Bipenggou Valley
毕棚沟
A valley of colorful forests on the north side of Siguniang in Li County. A sightseeing bus and cable car take you to Panyang Lake and Red Stone Beach beneath the snowy peaks. In autumn, the red foliage, and in winter, the ice and snow, make this the most accessible scenic spot in western Sichuan.
Bipenggou lies in Puto Township, Li County, Aba Prefecture, on the north side of Siguniang. It is separated from Changping Valley by a mountain ridge and is a national 4A-level scenic area. Its elevation rises from 2,000 meters at the entrance to over 3,600 meters around Zhuoma Beach and Panyang Lake. The scenic area is known for its colorful forests and snowy mountain lakes. In autumn (mid-October to early November), the maples, birches and larches in the valley turn into a patchwork of red and gold, making it one of the most famous places in western Sichuan to see autumn foliage. Other sights include Red Stone Beach (a rocky beach covered in red moss), Dragon King Lake, Namu Lake, Panyang Lake (which reflects the snowy peak of Banjiang Peak, at more than 4,000 meters), and the Zhuoma Beach meadows. In winter there is an ice and snow festival and a ski resort. To visit, take a sightseeing bus from the entrance (about 60 yuan) to the Shanghai Reception Center, then transfer to a cable car (about 30 yuan) or electric shuttle (about 50 yuan) to Panyang Lake. From Panyang Lake to Zhuoma Beach it is about 2 km on foot along a boardwalk. The whole visit takes about 4–5 hours. Peak-season tickets cost about 80 yuan and off-season tickets about 60 yuan. Opening hours are roughly 8:00–17:00. Getting there: it takes about 3 hours to reach Li County from Siguniang Town via Bashang Mountain or via the Xiaojin–Danba route. From Chengdu, the Dujiang Expressway takes about 2.5 hours to Li County, and it is about 20 km from the county seat to the scenic area. Hikers can cross from Changping Valley over a pass to Bipenggou, a trek of 2–3 days that requires a guide. Tips: autumn foliage season brings crowds on weekends, so arrive early. The altitude is above 3,000 meters, so keep warm and watch for altitude sickness. In winter, roads ice over, so self-drivers need snow chains. Above Zhuoma Beach the weather changes quickly, and the boardwalks are slippery with snow.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Hongshanlin (Larch Forest)
- Gu'ergou Hot Springs (Li County)
- Yaomei Peak (Mount Siguniang)
- Nianyuba
- Siguniang Dafeng (Big Sister Peak)
- Kushutan
- Dahaizi Lake (Haizi Valley)
- Changping Valley