Alpine Lakes · Sichuan · 3,200 m
Field guide 07 / 11Mount Siguniang
Four peaks, three valleys, one slow base.
Why go
Four peaks, three valleys, one slow base.
The Four Girls Mountains are a compact alpine world: four snow peaks above 5,000 m, three valleys of larch and yak pasture, and the small base town of Rilong at 3,200 m. It is the most accessible high-mountain landscape in Sichuan, and a good place to test your altitude before going further west.
3,200–6,250 m
Rilong is 3,200 m; the valleys climb to 3,700 m and the peaks to 6,250 m. Spend your first night in Rilong, walk gently, and save the hardest hike for day two.
TFU · CTU
About 4 hours by road from Chengdu via Wolong, or a scenic drive from Danba (4–5 hours). Rilong is the base for all three valleys.
May–Oct
May–October is the main hiking season. Autumn is clear and golden; winter is cold and quiet but some trails close. July–August is green with afternoon rain. No special permit. Buy tickets for each valley separately; some trails require a guide or register your route. Carry your passport.
Four ways in
What we would do first.
Not a top-ten list. Four ways to feel the place, selected for the hour and the mood.
Changping Valley
The classic hike: a broad valley of larch, yak and snow peaks, with a boardwalk at the start and wilder trails beyond. Go early and turn back before the weather changes.
Shuangqiao Valley
The easiest valley to explore, with a shuttle, boardwalks and big views. Good for a first day or for travelers who do not want a long hike.
Haizi Valley
The quietest and highest of the three, a string of alpine lakes and passes. It is a serious day hike; go with a guide and check conditions.
Rilong
A small Tibetan-Qiang town at the foot of the peaks. Simple guesthouses, yak hotpot and a very clear night sky.
Where to base yourself
Find your corner.
Stay in the village, valley or neighborhood that matches your pace — not just the one closest to the gate.
Rilong
Base · guesthouses · viewsThe only practical base. Stay here for easy access to all three valleys and the best views of the peaks at sunset.
Changping village
Rural · close to trailheadA few guesthouses near the Changping entrance. Quieter than Rilong, but limited food and transport.
Shuangqiao
Scenic · accessible · shuttleThe most developed valley, with a visitor center and shuttle. Not a place to stay, but the easiest introduction.
“The mountains do not need you to climb them. They need you to notice how small the valley makes you feel.”
Eat & drink
Order like you live here.
What to look for, where to sit, and the dishes worth planning a day around.
Yak hotpot
$Rich, warming and filling after a day in the cold. Ask for a mild broth and add vegetables.
Wild mushroom dishes
$Seasonal mushrooms with yak or tofu. Ask what is fresh and safe; do not forage on your own.
Barley cakes and butter tea
$A traditional high-altitude breakfast. Dense, salty and surprisingly good once you are used to it.
Local apples
$Xiaojin apples are famous in Sichuan. Buy a few from a roadside stall for the trail.
Menus change with the season. Ask what is good today, and let the kitchen decide one dish for you.
A three-day sketch
Days that leave room.
Use this as a sketch. We can stretch it, slow it down or add a day trip once we know your dates.
Arrive in Rilong
Acclimatize- Scenic drive from Chengdu
- Check in and rest
- Short walk around town
- Early dinner and an early night
Changping Valley
Into the peaks- Early entry to Changping
- Hike to the first meadow
- Picnic lunch with a view
- Return for sunset and hotpot
A gentle morning
Before the road- Shuangqiao shuttle or a short walk
- Coffee in Rilong
- Drive to Danba or back to Chengdu
Before you book
The useful bits.
Practical notes we find ourselves repeating, from payments to the best time of day.
For the main boardwalks, no. For Haizi Valley or any off-trail hike, yes. Register your route and do not hike alone above 3,500 m.
Go further
Journeys that include Mount Siguniang.
Active · max 3,700 m
Four Girls & Stone Villages
A week of walking and slow drives between the snow peaks of Siguniang and the stone villages of Danba. This is Sichuan at its most vertical: high valleys, apple orchards and family guesthouses.
Chengdu · Rilong · Danba · Chengdu
Read before you go
Field notes for Mount Siguniang.
Altitude in Sichuan: how to go high without getting sick
Chengdu is 500 m. Tagong is 3,700 m. Yading’s lakes are above 4,500 m. Here is how to make that jump safely.
Read the note
Kham etiquette: visiting monasteries and Tibetan villages with care
How to dress, walk, photograph and behave in the Tibetan areas of western Sichuan — without turning people into scenery.
Read the note