Haizi Mountain in Daocheng County, Garze
Haizi Mountain in Daocheng County Facts
Mount Haizi is a national nature reserve that is covered with unique geological formations as a result of glacial erosion. On way to town, Mount Haizi can be seen in parallel with the Daocheng River. Mount Zhara Lhatse is also known as the 'old ice cap of Daocheng'.
Chinese Name: 甘孜稻城海子山
Type: Nature & Mountains
Address: Daocheng Prefecture, Ganzi ,Sichuan Province.
Recommended Visiting Hours: about 2.5 hours
Best Seasons to Visit: April, May, September, and October
Opening Hours: Whole day
Why is Haizi Mountain in Daocheng County So Special?
The scenes are various and bewitching. In the north of Daocheng County lies the plateau area with broad valleys. Mt. Haizi (Lake), parallel to Daocheng River and with an altitude of 3600 – 5000m, is the largest remnants of glaciations on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, traditionally called “the Old Ice Cap of Daocheng”.
Brief Introduction of Haizi Mountain
Haizi Mountain lies between Litang (理塘) and Daocheng. Haizishan Nature Reserve is located in the north of Daocheng County, with a total area of 3,287 square kilometers and an average elevation of 4,300-4,700 meters. The plateau is the largest ancient ice body relic on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, namely the Daocheng Ancient Ice Cap. Rocks and large and small sea are scattered. On the mountain with an average elevation of 4,500 meters, 1145 large and small seas, such as the one thousand diamonds that God has lost, are flashing in the mountains, and their scale density is the highest in China.
Daocheng
Located in Yading Village, Shangri-La Town, Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, southwest China, Daocheng Yading Natural Reserve Scenic Area consists of three holy snow mountains, namely Xiannairi, Jiangbianyang and Xianaduoji, and surrounding rivers, lakes and alpine meadows. The scenery maintains the purity of the near extinction on the earth. Because of its unique landform and original natural scenery, it is widely regarded as “the last pure land in the blue planet.”
At an average elevation of 3800 meters, Daocheng is renowned for its magnificent mountain and wild lake scenery. Forests, grasslands, and brooks can all be found in the grand valley, fringed by splendid mountain peaks capped with snow. In this holy land, you can still find local Tibetans living in their traditional lifestyle. Daocheng Yading is located in the eastern part of the famous Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in the middle of the Hengduan Mountains, a national nature reserve. On July 10, 2003, Yading officially joined the UNESCO World Network of Man and Biosphere Reserves.
Best Seasons to Visit Ganze
The prefecture enjoys a plateau monsoon climate, and the Ganze weather is complicated and varies in accordance with the spatial variation, such as the differentiation of altitude, terrain and latitude. The annual average temperature of most regions is below 8℃ (46.4℉). Spring (April to May) is the best season for appreciating flowers scattered all around the mountains in the fresh air, while for photographers, autumn is the best time to grasp the colorful scenery. If visitors expect to see the snow-capped plateau, they should make a trip during November and December. It is suggested to not travel here in January and February for snow may block the way to mountains.
Main Attractions of Haizi Mountain
Haizi Nature Reserve
Located in the northern plateau area of Daocheng County, it is the largest ancient ice body relic on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is known as the “Indus Ancient Ice Cap”. The protected area covers an area of 3,287 square kilometers with an average elevation of 4,500 meters. The highest point in the region is “fruit silver day” at an altitude of 5020 meters. There are 1,145 large and small lakes in the region, and its scale density is unique in China. Because the Tibetans in the mountains and lakes are also called Haizi, they are named Haizishan.
Xingyicuo (兴伊错)
Haizi Mountain Xingyicuo (4420 meters above sea level) is the largest mountain lake in Haizi Mountain, and Tibetans regard it as a holy lake. The lake is green and condensed, and the fish swims in between; the lake is wide and the birds are inhabited. Looking far and wide, the world is vast and vast, and the stone is overwhelming. The natural landscape is magnificent and magnificent.
Rubuchaka Hot Springs (茹布查卡温泉)
The Rubuchaka Hot Springs are about 4 kilometers from the county seat. The hot springs are clear, colorless and odorless, and the water temperature is above 68 °C, which is drinkable. It has the functions of strengthening the body, diluting blood and promoting blood circulation, regulating the secretion of the body and treating skin diseases. Most of the Tibetans living near the hot springs live long.
How to get to The Haizi Mountain
Travel with ChinaDragonTours (top recommended)
If you want to get out of the traffic and hassle of navigation, you can book a private tour package that includes visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local guide and driver will escort you to Haizi Mountain in Daocheng County, Ganze in the fastest and most convenient way and take care of all the details. You just have to focus on the visiting.
Independent Traveler (Get to Ganze)
Roads provide the primary means of transportation in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Kangding Bus Station is located at 129, Xinshi Qian Jie.
For self-drive tourists, there are usually two routes of choice from Chengdu to Kangding:
Route 1: leaving westward along the Chengdu-Yaan Expressway, passing through Erlang Mountain Tunnel and Luding Bridge over the Dadu River to Kangding
Route 2: Leaving Chengdu and passing through the Chengdu Wolong Panda Reserve, Four Maiden’s Mountain, Danba County, then arriving in the destination.
There are also two options to Daocheng. Visitors can get there through Shangri-La of Yunnan or through Chengdu:
North line from Chengdu to Daocheng passes through Dujiangyan, Wolong, Four Maiden’s Mountain, Danba County, Tagong Scenic Area, Xinduqiao. The south line passes through Yaan, Luding, Kangding, Xinduqiao. Choosing one route to Daocheng and the other back to Chengdu, visitors can get an eye feast of almost all the fascinating spots in western Sichuan.
Useful Travel Tips
- As there is only one bus per day departing from Kangding for Daocheng, you may not be able to get a ticket. In this case, you can rent a car or share a car with others to get to the tourist site. On your way, you will pass Sela Town, Banghe River, and Gongga Langjieling Temple. You can ask the driver to stop every now and then to enjoy the pastoral scenery and take pictures.
- Because the altitude is as high as 12,303 feet (3,750 meters) and the air is comparatively thin, it is recommended that the elderly and infants do not travel there.
- Take the medicine Herba Rhodiolae for a week before setting out on your journey. Take with you regular drugs as well as drugs against altitude sickness.
- Take a scarf, sun block, lip balm, sunglasses and a sunhat to protect you from the ultraviolet rays and dry weather.
- Take clothes and shoes suitable for hiking. It is suggested you also take a raincoat, an alpenstock and a pair of gloves.
- Take some instant food or food with high calories, such as candy, cakes, and chocolates.
- For your safety, follow the established paths and do not enter the forbidden areas.
- Lighting a fire, camping, or killing animals in the reserve is not permitted.
- Respect the local religious beliefs and customs.
- Special Local Products: Specialities: herbs, white mushroom (Bai Jun), matsutake mushroom (Song Rong)
Foods: Hua Momo (Tibetan moon cake popular in Daofu County), Zanba or Tsampa (roasted highland Qingke barley flour), Tibetan blood sausage, buttered tea
Handicrafts: butter sculpture, wooden utensils, carpet, golden and silver articles
