Heishui

One of the closest glaciers to Chengdu, with a cable car straight up to a 4,800 m viewing platform, plus Naizigou's 40 km of autumn foliage and the travertine pools of Kalong Valley.

Dagu Glacier lies in Heishui County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan, about 260 km from Chengdu — roughly 4–5 hours via the Wenchuan–Barkam Expressway and the G347/S302. The scenic area entrance is only about 9 km from Luhua Town, the county seat, earning it the nickname “the nearest faraway place.” Discovered only in 1992, Dagu is one of the world's lowest-altitude and youngest glaciers. A cableway climbs to a viewing platform at around 4,860 m for close-up views of the glacier, Tear Lake and the snow peaks. The scenic area also holds alpine lakes such as Dagu Lake and Golden Monkey Lake, as well as the Upper, Middle and Lower Dagu Tibetan villages. Near the county seat, Naizigou is billed as a “40-km gallery of color,” and Yangronghade Tibetan Village sits on a high mountain terrace. About 70 km northeast, Kalong Valley is famed for its colorful travertine pools, while Seergu Tibetan Village to the east is an ancient Gyalrong Tibetan stone village. The best time is the fall-foliage season in mid-to-late October; July–Aug is great for escaping the heat, and Dec–Mar brings snowy glacier scenery with few crowds. Plan 2–3 days: one for the glacier, one for Naizigou and Yangronghade, plus Kalong Valley or Seergu. Most accommodation is in Luhua Town. Watch out for altitude sickness; the viewing platform is cold with strong UV. On weekends during foliage season and over the National Day holiday, tickets must be booked in advance with real-name registration.

Top sights

Itineraries