Hailuogou Glacier

Chinese name: 海螺沟冰川森林公园 ( Hai Luo Gou Bing Chuan Sen Lin Gong Yuan)
Location: Moxi Town, Luding County, Ganzi Tibetan Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
Ticket: Entrance ticket CNY90.00, Sightseeing bus CNY70.00, Round-trip cable car CNY150.00
Estimated tour time: 4-6hours
Recommended time to visit: All year round.
Nearby attractions: Luding Bridge, Yanzi Valley, Moxi Ancient Town, Mugecuo Scenic Area, Tagong Grassland, Xinduqiao, etc.

Hailuogou National Glacier and Forest Park is a collection of wondrous glacier, virgin forests, snow-capped mountains, hot springs, wild animals and plants. The glacier lies on the east slope of Mount. Minya Konka(or Gongga Mountain in Chinese). Minya Konka is 7,556 meters(24,790 feet) above sea level, is topped as the highest peak in Sichuan Province. The glacier in Hailuogou Valley is 14.7 km(9.13 miles) in length, covering an area of 16 km2(3,954 acres). Formed 1,600 years ago, it is classified as a globally rare modern glacier with the lowest point at 2,850 meters(9,350 feet) above sea level. Compared with other glaciers in the world, most of which are located in high and cold, remote and deserted regions, Hailuogou Glacier is more accessible, closer to the urban area, and easier to climb, even suitable for the elderly. The Great Frozen Waterfall is a 1,080 meters(3,543 feet) drop, half a meter(1.64 feet) to 1,100 meters(3,609 feet) in width. It is the largest in China.

Hailuogou Valley lies at the foot of Mount. Minya Konka. Its climatic and ecological environment is unique due to its special geographical location. The altitude of the valley ranges from 1,940 meters(6,365 feet) to 3,600 meters(11,811) above sea level. The weather in the valley vertically varies. A saying goes that four seasons coexist in one valley, and the weather differs over a distance of five kilometers. As a result, the vegetation in the valley is rich and varies at different altitudes, namely, evergreen, broad-leaf trees, mixed woods of deciduous and broad-leaf trees, coniferous trees mixed broad-leaf trees, coniferous forest, highland bush and grassland. Within an area of 70 km2(17,297 acres), there are over 5,990 kinds of plants, sixteen of which are state-level rare plants under protection. The valley is also an ideal sanctuary of animals and birds. According to a preliminary investigation, there are 60 species of mammals, 266 birds, 22 reptiles, 14 amphibians. Among those creatures, thirty nine are state-level rare species under protection, such as antelope, macaque, red panda, leopard, etc.

● Highlights of Hailuogou National Glacier Forest Park

The attractions of Hailuogou Valley include the glacier, the summit of Mount. Minya Konka, the virgin forests, the hot spring and the minorities’ folk customs. The major sightseeing spots are the No.4 Camping Site, Caohaizi Wetland, Moxi Ancient Town and the Holy Gongga Hot Spring.

The No.4 Camping Site

The No.4 Camping Site is located on the top of the valley, 3,600 meters(11,811 feet) above sea level. It is the best place to view the glacier, the Great Frozen Waterfall and the summit of Mount. Minya Konka. Visitors need to take cable cars to get to the No.4 Camping Site from the No.3 Camping Site.

The Glacier

The Glacier is called the No.1 Glacier of Hailuogou Valley. It is 14.7 km(9.13 miles) in length, covering an area of 16 km2(3,954 acres). The glacier was formed 1,600 years ago. It is classified as a globally rare modern glacier at low altitude. The altitude of the glacier ranges from 2,850 meters(9,350 feet) to 6,750 meters(22,146 feet) above sea level. There are three major glaciers in the valley. The No.1 Glacier is the longest, the most marvelous and magnificent among the three glaciers. It moves downwards one and a half meters a year. The glacier contains blueish ice and shattered rocks. The surface of the glacier is fractured and folded with splits, holes and crevasses.

Mount. Minya Konka

Mount. Minya Konka is called Gongga Mountain in Chinese. In fact, Gongga is a Tibetan word. Gong means ice and Ga means white. It is known to locals as the king of mountains in Sichuan Province. Minya Konka is situated in Daxueshan Mountain Range, a part of Hengduan Mountain Range, is the highest peak in Sichuan Province. The summit is 7,556 meters(24,790 feet) above sea level, is the easternmost 7,000-meters(22,966 feet) peak in the world, the third highest outside Himlaya and Karakoram. In 1932, an American team started their mountaineering expedition from the west side of the mountain, and climbed the northwest mountain ridge. There were four members in the team. They were Terris Moore, Richard Burdsall, Arthur B. Emmons and Jack T. Young. Only two of them succeeded in climbing to the summit. It was a remarkable achievement at that time, considering the height of mountain, the remoteness of expedition, and the small size of the team. However, Minya Konka has earned a reputation as one of the top three mountains difficult and dangerous to climb. It is reported that the mountain has been successfully climbed only nine times so far, 24 in total climbers reached the summit, 37 never returned home.

The Great Frozen Waterfall

The Great Frozen Waterfall hangs on the top of the No.1 Glacier. It is the largest in China. The frozen waterfall is 1,080 meters in height, half a meter at its narrowest, and 1,100 meters at its widest.

Arch-gate-like Ice Path and the Moon Lake

At the end of the glacier, there is a big crevasse. It looks like an arch gate in city walls. It is a place where visitors can touch the glacier. The Moon Lake is an ideal place for photographers to shoot the so-called golden summit and reflection on the water.

Caohaizi Wetland

In fact, Caohaizi Wetland is a moraine-dammed lake, which covers an area of 5,000 m2(1.24 acres). It is 2,850 meters(9,350 feet) above sea level. The lake is surrounded by virgin forest. A path leading to the lake from the bus stop. The air is fresh, and the oxygen content is quite high.

Moxi Ancient Town

Moxi Ancient Town is located at the entrance gate of the park. Its altitude is 1,580 meters(5,184 feet) above sea level. There is a Catholic church in the town. It was built by a french missionary in 1918. In May, 1935, the Red Army arrived at the town, and Chairman Mao stayed overnight in the church.