Wawu Mountain Scenic Area is located in Hongya County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province. It is a World Natural Heritage and a national 4A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area covers about 1040,000 mu, with a core area of about 105 square kilometers. The main peak, Wawu Mountain, stands at an altitude of 2830 meters. Named for its flat mountaintop like a table, it is the largest table mountain in China and was praised by British botanist Wilson as "a huge Noah's Ark above the clouds". The scenic area is characterized by primeval forests, rare animals and plants, waterfalls and streams, and unique geological landscapes, with a forest coverage rate of over 98%. The negative ion concentration reaches up to 30,000 per cubic centimeter, making it a natural oxygen bar.
History and Culture
Wawu Mountain is one of the birthplaces of Chinese Taoism. According to research, the spread of Taoism here can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. Legend has it that Laozi once made alchemy here, leaving behind relics such as the "Laozi Alchemy Platform". During the Tang and Song dynasties, Taoism in Wawu Mountain reached its peak, with 108 temples of various sizes built on the mountain. Now, ruins such as Guangxiang Temple and Xiang'er Temple remain.
Wawu Mountain is also an important venue for Buddhist activities, known as the "Two Wonders of Sichuan" together with Emei Mountain, where Buddhist and Taoist cultures blend with each other. In addition, Wawu Mountain is a treasure house of rare animals and plants, with more than 3,600 plant species, including 13 national first-class protected plants such as Davidia involucrata and Taxus chinensis, and 19 national first-class protected animals such as giant pandas and golden monkeys. It is one of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots.
Main Attractions
Xiang'er Villa
Located in the core area of Wawu Mountain, Xiang'er Villa is at an altitude of about 2500 meters, an excellent place to enjoy sea of clouds, sunrise and Buddha light. Surrounded by dense primeval forests, the villa is cool and pleasant in summer and wrapped in silver in winter. It is an important tourist gathering and resting spot in the scenic area, equipped with facilities such as restaurants and accommodation.
Lanxi Waterfall
With a height of about 1040 meters, Lanxi Waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls in Asia, composed of three-tiered waterfalls. The water pours down from the mountaintop, presenting a magnificent scene. Surrounded by rich vegetation and extremely high negative ion concentration, walking here is like being in a natural oxygen bar.
Yuanyang Pond
At an altitude of about 2522 meters, Yuanyang Pond is a natural lake on the top of Wawu Mountain, covering an area of about 100 mu. The lake water is crystal clear, surrounded by fir forests. In summer, waterfowl such as mandarin ducks often perch on the lake, while in winter, it becomes a world of ice and snow, with charming scenery.
Rhododendron Flower Sea
Wawu Mountain has one of the largest rhododendron flower seas in China, with more than 60 rhododendron species. From April to June every year, colorful rhododendrons bloom successively from the foot to the top of the mountain, forming a rhododendron flowering period lasting for several months. The "Rhododendron King" on the mountaintop is the most famous, with a tree age of more than 1,000 years and a chest circumference of 3.5 meters.
Gu Foping
At an altitude of about 1900 meters, Gu Foping is an important transportation hub of Wawu Mountain Scenic Area, with a cableway station and sightseeing bus transfer point. Here, ancient trees reach into the sky, and the scenery is beautiful. It is one of the starting points for hiking and the best place to enjoy Davidia involucrata flowers. From April to May every year, Davidia involucrata flowers are like white doves spreading their wings, decorating the forest.
Food
Hongya Boboji (Marinated Chicken Skewers)
Hongya Boboji is a characteristic food around Wawu Mountain, made from local free-range chickens. After pickling and cooking, they are skewered and soaked in soup prepared with various spices and Chinese herbal medicines. There are two flavors: spicy and Sichuan pepper. It is spicy, fresh and fragrant, with a rich Sichuan pepper flavor, and is a must-try authentic snack for tourists.
Yayu (Ya Fish)
Yayu is a special product of Ya'an City near Wawu Mountain, named for growing in the clear Yarlung Zangbo River. The fish meat is tender and delicious, rich in nutrition. The most famous is casserole Yayu, which is slowly stewed with Yayu, snow mountain mineral water, and ingredients such as tofu and mushrooms. The soup is milky white and tastes delicious.
Wawu Mountain Old Bacon
Wawu Mountain old bacon is made from local native pigs through traditional processes such as pickling and smoking. The bacon is golden in color, fat but not greasy, lean but not firewood, with a rich fragrance. It can be steamed or fried, and is a characteristic New Year's goods and gift from Wawu Mountain.
Wild Vegetable Feast
Many wild vegetables grow in the mountains around Wawu Mountain, such as fern, Osmunda japonica, and shepherd's purse. Local restaurants cleverly cook these wild vegetables to form a unique wild vegetable feast. The wild vegetable feast pays attention to original flavors, is rich in nutrition, and has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing fat and losing weight, making it an ideal choice for summer heat escape.
Tickets
Admission is free.
Round-trip Jinhuaqiao Cableway: 88 yuan/person.
Round-trip sightseeing bus + round-trip Gufoping Cableway: 166 yuan/person.
Round-trip sightseeing bus: 68 yuan/person.
Round-trip Jinhuaqiao Cableway + round-trip Gufoping Cableway: 186 yuan/person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "瓦屋山景区" on WeChat to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.
Opening Hours
The scenic area is open year-round. Opening hours are 08:00-17:00 (peak season: March 1-November 30) and 08:30-16:30 (off-season: December 1-February 28 of the following year). The ticket sales time of the scenic area ends 1 hour before closing. Opening hours may be adjusted due to special weather or holidays. It is recommended to check through official channels before traveling.
Tour Routes
Recommended one-day tour route: Tourist Center → Take a sightseeing bus to Gufoping → Take a cableway to Xiang'er Villa → Visit attractions around Xiang'er Villa (sea of clouds, sunrise, Buddha light viewing platform) → Hike to Lanxi Waterfall → Return to Xiang'er Villa → Take a cableway to Gufoping → Take a sightseeing bus back to the Tourist Center. This route covers the main natural landscapes of the scenic area, taking about 5-6 hours in total.
Recommended two-day tour route: Day 1: Tourist Center → Sightseeing bus to Gufoping → Cableway to Xiang'er Villa → Visit Xiang'er Villa and Yuanyang Pond → Hike to Lanxi Waterfall → Return to Xiang'er Villa for accommodation. Day 2: Xiang'er Villa → Hike to Rhododendron Flower Sea → Take a cableway to Gufoping → Sightseeing bus to Yanu Lake → Visit Yanu Lake → Return to the Tourist Center. This route deeply experiences the natural and cultural landscapes of the scenic area, taking about 2 days in total.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Start from Chengdu, pass through Chengdu-Ya'an Expressway and Ya'an-Ye Expressway to Hongya County, then drive about 50 kilometers along Wawu Mountain Tourist Road to reach the scenic area, taking about 3 hours in total.
- Bus: There are direct buses from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station and Chadianzi Bus Station to Wawu Mountain Scenic Area, 1-2 trips per day, with a journey of about 3.5 hours.
- High-speed rail: Take the high-speed rail from Chengdu to Meishan East Station, then transfer to a bus to Hongya County, and then transfer to a bus to Wawu Mountain, taking about 4 hours in total.
- Internal transportation of the scenic area: Traffic control is implemented in the scenic area. Tourists need to take sightseeing buses and cableways at the Tourist Center to enter the core area.
Must-visit Attractions
- Xiang'er Villa: At an altitude of 2500 meters, it is the best place to enjoy sea of clouds, sunrise and Buddha light, surrounded by primeval forests with high negative ion concentration.
- Lanxi Waterfall: One of the highest waterfalls in Asia, about 1040 meters high, with three-tiered waterfalls of magnificent momentum, surrounded by rich vegetation and extremely high negative ion concentration.
- Yuanyang Pond: A natural lake at an altitude of 2522 meters, covering an area of about 100 mu. Mandarin ducks perch in summer, and it is covered by ice and snow in winter, with charming scenery.
- Rhododendron Flower Sea: One of the largest rhododendron flower seas in China, with more than 60 rhododendron species blooming successively. The thousand-year-old Rhododendron King on the mountaintop has a chest circumference of 3.5 meters, and April-June is the best viewing period.
- Gu Foping: At an altitude of 1900 meters, it is the transportation hub of the scenic area and a place to enjoy Davidia involucrata flowers. From April to May, Davidia involucrata flowers are like white doves spreading their wings.
Tour Tips
- Wear non-slip hiking shoes. The scenic area has many stone roads and plank roads, and some sections are steep.
- Bring clothes according to the season. Sunscreen is needed in summer, and cold protection is needed in winter. The temperature at the mountaintop is 8-10℃ lower than that at the foot.
- Carry enough water and snacks. There are few dining points in the scenic area, and prices are high.
- Check the weather forecast in advance to avoid hiking in bad weather such as heavy rain and strong wind.
- Those with poor physical strength are recommended to take the cableway to save energy and visit more attractions.
- Summer is the best season to view waterfalls and rhododendrons, and winter is the best season for skiing and viewing ice and snow landscapes.
Notes
- Smoking and using fire are prohibited in the scenic area. Pay attention to forest fire prevention.
- Take care of the environment, do not litter, and do not pick flowers and plants at will.
- Abide by the regulations of the scenic area, and do not enter unopened areas without permission to avoid danger.
- There are wild monkeys in the scenic area. Do not feed food at will to avoid being scratched.
- When taking sightseeing buses and cableways, follow the order and pay attention to safety.
- In the plateau area, tourists with hypertension, heart disease and other diseases should climb the mountain with caution.
- Some sections are icy and snowy in winter. Ice claws need to be rented, and pay attention to anti-skid.