Dangling & Hulu Lake
党岭
A group of snow-mountain lakes deep in northwest Danba, where Hulu Lake, Zhuoyong Lake and the Xiaqiangla snow peaks form a classic western Sichuan hike, with golden larches in autumn.
Dangling lies at the northwestern edge of Danba County, in Bianer Township, about 90 kilometers (56 miles) from the county town. It is a pristine high-mountain area below the Xiaqiangla snow mountain (about 5,470 meters, or 17,940 feet), and is known as the 'last Shangri-La of western Sichuan.' The classic route runs as follows. Drive or hire a vehicle to Dangling village (about 3,500 meters, or 11,500 feet, with guesthouses and hot springs). Walk for about 2 to 3 hours up to Hulu Lake (about 4,000 meters, or 13,100 feet). The lake is shaped like a gourd, and in autumn the larches around it turn golden. Fit hikers can continue for about 1.5 hours to Zhuoyong Lake (about 4,300 meters, or 14,100 feet), which sits in front of the snow mountains with clear water and is a popular spot for camping and stargazing. The round trip from Dangling village to Hulu Lake takes one day, and including Zhuoyong Lake and camping takes 1 to 2 days. Entry fees vary, so check on site. You can hire local horses to carry luggage. Getting there: the mountain road from the county town to Dangling village takes about 3 hours, and some sections are narrow and prone to landslides, so check road conditions before setting out in the rainy season. Note: high-altitude hiking requires experience and should be done with companions. Bring warm clothing, a headlamp and food. Temperatures differ greatly between morning and evening in autumn and winter. Do not wash things at the lakeside or leave litter.
Opening hours
All day (may close in winter due to snow)