Kangding Love Song Scenic Area is located in Yala Township, Kangding City, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, about 17 kilometers away from Kangding urban area. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction, a nominated site for World Natural Heritage, and a national key scenic spot. The scenic area covers about 350 square kilometers, with an altitude of 2,600-3,780 meters. It is located at the northern foot of the Hengduan Mountains, belonging to the Daxue Mountains, and serves as a transition zone between the mountainous areas on the western edge of the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
The scenic area features plateau lakes, primeval forests, hot springs, snow-capped peaks, unique mountains and rocks, and an 8-kilometer-long Thousand Waterfall Gorge, forming a beautiful and colorful landscape. It is an ideal destination for sightseeing, entertainment, relaxation, recuperation, fitness, summer retreat, and scientific research, with no relevant architectural data available.
History and Culture
Kangding Love Song Scenic Area is the birthplace of the Kangding Love Song. The people here have long been known for their warm and passionate personalities and yearning for beautiful love. The song "On the Slippery Horse Mountain..." 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, a traditional dance form of the Tibetan people, is performed around bonfires during festivals or gatherings, showcasing the unique folk customs of the Kangba region.
Main Attractions
Fragrant Grassland
Covering an area of about 10,000 square meters, it is like a gorgeous carpet laid among the mountains and dense forests, with lush grass and wildflowers everywhere. This natural paradise for horseback riding and traditional Tibetan gatherings is also the starting point of the love story in the Kangding Love Song.
Seven-Color Sea
At an altitude of 2,600 meters, this plateau lake integrates lake water and hot springs. The crescent-shaped lake covers about 20 hectares with a depth of over 20 meters. The clear water changes into seven colors with sunlight and weather. The spring on the right side of the lake has a water temperature of up to 67°C, ideal for bathing and therapy. The "Love Sea," a satellite lake, lies in the southeast forest.
Rhododendron Gorge
Connecting Seven-Color Sea in the east and Wild Man Lake in the west, the 8-kilometer-long gorge features streams sometimes rushing and sometimes gentle, with sparkling water. The banks are covered with lush forests and various forms of primitive rhododendron forests in bright colors.
Medicine Pool Boiling Spring
3 kilometers away from Seven-Color Sea at an altitude of 3,500 meters, this area has more than 20 high-temperature hot springs, with the highest water temperature reaching 90°C. The water contains multiple trace elements beneficial to humans, and different springs have unique effects on treating eye diseases, stomach problems, rheumatism, etc.
Mugecuo (Wild Man Lake)
One of the largest alpine lakes in northwestern Sichuan, it is located at an altitude of over 3,700 meters, covering nearly 4 square kilometers with a depth exceeding 70 meters. Surrounded by mountains, forests, and grasslands, it is encircled by dozens of small lakes like Red Sea, Black Sea, and White Sea, resembling stars surrounding the moon. The mountain on the left side of the outlet is called Rhinoceros Peak.
Red Sea Grassland
Named after the alpine lake Red Sea (locally called "Little Haizi" by Tibetans), this grassland is covered with green grass and wildflowers. Visitors can take a cruise from Mugecuo Holy Lake to the Red Sea Grassland on the opposite shore.
Delicacies
Tibetan Earthen Hot Pot
Made with yak meat, wild mushrooms, and alpine vegetables, this hot pot features fresh soup and tender meat, embodying typical Tibetan cuisine.
Butter Tea with Barley Pancake
Butter tea, with its slightly salty milk flavor, paired with barley pancakes, is not only a traditional local food but also considered a "magic remedy" for altitude sickness.
Yak Beef Jerky
Made from local yak meat, this jerky is firm, chewy, and delicious, convenient for carrying and preservation.
Hot Spring Boiled Eggs
At Medicine Pool Boiling Spring, you can taste unique hot spring-boiled eggs with solid yolks and tofu-like egg whites, offering a special texture.
Tickets
Tickets + sightseeing bus: CNY 195 per person.
Search the official WeChat public account "康定情歌景区" for the latest updates or online booking.
Opening Hours
7:30-16:30 (subject to actual opening hours of the scenic area).
Tour Routes
Start by taking a sightseeing bus from the entrance to Mugecuo Holy Lake to admire the plateau blue love sea and the golden beach by the lake. Watch Tibetan dance performances and join interactive games. Then go to Red Stone Beach to view the red wonders under Gongga Mountain, followed by Medicine Pool Boiling Spring to experience hot spring foot baths and taste hot spring eggs. Finally, visit Seven-Color Sea to enjoy morning mist and the "Sunlight on Golden Mountain" (Gongga Snow Mountain) at the east viewing platform.
Transportation
- Self-driving: From Chengdu, take G4202 Chengdu Ring Expressway, G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway, G4218 Ya'an-Yeting Expressway, S43 Xichang-Xianggelila Expressway, etc., to Kangding City, then proceed to the scenic area, about 322 kilometers in total.
- Public transportation: Arrive at Kangding City first, then take a bus from Kangding Bus Station to the scenic area.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Mugecuo Holy Lake: The largest alpine lake in northwestern Sichuan, with its sapphire-like water embedded among snow mountains. The golden beach by the lake is a perfect spot for wedding photos and couple check-ins.
- Seven-Color Sea: A crescent-shaped lake showing seven colors due to light refraction. Watch morning mist in the morning and overlook "Sunlight on Golden Mountain" (Gongga Snow Mountain) on sunny days—excellent for photography.
- Medicine Pool Boiling Spring: A natural hot spring group at 3,500 meters above sea level. Enjoy foot baths while watching performances and taste special hot spring-boiled eggs.
Tour Tips
- Due to the high altitude, prevent altitude sickness by preparing anti-altitude sickness medicine in advance and avoiding strenuous exercise.
- Dress appropriately for the season and weather: prepare thin down jackets, hard-shell jackets, rain gear, and sun hats in spring and summer (April-September); wear thick down jackets, scarves, gloves, and crampons in autumn and winter (October-March).
- As catering options are limited in the scenic area, bring self-heating food, chocolate, etc.
- Arrive before 10:30 to participate in the Tibetan song and dance welcome ceremony at the entrance.
Notes
- Respect local religious beliefs and customs.
- Protect the scenic environment: do not litter or damage vegetation.
- Pay attention to safety in hot spring areas to avoid scalding.
- Keep personal belongings safe, especially in crowded areas.