Snowfall Among Giants in Changping Valley
Changping Valley is one of three valleys bisecting the mighty Siguniang Mountains (Four Sisters Mountains) located in Aba, Sichuan, a Tibetan prefecture of unparalleled beauty. This Tibetan prefecture in Northwestern Sichuan is a haven for explorers and nature lovers and contains nearly half of all of China's natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Mount Siguniang, along with Jiuzhai Valley National Park and Huanglong Nature Reserve (which I will share in the upcoming weeks), all possess unmatched awe that is quite possibly seen no where else in the world.
These mountains of Aba are also home to China's most beloved creatures: the Panda. But don't let the chance to see these creatures in the wild to be your sole purpose to these wild and mysterious mountains, but rather to experience the spectacular scenery that these valleys, forests, and mountains generously offer. And that begs to say: travelling through Aba is not about the destination, but entirely about the journey.
Located high on the edge of the Tibetan plateau, where driving east to west you experience dramatic changes in temperatures, cultures, food, and livestock, a series of mighty mountains greet you. These are called by the local Jyrong Tibetans as the Four Sisters Mountains, known in Chinese as Siguniangshan, because of four dramatic peaks lining nearly parallel to eachother. The largest of these, aptly named the big sister, towers to an incredible 6,250 meters (20,500 feet). These mountains also lie parallel to two pristine valleys, the magical Changping Valley to the west and the wild Haizi Valley to the east. We were fortunate to traverse both valleys, each sharing different angles of the Four Sisters and each entirely unique.
We visited the Changping Valley of Siguniang National park at the end of April, but the weather suggested we were in the middle of winter. With morning temperatures below freezing and snow flurries falling the majority of the day, quite common in the highlands of Tibet where snow lasts until June, this created a surreal landscape. The trailhead to the valley starts around 5 km east of Changping Village, a modest village that serves great for overnight stays. A road served by a park shuttle bus transports you from the entrance of Changping Valley and the village. After walking through the entrance, we encounter a typical Tibetan Monastery, painted in Tibetan orange and white, and of course with hundreds of prayer flags flapping in the wind. Just beyond the picturesque Lama Monastery is the trail into the wonderland that is Changping Valley.
The trail into the valley is a newly constructed wooden path for half the distance (until when most people turn back) then turns into a typical dirt trail leading to Muluozi, a grassland for grazing Yaks that is dubbed a paradise for photographers. We set out early to reach Muluozi as it would entail at least 25 km (16 miles) of high elevation hiking. The valley is pure in its beauty. Every tree is covered by a fresh white powder and the fallen logs and plants are covered in a beautiful moss. Horses and yaks also make their home in these forests and are found grazing around every turn. Most impressively are the towering mountains that appear out of the snowy horizon every once in a while. This all leaves us breathless.
Around the halfway point to Muluozi we come across a shoal of dead trees, winding streams, and sandy beaches. On a clear day, this offers splendid views of the sisters, but we were forced to focus our attention on the foreground. This still did not disappoint. Unfortunately this marks the end of the road for most of the tourists who come to this valley. I would argue that Muluozi offers the most spectacular views though, but this entails a long walk of five or six kilometers on a muddy dirt path. Long gone is the wooden pathway. For most Chinese tourists, walking on a dirt path is not their idea of a fun vacation. In my mind, how could one make the difficult journey to these mountains but choose to turn back at the halfway mark?
Upon reaching Muluozi, our eyes are greeted with an open expanse of green grass littered with white snow, yaks grazing, and mountains piercing the horizons, extending beyond the clouds. A humble house built of timber is a home to several Tibetan nomads who keep watch over the yaks and horses. They invited us in to their living spaces, and the heat inside was a pleasant relief from the bitter winds outside. The valley surrounding here begs to be explored. The yaks are curious, but unwilling to let us get close. The river bends around the grassland, full of colors. But truly the dominant sight is the big sister. At 20,500 feet, we never even glimpsed its peak as the clouds engulfed her face, yet her elegance and beauty is mightily felt.
Changping Vally is a wonderland of unspoiled beauty and peace. A place where time freezes and you are left face to face with some of natures most unmatched and uncharted landscapes.
