Exploring North Minya Konka: What to See, Hiking Planning

Minya Konka is a big mountain massif located by the West of Sichuan province near city of Kangding. It is home to over a dozen of mountains over 6000 meters and the easternmost 7000m mountain in the world. The highest peak which is at 7556 meters above sea level also shares the name of the range as Minya Konka. Locally the highest peak is usually referred as Mt Gongga, meaning "the giant white mountain".

Mountains of Northern Minya Konka

Mt. Roddmain

Minya Konka is a big massif of mountains that is around 80 from north to south and 30km from west to east that one usually sees only part of it during a visit. Trips to its different sides are planned differently.

To its east is usually the easiest way to visit because there are two well-maintained tourist parks including Hailuogou Glacier Park and Yanzigou Park. In these two parks you can get to high altitude to gain more views of the mountains and glaciers using bus and cable cars.

South and North of Minya Konka requires long walks while visiting. West of Minya Konka has basic roads but some walkings are necessary. This article is about travel, hiking information of north part of Minya Konka through our years of experience working here.

The north part of Minya Konka include Lamoshe mountains and Yajiageng Pass, Laoyulin Village, Riuqi Valley and its mountains. The main places of interest to see are in Riuqi Valley where you can see mountains in close range as well as glacier and lakes. Riuqi Valley is not famous but it's a largely underestimated place for hikers. Over half of the highlights of a classic Minya Konka Trek Tour is in Riuqi Valley.

Exploring North Minya Konka

Lamoshe refers to the mountain group located by the north of Minya Konka that is separated by Yu-Mo Road. Yu-Mo Road connects Yulin(Kangding New town) and Moxi(base of Hailuogou) therefore called Yu-Mo Road. The road pass, which is at 3900m, is called Yajiageng where one can do some short walks to explore the lakes by Lamoshe south. The peaks of Lamoshe include Mt. Tianhaizi, Mt. Baihaizi, Mt Shehaizi and Mt. Bijia and their side peaks. These peaks are around 6000m by elevation. Lamoshe is above the town of Kangding but by the town of Kangding one normally doesn't see the mountains because it's blocked by lower mountains. Once you go higher you will see these mountains. Usually on the road of 318 national highway to Zheduoshan, road by upper Mugetso, road by Zhonggu Village, road by Guzan and by Kangding Back Mountain one can see Lamoshe Mountains.

A lot of people thought Kangding was just a town and nothing to see. It is partly true because one normal doesn't see the beautiful mountains if you stay inside the town. Once you go higher and around the town you will see Lamoshe mountains just above Kangding and how beautiful they are.

Lamoshe Mountains

Lamoshe is also popular mountain for climbers due to its easy access. It is one of the 6000ers in China that climbers can drive to its base, making climbing expeditions shorter. The easy access by roads and convenient supply from Kangding don't make the climb easier though, these mountains are still challenging to climb. Most mountains in Lamoshe have been climbed but overall there are few attempts each year.

Yak Lake by Yajiageng

Lamoshe Mountains from Yajiageng Road Pass

Lamoshe looking southwards

Hiking Minya Konka by its North

Lamoshe High Camp

Yumo Road

Riuqi Valley

Riuqi Valley is in general referred as Minya Konka Region so it is not famous and not known to many. From our experience there we think it could be one of the most beautiful hidden places in Sichuan.

Valley of Riuqi has no roads so one needs to walk in to see its beauty. By 3600 meters is the tree line where views are basically open. It is total 30km long with its first 7km a basic road available. Riuqi is by far the best place for hiking in Kangding.

From end of the first 7km drive on the basic road to the end of Riuqi Valley it is aroubd 23km walking to the Roddmain Lake. Although normally most hikers only go to the 17km place by Upper Riuqi Camp by the big open meadow. Some hikers do the 17km in one day some in two and have one night camping by Liangcha.

Northern Minya Konka

Lamoshe Mountains from Riuqi Valley

Looking back Lower Riuqi Valley

Mt. Melcyr High Camp

Unclimbed peak 5804

Tshiburongi Expedition

Tshiburongi BC

Normally we think it's safer to have one night stay by Liangcha Camp before stay by Upper Riuqi Camp due to its high altitude. Starting of the hiking by Gexi Camp (end of the basic road) is at 3600m, Liangcha Camp is at 3900m, Upper Riuqi Camp is at 4300m. By Roddmain Lake it is at 4600m that normally climbers going to Mt Roddmain will use as base camp. Hiking to Upper Riuqi in one day from Gexi Camp is considered by some too much gain in altitude and therefore risk of getting mountain sickness is high.

Mountains visible in Riuqi Valley include Lamoshe mountains (around 6000m), Mt. Tshiburongi (little konka, 5928m), peak 5804, Mt. Jiazi (6540m), Mt. Grosvenor(6376m), Mt. Roddmian(6112m) as well as some lower altitude peaks including Mt. Yinhaizi (5388m) and Mt.Gyazela (5404m). On most occasions people refer to these mountains being Gongga Mountains.

Riuqi Trek

Mountains in Northern Gongga

Trek Riuqi Valley

North Minya Konka Trek

Exploring around Upper Riuqi

Mt. Grosvenor

Mt. Jiazi

Upper Riuqi Camp

Upper Riuqi Camp

Upper Riuqi Camp Birdview

Roddmain Lake is located below the glaicer of Mt Roddmain. It is a glacier lake located by around 4600m. End of the lake is the amazing glacier. It is one of the best things to see in Minya Konka. This is not a tourist place but rather a wild place for adventure lovers.

Mt. Roddmain BC

Roddmain Glacier

Roddmain Glacier

Roddmain Glacier - Close Range

Roddmain Glacier at 4600m

Roddmain Glacier

Walking up Roddmain Glacier

Roddmain Lake and Glacier

Roddmain Glacier

Roddmain Glacier

Roddmain Glacier and Lake view

Roddmain in Summer

Riuqi Pass View

Riuqi North

Duhaizi is is a lake located by Gyazela Side Valley at the elevation of 4350m. It is around 6km from Liangcha Camp. From around the lake one can see big mountains including Mt. Tshiburongi, Mt. Jiazi, Peak 5804 and Mt. Grosvenor. Above Duhaizi there is another lake and a less-walked trail back to the road near Kangding.

Riuqi Pass is the highest pass on the classic Minya Konka Trek trail at around 4900m.

Mt. Jiuhaizi

Exploring around Jiuhaizi

Duhaizi Lake

Duhaizi Lake in Snow

Exploring around Jiuhaizi

Mt. Jiuhaizi High Camp

Northern part of Minya Konka

Mountains of Minya Konka

Hiking Planning

One can do a short hike to Riuqi Valley and come out the same day to avoid sleeping in the wild. This way you will get the chance to hike in the wild and see the mountains of Lamoshe with limited time.

One can also consider to spend multiple days hiking in the valley. Normally one can do it in either 2, 3 or 4 days. With 4 days plan one can get to the glacier lake and the glacier. With 2 day plan one can get to Liangcha Camp and with 3 day plan one can get to Duhaizi Lake.

2-Day Riuqi Hiking

4-Day Riuqi Glacier Lake Hiking

7-Day Kangding Family Hiking Tour

Recent updates

New road has extended to Gexi Camp by 2020 so now it is less walking overall in Riuqi

From 2021 there is fire season restrictions regarding hikers that go in during the dry season. It has turned off many hikers who came in the wrong seasons. According to the local authority each year from second week of October to the next June is officially the dry season and no hiker is allowed to go into the mountains. Dry season is ridiculously long. From July to first week of October the North of Minya Konka is open for hiking. When you make plans please be aware of this new restrictions.