From Hailuogou Glacier Park and Gongga Shan by Andrew and Grace

Looking for a challenging trek that rewards you with incredible views? Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park in the the Sichuan Province offers a phenomenal escape to a world of natural wonders, including ancient glaciers, verdant forests, plenty of wildlife, and fantastic hot springs for relaxing in after a day of hiking. RealTravelers Andrew and Grace trekked through the park, ascending glaciers and capturing this dramatic travel photo of the day. They write:

“Mt. Gongga, known as Gongga Shan in Chinese, is the highest mountain peak in the Daxue Range with an altitude of 7556m. It’s snow-capped all year round. Hailuogou Glacier is Asia’s lowest altitude glacier. The Hailuogou Valley, 290km from Chengdu, is about 31km long and covers an area of 200 square kilometres. There are actually several glaciers in the Hailuogou Glacier Park, the largest of which is the imaginatively named, No.1 Glacier, 14.2 km long and up to 150m in thickness. Wow! Occasionally there is a dramatic ice fall. Our guidebook for the Park informed us that “the great collision between the ice pieces brings forth the electricity which behaves a powerful blue spark. The land is trembling and the valley is buzzing”! The distinctive feature of this glacier is the fact that the great tongue of ice extends into a virgin forest.” (more….)

Useful Links
Hailuogou Glacier Park Travel Guide
Hailuogou: A Unique Glacier Forest Park
Sichuan Travel Guide
China Travel Guide