【Lixiao Road】80km Journey Through the Secret Realm of Western Sichuan! From Li County to Xiaojin County, put the essence of Bipenggou + Mount Siguniang in your pocket. I. Why Lixiao

【Lixiao Road】80km Journey Through the Secret Realm of Western Sichuan! From Li County to Xiaojin County, put the essence of Bipenggou + Mount Siguniang in your pocket. I. Why Lixiao Road? — Western Sichuan's Hidden "Landscape Compressed Package" Lixiao Road, a county-level highway connecting Li County and Xiaojin County in Aba Prefecture, is only 80 kilometers long, yet it's like a palette overturned by God: on the left are snow-capped mountains and forests similar to Bipenggou, and on the right are red stone seas of clouds like Mount Siguniang. The asphalt road winds through mountains at an altitude of 2500-3800 meters, as smooth as a black ribbon tied around the peaks. Compared to the tourist-packed Duwen Expressway and Danba Loop, this road is hidden deep in Western Sichuan: in summer, it's a sea of flowers stretching from green fields to the clouds; in autumn, it's an oil painting of colorful forests embracing snow-capped mountains. Throughout the year, there are so few people that you can enjoy an entire red stone beach to yourself. What's even better is that there are no bad roads along the entire route, and ordinary cars can drive on it, making it a "newbie-friendly" niche secret realm – before navigation apps are full of check-in points, hurry up and go! II. Unlock 80km of Essence in Minutes: Segmented Guide + Must-Stop Check-in Points 📍 Starting Point: Li County Town (Altitude 1888 meters) Before departing from Li County, warm up with a bowl of Tibetan-style yak beef soup (recommend "Li County Old Noodle Restaurant," adding a spoonful of local chopped chili makes it even more flavorful), and fill up your gas tank – there are few gas stations along the way, this is your last resupply point. 🌿 0-20km: From River Valley to Forest, Encounter the First Touch of Green Just out of Li County, the Zagunao River accompanies you all the way, its water so clear you can see the pebbles at the bottom. The road drills into the primeval forest, the asphalt covered by towering spruces and lichens, sunlight filtering through the branches casting dappled shadows, like walking into a natural oxygen bar. - Must-stop: Forest Secret Bend Around 15km, there's a wide-angle bend where you can park and take a panoramic photo of "the road through the forest." In summer, the roadside is full of small yellow wildflowers; in autumn, larches carpet the ground in gold. Any photo you take will have a "National Geographic" vibe. ⛰️ 20-40km: Cloud Pass, Snow-capped Mountains Come into View The altitude gradually rises, and the forest recedes into low alpine meadows, suddenly opening up the view – this is the "soul section" of Lixiao Road: - First Pass (Altitude 3600 meters) The wind at the pass is strong, but you can simultaneously see Mount Siguniang's Yaomei Peak (when the weather is good, the snow-capped peak looks like it's floating in the clouds) and glacial remnants in the direction of Bipenggou. Bring a down jacket and bundle up. Stand by the Mani piles and take a photo of "person + snow mountain + road" in the same frame, with a clean background free of any clutter. - Wildflower Carpet (June-August exclusive) The meadows below the pass are covered with purple gentians and yellow ligularias. Yaks graze in the distance, like black pearls scattered on a green carpet. Don't step on the flowers. Find a rock for the foreground, and squat down to take photos that create a sense of depth, with "people in a sea of flowers and snow mountains behind them." 🟥 40-60km: Red Stone Beach Secret Realm, Wilder Than Bipenggou Lixiao Road's Red Stone Beach is hidden deep in the canyon, more primitive than Bipenggou's – red stones spread along the stream, the orange algae on their surface particularly vibrant in the humid air, next to cliffs with hanging ice waterfalls (in summer, the ice waterfalls melt into streams). - Photography Tips: Before 10 AM, the sunlight shines obliquely, making the red stones' colors most saturated; throw a rock into the stream to capture dynamic shots of "water splashing on red stones." - Note: Red stones are a fragile ecosystem, don't touch or pick them up, and don't step on the moss underfoot. 🏔️ 60-80km: Approaching Xiaojin, a "Preview" of Mount Siguniang For the last 20 kilometers, the road winds along the ridge, offering glimpses of Mount Siguniang's "back" – Yaomei Peak hidden behind the clouds, while the outlines of Dafeng and Erfeng become clearer. Occasionally, there are Tibetan watchtowers by the roadside, and barley fields spread out like green grids at the foot of the mountains, as if you've stepped into a Miyazaki animation. - End Point: Dawai Town, Xiaojin County Reaching Dawai Town means the end of Lixiao Road. In town, you can have a bowl of yak beef wontons. If you have enough time, another 40-minute drive will take you to Shuangqiao Valley in Mount Siguniang, perfectly extending the beauty from the "compressed package" into a complete version. III. Practical Guide: 5 Key Things to Know Before You Go 1. Best Time - Summer (June-August): Green fields of flowers + snow-capped mountains in the same frame, temperatures 10-25℃. Wear a down jacket in the morning and evening, but you can strip down to a T-shirt at noon. - Autumn (September-October): Colorful forests dye the canyon red, snow-capped mountains are clearer, temperatures 5-20℃. It's windy, so bring a scarf. - Winter (November-May): Snow covers the road, suitable for playing in the snow but requires snow chains. Some sections may be closed (check "Aba Traffic" WeChat official account in advance). 2. Traffic Tips - Self-driving: The entire road is asphalt, no bad sections. Ordinary cars and SUVs can drive on it, but there are many bends (continuous hairpin turns), so it's recommended to drive slowly and honk before meeting oncoming traffic. - Public Transportation: There is one bus per day from Li County to Xiaojin County (departs at 9:00 AM, approx. 2.5 hours), but it doesn't stop along the way. If you want to stop and check in anytime, self-driving/chartering a car is recommended (chartering a car round trip from Li County is about 600 yuan). - Gas: There are gas stations in Li County Town and Xiaojin County Town, but none along the way. Fill up your tank before departing. 3. Packing List (Don't find it troublesome, each item is essential) - Clothing: Down jacket (the pass is very cold and windy), sun protection clothing (UV rays are strong enough to cause peeling), hiking shoes (for occasionally stepping on meadows). - Others: Sunglasses (to prevent snow blindness), hat, sunscreen (SPF50+), thermos (to drink hot water and combat altitude sickness), a small amount of cash (some small shops in Tibetan villages may not accept mobile payments). - Altitude Sickness: The pass is at an altitude of 3600 meters, don't run or jump. Prepare some oral glucose solution (more practical than oxygen tanks). 4. How to Arrange Food, Drink, and Accommodation? - Food: There are no restaurants along the way, so it's recommended to bring some dry food from Li County (Tibetan-style steamed buns, braised beef). In Dawai Town, you can eat at "Xiaojin Home-style Restaurant," recommended dishes include cured meat stir-fried fern and tsampa porridge. - Accommodation: You can make it a day trip from Li County/Xiaojin County (stay at "Bipenggou Hot Spring Hotel" in Li County to relax in the hot springs; stay at "Mount Siguniang Homestay" in Xiaojin County for convenient access to the valley the next day). 5. Hidden Reminders - Don't litter! There are no trash cans along the way, so take all plastic bottles and food bags with you (the Tibetan area has a fragile ecosystem, please protect the environment). - When encountering Tibetan compatriots, a smile and a nod are sufficient. Do not casually photograph their houses or prayer flags (ask for permission before taking photos). - The weather is changeable. Check "Li County Weather" and "Xiaojin Weather" before departing. There may be falling rocks during rainy weather, so proceed with caution. IV. Why Now is the Time to Go Before It's Too Late? Lixiao Road is like a "blind box" of Western Sichuan – 80 kilometers can reveal four "cards": snow mountains, red stones, forests, and seas of flowers, yet it hasn't been filled with tour buses. While Bipenggou's boardwalks are crowded and Mount Siguniang's viewing platforms have queues, the pass here might only have you and the prayer flags in conversation, and you can have the entire orange-red Red Stone Beach to yourself. Before navigation apps are full of "influencer check-in points," before the asphalt road is worn out by too many tires, put on your down jacket, apply sunscreen, and drive your car onto this "landscape compressed package" highway – after all, the niche secret realms of Western Sichuan have always been first come, first served. 📌 Final advice: Don't just take photos of the scenery, remember to record the sound of the wind at the pass – it's Western Sichuan's whisper, heard by only a few.