No need to climb mountains or worry about altitude sickness, the colorful forests here are just as beautiful as those in Western Sichuan

|||🏞 Now is the perfect time to see the colorful forests in Western Sichuan, but crossing snowy mountains and altitude sickness might discourage many travelers. Last year around this time, I went to Laba River, less than 3 hours from Chengdu, with an elevation of only about 2000 meters. From late October to early November, the hills are covered with charming colorful forests, and you can also see many small animals. It's great for a weekend trip! - 🚙 Laba River is located in Tianquan County, Ya'an, about 2.5 hours from Chengdu. The scenic area has two routes: a walking boardwalk and a sightseeing vehicle route. On the first day, you can walk along the riverside path, and in the evening, you might even encounter deer looking for food. On the second day, you can take the sightseeing vehicle up the mountain. If the weather is good, taking the cable car to the top offers views of a sea of clouds. Unfortunately, the day I went was cloudy and foggy all over the mountain, but it had a unique apocalyptic beauty. - 🚙 The sightseeing vehicle going up continues to the cable car station, where there is a café to relax in ☕️. The sightseeing vehicle going down stops at various scenic spots along the way, where you can get off to explore and wait for the next ride. If you have enough time, you can visit the Red Stone Beach and Deer Pond, both with great scenery 😁. - 🏘 There are two hotels in the scenic area for accommodation. Luming Hotel is closer to the visitor center, facing the river, with a convenient location but slightly outdated facilities. Blue Crystal Hotel is deeper inside the scenic area, with better conditions and facilities, and a relatively quieter environment. 🍲 Both the hotels and visitor center have restaurants, but there is basically no food available up the mountain, so bring some snacks. - ✅ PS: 1⃣ Large temperature difference between morning and evening, bring warm clothes. 2⃣ You will encounter many monkeys along the way, keep an eye on your belongings. 3⃣ The Red Stone Beach requires about a 20-minute uphill walk, so save your energy 💪. 4⃣ Protect the environment of the scenic area, pack out your trash 👌.