Bipeng Valley

Chinese Name: 毕棚沟（Bi Peng Gou）
Location: Putou Town, Lixian County, Aba Tibetan Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY140.00 include sightseeing bus.
Estimated tour time: 4-6 hours
Recommended time to visit: Oct to Mar.
Nearby attractions: Taoping Qiang Village, Yingxiu Earthquake Site, Mount Jiuding, Mengtun river Valley, Ganbao Tibetan Village, etc.

Bipenggou Valley Scenic Area, 198 km away from Chengdu, is located in Li County, Aba Autonomous Prefecture, on the transitional zone from the West Sichuan Plain to the Tibetan Plateau.

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the U-shaped valley borders Mount Siguniang to the south, the highest peak in western China; the Tibetan Plateau to the west; and the giant panda corridors to the north.

Bipenggou Valley has a length of 50 kilometers and an area of over 600 square kilometers. Its altitude ranges 2015-5922 meters above the sea level and the annual average temperature is 11 ℃.

Bipenggou Valley is metaphorically described as the shadow of Mt Siguniang, with its diversity in landscapes and its uniquely charming natural scenery. The unique natural ecological landscapes and harmonious ecological environment makes it a large eco-tourism attraction, which integrates adventuring, skate skiing and leisure sightseeing. Bipenggou Valley is also a nationwide well-known tourist destination for trekking, where trekkers can trek till the famous Mount Siguniang.

Idyllic natural sceneries and immaculate ecological landscapes include old-growth forests, mountain lakes, alpine prairies, waterfalls and numerous types of peaks and rocks. The majestic mountains and summits come in various shapes and forms fully exhibit the breathtaking sculptural arts of nature.

There are about a hundred waterfalls of different sizes in the Valley, with the most aesthetically pleasing ones being the White Dragon Waterfall, Green Dragon Waterfall, Flying Waterfall and Flying Dragon Waterfall. On the expansive grasslands in the Valley, wild flowers of various colors vie for attention, while the age-tested Min River Cypresses and sequoias stand and watch quietly in the surrounding. 

These peaks, prairies, alpine forests and flowing waters form a picturesque painting. Unique alpine lakes including the Dragon King Lake, Jing Lake, Clear Spring Lake, Zhuoma Lake, Argali Lake and Red Mountain Lake are like mirrors placed amid the alpine forests of the Bipenggou Valley. Snow-capped peaks, lush mountains, red maple leaves and wild birds are reflected clearly on the calm and tranquil lake surfaces, just as described in fairytales. There are patches of red rocks everywhere, and the Red Rock Plateau, Red Rock Shoal, Red Rock Source and Red Rock Slope appear like agates and rubies scattered among the mountains.

Adopting vivid characteristics for each of the four seasons, the valley has colourful alpine forests and waterfalls in the summer, with frozen lakes and vast glaciers in the winter. Spring you can get a good view of the snow-covered mountains and colorful ice walls as the spring sun hits them. The most beautiful season is autumn, you will get a visual feast with the colorful vegetation, the luxuriant and dense birches throughout mountains and valleys all turn golden and red out of blue, making Bipenggou Valley one of the best known places for autumn leaves sightseeing, and it is a great time for those perfect, autumn photos.

● Highlights of Bipeng Valley

Dragon King Lake 

At an altitude of roughly 2,950m, the Dragon King Lake is primarily constituted of scenic spots such as the Dragon King Lake, Jing Lake (Lake of Tranquility), Clear Spring Lake, Source of the Clear Spring, Eco Route, Old-growth Forest and Flying Waterfall, among others. The Dragon King Lake is an alpine lake with a surface area of 334,000 square meters of jade-like water. 

Sceneries at the Dragon King Lake changes throughout the seasons, with the spring and summer noted for the verdant mountains in the backdrop, while the autumn features sweeping shades of red and gold across the slopes, and the winter is awash in white with icicles of varying sizes hanging from trees like crystal chandeliers.

Zhuoma Shoal

At an altitude of 3,650m above sea-level, and 2km from Shanghaizi Lake and 2.5km from Argali Lake, the Zhuoma Shoal was originally called Zhuoma Lake. This high alpine lake has a water surface area of roughly 20,000 square meters, water depth between two to four meters, and a beach surface area of about 16,000 square meters. 

The Zhuoma Shoal is a vast expanse with idyllic views including blue sky, white clouds and snow-capped mountains, with the area supremely suitable for outdoor activities like tourist sightseeing, photography, boating and beach motorcycle.

Swallow's Stone Nest

The Swallow's Stone Nest is 10km from the Shanghaizi Lake Service Zone and is located at 3,837m above sea-level. Inside the region are idyllic natural views and immaculate ecological sceneries including primeval forest, alpine lake, alpine prairie, waterfall, precipitous peaks and rocks, among others.

The waterfall at Swallow's Stone Nest has a height of about 500m and a width of roughly 12m, the top of the waterfall spews out water from the precipitous cliff, which sprays into mists in mid-air before plunging down in strings of pearls. 

On the expansive grassland in the valley, wild flowers of various colors vie for attention, while the age-tested Min River Cypresses and sequoias stand and watch quietly in the surrounding. The peaks, prairies, alpine forests and flowing waters form a picturesque painting. The area is also esteemed as one of the earliest places to see red leaves in autumn each year, which can be seen as early as the end of September.