Shuangqiao Valley
Snow peaks.
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A mountain range in western Sichuan whose name means «Four Maidens Mountain». Its highest summit, Yaomei Peak, rises to 6,250 m and is called the «Queen of Sichuan's peaks»; it is the easternmost peak on Earth above 6,000 m. In 2006 the area was listed by UNESCO as part of the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries. The park takes in the mountain and three valleys around it: Shuangqiao, the easiest, with a bus road past snow peaks, forests and lakes; Changping, with boardwalks up a long valley facing the main summit; and Haizi, for long hikes and horse rides to high lakes, about two thousand square kilometres in all. Each valley has its own ticket with real-name booking: Haizi CNY 60, Changping 70 plus 20 for the bus, Shuangqiao 80 plus 70 for the bus, with lower prices from December to March, per visitor guides. Rilong town at the entrance lies above 3,000 m, so take it slowly and watch for altitude sickness.
Snow peaks.
Boardwalks.
High lakes.
Xiaojin County, western Sichuan
Shuangqiao Valley, where buses run past snow peaks and lakes without long walks; tickets cost CNY 80 plus 70 for the bus, per visitor guides, and the area is high, so take it slowly.