Winter Healing Journey, the Zen of Snow Mountains Hidden in a Private Hot Spring Hotel

When you feel suffocated by Chengdu’s smog and crowded commutes, you’ll discover a treasure hidden in Western Sichuan—Hailuogou. Just a 3.5-hour self-drive from Chengdu, Hailuogou is now wrapped in the gentle embrace of autumn and winter. The glacier glistens like scattered silver under the sunlight, the forests on both sides are dyed caramel and ochre, and even the wind carries the aroma of freshly roasted corn from Moxi Ancient Town. This is exactly how a weekend should be✨ ⛺ Must-visit locally: Private hot springs and snow mountains, limited to autumn and winter 🍴 Warm your body and soul with wild mountain flavors - Matsutake Stewed Free-Range Chicken: The alpine matsutake mushrooms are especially fresh and sweet, slow-cooked with free-range chicken for two hours. The broth is so rich it clings to the spoon. Sprinkled with local scallions, each bite warms you from the tongue to the core. Tested at Yunman Hot Spring Resort Hotel, you can even reserve a courtyard pavilion a day in advance to enjoy your meal while admiring the mountain view. - Moxi Ancient Town Skewers: Just a 10-minute drive from the hotel to the ancient town, the street corner skewers are a must-try! Freshly cut yak meat skewers sizzle with oil, sprinkled with a secret chili powder, paired with a bowl of hot butter tea—full of lively local flavor. - Glacier Wild Vegetable Hot Pot: A specialty hot pot at the hotel restaurant featuring alpine wild vegetables unique to Hailuogou. The crisp, tender leaves soak up the delicious broth, served with freshly baked corn bread. The dryness of autumn and winter is instantly soothed. 🏞 Stunning Hailuogou Scenery in Autumn and Winter Light - Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park: The hotel is close to the park entrance. The glacier looks even more magnificent in November. Standing on the glacier tongue, you can hear the flowing water beneath the ice. Sunlight filtering through the clouds reflects a dreamy blue glow on the glacier. Every photo you take is wallpaper-worthy. - Red Stone Beach: The red stones are especially vivid in autumn and winter. Dark red rocks spread along the stream, contrasting sharply with the distant snow-capped mountains. Wearing light-colored clothes on the viewing platform, you can easily snap magazine-quality shots. - Moxi Ancient Town: A millennium-old town just a 10-minute drive away. The French plane trees on the cobblestone streets are covered with golden leaves. The town’s Catholic church is a century-old building. At dusk, the sunset shines on the church’s steeple, gentle and healing. 🛬 2 Days 1 Night Itinerary from Chengdu: Spend Time in Beauty Day 1: Chengdu → Yunman Hot Spring Resort Hotel (Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park Branch) → Moxi Ancient Town → Private Hot Spring Relaxation - 09:00 Depart from Chengdu, self-drive via Jingkun Expressway to Yaye Expressway, 3.5-4 hours direct to the hotel. Along the way, watch the forests change from green to red and yellow. - 12:30 Arrive at the hotel and start with a hot bowl of matsutake stewed free-range chicken. The restaurant window seats offer mountain views and great value. - 14:30 Check-in, then rest by the room’s extra-large floor-to-ceiling window. Open the window to endless mountain views, instantly healing travel fatigue. - 16:00 Visit Moxi Ancient Town, buy some Qiang embroidery accessories, and enjoy a cup of Tibetan tea in an old teahouse to experience the town’s slow pace of life. - 18:30 Return to the hotel for glacier wild vegetable hot pot, then soak in the sulfur private hot spring directly from the spring source. This 100% natural sulfur spring is rich in minerals, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory, very friendly to the body. After soaking, your skin becomes smooth and delicate. The warm spring water envelops your whole body, even opening your pores. Day 2: Hailuogou Scenic Area → Red Stone Beach → Return to Chengdu - 08:30 After breakfast at the hotel, head to Hailuogou Scenic Area. Take the sightseeing bus to the glacier viewing platform to experience the glacier’s awe up close. - 11:30 Go to Red Stone Beach for photos. The red stones, snow mountains, and streams together create stunning scenery everywhere you look. - 13:00 Return to Moxi Ancient Town for skewers, buy some local specialties for the trip back, and arrive in Chengdu before 4 PM. 🏨 Highly Recommended Accommodation: An Aesthetic Hotel Hidden Among Mountains and Waters The Yunman Hot Spring Resort Hotel (Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park Branch) where we stayed is simply divine! Remember the address: China/Sichuan/Ganzi/Luding City, near Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park Scenic Area, only a 10-minute drive from Moxi Ancient Town. Free parking is super convenient for self-drivers. Be sure to book a mountain view private hot spring room! The room’s extra-large floor-to-ceiling window faces the endless mountain scenery. Morning mist floats among the mountains, like stepping into a fairyland. The hotel’s design really hits the mark for me: the Song-style aesthetic lobby is elegant and grand, with wooden structures and mountain-water decorations, full of classical charm. The fireplace in the lobby is a warm focal point in winter. The Japanese Zen courtyard is quiet and serene, with dry landscape gardens and stone lanterns arranged harmoniously. Sitting in the courtyard pavilion, you can quietly appreciate the beauty of nature. The biggest surprise is the room’s private hot spring, 100% natural sulfur spring water directly piped from the source, rich in minerals, with excellent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. After soaking, your skin is smooth and delicate. The water is so pure you don’t need bath salts. The warm spring water glides over your skin, instantly washing away fatigue. The room’s soft furnishings are high quality. Although there’s no floor heating, central air conditioning is provided, so heating in autumn and winter is no problem. The restaurant is downstairs, making dining very convenient, and the value is outstanding. 🧡 Practical Tips for Visiting Hailuogou in Autumn and Winter - Transportation: Self-driving is the most flexible. The Jingkun Expressway to Yaye Expressway is smooth all the way, no need for snow chains. If you don’t want to drive, there are daily direct buses from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station to Luding. From Luding, take a taxi for 1 hour to the hotel. - Clothing: November in Hailuogou has a big temperature difference between morning and night. It’s recommended to wear a down jacket plus a thin sweater. It’s windy in the scenic area, so wear a hat and scarf for wind protection. - Altitude Sickness Reminder: The hotel is at 1650 meters elevation. Although not very high, newcomers should avoid strenuous exercise. Bring altitude sickness medication as the hotel does not provide it. - Photography Tips: For photos in the private hot spring pool, evening is best. The warm yellow lighting combined with the mountain view outside the window creates a great atmosphere. Wear light-colored clothes in the scenic area to contrast with the red stones and snow mountains for better shots. - Food Reservation: The hotel’s matsutake stewed free-range chicken is very popular. It’s recommended to book one day in advance to ensure fresh deliciousness. Just 3.5 hours from Chengdu, you can escape the city’s noise, soak in private hot springs, admire snow mountains, enjoy delicious food, and stay in an aesthetic hotel with mountain views in Hailuogou. There are no crowded crowds here, only the quiet beauty of autumn and winter and natural healing. This weekend, go to Hailuogou for a mountain and water rendezvous.