Catch the last glimpse of winter snow and enjoy a cost-effective spring trip to Bipenggou
Bipenggou still has stunning snow scenery in spring
2+ hours from Chengdu to Bipenggou
Blue skies and white clouds start after passing through the Wenchuan Tunnel
Get rid of all the haze of the Chengdu Plain
Instantly feel great
Avoid the peak season of autumn and winter,
Catch the tail end of spring snow,
Enjoy a cost-effective trip to Bipenggou,
Sunshine on snow-capped mountains, a world covered in silver,
Winter hot springs, fireside tea, bonfire dances, yak hot pot,
It's absolutely amazing!
Chengdu → Bipenggou Hotel → Bipenggou Tourist Center → Shanghai Lake → Pan's Head Lake → Swallow Cliff
1️⃣ Items
🧣Clothing: Thick clothes and pants (preferably waterproof clothing such as hiking jackets), gloves, hat (to prevent catching a cold and triggering altitude sickness), sunglasses🕶 (essential for the bright snow and sunshine), sunscreen mask (optional, for strong UV rays), swimsuit (if you want to enjoy the hot springs), moisturizer (to apply after the hot springs).
🍞Food and drinks: Free hot water is available at Shanghai Lake. Self-heating hot pot, instant noodles, bread, etc. (limited food options in the scenic area and the taste is average), fruit, thermos.
🌺Other: Oxygen tank (recommend bringing two), glucose (bring a few).
2️⃣ Itinerary
① It is recommended to depart from Chengdu around 6:30 am to avoid rush hour. The whole journey is about 200 km, arriving around 9 am. The morning weather is ideal for entering the scenic area. Alternatively, arrive the day before to acclimatize for one night and enter the scenic area early the next morning.
② Four types of tickets: Total 180 yuan. Entrance ticket 60/person, Tourist Center → Shanghai Lake shuttle bus 60/person, Shanghai Lake → Pan's Head Lake sightseeing car one-way 20, round-trip 30, Pan's Head Lake → Swallow Cliff one-way 20, round-trip 30.
③Entrance tickets and shuttle bus tickets are mandatory. You can decide whether to buy sightseeing car tickets for the two sections from Shanghai Lake → Pan's Head Lake → Swallow Cliff upon arrival. If you are in good physical condition, you can choose to walk and enjoy more scenery.
④Important reminder: Walk within your limits. Both sections are over 3 km. The sightseeing car only takes about ten minutes, while it takes about 2 hours for an average person to climb at high altitude, and altitude sickness can easily occur. If you insist on walking, it is recommended to choose only one section for the descent.
⑤Altitude (estimated based on on-site software, with slight errors)
Tourist Center ≈ 2800m
Shanghai Lake ≈ 3500m
Pan's Head Lake ≈ 3700m
Swallow Cliff ≈ 3800m
3️⃣Tips
①Some people may experience altitude sickness symptoms (such as dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, and rapid heart rate) starting from Shanghai Lake. Avoid strenuous exercise, rest and inhale oxygen promptly.
②Avoid peak seasons for affordable hotel prices and better service. We booked a hot spring hotel with a rooftop hot spring facing the snow-capped mountains, enjoyed a lively bonfire party, played pool in the empty hall, ate delicious roasted lamb chops, stayed in a large room with floor heating, and even received a complimentary fireside tea service. Absolutely worth it❤️
③The weather on the plateau is changeable, and weather forecasts are not very accurate. Recently, the weather is generally good in the morning, with blue skies, white clouds, and sunshine on the snow-capped mountains. There is a chance of cloudy weather in the afternoon, so it is recommended to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the morning.
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