The Last Autumn Secret Realm of Western Sichuan — Detailed Deep Travel Guide to Dangling
🍂 "Complete Deep Travel Guide to Dangling in Autumn, Sichuan|2025 Latest Edition"
📍 "The Forgotten Colorful Forest Secret Realm" × Snow Mountain Hot Springs × Pristine Tibetan Village
Here, there are no noisy crowds, only the purest golden and azure colors of October
✅ Why is Dangling called "The Last Autumn Secret Realm of Western Sichuan"?
✔️ One of China's most beautiful autumn landscapes: a trinity of alpine colorful forests + snow mountain lakes + hot spring streams
✔️ More pristine than Daocheng Yading, quieter than Jiuzhaigou
✔️ The peak period for tens of thousands of acres of red leaves lasts only 20 days (mid to late October every year)
✔️ Three sacred lakes lie quietly at the valley bottom: Hulu Lake, Zhuoyongcuo, and Dahai Lake, reflecting snow mountains and colorful forests
✔️ Soak in wild hot springs under the starry sky: Dangling Hot Spring is hidden deep in the valley, a natural sulfur spring that warms and heals
📌 Best viewing period: October 15 – November 5 (lower altitudes turn red first, higher altitudes change color gradually)
🗓️ Recommended itinerary: 5 days 4 nights deep hiking & photography tour (suitable for outdoor enthusiasts/couples/niche travelers)
🌲 Day 1: Chengdu → Danba County (stay in Danba, altitude 1800m)
About 6 hours by car via Chengdu-Guanxian Expressway and S317 Provincial Road
Highlights en route: Distant view of Shuangqiao Valley in Siguniang Mountain, highland apple orchards in Xiaojin County
Arrive in the evening at "Beauty Valley" Danba County, visit [Jiaju Tibetan Village] (one of China's most beautiful villages)
🏨 Accommodation recommendations:
Danba Yunman·Mountain Residence (Tibetan-style guesthouse, ¥380/night)
Or choose an inn with floor heating for warmth priority
🍽️ Must-try foods:
Danba butter tea, tsampa, sauerkraut noodles, wild mushroom stewed chicken
🌲 Day 2: Danba → Dangling Village (stay in Dangling village guesthouse, altitude 3200m)
About 4 hours by car, the latter part is unpaved mountain road (SUV or off-road vehicle recommended)
Arrive in Dangling Village in the afternoon, stay with Tibetan locals (simple but warm conditions)
Go to [Dangling Hot Spring] in the evening for a soak and star gazing (natural outdoor pool, water temperature 40℃+)
♨️ Hot spring tips:
Separate pools for men and women, bring your own towel and change of clothes
At night, look up to see the Milky Way, remember to bring a camera for star photography
Do not soak for too long, 20–30 minutes each time is recommended
📌 Blogger reminder:
No signal in the village, download offline maps in advance
Respect local beliefs, do not casually photograph prayer flags and mani stone piles
🌲 Day 3: Easy hike · Hike Hulu Lake (round trip about 8km, 5–6 hours)
Altitude rises from 3200m to 4100m, gentle slope but watch for altitude sickness
Pass through pristine mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest: golden birch, fiery red maple, verdant fir
🎯 Route details:
Start from Dangling Village, follow the stream upstream
Pass the herders’ autumn pasture (summer grazing area), possibly encounter yak herds
Arrive at Hulu Lake—shaped like its name, two lakes connected like a gourd
Autumn lake water is deep blue, reflecting the Xiaqiangla Snow Mountain (altitude 5470m)
Surrounded by colorful forests, morning mist gently brushing, like a fairyland
📷 Photo tips:
Best to shoot lake reflections in the morning with front light
Use a polarizing filter to reduce water surface glare
Drone photography allowed (fly in permitted areas, avoid religious zones)
📌 If you lack stamina, you can stop at the midway viewing platform, the scenery is already stunning
🌲 Day 4: Challenge Dahai Lake or explore Zhuoyongcuo (choose one)
✅ Option A: Dahai Lake loop (for advanced hikers)
About 10km hike, highest altitude 4300m
Dahai Lake is the largest alpine lake in Dangling, surrounded on three sides by snow mountains
Autumn lakeside meadows turn yellow, contrasting sharply with distant snow peaks
✅ Option B: Light exploration of Zhuoyongcuo (suitable for beginners)
About 6km hike, good trail conditions
Zhuoyongcuo means "Jade Lake," water is crystal clear
Rarely visited, often wildlife sightings (stay safe)
🎒 Suggested items to bring:
Trekking poles, oxygen bottle (backup), chocolate, thermos, sunscreen
🌲 Day 5: Return → Danba → Chengdu or transfer to other destinations
Option to return to Chengdu by the same route (about 10 hours)
Or extend trip to [Moska] (marmot paradise) → [Seda] (red house Buddhist kingdom), starting the big Western Sichuan loop
✈️ Tips:
If time allows, detour from Dangling to Daofu and Tagong Grassland for richer scenery
💰 Estimated total cost (per person)
Item Cost
------ ------
Round-trip carpool/SUV charter (split by 4) ¥900
Accommodation (4 nights × ¥250) ¥1000 (includes Tibetan guesthouse)
Meals (5 days × ¥80) ¥400
Entrance fee (Dangling Scenic Area currently no main gate fee) ¥0 (managed by villagers, voluntary donation of ¥20 recommended for environmental protection)
Guide fee (optional, local Tibetan guide) ¥300/day (cheaper if shared by multiple people)
Oxygen bottle + snacks + emergency medicine ¥150
Total ≈ ¥2850
📌 Note: Dangling is not fully commercialized yet, no official ticketing system, semi-open ecological scenic area
🎒 Packing list (for high-altitude hiking)
Category Recommended items
------ ----------------
Clothing Fleece jacket, shell jacket, down jacket (below freezing mornings and evenings), thermal underwear, wool hat, gloves
Footwear High-top waterproof hiking boots (essential! Muddy roads)
Photography Phone + power bank, tripod (for star photography), drone (restricted in some areas)
Others Oxygen bottles (2–3 cans), thermos, sunscreen (SPF50+), lip balm, common medicines, cash (no POS machines)
🌟 Blogger’s secret tips (tested to avoid pitfalls)
Recommended transport: charter a car; road conditions are complex, ordinary sedans struggle, 4WD off-road vehicle recommended (¥800–1000/day)
Respect ecology: do not litter, do not pick plants, do not disturb wildlife
Book guides in advance: Tibetan locals have limited Mandarin, recommend booking guides through guesthouse owners
Prepare well for cold: night temperatures can reach -5℃, sleeping bag rated for -10℃ or lower recommended
Avoid late rainy season: early October may have rain affecting road conditions, check weather before travel!
💌 Final words:
The autumn of Dangling,
Does not belong to social media,
It belongs to you standing alone by Hulu Lake,
Hearing the soft sound of wind blowing leaves falling into the lake.
It is distant, difficult, inconvenient,
But precisely because of this,
It deserves the word "pure."
✨🌌🍂