China Visit Guide
Mount Siguniang four snow peaks above alpine valley
Natural site · SICHUAN
Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain)
四姑娘山 · Sìgūniáng Shān
About
A group of four closely-set snow peaks in western Sichuan rising above heavily forested alpine valleys, popular with day-hikers, trekkers, and technical mountaineers from across China.
Mount Siguniang — Four Girls Mountain — is named after a Tibetan legend of four sisters who turned to stone to protect their homeland from a demon. The four peaks are Dagfeng (6,250 m), Erfeng (5,664 m), Sanfeng (5,355 m), and Siguniang's highest point, Youfeng (the summit, 6,250 m is generally quoted for Dagfeng). The peaks form a striking visual ensemble above the market town of Rilong at 3,150 m elevation.
The surrounding national park comprises three parallel river valleys — Shuangqiao, Changping, and Haizi — each offering different character and difficulty of terrain. Shuangqiao Valley is the most accessible, with a paved road and electric tourist buses running past meadows, ancient juniper forests, and yak-grazing pastures. Changping Valley requires trekking on foot or horseback and takes visitors through a landscape of glacial moraines and high-altitude lakes. Haizi Valley is the most demanding and leads to the base of the technical climbing routes.
Day hikes from Rilong into Shuangqiao Valley are feasible for most fit visitors; the round trip to the furthest viewpoints takes 5–7 hours. Horseback tours are popular and can be arranged at the valley entrance. Multi-day trekking circuits, particularly the two-day Changping-to-Haizi traverse, are among the finest high-altitude walks in Sichuan.
Acclimatisation is important. Rilong sits at 3,150 m and the valley floors exceed 4,000 m. Visitors arriving from Chengdu in a single day frequently experience mild altitude sickness.
How to get there
Bus from Chengdu's Chadianzi Bus Station to Rilong (approximately 5–6 hours). The road passes through Wolong Giant Panda Reserve.
When to visit
May to June (wildflowers) and September to October (clear skies, autumn colours). Summer is warm but often overcast.
Crowds: Shuangqiao Valley is heavily visited on weekends. Trekking into Changping or Haizi valleys dramatically reduces crowds.
Other attractions in Kangding
Other natural sites in China
- Badain Jaran Desert — Lakes and Dunes巴丹吉林沙漠—沙山湖泊群
UNESCO · UNESCO Natural World Heritage site in Inner Mongolia — the third largest desert in China, featuring some of the world's tallest stationary dunes and a unique network of freshwater and saline lakes sustained by a still-unexplained subterranean water system.
- China Danxia中国丹霞
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- Crescent Lake & Mingsha Mountain月牙泉与鸣沙山
Spring-fed crescent-shaped lake at the foot of 250m sand dunes, 5 km south of Dunhuang. Camel rides, sand-sledding, sunset viewing.
- Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve稻城亚丁
A remote highland sanctuary in south-western Sichuan centred on three sacred snow peaks venerated by Tibetan Buddhism, often called the 'last Shangri-La'.
- Dianchi Lake Kunming滇池
The largest freshwater lake in Yunnan at 300 km², historically the scenic centrepiece of the Kunming basin and now being restored after decades of water-quality degradation.
- Erhai Lake洱海
250 km² freshwater lake east of Dali Old Town. 130 km cycling loop; Bai-minority lakeside villages on the eastern shore.
- Fanjingshan梵净山
UNESCO · UNESCO Natural World Heritage site in Guizhou — an isolated mountain island rising from subtropical forest, home to two critically endangered endemic species: the Guizhou snub-nosed monkey and the Fanjingshan fir.
- Hailuogou Glacier National Park海螺沟冰川
The lowest-altitude glacier accessible in Asia, flowing from the slopes of Mount Gongga down through a bamboo and subtropical forest valley to just 2,980 m above sea level.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain) cost to visit?
- Adult entry to Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain) is ¥112, ¥56 for children. Park entry plus electric bus in Shuangqiao Valley. Changping and Haizi valleys charged separately.
- When is Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain) open?
- Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain) opening hours: Park gates 7am–6pm. Valleys open year-round; some trails close November–April.
- How long do you need at Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain)?
- Allow 5–48 hours for Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain). Add buffer time if you plan to visit at peak season or include nearby sights in the same trip.
- When is the best time to visit Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain)?
- May to June (wildflowers) and September to October (clear skies, autumn colours). Summer is warm but often overcast.
- How do you get to Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain)?
- Bus from Chengdu's Chadianzi Bus Station to Rilong (approximately 5–6 hours). The road passes through Wolong Giant Panda Reserve.
- How do you avoid the crowds at Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain)?
- Shuangqiao Valley is heavily visited on weekends. Trekking into Changping or Haizi valleys dramatically reduces crowds.
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