Hiking Through Changping Valley in the Rainy Season: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

⛰️Sichuan's rainy season, no signal, 8 hours of high-altitude hiking in the rain for 18 km, and even encountering a mudslide—I've experienced all the challenges Changping Valley has to offer and gained a lot of experience. I hope this can be a reference for everyone. Changping Valley Overview * **Distance:** 26 km round trip, 13 km one way. * **Altitude:** Highest point is 3,688 m. * **Difficulty:** Changping Valley, part of the "Top Ten Most Beautiful Hiking Routes" of Changchuanbi, is moderately difficult and suitable for beginners, but still requires a certain level of physical fitness. * **Development Status:** Semi-developed. After the sightseeing bus drops you off at the starting point, you need to hike or ride a horse for the entire journey. * **Return Time:** The last sightseeing bus returns at 5:30 pm. Be sure to return to the starting point before this time. * **Route:** The route to Muluozi is divided into a horse trail and a boardwalk. The boardwalk is about 7 km (to Lower Ganhaizi), and the remaining 6 km is a horse trail. The scenery along the horse trail and the boardwalk each have their own unique charm. I personally recommend taking the horse trail on the way there and the boardwalk on the way back to enjoy different views. Recommended Hiking Methods 1. Half Horse Riding, Half Hiking * **Horse Ticket Purchase:** Tickets must be purchased after getting off the sightseeing bus. It is recommended to go early (about 100 horses per day, and horse guides say that there are usually no horses left after 9-10 am). * **Horse Ticket Types:** Round-trip tickets, prices are as follows: * a. Starting Point - Kushutan: CNY 100/person, about 3 km one way. * b. Starting Point - Lower Ganhaizi: CNY 260/person, about 7 km one way. * c. Starting Point - Muluozi: CNY 660/person, about 13 km one way. * **Note:** Horse guides only wait for 30 minutes at the destination. If you don't return within the time limit, it will be considered as automatically giving up the return trip. * **Recommended Plan:** Choose plan b (Starting Point - Lower Ganhaizi). After arriving, negotiate with the horse guide to give up the second half of the journey. Usually, they can take you to Upper Ganhaizi for free. After dismounting, it's about a 4-5 km hike to Muluozi. This plan is equivalent to riding a horse uphill for about 8 km and then hiking for about 18 km, taking a total of about 7-8 hours. 2. Hiking the Entire Way * **Distance:** 26 km. * **Time:** About 8 hours. * **Difficulty:** The first half is mainly climbing, which is more strenuous; the second half is downhill and relatively easy. * **Recommended Route:** Take the horse trail on the way there and the boardwalk on the way back. 3. Horse Riding the Entire Way * **Time:** About 6 hours. * **Price:** CNY 660/person. * **Disadvantages:** The horse guide only waits for 30 minutes. After arriving at Muluozi, time is tight, making it difficult to fully rest or take photos, and it also lacks the hiking experience. Not recommended. Equipment Recommendations (Rainy Season) * **Clothing:** Waterproof hiking jackets and pants are recommended. * **Shoes:** Hiking boots that are waterproof, comfortable, and suitable for mountain climbing. * **Backpack:** Needs enough capacity to carry water, dry food, glucose, oxygen tanks, etc. There are few supply points along Changping Valley, so you need to take care of your own food and drinks. * **Trekking Poles:** Some sections of the horse trail are uneven, and trekking poles can provide better support. Other Information * **Tickets:** Changping Valley tickets are CNY 90/person, and sightseeing bus tickets are CNY 20/person. * **Communication:** Mobile phone signals are unstable in the valley. It is recommended to download offline maps in advance. * **Weather:** The weather is changeable during the rainy season. Be prepared for bad weather. I hope this guide can help you better plan your hiking trip to Changping Valley. Have a great trip!