Shuangqiao Valley
双桥沟
The easiest of the three valleys of Siguniang Mountain. Sightseeing buses run all the way to the red fir forest at the valley's end. Along the way are Buddha Palace Peak, the Five-Color Mountain, Hunter Peak and the yak meadows of Renshenguo Flat, with snowy peaks close at hand.
Shuangqiao Valley lies about 7 km northwest of Siguniang Town. It is about 35 km long and is the only one of the three valleys with sightseeing buses running its full length. The elevation rises from 2,900 meters at the entrance to 3,840 meters at the red fir forest at the end, with dozens of snow peaks above 5,000 meters on both sides. The buses run one way and stop at more than ten viewpoints. The usual route goes straight to the end of the valley first and then works back: Red Fir Forest (at the valley's end, a stand of high-altitude red firs that turn golden in October, with a wooden boardwalk to a viewing platform overlooking all four Siguniang peaks); Buddha Palace Peak (a rock peak resembling the Potala Palace, and the most crowded viewpoint); Five-Color Mountain and Lianyuba (folded mountains with layers of colored rock, plus streams and meadows); Hunter Peak, Jianzi Mountain and Sun-Moon Mirror (a group of snowy peaks above cliffs); Renshenguo Flat (a large meadow near the entrance, where herds of yaks graze and a wooden walkway runs through); and Penjing Beach (dead trees standing in water). At each stop you can get off, walk the boardwalks and then catch the next bus. The full tour takes about 4–5 hours, and walking the main boardwalks covers about 8 km. Tickets cost 80 yuan for entry and 70 yuan for the sightseeing bus, which is mandatory. Opening hours are 7:30–17:30 in spring and summer and 7:50–17:00 in autumn and winter. Book a day in advance on the Aba Tourism website. Getting there: a taxi from Siguniang Town takes about 15 minutes, or you can take the scenic area shuttle. Tips: the valley's end sits at 3,840 meters, so walk slowly and bring oxygen. The valley is windy and cold even in summer, so dress warmly. Afternoon light is good for photographing Buddha Palace Peak. In peak season bus queues are long, so take the early bus when there are fewer people. There are few places to eat inside the valley, so bring snacks.
Opening hours
Spring/summer 07:30–17:30; autumn/winter 07:50–17:00 (reservation required)
Nearby sights
- Siguniangshan Town (Rilong)
- Renshenguoping
- Maobiliang Viewpoint
- Chaoshanping Viewpoint
- Changping Valley
- Dawei Red Army Meeting Site
- Kushutan
- Haizi Valley