Niubei Mountain

牛背山

A 360-degree viewing platform at about 3,660 m, from which you can see Gongga, Siguniang, the Emei Golden Summit and vast seas of clouds all at once. It is known as “Asia’s largest viewing platform.”

Niubei Mountain straddles the border between Hanyuan County in Ya’an and Luding County. Its main peak rises to about 3,660 m, and the summit is a gently sloping, open meadow with unobstructed views. To the west, you can see the main peak of Mount Gongga and its surrounding peaks; to the north, Siguniang Mountain; and to the east, the Golden Summit of Mount Emei and Waowuya Mountain. Seas of cloud often roll beneath your feet. Photography enthusiasts call it “China’s largest viewing platform” and “Asia’s largest 360° viewing platform.” The classic experience is to spend a night on the summit, watching the sunset and stars, then the next morning seeing the sunrise, the sea of clouds and the “golden mountain” glow. The area is now a developed scenic spot. Full-price tickets are about 115 yuan (valid for two days from December 2025 to June 2026). Sightseeing shuttles run in two sections, from Panguo to Changhai Lake and from Changhai Lake to the summit, at about 80 yuan round trip for each (subject to the scenic area’s official WeChat announcements). There are hotels and viewing facilities at the summit. Opening hours are roughly 8:30–17:00.

Getting there: about 1 hour from Ya’an city to Hanyuan County, then 1.5–2 hours on mountain roads to the shuttle point. From Chengdu, the whole journey takes about 4 hours.

Notes: The summit is high, and day–night temperature differences are large. In winter, nighttime temperatures can drop to −15°C, so bring a down jacket. Roads may ice over in winter, requiring snow chains. The weather changes quickly, so allow time to wait for the sunrise and sea of clouds.

Niubei Mountain

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby