National Day: Avoid These Pitfalls in Western Sichuan—Veteran Traveler’s Tested Guide, All the Lesser-Known Routes Revealed

As a “seasoned player” who makes three trips to Western Sichuan every year, last year’s National Day experience still gives me chills—traffic jams at Zheduo Mountain so bad I needed oxygen and cursed out loud, all the popular photo spots packed with people, and enduring altitude sickness in the car for 5 hours… The autumn in Western Sichuan is truly fairy-tale beautiful, but going right on National Day is just “paying to suffer”! Take my advice: this tested guide to avoiding traffic and finding hidden gems will help you dodge 99% of the traps and easily capture stunning snow mountain shots without crowds📸 ❌ Hard-earned lessons! The 3 major “ordeals” in Western Sichuan during National Day 1. Traffic jams that make you question life Zheduo Mountain pass is guaranteed to be stuck for over 4 hours; drivers in front got out to cook instant noodles, while I clenched my oxygen bottle inside the car at 4298 meters altitude until my ears rang. Even worse on the small roads: 10 kilometers took 3 hours, and if you needed the bathroom, you had to squat behind prayer flags, with the wind blowing dust all over your skirt😭. A friend drove from Kangding to Xinduqiao, a trip that normally takes 3 hours, but it took 8 hours in the dark stuck at the pass. 2. Popular spots are just “human head backgrounds” At Chonggu Temple in Daocheng Yading, waiting 40 minutes in line just to get a clear shot of Pearl Lake, only to have a tourist bump the camera as soon as I raised it; couldn’t get on the sightseeing bus at Shuangqiaogou in Siguniang Mountain, and the Muliaozi campsite was full of trash with no place to sit. The so-called “photography paradise” ended up full of strangers’ shoulders in every shot. 3. Double blow of altitude sickness + price gouging During National Day, accommodation prices triple; ordinary Tibetan-style guesthouses charge 1200 RMB per night without oxygen supply, and all fully booked half a month in advance. Altitude sickness is even more deadly—stuck in traffic at 4000 meters with lack of oxygen during the day, headaches and insomnia at night, and queues for oxygen at the hospital. Both body and wallet get “injured.” ✅ Tested and proven guide! Avoid crowds and fully enjoy Western Sichuan’s autumn colors 👉 Off-peak timing: These two periods are the “golden windows” - Best travel windows: September 26-29 or October 7-10. By then, the redwood forest in Shuangqiaogou is golden, the streamsides in Gunong Village are covered with fallen leaves, and there are 70% fewer tourists than on National Day itself, with accommodation prices halved. - Daily traffic tips: Arrive at the scenic spots before 7 AM! Enter Shuangqiaogou in Siguniang Mountain before 7:30 AM to enjoy the redwood boardwalk alone; avoid the evening rush for shooting the golden sunlight on the mountains—go to the Curie Temple viewing platform at 5 PM for fewer people and a chance to capture Gongga and Yala snow mountains in one frame. 👉 3 days 2 nights secret route (off the beaten path, accessible by sedan) Day 1: Chengdu → Siguniang Mountain (reverse route to avoid congestion) - Morning: Depart Chengdu at 6 AM, take the Du-Wen Expressway to avoid city ring road traffic, arrive at Shuangqiaogou in Siguniang Mountain before 9 AM. Reverse tour: from the redwood forest → Budala Peak → Sigunaco Lake, avoiding the usual tourist routes; almost no one on the boardwalk, perfect for clean snow mountain reflections. - Afternoon: Light hike in Changping Valley stopping at the Dead Tree Beach! Avoid Muliaozi campsite (crowded and dirty). The dead tree beach has a wooden boardwalk over the stream; shooting against the light creates beautiful water sparkles, and you might catch yaks drinking water. - Important reminder: Don’t wash your hair this day! Washing in the first 3 days = altitude sickness warning. Drink plenty of water, avoid running or jumping, and slowly acclimate to the altitude. Day 2: Siguniang Mountain → Danba → Gunong Village (relax and enjoy the snow mountains) - Morning: At 9 AM, visit Zhonglu Tibetan village. Take portraits in the barley fields beside the watchtower cluster—10 times fewer people than Suopo ancient watchtowers. Sunlight on Tibetan architecture makes every shot a cultural masterpiece. - Afternoon: Drive 1.5 hours to Gunong Village, head to the shallow stream near “Muxue Zhuang Homestay” on the map. Here you face Yala Snow Mountain directly; take off your shoes and wade in the water for a healing experience (bring slippers! The water is a bit cold). Find a rock to spread your picnic mat, bask in the sun watching the snow mountains, encountering fewer than 10 tourists the whole time. - Evening bonus: Drive 20 kilometers further along the village road to Balang Shendu viewing platform, where you can see panoramic views of Gongga and Yala snow mountains. The sunset light and shadows are breathtaking. Day 3: Tagong → Chengdu (bypass Zheduo Mountain, shoot great photos on the way) - Morning: At 6:30 AM, go to Muya Golden Pagoda for sunrise. The sunlight on the pagoda tip is dazzling; at this time, tour groups haven’t arrived yet, so you can shoot prayer flags + golden pagoda + snow mountains in one frame. After shooting, visit Tagong Monastery and spin the prayer wheels clockwise three times for peace and great photos. - Noon: Depart before 12 PM, take provincial road S434 (Airport Road). The roadside poplar tree-lined road is perfect for photos, with distant views of Gongga Snow Mountain. Don’t miss Stidingcuo Lake on the way; you can drive right to the foot of the snow mountain. From the low-angle spot opposite the lake, Gongga Snow Mountain looks incredibly close. Only a 10 RMB cleaning fee. 👉 Gear & altitude sickness: Tested “life-saving checklist” 📦 Must-bring items (missing any could cause trouble) - Altitude sickness essentials: Take Rhodiola 7 days in advance (psychological comfort > actual effect), bring glucose oral solution (10 times more effective than cola, drink one when headache strikes for immediate relief), 42L oxygen bag (buy online for 30 RMB, refill at clinic for 10 RMB, much cheaper than the 50 RMB portable oxygen cans sold in scenic areas). - Clothing formula: Onion-style layering (quick-dry base layer + cashmere cardigan + windproof shell jacket), choose non-slip hiking shoes (Gunong Village stream is full of gravel, regular sneakers slip), bring an ethnic-style shawl (for wind protection and photos). - Life-saving small items: Folding toilet (a savior during traffic jams), wet toilet paper (essential for dry toilets), lip balm (highland wind can crack lips 3 times a day), self-heating hot pot (can serve as a meal when stuck in traffic). ❌ Altitude sickness taboos (breaking any could mean “hospital visit”) - Don’t wash hair or shower in the first 3 days! My best friend washed her hair on day 2 and had to use oxygen that night due to headache. - Don’t run or jump, don’t overeat! Saw someone chasing yaks for photos in Gunong Village and ended up gasping on the ground. - Stay away from teammates who “tough it out” against altitude sickness! Some say “oxygen is useless” and refuse it, but they ended up carried to the hospital. Don’t be misled. 👉 4 lesser-known alternatives: 10 times more beautiful than popular spots and no crowds 1. Gunong Village instead of Tagong Grassland: Same view of Yala Snow Mountain, quieter streams and meadows, great for camping and wading, plus free! 2. Curie Temple instead of Yuzixi: Drive directly to the viewing platform, no need to climb rocky slopes, no traffic jams for shooting golden sunlight on the mountains, and panoramic views of Gongga Snow Mountain. 3. Dangling Hulu Lake instead of Daocheng Yading: Easy hiking, colorful forests and lakes rival Yading, fewer than 100 tourists during National Day, can enjoy the whole lake alone. 4. Provincial Road 456 instead of National Highway 318: From Manigango Town to Shiqu County, 100 kilometers of vast grasslands, close views of Que’er Mountain, so few people it feels like a private venue, and cheap accommodation. Western Sichuan’s autumn is truly beautiful, but don’t be fooled by influencer filters into joining the National Day crowds! Either travel off-peak or choose lesser-known routes, so the snow mountains, colorful forests, and streams belong only to you~ Wishing everyone can capture snow mountain shots without crowds!