Xiling Snow Mountain in Misty Rain: The Most Intoxicating!
When I was a child, learning Du Fu's "Quatrain," the teacher repeatedly emphasized that you must memorize this ancient poem well, it is about Chengdu. "Two golden orioles sing amid the willows green; a flock of white egrets flies into the blue sky. My window frames the snow-crowned western mountain scene; my door oft says to eastward-going ships 'Goodbye!'" This tells how Du Fu, back in Chengdu, could lean by the window and see the perennial snow on Xiling Snow Mountain, with ships from faraway Dongwu moored at his doorstep. Times change; those ships are rarely seen now. But the beauty of Xiling Snow Mountain remains, becoming a favorite summer retreat for generations of literati to enjoy cool air and scenic views. Leisurely watching flowers bloom and fall before the courtyard, casually following clouds roll and unfurl beyond the sky. As modern youth, we strive in the bustling city, giving our all to live an ordinary life. Sometimes when tired, we want to get out and take a spontaneous trip. And Xiling Snow Mountain is the choice of many.
Scenic Area Introduction: Xiling Snow Mountain is located in Dayi County, Chengdu, about 1.5 hours' drive from Chengdu. It is a World Natural Heritage site, a giant panda habitat, a AAAA-level tourist attraction, and a national key scenic area. The area features the permanently snow-covered Great Snow Mountain, with an altitude of 5,364 meters, the highest peak in Chengdu. Ascending Xiling Snow Mountain, you can overlook all other mountains.
Ticket Information:
1. Xiling Snow Mountain entrance ticket: 120 RMB/person
2. Yuanyangchi Cable Car: round trip 120 RMB/person, one way 70 RMB/person (Operating hours: Monday to Friday 8:30-18:00; Saturday to Sunday 7:30-18:00)
3. Riyueping Cable Car: round trip 120 RMB/person, one way 70 RMB/person
PS Special Note: It is recommended to purchase tickets on Ctrip for great discounts. I found a ticket + cable car combo for only 29.9 RMB, you know what I mean.
Scenic Area Opening Hours: Xiling Snow Mountain main gate entry time: 09:00-16:00
Children: Free for children aged 6 (inclusive) and under or under 1.2 meters (inclusive); half price for minors aged 6 (exclusive) to 18 (inclusive) with ID or household registration book.
Other groups: Free entrance for medical staff, military personnel (including retired and disabled soldiers), people's police, firefighters, and journalists with valid ID. Free for special-grade teachers and principals with valid ID. Disabled persons with disability certificate: free; blind, double-leg disabled, and other severely disabled persons plus one accompanying person free. Seniors: For those aged 60-65, half price on national statutory holidays; free on non-statutory holidays; free for those over 65; ID or senior card required. Students: Half price for full-time undergraduate, vocational, and technical students with valid student ID. Tour guides: Free with national tour guide certificate or travel agency manager qualification.
National Heroes Preferential Policy: National heroes including medical staff, military, people's police, firefighters, and journalists, with valid ID + ID card, can enjoy free admission from 2020.2.25 to 12.31, including first entrance ticket and Yuanyangchi round-trip cable car.
Transportation to Xiling Snow Mountain:
Public transport: 1. Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station has daily buses to Xiling Town. 2. Dayi Station (Passenger Transport Center) also has daily buses to Xiling Town.
Self-driving: Take the Chengwenqiong Expressway and Dashuang Road, following navigation.
Accommodation: Stay at guesthouses or hotels near the scenic area, prices ranging from 100 to 380 RMB. You can also stay at the Yingxue Hotel halfway up the mountain within the scenic area, with standard rooms 430-450 RMB including breakfast. You can enjoy the mid-mountain scenery and leisurely go up the mountain.
Tips:
1. Transportation from Chengdu to Xiling Snow Mountain is very convenient, but it's recommended to bring your own snacks and power bank.
2. The weather at Xiling Snow Mountain is changeable; remember to bring an umbrella, sunscreen, and a thick jacket—it's really cold on the mountain.
3. People from Sichuan generally don't get altitude sickness at the top of Xiling Snow Mountain. If out-of-towners are worried, they can prepare Rhodiola Rosea appropriately.
4. There are mosquitoes in summer at Xiling Snow Mountain; it's recommended to bring mosquito repellent spray.
5. Recommended visit duration: 1-3 days.
6. Key point: Xiling Snow Mountain currently has great discounts, highly recommended. A great place to escape the summer heat.
In June, Xiling Snow Mountain is lush green with blooming flowers, a riot of colors. At the scenic area entrance, take the Yuanyangchi Cable Car up. Sitting in the cable car, clouds and mist swirl among the mountains—perhaps this is what Sun Wukong felt like riding the clouds in "Journey to the West"!
Xiling Snow Mountain is like a grand natural scroll painting; you travel within the painting, with scenery everywhere.
After about a 15-minute ride, you reach Yuanyangchi Reception Station, then transfer to a shuttle bus to the famous ski slope. Getting off, the mid-mountain beauty of Xiling Snow Mountain unfolds before you—a sea of colorful flowers in bloom. I quietly took out a jacket.
My companion joked: "This isn't Xiling welcoming you, it's spring welcoming you." Experiencing both summer and spring in one day in Chengdu.
It was drizzling; the lake water was especially clear, reflecting the shadows of distant buildings, as if in a paradise.
Holding an umbrella, strolling along the flower-lined path, breathing the pure natural oxygen at 30° north latitude, admiring the thriving little white daisies, enjoying a refreshing journey of letting go.
The mountain flowers and distant scenery broke my preconception that Xiling Snow Mountain is only for winter. In summer, Xiling Snow Mountain offers a different charm. In the same Chengdu, the city is summer, but at Xiling Snow Mountain, it's a vibrant spring scene.
Friends often ask: Where is a good place to escape the heat in Chengdu? Somewhere with few people. Xiling Snow Mountain is definitely a good choice.
Walking along Yingyue Lake, the fresh scent of grass hits you, making you forget trivial life matters and enter a state of emptiness.
Mountain weather is like a baby's face—it changes quickly. Just now it was "Jiangnan misty rain beauty," now it's "hazy beauty."
"Wow, Sichuan's national treasure—Kung Fu Panda—so cute!" The girl in our group immediately ran over for a photo. Hehe, the more I looked, the cuter it became.
The mist over the lake grew thicker, putting us right in a fairyland.
Before I knew it, I reached the grass-skiing area. Just the name piqued my interest—I'd never heard of grass-skiing before, a bit ignorant. Oops.
Grass-skiing was pioneered by German Josef Kaiser in 1960; its basic movements are similar to skiing. It fits the new era's eco-friendly concept and is loved by many young environmentalists. Immerse yourself in nature and experience its joys.
In the distance, a girl was walking upward, exploring.
Another female companion couldn't resist; she changed into gear and started grass-skiing. See how happy she was—that tells you how fun it is. Did I try it? Of course, haha, so thrilling.
Then there were the typical tourist aunties, all joining in... I was a bit dumbfounded, haha.
When you mention grasslands, Inner Mongolia's vast steppes, yurts, horse racing come to mind. But at Xiling Snow Mountain, the unique terrain nurtures a Sichuan-style "grassland" beauty.
On clear days, you might even encounter horse racing—that's all about luck. White race tracks, yellow yurps, and purple flowers—so beautiful.
Beautiful scenery calls for beautiful people; every photo turns out like a masterpiece. Girls who love beauty must not miss the scenery of Xiling Snow Mountain.
Seeing the vast green grass, I couldn't resist either, and started my photo shoot. Haha, go easy on me with the bricks.
At the Xiling Snow Mountain cultural and creative exhibition area, there are many creative souvenirs.
For example, this—guess what it is? An egg? A shop? ~~ It's actually a guesthouse.
There are also many flowers in the creative area, full of spring vibes.
My companions couldn't help taking photos. Flowers and youth, youth and flowers. Life is so short; remember these beautiful fleeting moments.
Evening came, time for dinner. Does Xiling Snow Mountain have good food? Answer: Yes. Recommend the dishes at Xiling Snow Mountain's Yingxue Hotel; you can order yourself. This time we ordered sweet-skin duck, hotpot fish fillets, etc., all pretty good.
Dry-pot mushroom shredded pork? Haha, first time trying it, and it was tasty.
Have a good night's rest. Next morning, check the sunrise time and go up. Unfortunately, it rained. So I slept in, then went up to see the sea of clouds. Taking the Riyueping Cable Car, about 10 minutes to Riyueping.
Scenery from the cable car: green mountains and light mist, evoking a Tao Yuanming-style life—carefree and worry-free.
Arriving at Riyueping, the highest point of Xiling Snow Mountain and the highest in Chengdu—3,250 meters. Tourists around were eager to take photos.
Xiling Snow Mountain offers different beauty whether sunny, rainy, or cloudy. Though we didn't see the sunrise, we saw the sea of clouds. White clouds drifting among the mountains.
The sea of clouds is an important mountain scenery. It refers to cloud layers formed under certain conditions, with the cloud top lower than the mountain top. When people overlook the clouds from the summit, they see endless clouds, like being at the seashore with waves surging and spraying foam—hence called "sea of clouds."
Cloud seas formed at sunrise and sunset are colorful, called "colorful sea of clouds," the most spectacular. The sea of clouds at Xiling Snow Mountain is also the most common weather phenomenon there.
At Riyueping, there is a plank road especially good for photos. Standing on the plank road, shooting from above, man and nature in harmony.
If you have a wide-angle lens, you can capture the distant sea of clouds together with people.
The iconic building at Riyueping of Xiling Snow Mountain.
After viewing the sea of clouds, you can walk toward Yinyang Boundary to enjoy high-mountain scenery, and it's easy to encounter squirrels—I've seen them every time I've come, happy.
High-mountain flowers survive more resiliently than we imagine; the tougher the conditions, the more brilliant their life.
In June at Riyueping, pinecones are slowly forming.
Different seasons bring different beauty to Xiling Snow Mountain. If you've lived in the city for long, you need to lay down your burdens, seize the tail of June, and embark on a pleasant nature journey.
