Hailuogou Glacier

Gongga Shan reaches 7,556 metres, the highest peak in Sichuan, and the Hailuogou glacier flows off its eastern side down to around 2,850 metres, unusually low for this latitude, which means the ice ends inside temperate forest rather than above the treeline. The result is a short walk from rhododendron and conifer onto an icefall, with a hanging glacier above that periodically avalanches. Hot springs rise nearby and feed pools at the lodges. The area was hit by a major earthquake in 2022 and access arrangements have changed since; the glacier is also retreating measurably, its snout further up the valley each decade.

What you actually see

• The glacier snout - ice ending among forest at unusually low altitude.
• The icefall - the broken ice descending from the hanging glacier.
• Gongga Shan - Sichuan's highest peak above the valley, weather permitting.
• The hot springs - pools fed by thermal water near the lodges.

When to go

April to October for accessible roads; October offers the clearest views of Gongga. Winter closes parts of the route. Cloud hides the peak on most days in any season.

Honest expectations

Access has been affected by the 2022 earthquake and arrangements change; check before travelling. The glacier is retreating and the walk to it is longer than older accounts describe. Ticketing is layered and expensive.

Nearby

Luding bridge lies north; Kangding is northwest.