Western Sichuan Wonderland Hiking Guide

🌙 Western Sichuan Moon Lake｜Step into the real-life "Alice in Wonderland"! The ultimate camping and hiking guide 📍 Location & Highlights Location: Hohaihai National Forest Park, Pusha Rong Township, Kangding City, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan (Navigate to "Moon Lake" or "Hohaihai") Altitude: About 3500 meters, highland lake + snowy mountains and forests + meadow pastures, few people and beautiful scenery! Features: • Crystal-clear lake water changes between blue and green with the light, deadwood stretches across the lake, reflecting snowy mountains and forests like a spilled palette. • Herds of cattle and sheep roam freely, morning mist creates a fairyland atmosphere, and the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye at night 🌌, no light pollution! • Wild hot springs + primitive forest hiking, the ultimate experience exploring Western Sichuan’s hidden gems. ⏰ Best Time to Visit • June to October: Summer wildflowers cover the meadows 💐, lake water is emerald green; mid to late October offers stunning autumn scenery with colorful forests reflected in the lake. • Caution: Winter snow scenes are beautiful but road conditions are poor; not recommended for inexperienced drivers! 🚗 Transportation Guide Self-driving (recommended!): • From Chengdu: Chengdu → Kangding (3.5h highway) → Xinduqiao (National Highway 318, 2h) → Shade Town → Moon Lake (1h gravel road, SUV required!) Total about 7 hours. • From Xinduqiao: Navigate directly to Moon Lake, about 3 hours (last 30 km is narrow gravel road, drive slowly!). Public Transport: • Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station → Kangding (5h bus, 💰120 RMB) → carpool to Shade Town (2h) → hire local van to Moon Lake (1h, about 200 RMB per vehicle). Parking: Free parking lot at the park entrance, private parking charges 10-20 RMB per vehicle. 💰 Tickets & Fees • Admission: Free! But an environmental cleaning fee of 25 RMB per person is required. • Camping management fee: 50 RMB per tent if bringing your own, 100 RMB per tent for rental (includes moisture-proof mat). • Shuttle: One-way from parking lot to Camp 3 is 30 RMB per person (can be skipped by hiking enthusiasts). 📸 Must-Do Experiences 1. Lakeside Camping: ◦ Camp 3 is less crowded with stunning views! Facing snowy mountains, flat meadows, accessible by cart (bring a canopy + folding chair for Instagram-worthy shots). ◦ Night stargazing: Wrap up in a down jacket and lie back to watch the Milky Way, star trails can be captured on your phone ✨. 2. Hiking Exploration: ◦ Lakeside boardwalk: Easy 1-hour hike through fir forests, chance to see grazing yaks (⚠️ keep your distance). ◦ Wild hot spring foot soak: 2-hour hike to Hot Spring Slope, natural 40°C hot spring ♨️, relieves fatigue (guide required). ◦ Lotus Lake: A secret upstream spot from Moon Lake, 3-hour hike or motorcycle ride (round trip 150 RMB), a milky lake surrounded by snowy mountains! 3. Photography Spots: ◦ Morning mist on the lake: Stake out from 6:00-8:00, mist + horse herds + reflections = breathtaking shots 📸. ◦ Deadwood frame: Deadwood in the lake at Camp 2, use telephoto lens to compress space. 🏕️ Accommodation Recommendations • Camping fans: Stay directly at Camp 3, fall asleep to the sound of the stream (⚠️ big temperature difference day and night, bring a -10°C down sleeping bag). • Comfort seekers: ◦ Shade Town Tibetan guesthouse: Yun Jue Guesthouse (about 100 RMB per person, Tibetan breakfast). ◦ Xinduqiao transit: Kangding Sengelangzan Guesthouse (2h drive, well-equipped). 🍜 Food Guide • Bring your own food! No restaurants inside the park, bring self-heating hot pot, bottled water, energy bars. • Tibetan cuisine: On the way back, try yak meat hot pot in Shade Town (about 60 RMB per person, tender meat and fresh broth 🔥) + barley cakes dipped in yogurt. ⚠️ Pitfall Warnings 1. Altitude sickness alert: First-time visitors to Tibet should bring oxygen bottles + glucose, avoid bathing or strenuous exercise on the first day. 2. Weather & Clothing: ◦ Daytime sun protection: Sun hat + sunglasses + SPF50 sunscreen (UV rays are very strong!). ◦ Night cold protection: Shell jacket + fleece liner + warm socks, bring raincoat in rainy season. 3. Signal & Cash: Mobile/Telecom signals are occasional inside the park, Unicom has no signal ❌! Bring cash for shuttle and hot spring fees. 4. Environmental rules: Take all trash with you! No open fires or barbecues, violators will be fined. 📅 Suggested Itinerary (3 days 2 nights) Day 1: Chengdu → Kangding (lunch) → Honghaizi → Airport Road → Xinduqiao (overnight) Day 2: Xinduqiao → Jiagenba (streamside Tibetan village) → Moon Lake (camping/star photography) Day 3: Moon Lake morning mist → wild hot spring → Lotus Lake → return to Chengdu 👉 Follow me for more hidden photo spots + secret routes! (Original photos and text, please get authorization for reposting) 🌿📷 💡 Fun fact: The Tibetan name for Moon Lake is "Ranwu Lake," one of the water sources of the White River (a tributary of the upper Yellow River). The wetland ecosystem is extremely fragile, please protect this pure land!