The Erdao Hot Springs (Erdao Qiao Wenquan) are situated about 5km (3 mi) from downtown Kangding. The grounds are quite expansive and encompass many different bathing areas—a great place to soak away the aches and pains of a day's hiking or horse trekking.   Baths vary in temperature, from 38°C, 40°C, 42°C, up to 50°C (100 ~ 122°F) and if that's still not hot enough, there's also a sauna. more >>

Tagong Town and the Lhagang Grasslands present a great opportunity for travelers who do not have the time to go deep into Ganzi, but still want to leave the border town of Kangding and see some "real" Tibetans. As late as 2008, Tagong was still a one street town with just as many hoirses and motorcycles. Today the town has grown to about 1 1/2 streets with just many more vehicles, restaurants and small hostels.  The Tagong Monastery is one of the most famous in Ganzi, due to the Sakyamuni Buddha figure that has been housed here since the late 7th century. According to legend, the Tang Princess Wengcheng left the figure here after it fell out of the baggage train and whispered that it would like to stay in Tagong.  The figure was a gift to the King of Tibet, Songsten Gampo, and presumably a part of the Princess's dowry. The look on the king's face m... more >>

Mogetso Lake (Mugecuo Hu) is an alpine lake and the feature attraction of the Mogetso Scenic Area which covers a land area of 500 km². The lake has crystal clear waters colored a striking shade of pale blue which have earned it the nickname "Little Jiuzhaigou".   Mogetso Lake and surrounding attractions are situated at 3700 meters (12139 ft.) above sea, so while the crystalline waters may seem inviting, the urge to take a dip will probably be quelled by the chilly alpine weather. But, the scenic area does have a number of hot springs.   A trip to Mogetso Scenic Area is not recommended in winter, frozen roads make transportation hazardous. more >>

Despite what you see in the news, China isn't all ultra-modern architecture, crazy foods, tall buildings, mega-projects, temples, museums, world-record breaking shopping malls and the Great Wall. The world's oldest civiliazation also plays host to some of the world's youngest tourist destinations, and the virtually unknown Hailuogou National Glacier Forest Park is exactly that. Hailuogou's unusually low-lying, 16,000,000 year old glaciers crown a landscape that is as endowed with beauty as it is touristic riches. You'll find some of the country's most renowned hot springs here in the form of the Conch Gully Hot Spring, a nice place to soak up therapeutic microelements while catching snowflakes on your tongue. You'll definitely want to hike trails through the Gully's beautiful forests which reach all the way to the east slope of Gongga Shan (Mt. Gonggar). They reputed to be on... more >>

Xinduqiao is a small waystation between the border town of Kangding (straddling the Han and Tibetan areas of Sichuan) and the interior of Ganzi Prefecture (also known as Kham). Ganzi is one of China's most amazing regions. Two plates meet here and help to form massive mountain ranges that shelter some of the most beautiful valleys in the world, including Jiuzhai Valley and the towns of Danba and Lhagang (Tagong). Xinduqiao is a newer town and the inhabitants are spread along the valley floor that sits between Kangding and the town of Lhagang (Tagong), lapping up at the feet of Gongga Mountain and the Hailuo Valley Glacier.  Most buses will zip right through this town on their way to Tagong or Danba, stopping only for a bathroom break and a snack. The views here might seem stunning if this is your first time, but the real treat is arouind the corner, in the heart of G... more >>

Zheduo Shan's(折多山) peak provides spectacular views—as does the drive up from Kangding—especially if you're lucky enough to enjoy some rare sunshine.  The weather changes dramatically near the top of Zheduo Shan and it's common for roads to be iced up between November and February. Angry clouds are no stranger to the peak and freezing rain whipped into a frenzy by hard winds is common, so be prepared. The mountain's beauty can come at a price, but it's well worth a bit of preparation and effort.  On the way down to Xinduqiao Town, look for the black tents and herds of the mountain's nomads. The town itself is shabby, but it's fine for water, snacks or just a stretch and a rest. The remainder of the road down passes through a wide valley, heading either northwest to Tagong and the Lhagang Grasslands or west toward Yajiang and, eventually, L... more >>

Moxi is the gateway to the Hailuogou Glacier National Park and also to Gongga Mountain. The little town is just south of Kangding on the road from Ya'an through Luding to Kangding. Moxi itself is for re-fueling or resting but not necessarily for sightseeing. There are hotels and food stalls near the gate to Hailuogou, but a trip to the glacier should not take much more than a few hours, unless you are camping out. Most people get a bus from kangding or Ya'an to Moxi and then continue on after spending some time near the glacier. Moxi is also famous for being the site of one of Revolutionary China's most famous engagements between Mao Zi Dong and his Red Army and the Nationalists. Sichuan Guide | Kangding Guide | Nearby Attractions | Chengdu flights | Related Tours and Activities | Related Blogposts more >>

The Luding Bridge is an icon of the Chinese Communist Revolution and site of the most famous event during the legendary Long March, when the Red Army fled Fujian, eluded their Nationalist pursuers and managed to regroup in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province. The small battle over the bridge between Communist Forces and local warlords ostensibly in the employ of the Nationalists ended in a decisive victory for the Red Army. The bridge gave the Communists a river-crossing and just enough time to slip away from the Nationalists and head north into Shaanxi. The bridge itself (like most heroic figures) looks much to small to be part of a legend. It is a simple iron chain and wood bridge crossing the Dadu River 80km north of Ya'an City on the way to Kangding. There is a small museum at the far bridgehead, but other than a few photos, the place seems to have been stuck in time ... more >>

Konka Monastery (Gònggá Sì, 贡嘎寺) is one of most beautiful monasteries in Ganzi Prefecture, due completely to its location on the far side of the Tsemi Pass (Zǐméishānyà Kǒu, 子梅山垭口) in the Minya Konka Mountain Range (Mùyǎ Gònggá Shān, 木雅贡嘎山). The hike up to the monastery is at least half of the attraction. Throughout the day long hike off of the highway that connects Jiulong Town with Kangding, the peaks of the Minya Konka range beckon from afar—you should be able to see them clearly at several points along the hike, though fog and clouds will obscure full views as well. The hike requires you to take a bus or van from Kangding (or Jiulong) to the 99 kilometer mark of the highway. From there you can continue on to Shangmuju Village (Shàngmù Jū, 上木居) via motorcycle, van or tour bus and that is where the... more >>

Located on the county borders of Shimian, Luding, Jiulong and Kangding, Gongga Shan (Mt. Gongga or Minya Konka) is the highest peak in Sichuan province standing an imposing 7,556 meters above sea level. It is also the 15th highest mountain in the world, earning it the title of "Mountain King" in Sichuan Province. In Tibetan, Gongga means snow white, a fitting title as this mountain is covered with snow all the year round. There are more than 50 other snow-capped mountains surrounding Gongga Shan. They form a magnificent snowy mountain range. Gongga Shan is an ambitious goal for climbers from all over the world. The mountain has not been summited since 1957, when the Chinese National Climbing Team made the hike to the top -- four members of that team died during the descent. They reported facing difficulties akin to those one might encounter when climbing Everest. Th... more >>