Hailuogou sits on the eastern slope of Mount Gongga, known as “King of Shu Mountains”, in Moxi Town, Luding County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan. Rated a national 5A-level scenic site, it is China’s sole national glacier forest park, also a national nature reserve and geopark.
Hailuogou Glacier (Glacier No.1) stretches 14.7 km. Its glacier tongue reaches deep into ancient forests, forming a rare landscape where glaciers and virgin woodland coexist. The breathtaking Great Icefall stands 1,080 meters high, one of the largest mountain icefalls in inland China.
Taking the cable car, visitors enjoy panoramic views of the glacier. At dawn, sunlight paints Gongga’s snow peak golden, the famous “Sunrise over Golden Mountain”. Another highlight is the natural sulfur hot springs close to the glacier. The scenic area also features red stone beaches covered with red lichen, alpine lakes and diverse wildlife including Tibetan macaques and red pandas. With distinct vertical vegetation belts, travellers can witness the shift from subtropical woods to alpine meadows and snow peaks within one trip.