Ancient Ice Relics Resembling Martian Landscapes: Haizi Mountain in Ganzi, Sichuan

A trip to Ganzi, Sichuan, along the 318 Liyang Highway from Litang to Daocheng Yading, passes through scenic spots such as Haizi Mountain, Rabbit Mountain, and Red Grassland. Among them, Haizi Mountain is the most noteworthy. The plateau terrain of Haizi Mountain is dotted with numerous lakes, which are remnants of ancient ice bodies, scattered like stars in the sky. The shallow hills and lakes are interspersed with ancient ice cirques, U-shaped valleys, glacial erosion depressions, and cirque lakes. The unique ancient glacial landforms resemble extraterrestrial surfaces, making Haizi Mountain particularly photogenic under the blue sky and bright sun. Visitors eagerly climb up to take photos and commemorate their visit. Although we witnessed the unique ancient ice relics of Haizi Mountain, we missed the red of the Red Grassland due to the wrong season. Instead, we saw the withered yellow grassland, which, though desolate, unexpectedly captured a different kind of plateau wilderness scenery.