Sichuan Hiking Terrain, Elevation and Trails

Sichuan is located in the west of China with its capital city in Chengdu. The Sichuan Basin is located by the east of Tibetan Plateau. The drastic change of landscape between the basin and the highland created some of many beautiful travel destinations in China including Mt. Emei, Mt. Siguniang, Minya Konka, Daocheng Yading, Genyen and beyond. While planning a trekking/hiking trip to Sichuan, it is important to learn the landscape, terrains, hiking trail information.

The good hiking destinations hide in the far mountains of western Sichuan in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. There are many unexplored valleys and mountain lakes and big mountains. Western Sichuan includes Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Aba (Ngawa) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture and Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. These places are mountain areas historically resided by Tibetan people, Qaing People and Yi People and now home to some of the most beautiful travel destinations in China. Hiking in Sichuan will not only bring you the great views of its vast nature but also experience of its local culture.

Terrain - Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau

If you are doing hiking in the Sichuan Basin, for example near Chengdu or by Mt. Emei, the mountains are usually smaller in comparison to the bigger mountains on Tibetan Plateau. These mountains are usually steep but well-paved with either stairs, boardwalks. Many of the popular hiking places such as Mt. Emei, Mt. Wawu, Mt. Qingcheng are also tourist parks that the trails are well-marked and well-paved. These mountain places good for hiking in the Sichuan Basin are usually located in the Han Chinese areas and the mountains are usually lush and with a humid climte in general.

When you go to the western and northwestern part of Sichuan Province, mainly in Garze and Ngawa Tibetan Prefecture, where most of the highlights of Wild Sichuan travel destinations are located, you are entering the Tibetan area of Sichuan. These places such as Jiuzhaigou Park, Mt. Siguniang, Kangding, Minya Konka, Daocheng Yading, Genyen, Zoige, Nyenpo Yurtse, etc are usually located on the Tibetan Plateau where climate is usually drier and terrains are also difficult with much higher altitude of mountains but more gradual trekking. You often will have clear views of the nature but also a very changing weather in certains seasons due to the dramatic change of elevation.

Tourist Parks and Wild Treks

There are mainly two types of hiking trails you will encounter while hiking in Sichuan. One type of trailis inside tourist parks that normally require an entrance fee to get in. These trails are usually well-paved with boardwalk or rock-made stairs and are usually well-marked. These hiking trails have even toilet to use or park workers if you need help. Hiking parks of such type include lower part of Mt. Siguniang, lower part of Daocheng Yading, Jiuzhaigou Park, Huanglong Park, lower part of Mugetso Park, lower part of Nyenpo Yurtse, Hailuogou Park, lower part of Tsopu park, etc. The other type of hiking trail is the unpaved and unmarked trails that are used by local nomads and horses. These hikings are not inside any tourist parks but rather nature reserves or national parks that don’t require any fee to go in. Hiking places of such type of trails include Minya Konka, Genyen, Mt. Chola and higher part of some tourist parks such as Siguniang and Yading, etc.

Well-paved Board Walk in Yading

Wild Hiking Trail in Minya Konka

China Top 10 Treks

Minya Konka Trek, Yading Kora Trek and Siguniang Changping to Bipeng Trek are among the top 10 list of most popular China treks. These treks are often considered challenging due to high elevation and difficult terrain but with super beautiful landscape.

High Altitude

Elevation of the hiking in Sichuan is quite high as up to between 3000 meters and 5000 meters. So you will be walking at elevation over 3500 meters for most of the hikings in Sichuan. Be aware of some of the multiple days of hiking at such elevation, to acclimatize yourself is important. You may ascend up to 800 meters within a day’s hiking and descend for over 1000 meters within a day’s hiking. Consider to have basic physical training and sufficient preparation when you are planning a hiking trip to Sichuan.

Trail and Terrain in a Yading Middle Kora Trek

Genyen Hiking Terrain