Park of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (second batch) |
| Province | Sichuan |
| Location | Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, south-west Sichuan |
| Mountains | Daxue Mountains |
| Latitude, longitude | 29.6, 101.9 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Low-altitude glaciers |
| Top sights | Hailuogou |
| Area | over 10,000 km² |
| Highest point | 7,509 m |
| Nearby cities | Kangding (Sichuan), Ya'an, Xichang, Chengdu |
| Nearby sites | Mount Tiantai (Sichuan) 136km, Mount Emei 142km, Xiling Snow Mountain 175km, Leshan Giant Buddha 184km, Mount Siguniang and the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries 198km Search nearby |
| Themes | Glacier, Famous Mountain, Mountain, Snow Mountain, Peak, Forest, Stamp, Hot springs, Hiking & climbing |
About
Mount Gongga, in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, rises to 7,509 m, the highest peak of the Hengduan Mountains, “king of the mountains of Shu”. The scenic area of more than 10,000 km² includes Hailuogou, Yanzigou, Mugecuo, Tagong, Wuxuhai and the south-west slope.
Hailuogou lies on the east slope in Luding County. Its glacier is a rare maritime glacier at low latitude and low altitude, reaching below 3,000 m, 14 km long and 23 km² in area; its icefall, over 1,000 m high and wide, is the largest in China.
Americans made the first ascent of Gongga in 1932.
“Gongga” means “white snow mountain” in Tibetan.
It is in the second batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 1988.
Main sights
Hailuogou hot springs: the boiling spring at Camp 2 reaches about 90 °C at the outlet, with a peak flow of about 8,900 tonnes a day.
Mugecuo: also called Yerenhai, in Yala Township, Kangding, a lake at 3,777 m with an area of about 1.9 km².
Travel tips
Getting there: Hailuogou on the east side of Gongga Mountain is five to six hours by road from Chengdu via Ya'an and Luding; it can also be reached from Kangding.
Areas: the park is huge and includes Hailuogou, Yanzigou and Mugecuo; first-time visitors usually choose Hailuogou.
Hailuogou route: a park bus runs up the valley to viewpoints for the glacier and its ice fall; there are hot springs in the valley.
Seeing the peak: the summit is often in cloud; on clear mornings you may see sunrise light on the snow. Most people watch from Hailuogou or Mugecuo.
Season: autumn has more clear days and better views; summer is wet and misty, winter is cold on the mountain.
Time: Hailuogou can be done in a day, a night there is more relaxed; with Mugecuo and Kangding allow three or four days.
Where to stay: there are hotels and guesthouses in the valley and in Luding town at its mouth; Kangding is another base.
Caution: the glacier surface is slippery, so stay on the walkways and off the ice. The altitude is high; watch for altitude sickness.
Stamps
In 1965 China Post issued S70 “Mountaineering in China”, five stamps, the first showing the ascent of Gongga.
On 22 November 2007 China and Mexico jointly issued 2007-25 “Mount Gongga and Popocatépetl”, two stamps.
Photo credits: Mount Gongga: Kogo (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Mount Tiantai (Sichuan) 136km, Mount Emei 142km, Xiling Snow Mountain 175km, Leshan Giant Buddha 184km |
| National parks of China | Giant Panda National Park 200km |
| National parks | Qionghai Lake–Mount Luoji Scenic Area 225km, Qingcheng Shan— Dujiangyan 225km |
| AAAAA attractions | Hailuogou Glacier Park 9km, Bifengxia Scenic Area 121km, Anren Ancient Town Scenic Area 197km, Daocheng Yading Scenic Area 199km |
| AAAA attractions | Muya Holy Land 1km, Wanggangping 40km, Erlang Mountain and Laba River Scenic Area 50km, Luding Bridge 50km |
| National geoparks | Hailuogou National Geopark 9km |
| Nature reserves | Liziping National Nature Reserve 78km, Heizhugou National Nature Reserve 134km, Fengtongzhai National Nature Reserve 145km |