Western Sichuan Colorful Forests & Glacier Secret Realm: Aba Heishui 4 Days 3 Nights Self-Driving Complete Guide

1. Pre-Trip Overview - Best Seasons - Colorful Forests + Snow Mountains: Mid to late October - mid November - Glacier + Flower Sea: June to September (cool summer, average temperature 18℃) - Winter Blue Ice: December to February (-15 to 5℃, snow chains required) - Transportation 1. Departure from Chengdu: Chengdu-Dujiangyan → Wenma Expressway → Maoxian → Heishui, total 300 km about 5 hours, good mountain road conditions all the way. 2. Public Transport: Three daily buses (08:10/09:30/11:00) from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station directly to Heishui County, fare 110 RMB. - Essentials Checklist Sunscreen SPF50+, sunglasses, windbreaker, fleece, crampons (winter), oxygen tank (for altitude sickness prevention), border pass (must be obtained in advance for Bayi Glacier). 2. Classic 4 Days 3 Nights Itinerary (Round Trip from Chengdu) Day 1 | Chengdu — Maoxian — Heishui County — Seergu Tibetan Village 07:00 Depart Chengdu, short break at Mianxi Service Area 11:00 Lunch in Maoxian: Sour Soup Yak Meat 13:30 Arrive at [Seergu Tibetan Village] (free) “Stone Castle” on the cliff of Minjiang River, climb the watchtower to overlook Menghe Gorge 16:00 Arrive at Heishui County (elevation 2350 m), check-in / acclimate 18:30 Late-night snack: Ama’s Tibetan-style earthen hotpot + butter tea, rest early to prevent altitude sickness Day 2 | Dagu Glacier — Kalong Valley — Luhua Town 08:00 Depart county, 9 km drive, enter [Dagu Glacier] before 09:00 (ticket + shuttle + cable car 320 RMB) - The world’s lowest altitude modern glacier closest to a city - Take cable car directly to 4860 m viewing platform, see Glacier Tongue No.1 + Tear Lake + Five-star Red Flag photo spot 13:30 Lunch at scenic area entrance: Alpine cold water fish + stir-fried cured meat with bamboo shoots 14:30 [Kalong Valley] travertine waterfall + moss forest, 2-hour hike to shoot “moss carpet” 17:30 Return to county, overnight at Yangronghade Tibetan Village homestay (snow mountain view from window, starry sky room about 300 RMB) 20:00 Bonfire party + barley wine tasting (included in homestay experience) Day 3 | Naizi Valley 80-li Colorful Forest — Yangronghade — Logesi Sacred Mountain — Yakexia Snow Mountain 08:30 Drive along S302 into [Naizi Valley] (free) Asia’s largest colorful forest corridor, 80 li of layered autumn colors - Photo spots: ① Mountain pass overlooking colorful forest + snow mountains ② Yangronghade Tibetan Village prayer flag suspension bridge ③ Hongyuan Bridge water reflection 12:00 Village lunch: Hand-grabbed yak meat + sauerkraut noodles 13:30 Light hike at [Logesi Sacred Mountain] (round trip 2 hours) pilgrimage path + alpine pasture 16:00 Cross [Yakexia Snow Mountain] tunnel entrance at 4743 m elevation, shoot snow mountain highway panoramas 18:30 Return to county, dinner: Kangguo mutton + highland barley cake Day 4 | Sanao Snow Mountain Viewing Platform — Maoxian — Chengdu 09:00 Drive 15 km to [Sanao Snow Mountain Viewing Platform] to see “Pyramid” peak cluster + sunrise golden mountains 11:30 Buy souvenirs in county: yak jerky + Heishui honey + Tibetan medicine incense 12:30 Return to Maoxian for lunch, arrive Chengdu by 18:00 and disperse 3. Must-Try Food Map 1. Tibetan-style earthen hotpot: copper pot yak meat + wild mushrooms, broth for dipping barley cakes 2. Hand-grabbed mutton: freshly slaughtered and cooked, dip in chili powder + garlic paste 3. Sauerkraut noodles: plateau version of “noodle pieces,” sour and spicy to ward off cold 4. Butter cake + yak yogurt: breakfast staples, rich milky flavor 5. Barley wine: fermented barley, mildly sweet and low alcohol, perfect for bonfire parties 4. Accommodation Recommendations - County economy: Heishui Jiarong Hotel / Jihong Hotel, convenient parking, off-season 120-180 RMB - Tibetan village experience: Yangronghade century-old stone watchtower homestay, starry sky room 300-400 RMB, includes breakfast and dinner - At glacier foot: Dagu Glacier Hotel (oxygen rooms), peak season 600+, 30 min walk to entrance 5. Budget Reference (per person) - Budget self-driving: fuel 300 + tickets 320 + accommodation 150×3 + meals 120×4 ≈ 1,700 RMB - Quality self-driving: SUV 350/day + oxygen hotel 500×2 + Tibetan village homestay 400 + horseback riding/guide 200 ≈ 3,000 RMB 6. Plateau Tips 1. Do not wash hair or run on first night, drink plenty of hot water, carry glucose oral solution. 2. Dagu Glacier cable car ascends quickly, bring oxygen tank; top is windy, wear down jacket + sunglasses. 3. Naizi Valley colorful forest is an open road, stop and flash hazard lights when parking, watch out for yaks. 4. Accommodation is tight in October-November, book 2 weeks in advance; snow chains are a must for winter self-driving. 5. Carry out your trash, ask permission before photographing in Tibetan villages, respect religious customs. 7. One-Sentence Summary In Heishui, watch glaciers in spring, admire flowers in summer, be intoxicated by colorful forests in autumn, and play in snow in winter — a “Western Sichuan palette” all year round. Pack your bags, follow the Minjiang River upstream, and encounter China’s most ultimate colorful autumn!