring appropriate clothing based on the season and weather. For spring and summer (April-September), prepare a thin down jacket, a hardshell jacket, rain gear, and a sun hat. For autumn and winter (October-March), bring a thick down jacket, a scarf, gloves, and crampons.
- There are few catering options in the scenic area. You can bring your own food such as chocolate and self-heating hot pots.
- It is recommended to arrive at the scenic area before 10:30 a.m. to participate in the Tibetan song and dance welcome ceremony at the entrance.
Notes
- Respect the local religious beliefs and customs.
- Protect the scenic area environment—do not litter or damage vegetation.
- Pay attention to safety in the hot spring area to avoid scalding.
- Keep your personal belongings safe during the tour, especially in crowded places.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Depart from Chengdu, take highways such as G4202 Chengdu Ring Expressway, G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway, G4218 Ya'an-Yecheng Expressway, and S43 Xichang-Xiangcheng Expressway to reach Kangding City, then head to the scenic area via Kangding City. The total distance is approximately 322 kilometers.
- Public Transportation: First reach Kangding City, then take a bus to the scenic area from Kangding City Bus Station.
Opening Hours
Scenic Area Opening Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Subject to the actual opening hours of the scenic area.
Tickets
Ticket + Sightseeing Bus: 195 RMB per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area "康定情歌景区" on WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.