Published : 2026-01-13
Hailuogou Scenic Area is situated on the eastern slopes of Gongga Mountain, on the southeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau, within Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
Covering an extensive area, it comprises six scenic sections and holds multiple distinguished titles, including a National 5A-level Tourist Attraction, a National Nature Reserve, and a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Frigid glaciers and steaming hot springs
Nestled at the foot of the Gongga Snow Mountain, Hailuogou is renowned for its low-altitude modern glaciers.
Here, crystal-clear glaciers cascade down steep valleys, alongside spectacular icy wonders such as massive ice caves, perilous ice bridges, and a majestic ice waterfall over 1,000 metres high—creating a dreamlike world of ice and snow.
Beyond its frozen landscapes, Hailuogou is distinguished by its unique natural environment, climate, and rich tourism resources.
It features towering peaks, alpine lakes, pristine forests, and a remarkable diversity of rare flora and fauna, forming a complete bioclimatic zone where "one ravine experiences all four seasons, and the weather changes within miles."
Remarkably, amid this icy realm, dozens of hot springs dot the area—where cold and heat converge, blending ice with fire.
The spring temperatures range from 40°C to 80°C, with one even reaching a boiling 90°C. Visitors can immerse themselves in warm, soothing waters while admiring the magnificent glaciers—a truly extraordinary experience.
The only glacier forest park in China
As a national 5A-rated scenic area and China's only "Glacier Forest Park", Hailuogou attracts countless visitors each year.
Among its many highlights, the red rocks, hot springs, ancient forests, sea of clouds, snow-capped peaks and majestic glaciers are celebrated as the "six signature wonders" of Hailuogou – each an essential experience no visitor should miss.
The red rocks are one of the rarest species gifted by nature to the Gongga Mountain area.
In scenic areas such as Hailuogou, Yanzigou, Nanmenguangou, and Yajiageng, large areas of red rock beaches are distributed, and every stone appears to be draped in a beautiful red coat.
The red substance on these stones is not pigment, but a living primitive algae known as Trentepohlia jolithus. These algae can only survive in areas with exceptionally good air quality and is not found in shaded locations, woodlands away from the main river channel of Hailuogou, or at elevations below 2,100 metres.
Depending on the season and weather, the colour of the red stones coated with these algae varies in depth, creating a stunning and ever-changing natural canvas.
Accumulated along both sides of the river, clusters of these red stones form a shifting red hue that flows downstream alongside the crystal-clear water—a true marvel of nature's artistry.
In contrast to the snowy mountains and glaciers, the Hailuogou hot springs bring eternal warmth to the four seasons.
Bathing in the Hailuogou hot springs, your body feels like a warm cloud floating in the sky, and you are able to deeply feel the thermal energy from beneath the Hailuogou glaciers.
The Hailuogou hot springs contain various mineral trace elements such as potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn), and are a rare type of ice-melt sodium calcium carbonate neutral medicinal thermal mineral spring, with the integrated value of being "drinkable", "bathable", and "therapeutic", and are a genuine natural medicinal hot spring.
Among them, the gushing hot spring water reaches a temperature as high as 90°C, which is sufficient for brewing tea and cooking eggs.
Visitors to Hailuogou may wish to try making tea with the spring water or preparing delicious onsen tamago (hot spring eggs).
The primeval forest is one of the "six signature wonders" of Hailuogou.
With an elevation difference exceeding 6,000 metres, the area features distinct multi-layered climatic and vegetation zones, hosting over 4,880 plant species spanning from subtropical to frigid zones.
Walking gradually along the winding mountain path, visitors will notice a remarkable transformation in the surrounding flora—from valley palms and verdant bamboo groves to ancient towering trees in the primal woodland, vast stretches of blooming wild azaleas, and further up, colourful alpine wildflowers and low-growing tundra vegetation—each scene more captivating than the last.
Another wonder, the "sea of clouds", is perhaps the most distinctive natural spectacle here.
It may hang high between cliffs, deepening the sense of valley serenity; or spread across the mountains, shifting unpredictably like a woven veil; or drift softly over glaciers, wrapping them in an ethereal, almost mystical haze.
As visitors ascend through the mist, once they emerge above the clouds, the breathtaking expanse of Hailuogou unfolds before their eyes.
Snow-capped peaks and glaciers are the remaining two of Hailuogou's "six wonders".
Located in the heart of the Hengduan Mountain Range, the area is home to numerous snow-capped mountains that remain ice-clear and pristine year-round. Among them stands Gongga Mountain, towering at 7,556 metres in the heart of the Shangri-La region, revered as the "King of Sichuan's Mountains".
As the highest peak of the Hengduan Range within Hailuogou, Gongga is surrounded by 45 ice peaks exceeding 6,000 metres and over 100 snow-capped mountains above 5,000 metres, forming the world's closest concentration of extreme high mountains to a major urban area.
From the scenic area, visitors can gaze into the distance and see clusters of peaks, with Gongga's summit rising like a colossal pyramid atop the ridges—majestic and awe-inspiring.
Accompanying the snow-capped peaks are the glaciers of Hailuogou.
The Gongga Mountain region is home to China's most developed modern maritime glaciers, featuring hundreds of glacial formations covering over 300 square kilometres.
Among them, "Hailuogou No.1 Glacier" stretches 14.7 kilometres in length and spans 16 square kilometres. Its terminus extends six kilometres into the primeval forest, making it the largest and lowest-elevation modern glacier at its latitude in the world.
Standing upon the glacier, visitors are treated to the breathtaking view of emerald-green trees lining the valley slopes alongside pristine ice and snow—a scene of striking beauty.
At the glacier's forefront, meltwater flows and echoes beneath the ice with a dull yet powerful rumble, reverberating with the timeless rhythm of millennia of frost and snow.
Read more: Winter travel in Jilin: Snowscapes, lanterns, and ice fishing
