Moxi Ancient Town
磨西古镇
A Tea Horse Road town at the entrance to the Hailuogou scenic area. Its French-built Catholic church is the site of the 1935 Moxi Conference of the Red Army, and its old street, bonfire parties and hot spring hotels are the places to stay before and after visiting the glacier.
Moxi Ancient Town lies at the mouth of Hailuogou Valley in southern Luding County, at an elevation of about 1,600 m. It was a post station on the Tea Horse Ancient Road and serves as the gateway for visitors to Hailuogou, Yanzigou and Red Stone Park. Tibetan, Yi and Han people live here side by side. Its heart is Moxi Old Street, about 1,200 m long, lined with Ming- and Qing-style timber houses converted into guesthouses, Tibetan restaurants and souvenir shops. In the town center stands Moxi Catholic Church, a Gothic church built in 1918 by French missionaries. In May 1935, during the Long March, the Red Army passed through, and Mao Zedong and others held the “Moxi Conference” in the priest’s house beside the church, deciding to seize the Luding Bridge by surprise. The church grounds now house a Long March exhibition hall and Mao Zedong’s former residence, both free to visit. The town also has a viewing platform on Moxi Terrace, where on clear mornings you can see Mount Gongga in the distance.
How to spend your time: arrive in the afternoon, stroll the old street and visit the church, then in the evening join a Tibetan bonfire party or relax in a hot spring hotel (several hotels in town have hot springs). Head into Hailuogou early the next morning. The local food is mainly Sichuan and Tibetan cuisine, with specialties including yak meat and Moxi cured pork.
Getting there: buses run directly from Chengdu’s Xinnanmen Bus Station to Moxi (about 4 hours). Kangding to Moxi takes about 1.5 hours, and Luding to Moxi about 1 hour. Within town, everything is within walking distance.
Notes: Moxi is the top choice for accommodation before entering the valley. Book rooms in advance during peak season and hot spring season. The first sightseeing shuttle to Hailuogou departs at about 7:00, so staying in town makes an early start easier. Some of the old street buildings were restored after the 2022 earthquake, so check the scenic area’s notices. Evenings in town are cool, so bring a jacket.
Opening hours
Open all day (Catholic cathedral and exhibition hall approx. 08:30–17:30)
Nearby sights
- Moxi Catholic Church
- Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park
- Yanzigou Valley
- Red Stone Beach (Yajiageng Red Stone Park)
- Niubei Mountain
- Luding Bridge
- Konka Gompa (Gongga Monastery)
- Zimei Pass