Xinduqiao is located on the famous national highway 318 and 80km west to Kangding. It is on intersection road of Danba, Mount Gongga, Kangding and Litang/Daocheng. There are no distinct landmarks or specific attractions inside the town of Xinduqiao but it is called “paradise for photographers” due to its beautiful foliage in golden color. A lot of beautiful places in western Sichuan are around Xinduqiao and trip to Daocheng Yading will pass Xinduqiao. The beautiful places around Xinduqiao include Tagong, Yuzixi, Lenggacuo.
Xinduqiao in Autumn
Mt. Gongga from Xinduqiao
Xinduqiao is located 80km west to Kangding and the best way is to drive. The Kangding Airport is located 30km east to Xinduqiao. There is now scheduled bus from Kangding to Xinduqiao and Tagong. There is currently no train to Xinduqiao although a new railway line is under construction and estimated to run within the next 10 year’s time. The town of Xinduqiao itself is a 10km long town of hotels and hostels. The older part of Xinduqiao is a small cluster of houses by the west part of the town and a good place to buy food and snacks while the rest are just hotels built along the road. Xinduqiao is not a big place but it is the intersection of roads.
Xinduqiao is known in China as the "paradise of photography" due to the foliage of trees during autumn season. A good photographer knows where to shoot good photos. At Xinduqiao there are plenty of places where you can take great photos. The good places include the road in the north and the road in the south and villages around Xinduqiao. The places to do other photography of the big mountains also include Yuzixi, Manyika, Lenggu Monastery.
Xinduqiao in Late October
Another less known name of Xinduqiao is called East Eluo. Local Tibetan houses are with quite special style: big houses usually with 3 floors, big white walls and red gates. All house are built with stones and painted in different colors. The trees that are often planted outside of the houses make a perfect photo especially in autumn color.
From around Xinduqiao are the best places to see Minya Konka Range, one of the most prominent mountains in Hengduan Mountains, also home to the easternmost 7000er on earth. From Xinduqiao the mountains loo amazing and beautiful. Xinduqiao is located by the northwest of the mountain range and many places are accessible with cars for travelers to get to the places to see the mountains including Yuzixi, Manyika, Yaha Pass, Airport Road and Lenggu Monastery.
From Xinduqiao you can see Mount Gongga. The best place to see Minya Konka in the town of Xinduqiao is tthe view spot of Minya Konka by the east of the town Xinduqiao. The photo spot of Minya Konka is located within the town of Xinduqiao and from most hotels in Xinduqiao it takes around 5-10min drive to get to this place. One can walk up for around 15min or use a horse to go up the small ridge to see the peak of 7556-m Minya Konka. This place costs 20 yuan per person for visit.
Xinduqiao Mt. Gongga View Spot
Yuzixi is at the mountain top near Xinduqiao that one can see the whole range of Minya Konka West. It is around 40 minutes drive from the town of Xinduqiao if there is no traffic. The sunset golden glow on the mountain has become a super popular thing to do while traveling here. During busy season you often see traffic jams on the small road up to Yuzixi. There is a camp hotel by Yuzixi but it’s usually expensive and crowded. There is one monastery called Chumogong that is located slightly lower by Yuzixi. Yuzixi has become an easy accessible place by driving to take photos of the whole range of Minya Konka.
Lenggu Temple is located south to Xinduqiao for around 40 minutes drive to get to. It is also on higher part of the mountains. Road can get you to the temple and from the temple you need to walk up for around 1h to get to the mountain top. It was relatively easy walk. On top of the mountain it is a large area of rolling grassland where the view is open. To its east is the whole range of Minya Konka. You’d often see grazing yaks here too. It is a hidden place not spoiled by mass tourists.
The best season to travel to Xinduqiao is from April to November. Sumer is from late June to early September. Summer is a good time to see green mountains and flowers. Fall is from September to November when the trees turn into golden color. The golden color tree is a big deal for travelers. The golden color season only lasts for a couple of weeks or less and it differs in different years.
Xinduqiao Landscape
Xinduqiao is normally a stopover place for travelers who usually travel to further places such as Daocheng Yading, or Tibet, Qinghai Province or a small circuit trip in western Sichuan. It is absolutely worth an overnight stay here for the beautiful places around Xinduqiao including Tagong Grassland, Minya Konka West (Lenggacuo, Zimei Pass, etc), Yuzixi Photo Spot, etc. Some people also do a very quick trip from Chengdu to Xinduqiao just to see the 7000er Minya Konka, or a photo tour in western Sichuan is usually centered by Xinduqiao.
The altitude of Xinduqiao itself is not so high at around 3400m, making it an okay place for first night although some consider it too high for first night. But the places around Xinduqiao with great views are at much higher altitude at over 4000m. Please avoid sleep too high for the first night or two at such altitude to avoid possible AMS. Xinduqiao has a small hospital and many comfortable hotels to make sure you have good sleep. You are also recommended to prepare warm clothes with you if you want to stay somewhere for sunset to shoot for good photos that usually involves time of waiting in usually chilling conditions.
There are plenty of hotels to choose in the town of Xinduqiao. Except for busy travel seasons (July to October) other seasons you should be able to find rooms easily. Outside of Xinduqiao there are plenty homestay and small hostels in the villages too but some may not be able to take foreign travelers. By most of the photo spots one can camp but food is basically not available because it is basically in the wild.
Route: Kangding - Gongga - Kangding
Route: Chengdu - Danba - Tagong - Kangding - Chengdu
Route: Chengdu - Siguniangshan - Danba - Tagong - Kangding - Hailuogou - Chengdu
