[2025 Kangding Attraction] Travel Guide for Zimei Pass (Updated Mar)

Located in Kangding, Ganzi, Sichuan, Zimei Pass is the perfect spot to admire the "King of Sichuan Mountains"—Gongga Mountain. At an altitude of 4,500 meters, you can not only overlook the main peak but also witness the breathtaking sunrise over the golden mountain and the rolling sea of clouds, as if you were in a fairyland. If you are a nature lover and photography enthusiast, Zimei Pass is an absolute must-visit destination! ✨ 🕘【Opening Hours】 Open year-round. The best time to visit is from October to April (stable weather with a higher chance of seeing the sea of clouds and sunrise over the golden mountain). Suggested visiting time: 1–2 days (suitable for photography and hiking). Precautions: The pass is at a high altitude, so take precautions against altitude sickness. The temperature difference between day and night is significant, so dress warmly. 💴【Ticket Price】 Free admission currently, but an environmental fee is required by local villagers (approx. CNY 20–30/person). Other expenses: Horse riding or guide services require additional fees (approx. CNY 100–200/person). ⛺【Activities】 Sunrise over the Golden Mountain Highlight: In the early morning or evening, the sun illuminates Gongga Mountain, turning the entire peak golden—a truly magnificent sight! Suggested itinerary: Check the sunrise time in advance, depart for the pass at dawn, and secure the best viewing spot. Important notes: The temperature is extremely low in the early morning, so wear a thick down jacket, gloves, and a hat. Sea of Clouds Highlight: The sea of clouds at Zimei Pass resembles rolling waves, with Gongga Mountain looming in the distance, creating a dreamlike landscape. Suggested itinerary: The sea of clouds is most likely to appear after rain or in the early morning, so it's recommended to wake up early. Important notes: The sea of clouds changes quickly, so seize the moment to capture its beauty. Stargazing and Photography Highlight: Far from light pollution, Zimei Pass offers a brilliant starry night sky, perfect for capturing the Milky Way. Suggested itinerary: Camp at the pass at night to photograph the stars and star trails. Important notes: The temperature is extremely low at night, so dress warmly. Hiking Highlight: Hike from Zimei Pass to Gongga Monastery and enjoy the stunning scenery along the way—ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Suggested itinerary: Depart in the morning; the hike to Gongga Monastery takes about 4–5 hours. Important notes: The hiking trail is relatively undeveloped, so it's recommended to hike with companions and bring supplies. 🚌【Transportation】 Self-driving: The drive from Chengdu to Zimei Pass takes about 8 hours. SUVs or off-road vehicles are recommended due to some rough road sections. Route: Chengdu - Kangding - Xinduqiao - Shangmuju Village - Zimei Pass. Chartered car: If you are unfamiliar with the road conditions, consider hiring a car with a local driver who knows the route better. Public transportation: Take a bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station to Kangding, then hire a car to Shangmuju Village (approx. 4 hours), and finally hike or ride a horse to Zimei Pass. 👉【Itinerary】 Day 1: Chengdu - Xinduqiao Depart from Chengdu in the morning, pass through Kangding, and stay overnight in Xinduqiao to acclimatize to the high altitude. Day 2: Xinduqiao - Shangmuju Village - Zimei Pass Drive to Shangmuju Village in the morning, hike or ride a horse to Zimei Pass in the afternoon, and camp or stay overnight at a villager's home. Day 3: Zimei Pass - Gongga Monastery - Xinduqiao Wake up early to photograph the sunrise over the golden mountain and the sea of clouds, hike to Gongga Monastery in the morning, and return to Xinduqiao in the afternoon. Day 4: Xinduqiao - Chengdu Return to Chengdu, concluding the awe-inspiring Gongga Mountain journey. 🧡【Preparation】 Clothing: The temperature difference between day and night is significant on the plateau, so bring a thick down jacket, thermal underwear, a hat, gloves, etc. Shoes: Non-slip hiking boots are essential due to the undeveloped hiking trails. Sunscreen: The plateau has strong UV radiation, so bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat. Food: There are no dining services at the pass, so bring your own food and water. Camping gear: If you plan to camp, bring a tent, sleeping bag, moisture-proof mat, etc. Photography equipment: Camera, tripod, spare batteries (essential for capturing the sunrise over the golden mountain and the starry sky). Zimei Pass is a truly awe-inspiring place. Whether it's the sunrise over the golden mountain, the sea of clouds, or the starry sky, it will leave you with unforgettable memories. Embark on a spontaneous nature adventure! 🚗💨

Every time I come to Zimei Pass, I can see the sea of ​​clouds and the golden mountain in the sun. I am so lucky, and I can drive directly there. No tickets are required, the road is in good condition and very wide. The sunrise view is also very spectacular, but you need to get up early. The above photos were taken with iPhone 16 Pro at around 5:30 in the evening

If you can only choose one place to visit in western Sichuan, Zimei Pass is the best choice. It is a great place to see Gongga Snow Mountain and the golden mountain at sunrise. From the blue sky and white clouds to the golden light shining on the mountain top, and then to the pink afterglow, only those who have been there can understand its value. It is so shocking and fascinating. "Zimei Pass" At an altitude of about 4,500 meters, it is the best place to see Gongga Snow Mountain. With a 360° unobstructed view, you can feel the close distance to Gongga Snow Mountain, which is very suitable for taking photos of "green onions growing out of dry land". Wait for a sunset and snow mountain collision, and watch the golden mountain at sunrise up close! You will be glad you made this choice! ⚠️Notes: 1⃣️You can drive directly to the pass, but the road is difficult to drive, so be careful and avoid problems. 2⃣️Take sun protection and moisturizing measures. The ultraviolet rays on the plateau are very strong. It is best to bring more hydrating and water-locking masks, which are really necessary. 3⃣️Be sure to bring sunglasses/snow goggles, scarves, hats, gloves, thick clothes, warm babies, etc., and pay attention to keeping warm and direct sunlight. 4⃣️Bring a selfie stick for your phone and a tripod for your camera for easy shooting. 5⃣️You can bring some glucose and high-calorie snacks, and prepare some canned oxygen. 6⃣️Travel without a trace, travel in a civilized manner, and return home safely.

Every time I come to Zimei Pass, I see the sea of ​​clouds and the golden mountain in the sun. I'm so lucky and can drive directly to No tickets are required. The road is wide and easy to walk on. The sunrise is also very spectacular, but you have to get up early

|A hiking route that even beginners can follow. 🔸If you are a novice hiker and want to try long-distance hiking for the first time, then the Gongga Small Loop Route is definitely your best choice. 🔹The Gongga Small Loop takes 6 days. It is less difficult than the Large Loop and is more suitable for entry-level and advanced outdoor enthusiasts. The whole journey requires about 40 km of hiking, and you can also experience two nights of starry sky camping. ✅Highlights of the trip: 🔸Lenggacuo: Tears left behind at the foot of Mount Gongga 🔸Zimei Pass: Watch the Sun Shining over the Golden Mountain, the Sea of ​​Clouds, and the Buddha’s Light 🔸Quanhua Beach: a rare karst terrain 🔸Geshi Grassland: Watch the starry sky at dusk 🔸Ridaman Pass: A close-up view of glaciers and snow-capped mountains 🔸Jiazi Peak & Riwuqie Peak: Classic view of Rizhao Jinshan ✅Itinerary: 📍D1: All over the country - Chengdu 📍D2: Chengdu - Kangding - Laoyulin Power Station - Geshi Grassland Camp 📍D3: Geshi Grassland Camp - Liangcha River - Shangriwuqie Camp 📍D4: Shangriwuqie Campsite - Ridaman Pass - Zimei Pass - Yulong West Village 📍D5: Yulong West Village - Quanhua Beach - Lenggacuo - Yulong West Village 📍 D6: Yulong West Village - Xinduqiao - Chengdu 🎒Equipment list: 🔹Category 1: Wearable Equipment Sun hats, warm hats, goggles, magic headscarves, quick-drying clothes, fleece, down liner, jackets, mid-to-high-top hiking shoes 🔹Second category: auxiliary equipment Knee pads, snow cover, thermos bottle, power bank, headlamp, raincoat, trekking pole, camel bag 🔹Category 3: Other equipment Sleeping bags, moisture-proof mats, dinner parties, common medicines PS: The weather in high altitude areas is changeable, so keeping warm and waterproof is particularly important. The temperature drops by about 6°C when the altitude rises by 1000M More outdoor hiking routes are being updated continuously..

The wind comes from far away, so it doesn't matter if you go🌬️ I changed my route temporarily to Gongga for hiking, the Bawang Sea in golden autumn is colorful I saw the sunset on the first day in Zimei Village🌄 I started from Chengdu and drove for six hours to reach the starting point of the hike I hiked 9 kilometers on the first day, and the journey was relatively flat I saw the flying river and golden sea buckthorn fruit I met the snow-capped mountains🏔️ and the endless Bawang Sea This route is not difficult, suitable for beginners to get started It's fun to take pictures while walking It's so happy to meet unknown beauty!

| Take the worst road, see the most beautiful sunrise on the Golden Mountain. The road to Zimeiya Pass is the most doubtful road I have ever taken in my life The road is too bad, but the difficulty is not great A high-chassis car is needed to go up If you are in a hurry and afraid of trouble Then Zimeiya Pass is the best choice to appreciate Gongga Snow Mountain Zimeiya Pass is very convenient (no need for motorcycles, horse riding, hiking) It is also the closest to Gongga, and you can see it very completely When you turn the thickest bend The whole mountain suddenly comes into view —— 📍Navigation: It can be reached by car in half an hour from Shangmuju Village (It is 2.5 hours away from Xindu Bridge and 4.5 hours away from Kangding City) The best season: March-May, September-November (mostly sunny days, less clouds, easier to see the whole view of the snow mountain) 🏔Altitude: 4600 ⏰Time suggestion: Zimeiya Pass is a good place to watch the sea of clouds and sunset of Gongga If time permits, you can arrive at five o'clock Then watch the sunset at seven or eight o'clock, and stay in Shangmuju Village at night —— ‼Important reminder: Download offline maps, prepare food, off-road vehicles, oxygen bottles, thick clothes 💰About the cost: At present, Zimeiya Pass is undeveloped, there are no tickets and no parking fees, but we must consciously protect the environment —— 💦In summer, it takes more than 40 minutes to leave the village below at 4-5 pm and arrive at Zimeiya Pass. The time to test your skills has come. 99% are SUVs, and there are also individual cars. Pure respect! The road was full of potholes and I was shocked all the way~ 🌟The mountain is really beautiful, you have to wear a down jacket in summer~ Just take a few shots~ Play until the sun completely disappears at around 7 o'clock, and people are a bit tired at that time, thanks to the old drivers 🚦Be sure to check the sunset time in advance~ The altitude of Zimeiya Pass is 4700m, it is cold and easy to have altitude sickness. If you go too early, you can't wait to see the sunrise on the Golden Mountain. The perfect sunrise on the Golden Mountain (no clouds at all, the whole mountain is exposed) is rare~ What you see is all fate~

At the Zimei Pass of the 318 Sichuan-Tibet line, when the highest snow mountain in Sichuan meets the sunrise and the sea of clouds, it is definitely a scene that is savored in dreams every day. If you have enough time for self-driving 318, you must turn into Gongga to see the majestic king of Shu Mountain, and Zimei Pass must be the most explosive viewing position. 📍Address: Gongga Snow Mountain Zimei Pass Viewing Platform 🚍Transportation: Self-driving 318 to the vicinity of Muya White Pagoda, take the G248 National Road to the direction of Xiajumu Village, navigate to Zimei Pass Viewing Platform. You need to walk a section of mountain gravel road, but the scenery along the way is super beautiful. ⚠️Precautions: 👉Here from the cement road to the gravel road, it is recommended to drive off-road or four-wheel drive, the road is flat, you can drive to the viewing platform. ⛺️The viewing platform is a small flat land where you can camp and set up tents. Pay attention to the cold at night. 🌄If you want to see the sunrise, it is recommended to come in the evening. If you want to see the sea of clouds, it is recommended to come in the morning. 🏠It is recommended to stay near Gongga Mountain Village after watching in the evening. The accommodation conditions are limited, so be prepared mentally. 📷Photo strategy: 1⃣️The snow mountain has a large light ratio. In order to detail the picture, it is recommended to equip a CPL filter to reduce the impact of strong light. 2⃣️When shooting the sea of clouds, you can combine people and the sea of clouds to capture the spectacular scene of the sea of clouds. 3⃣️Pay attention to the drone, the battery temperature needs to be higher than 15 degrees to take off to avoid explosion, pay attention to the strong crosswind in the valley. In this king of Shu Mountain within reach, there are new experiences every day, and every moment is as wonderful as in a dream. Come here to feel the mysterious and magnificent scenery of Shu Mountain!

D2: After visiting Jiagenba in the morning, drive directly to Zimei Pass. Zimei Pass is an excellent place to view Gongga Snow Mountain up close, but the winding mountain road is really difficult to drive on. It is recommended that novices do not drive on the road. After all, safety is the most important thing when going out! After we got down the mountain, we could stay in Shangmuju Village, but unfortunately, there was a power outage in the whole area that day, so we went down the mountain and headed directly to Xinduqiao. D3: Xinduqiao - Tagong Grassland - Gunong Village - Kangding, the golden autumn leaves of Xinduqiao, the endless meadows and winding streams of Gunong Village..., you can take a beautiful landscape photo with just a click of the shutter! D4: Kangding – Pengzhen – Chengdu. On the way back to Chengdu, we went to Pengzhen, Shuangliu, where there is an "Old Teahouse of Guanyin Pavilion", a veritable old teahouse that retains a unique architectural style and allows people to see its historical vicissitudes and traces. D5: Stroll around Chengdu city

"Zimei Pass" is very beautiful when the time, location and people are right (the time is right and the weather is good), but there are a few things to note First, the road is extremely bad and difficult to travel on. Too bumpy. Second, if the clouds are very thick, you won’t be able to see the main peak of Gongga Snow Mountain, the golden mountain in the sun, or even a normal snow-capped mountain. Third, if you want to go, you must drive an SUV or off-road vehicle. The road is too bad and it is easy to damage the chassis of the car. Fourth, it is best to choose a good weather to go up the mountain

November and December are the best times for weather in Sichuan West, almost every day is clear sky, and it is also the season with the highest probability of seeing the sunlight golden mountain🏔️ 📍Gedilam·Sky City (also the location of my picture) 360-degree viewing platform can see Gongga Snow Mountain, Yala Snow Mountain, Qingrao Sacred Mountain, three snow mountains🏔️But the distance is far, you need a telephoto lens There are a lot of check-in shooting props here! Carousel🎠Vintage motorcycle🏍️Lighthouse 💡Small wooden house under the snow mountain🏡Church swing, very photogenic! 📍Balang Shengdu: Very close to the ancient village, you can camp and rest in the ancient village, and come here to watch a sunset🌄The view here is relatively open, you can see Yala Snow Mountain and Gongga Mountains🏔️ 📍Lengga Lake: You can see Gongga Snow Mountain at close range, because of the lake, you can also take pictures of the reflection of the sunlight golden mountain, very beautiful! Very close! Mobile phone photography can also be filmed! The altitude is relatively high, it is a test of physical fitness, the road conditions are relatively poor, line a needs to ride a horse to reach, line b needs to ride a motorcycle to reach 📍Zimei Pass: Super close distance, facing Gongga🏔️You can see the sea of clouds～Very shocking! You can drive directly here, but the road conditions are not good, it is recommended to go off-road! You can see the beautiful scenery all the way! It is relatively far from Xinduqiao, and the altitude is also relatively high. It is best to stay in a nearby village for one night 🌞The sun in winter is redder and warmer than in summer, the weather is better, and the snow mountains you see are golden, so now is the best season to see the sunlight golden mountain ‼️Winter is more prone to altitude sickness than other seasons! The oxygen is thin, you must bring a good oxygen bottle! Bring good altitude sickness💊Wear more clothes

❄️Snow is like a pure girl, standing gracefully in the white world; snow is like a white cloud, floating in the blue sky; snow is like the petals of a daisy falling in the wind, floating in your heart. 🌟Highlights: Ganzi Snow, from November every year to April or May of the following year, as long as the weather gets cold, it will snow. 📝Note tips: Vehicle anti-skid chains are essential for driving, down jackets, thermal clothes, and hand warmers are essential for keeping warm, oxygen and glucose are essential for altitude sickness, there are thousands of roads, but safety is the first. 🗓Itinerary: Snow mountain viewing: Hailuogou (reopened after the earthquake on December 26), Zheduo Mountain, Honghaizi, Yala Snow Mountain, Zimei Pass, Lenggacuo, etc.

Zimeikou is 4,500 meters above sea level. It is a perfect place to watch the Gongga Snow Mountain of the Lushan Mountain. It is only 5 kilometers away from Gongga Snow Mountain. Just arrived at Zimeikou, the sun just came out. We are not lucky, we saw the Gongga Snow Mountain. The moment of row of snow-capped mountains is still quite shocking, really spectacular. No matter how many times I have seen the snow mountain, when I meet again, my heart will still be full of awe and shock.