Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park
海螺沟冰川森林公园
A low-altitude modern glacier on the eastern slope of Gongga Mountain that reaches into primeval forest. Camp 4's viewing platform faces the main peak of Gongga and an ice fall more than 1,000 meters tall. There are also glacial hot springs in the valley.
Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park lies in Moxi town, Luding County. It is a 5A-rated scenic area, the highest tier in China. Glacier No. 1 is about 13 kilometers long, with its terminus at 2,850 meters. It is the lowest modern glacier in Asia, and its ice tongue extends into primeval forest, creating a remarkable blend of glacier, forest and hot springs. The upper part of the glacier features a giant ice fall about 1,080 meters high and 1,100 meters wide, the largest in Asia. The route runs as follows. From the visitor center in Moxi town, take a sightseeing bus into the valley and pass Camp 1 (1,940 meters) and Camp 2 (2,660 meters), where the Gongga Divine Hot Spring is located. Continue to Camp 3 (2,980 meters), which has accommodation and is a good place to watch the sunrise over Gongga Mountain. From there, take a bus to the Gan He Ba cable car station and ride the cable car (round trip about RMB 150, roughly 20 minutes) to the glacier viewing platform at Camp 4 (3,600 meters). The platform faces the main peak of Gongga (7,556 meters) and the giant ice fall, and on clear days you may see the “golden mountain” glow at sunrise. Alternatively, you can walk about 1 hour from Camp 3 to the glacier viewing platform, where you can get close to the glacier's terminus, including the Gate Cave and the ice tongue. On the way back, soak in the hot springs at Camp 2 (about RMB 100–150). Admission is RMB 80, the sightseeing bus costs RMB 60, the cable car costs RMB 150, and the following day's ticket costs RMB 10. Entry times are 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. from May to October, and 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in winter and spring. Reservations must be made through official channels. Getting there: direct buses run from Chengdu's Xinnanmen Bus Station to Moxi, taking about 4 hours. From Moxi town to the visitor center, walk or take a shuttle. From Kangding, the trip to Moxi takes about 1.5 hours. Be aware that Camp 4 sits at 3,600 meters, so walk slowly and keep warm. Do not leave the boardwalks or step onto the ice. Whether you can see Gongga's main peak depends on the weather, and your chances are best in the morning. The cable car may be suspended during the rainy season and in winter due to weather. Some trails are still being restored after the earthquake, so check the official park announcements.
Opening hours
May–Oct 07:00–15:00; Nov–Apr 08:00–14:30 (valley entry times; reservation required)
Nearby sights
- Yanzigou Valley
- Moxi Ancient Town
- Moxi Catholic Church
- Konka Gompa (Gongga Monastery)
- Red Stone Beach (Yajiageng Red Stone Park)
- Zimei Pass
- Lenggacuo Lake
- Luding Bridge