Midui Glacier
米堆冰川
One of China’s most beautiful glaciers, its tongue reaches down to a forest and village at 2,400 meters. You can get close on a boardwalk trail.
Midui Glacier is in Yupu Township, Bomi County. It lies about 100 km from Bomi County seat and about 40 km from Ranwu Lake. It is the easiest glacier to reach on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (G318). China National Geography named it one of China’s six most beautiful glaciers. The main peak rises to 6,800 meters, but the glacier’s tongue descends to about 2,400 meters, reaching right into the primeval forest and the fields of Midui Village. Glacier, glacial lake, forest, and Tibetan villages all appear in one view, which makes it unique. How to visit: Admission to the scenic area is about 50 yuan. From the parking lot, walk or ride a horse (about 100 yuan round trip) along the boardwalk to the glacier viewpoint. The route is about 3 km and takes 40–60 minutes. The viewpoint faces the glacier’s tongue and the moraine lake. Fit travelers can continue along the lake to get closer to the foot of the glacier. Tibetan-style wooden houses and barley fields in Midui Village make a classic foreground. Autumn (mid-to-late October) is the best time for photography, when the surrounding forest turns red and yellow, contrasting strongly with the white glacier. Note: The viewpoint is at about 3,800 meters, and the path is steep, so go at your own pace. Stepping onto the glacier itself is prohibited. In recent years, the glacier has been retreating, and the risk of ice avalanches is high. Paths are slippery in the rainy season. There are no restaurants in the scenic area, so bring your own snacks. It is usually scheduled on the same day as Ranwu Lake.
Opening hours
08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Midui Village
- Anmu Co
- Rawu Town
- Ranwu (Rawu) Lake
- Anjiula Pass
- Laigu Glacier
- Renlongba Glacier
- Nujiang 72 Bends (Mt. Yela)