Hailuogou Travel Guide 2026 — Glacier, Gongga Sunrise & Hot Springs

What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Hailuogou Bucket Listice, fire and the golden mountain

Watch the golden sunrise

The 06:40 dawn (07:20 in winter) at Camp 3 — the King of Sichuan mountains catching fire above the clouds.

Ride the glacier cable car

The 3.5 km cable car floats over the ice to Camp 4 — the glacier's surface, crevasses and all, from the glass cabin.

Soak in the spring pools

The 80°C mineral springs of Camp 2 in the snow-pine forest — the warmest moment of the valley.

Walk the primeval forest

The mossy hemlock and rhododendron boardwalks from Camp 1 — monkeys, ferns and the quiet green.

Walk Moxi Ancient Town

The 1,000-year tea-horse town — the 1918 Catholic church, the Red Army house and the stone lanes.

See the red-stone beach

The red-algae rocks of the Yajiageng pass — a hillside stained crimson against the snow.

Top Highlightswhat the glacier valley does best

No.1
The golden mountainThe three-peak dawn at Camp 3 — the image that names the valley.
No.2
The glacier from aboveThe cable car over the ice — crevasses and seracs in the morning light.
No.3
The snow-pine springsThe 80°C pools of Camp 2 under the forest snow — the warm heart of the valley.
No.4
The King of SichuanMount Gongga's 7,556 m above the glacier — the range's whole mass from the air.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Hailuogou

When is the best time to visit Hailuogou?

October–May offers the clearest dawns — winter (December–March) brings the snow-pine springs and the most reliable golden sunrise. Summer is green, wet and soft; the valley works year-round, and the 06:40 (07:20 winter) sunrise is the fixed appointment.

How do the tickets work?

The ticket is RMB 75 year-round (with student and senior concessions); the shuttle to the camps is RMB 80 return; the glacier cable car RMB 150 return. Camp 2's springs cost about RMB 80. The park opens before dawn for the sunrise shuttle.

How do I get there?

Chengdu's New South Gate runs direct coaches (about 5 h, RMB 110; package rides RMB 200–300); the route runs via Ya'an, Erlang Mountain and Luding. The nearest rail is at Ya'an or Chengdu — the coach and the car are the ways in.

How much time do I need?

Two days is the classic plan — day one the glacier (cable car, Camp 3 sunrise, the forest walks), day two the springs and Moxi town. One long day covers the glacier alone from a 05:00 start.

Is the cable car worth it?

Yes — the 3.5-km ride over the ice to Camp 4 is the valley's great sight; the walkers' alternative is the 1–2-hour forest trail to the glacier foot.

Can I book my Hailuogou trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Yes — email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team arranges the coaches, the tickets, the springs, the hotels and the sunrise logistics, free of charge and without obligation.

Sample Itinerariessunrise, ice and the spring evening

Hailuogou Classic 2-Day Tour

The golden sunrise, the glacier cable car and the hot springs. View the plan →

Day 1

Coach from Chengdu to Moxi (about 5 h); afternoon the Camp 1 forest walks and the Camp 2 springs; night at the valley hotels.

Day 2

Dawn shuttle to Camp 3 for the 06:40 golden sunrise; the cable car over the glacier to Camp 4; the return coach or the town lanes of Moxi.

Hailuogou Trek & Spring 2-Day Tour

The glacier on foot and the springs — the walkers’ valley. View the plan →

Day 1

The primeval forest boardwalks from Camp 1, then the Camp 2 spring pools in the snow-pine dusk.

Day 2

Dawn at Camp 3, the 1–2-hour forest trail to the glacier foot instead of the cable car, then the coach home.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Hailuogou itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Camp 3 & the golden sunrise

At 2,940 m the classic sunrise point — 06:40 (07:20 in winter) paints the three peaks gold above the cloud sea, the valley's great moment.

Included · Before dawn · Viewpoint · Sunrise

View details →

Camp 4 & the glacier cable car

The 3.5 km cable car ends above the ice — crevasses, seracs and the glacier's surface from the glass cabin, RMB 150 return.

Cable car RMB 150 · 08:00–17:00 · Glacier · Cable Car

View details →

Camp 1 & 2 hot springs

The mineral springs of the lower valley, 80°C water in pools under the pines — the warm heart of the valley (about RMB 80).

About RMB 80 · Daytime · Hot Spring · Relax

View details →

The primeval forest boardwalks

The mossy hemlock and rhododendron trails from Camp 1 — monkeys, ferns and the quiet green of the valley.

Included · Daylight · Forest · Walking

View details →

Moxi Ancient Town

The 1,000-year town of the tea-horse road — the 1918 Catholic church, the 1935 Red Army meeting house and the stone lanes.

Free · All day · Ancient Town · History

View details →

Yajiageng red-stone beach

The red-algae rocks of the Yajiageng pass — a hillside stained crimson against the snow, the strange-colour drive above the valley.

Free · Daylight · Scenery · Drive

View details →

More in the region on the Sichuan attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsice, springs and the Yi festivals

The golden sunrise

The 06:40 (07:20 winter) dawn at Camp 3 — the King of Sichuan in fire, the reason the valley hotels exist.

The glacier cable car

The 3.5-km ride over the ice to Camp 4 — the closest most visitors come to a glacier's surface.

The Yi torch festival

Late June by the lunar calendar — the torchlight processions, bonfires and dances of the Yi villages of the region.

The sunflower festival

July 19–31 the valley's sunflower fields bloom — the summer festival of the slopes.

Where to Stayvalley hotels from springs to summit road

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Sichuan hotels directory.

Milan Youth Hostel

The traveller hostel of the valley — beds from RMB 35 to doubles at RMB 360 (0836-3266518).

Book: Sichuan hotels · or email [email protected]

Mingzhu Garden Hotel

The four-star classic of Moxi — RMB 200–400 (0836-3266166), the dependable mid-range.

Book: Sichuan hotels · or email [email protected]

Gongga Shentang hot-spring hotel

The spring hotel of the valley — RMB 380–580 (400-7558888), the warmest address.

Book: Sichuan hotels · or email [email protected]

Glacier hotels of the upper road

The Hailuogou Glacier Hot Spring Resort (RMB 690–860, arrive before 17:00, 0836-3266170), the Mulinsen Village Hotel (RMB 100–410, 0836-3261888) and the Jinshan Hotel at Camp 3 (0836-3266433).

Book: Sichuan hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsthe plateau table at the ice edge

Moxi old-town noodles

The tea-horse town's bowl of noodles and the simple farm cooking of the valley.

Yak & plateau dishes

The braised yak and the hardy greens of the high kitchens.

Spring-pool tea & the town snacks

The tea of the old town and the street snacks of the Moxi lanes.

The valley mushroom season

The forest mushrooms of the summer months on the village tables.

Shopping & Souvenirspears, herbs and the town crafts

Luding pears

The county's famous crisp pears — the edible souvenir, best in late summer.

Plateau herbs & mushrooms

The medicinal plants and the dried mushrooms of the valley stalls.

Red-jingtian & altitude herbs

The plateau's altitude tonic, packed for the traveller.

Tea-horse road crafts

The woven and wooden goods of the old-town lanes.

Full local-product guides live on the Sichuan specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundfive hours from Chengdu by coach or car

By coach

By coach from Chengdu

The New South Gate runs direct coaches — about 5 hours at RMB 110, or RMB 200–300 with a package; the route via Ya'an, Erlang Mountain and Luding.

By car

The route runs via Ya'an, Erlang Mountain and Luding, about 5 hours — the mountain bends reward a careful driver.

By train

By train to Luding?

No direct rail reaches the valley — the nearest stations are at Ya'an or Chengdu, then coach or taxi.

Day Trips From Hailuogouthe red stones, the valley of snow and the old town

Yanzigou Valley (1 day)

The 'Swallow Valley' of snow peaks and red stones above Hailuogou — the quieter alpine circuit.

Yajiageng red-stone beach (1 day)

The crimson algae hillside against the snow — the strange-colour drive above the valley.

Moxi town & the church (half day)

The 1,000-year tea-horse town — the 1918 Catholic church, the Red Army house and the lanes.

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · The dawn shuttle decides the day

The sunrise shuttle leaves before 06:00 — book the seat the night before and be at the gate early.

2 · Layers for the 2,940-m dawn

The Camp 3 platform sits near freezing at sunrise — down jacket, hat and gloves even in summer.

3 · The springs book the evening

The Camp 2 pools fill after the glacier day — go late afternoon or stay at the spring hotels.

4 · The forest trail beats the queue

The 1–2-hour walk to the glacier foot is the cable car's quiet alternative — start early for both.

5 · The valley works in rain

Mist is common below the camps — the sunrise is above the cloud sea, the springs are warm whatever the sky.

Background & Historythe glacier of the King of Sichuan

Geography & climate

Hailuogou lies in the Luding county of western Sichuan, 290 km from Chengdu — a glacier valley on the eastern flank of Mount Gongga (7,556 m), with the camps stepping from 1,940 m to the ice above 3,000 m.

A brief history

The valley's ice has been known to the tea-horse traders for centuries, but the modern park opened in 1987; the glacier is one of the world's lowest and most accessible, sliding to 2,850 m where the forest meets the ice.

The culture of the valley

Moxi town holds the 1918 Catholic church and the 1935 Red Army meeting house of the Long March — the two histories of the tea-horse road — while the Yi villages of the slopes keep their torch festivals.

Plan Your Hailuogou Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place

Everything on ToursChinaTravel is bookable through our team by email or WhatsApp. Here's where each part of your Hailuogou trip lives on the site.

Hailuogou Travel Guide — the glacier under the King of Sichuan mountains

Hailuogou Bucket Listice, fire and the golden mountain

Watch the golden sunrise

Ride the glacier cable car

Soak in the spring pools

Walk the primeval forest

Walk Moxi Ancient Town

See the red-stone beach

Top Highlightswhat the glacier valley does best

The golden mountain

The glacier from above

The snow-pine springs

The King of Sichuan

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Hailuogou

When is the best time to visit Hailuogou?

How do the tickets work?

How do I get there?

How much time do I need?

Is the cable car worth it?

Can I book my Hailuogou trip through ToursChinaTravel?

Sample Itinerariessunrise, ice and the spring evening

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Activities & Festivalsice, springs and the Yi festivals

The golden sunrise

The glacier cable car

The Yi torch festival

The sunflower festival

Where to Stayvalley hotels from springs to summit road

Milan Youth Hostel

Mingzhu Garden Hotel

Gongga Shentang hot-spring hotel

Glacier hotels of the upper road

Food & Restaurantsthe plateau table at the ice edge

Moxi old-town noodles

Yak & plateau dishes

Spring-pool tea & the town snacks

The valley mushroom season

Shopping & Souvenirspears, herbs and the town crafts

Luding pears

Plateau herbs & mushrooms

Red-jingtian & altitude herbs

Tea-horse road crafts

Getting There & Aroundfive hours from Chengdu by coach or car

By coach from Chengdu

By car

By train to Luding?

Day Trips From Hailuogouthe red stones, the valley of snow and the old town

Travel Tipsthings to remember

1 · The dawn shuttle decides the day

2 · Layers for the 2,940-m dawn

3 · The springs book the evening

4 · The forest trail beats the queue

5 · The valley works in rain

Background & Historythe glacier of the King of Sichuan

Geography & climate

A brief history

The culture of the valley

Plan Your Hailuogou Tripattractions, hotels, flights and specialties — all in one place