Siguniang Dafeng (Big Sister Peak)
大峰
An entry-level snow peak at 5,025 meters that requires no technical climbing. Over two days and one night you hike from Haizi Valley to base camp and then summit before dawn. For many, it is their first 5,000-meter snow peak.
Siguniang Dafeng (Big Sister Peak) rises to 5,025 meters. It is the lowest and easiest of the four Siguniang peaks, with gentle slopes and no crevasses, and it is known as the “entry-level snow peak.” Several thousand people reach its summit each year. The classic itinerary takes two days and one night. On day one, set out from the mouth of Haizi Valley and hike about 15 km along the Madao trail through Chaoshanping and Guozhuang Ping to the Dafeng base camp (Laoyao Valley, at about 4,300 meters). Horses carry your luggage, and you'll sleep in tents or simple wooden huts at base camp. On day two, start at 3–4 a.m. wearing a headlamp, and climb about 700 meters up gravel and snow slopes. The ascent takes 5–6 hours. From the summit you can see Erfeng, Sanfeng, Yaomei Peak, and the Gongga range. Then descend to base camp and return to town. The full trip takes about 10 hours.
Climbing requirements: Register through a licensed local mountaineering club. Fees are about 1,500–2,500 yuan per person, covering a guide, base camp meals and lodging, horses, and climbing permits. The ratio of guides to climbers is usually 1:2 to 1:4. You must buy a dedicated outdoor activity ticket (150 yuan) and obtain a climbing permit. The scenic area does not allow climbing without a guide. Gear includes high-top mountaineering boots, crampons (in snow season), a down jacket, a windproof shell jacket and pants, a headlamp, trekking poles, gloves, and sunglasses. Most items can be rented in town.
Note: Altitude rises quickly on summit day. Acclimatize in town for 1 to 2 days and assess your altitude sickness risk in advance. Do not climb if you have severe altitude sickness or a cold. Winter temperatures at the summit drop below -20°C, so protect against frostbite. Know your limits. The summit success rate is about 70–80%, and guides will turn back if the weather is bad.
Opening hours
Climbing season Oct–Apr; advance registration and climbing permits required
Nearby sights
- Kushutan
- Dahaizi Lake (Haizi Valley)
- Haizi Valley
- Changping Valley
- Yaomei Peak (Mount Siguniang)
- Chaoshanping Viewpoint
- Maobiliang Viewpoint
- Siguniangshan Town (Rilong)