Looking for hidden gems around Sichuan and Chongqing? Then don't miss the stunning fairyland "Wow Mountain" (Wawu Mountain).

📍 Chengdu · 👁 2 reads · ❤️ 31 likes

This past winter, WeChat Moments were flooded with stunning photos of Wawu Mountain's ice and snow, and everyone commented that they saved the cost of a plane ticket to Switzerland. This winter's snow-viewing plan at Wawu Mountain must be written into the schedule! But winter is still eight months away, and the May Day holiday itinerary isn't arranged yet. Is Wawu Mountain in spring worth visiting? The answer is definitely yes, absolutely worth it!!! You should know that in May, Wawu Mountain is covered with dazzling rhododendron seas!!! However, I'm a bit embarrassed to say that as a travel enthusiast often based in Chengdu, with Wawu Mountain just over a hundred kilometers away, I never had the chance to visit the largest alpine rhododendron cluster in Sichuan recommended by National Geographic. That's a pity and even disrespectful. Finally, in the spring of 2021, I set aside all other travel plans and embarked on a spring-seeking trip to Wawu Mountain. People say that in the human world, April flowers fade, while mountain temple peach blossoms begin to bloom. When the Chengdu plain is already ready to step into summer, thanks to the advantage of altitude, spring is still strong on Wawu Mountain. This May Day, for those of you looking to avoid crowds and find niche destinations, let the rhododendron sea be the most dazzling shade of pink on your WeChat Moments!!! The rhododendron doesn't announce the arrival of spring; instead, it lets the east wind bloom a tree full of flowers first!

⭐️ Chengdu round-trip two-day self-drive tour

DAY 1: Depart from Chengdu, drive 3 hours to Qiliping, explore the Qiliping forest trail, soak in hot springs, and stay overnight in Qiliping.

DAY 2: Drive from Qiliping to Wawu Mountain (90 minutes). After visiting Wawu Mountain, return to Chengdu.

⭐️ Chongqing round-trip three-day self-drive tour

DAY 1: Depart from Chongqing, drive to Leshan Giant Buddha (3 hours) for a visit, then head to Qiliping Hot Spring Town for a hot spring soak, and stay overnight in Qiliping.

DAY 2: Drive from Qiliping to Wawu Mountain (90 minutes). After visiting Wawu Mountain, go to the shores of Yanü Lake (15 minutes), and stay overnight at Yanü Lake.

DAY 3: Drive from Yanü Lake to Gaomiao Ancient Town and Liujiang Ancient Town for a visit. Taste the vine pepper duck, then return to Chongqing.

⭐️ Shuttle bus three-day itinerary

DAY 1: Chengdu → Hongya County (Xinnanmen Bus Station, Shiyangchang Bus Station, every 50 minutes, 08:10-16:10). Hongya County → Wawu Mountain (06:00-16:30, every 40 minutes). Total commuting time about 180 minutes.

DAY 2: Visit Wawu Mountain.

DAY 3: Return trip.

PS: Shuttle buses are available directly to Hongya from Chengdu, Chongqing, Leshan, Ya'an, Emei, etc.

Wawu Mountain is a natural table mountain with stunning scenery in all seasons. In spring, you can see dove trees and rhododendrons; in summer, escape the heat and view waterfalls; in autumn, enjoy brilliant red leaves; and in winter, marvel at snowy forests and ice waterfalls. After mid-April, the rhododendron blooming season arrives. There are over 40 species of rhododendrons here. Due to altitude and temperature factors, the rhododendrons bloom successively from the mountainside to the summit from April to June. I arrived at Wawu Mountain on April 19, and many flower buds were already poised to bloom. I estimate that the peak blooming period will arrive around May Day and last until early June.

The Wawu Mountain tour is divided into the low-altitude area, mid-altitude area, and high-altitude area.

The main attraction in the low-altitude area is the Shuangdong Creek–Qianwozi waterfall viewing route. You can take a sightseeing bus from the visitor center to reach it.

The main attraction in the mid-altitude area is Gufoping. The Gongtong Mountain Villa is currently under renovation and temporarily closed.

The high-altitude area is the essence of Wawu Mountain. The visiting route is: Zhengjue Temple (Gufoping Cable Car Upper Station) → Xiang'er Lodge → Yuanxi Waterfall → Lanxi Waterfall → Yuanyang Pond loop. You can take the Gufoping cable car from the sightseeing bus terminal to get off at Zhengjue Temple (Gufoping Cable Car Upper Station).

⭐️ The spring rhododendron sea on Wawu Mountain is mainly concentrated in the mid-altitude and high-altitude areas, especially along the loop from Zhengjue Temple (Gufoping Cable Car Upper Station) → Xiang'er Lodge → Yuanxi Waterfall → Lanxi Waterfall → Yuanyang Pond. The walking path on both sides is lined with colorful rhododendrons.

⭐️ Wawu Mountain opening hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00–14:00; weekends and public holidays: 07:00–15:00.

First cable car (Jinhua Bridge) operating hours: 08:20–17:30; weekends and public holidays: 07:20–17:30.

Second cable car (Gufoping) operating hours: 08:40–17:00; weekends and public holidays: 07:40–17:00.

Wawu Mountain gets its name from its shape, which resembles a tile-roofed house (wa wu). Does it feel a bit "earthy"? Actually, during our visit, we were repeatedly amazed by Wawu Mountain's ethereal, fairyland-like elegance, exclaiming "Wow!" So in my mind, I've long renamed Wawu Mountain to "Wow Mountain." Even the ancients said Wawu Mountain is full of immortal aura: "The wind rises vigorously, as if no one is around, flying like a lofty monk... One mountain has four seasons, with completely different sceneries." Explorer Ernest Henry Wilson also praised Wawu Mountain as "a giant Noah's Ark above the clouds." Indeed, Wawu Mountain is tall and majestic, with the highest peak over 2,830 meters, creating vastly different climates from the foot to the summit, with year-round sea of clouds, a natural immortal aura, and unique landforms and vegetation. Visiting this mountain, you truly experience what it means to have four seasons on one mountain, a earthly fairyland.

After buying a ticket at the visitor center and boarding the bus, we followed the winding mountain road into the Wawu Mountain scenic area. The forest on both sides was lush and boundless. Walking along the forest trail was refreshing and joyful, pleasing the eyes and the heart.

Especially when we climbed to the mountainside, the climate and scenery were even more breathtaking: mist and clouds swirled around the mountainside, and the dark green sea of forest spread like a velvet carpet over the hills and fields. Among the rock faces, a few rhododendrons had bloomed with pink flowers, making us feel that spring had not yet left Wawu Mountain.

Continuing upward, the temperature dropped further. When we entered the lush, verdant fir forest, an autumn-like feeling enveloped us. The change of seasons was occurring gradually with the altitude.

Visiting Wawu Mountain is unaffected by weather. Sunny days offer a grand, magnificent beauty; rainy days have a romantic, poetic charm. I even think this is a unique quality of Wawu Mountain. The wisps of mist floating among the mountains guide everyone's inner peach blossom paradise.

The mountain became more dreamy in the swirling mist. Peak after peak stretched endlessly, and with the mist's embellishment, it had a unique charm and appeal, making Wawu Mountain seem unreal, like a celestial court floating in the air.

The mountain was full of rain and mist, drifting with boundless ethereality; in the distance, strange peaks lined up, with deep, secluded forests—how much it resembled a natural screen, standing quietly in the hilly region of western Sichuan.

When coming to Wawu Mountain, there's no need to check the weather forecast. Different weather offers different beauty. Everyone sees a different Wawu Mountain each day. That's where the surprise lies, and that's enough to say "Wow."

"Speaking of the Yellow Flower River, I follow the clear stream every time." Whenever I see a forest stream, I unconsciously recite Wang Wei's poem, because I have long been moved by this leisurely, carefree feeling. Shuangdong Creek on Wawu Mountain is the best interpretation of this poetic sentiment. With the murmur of the stream in my ears, facing the gentle, moist air and the endless green, it is truly one of life's great joys. The small stream meanders for about three to four kilometers. Coming here in spring, you can bring your family to enjoy the fun of oxygen-rich forest hiking.

The first stop of the sightseeing bus is the entrance to Shuangdong Creek. This is also the gateway to explore the primitive forest of Wawu Mountain. The surroundings are full of spring vitality, everything rising, and the air is filled with life. Deep in the dense forest, we saw deep, secluded forests and gorges, babbling mountain springs, and moss-covered vines. Everywhere we went had a sense of hidden wonders.

At the entrance is the Green Leaf Pool, named for its leaf-like shape. The water is emerald green, and the surroundings are lush and verdant.

Walking along the forest path for two to three hundred meters, we encountered four to five water features along the way: Pearl Waterfall, Shuanglong (Double Dragon) Waterfall, Yuxian (Bathing Immortal) Waterfall, and Moon Pool. Each had its own charm, with different kinds of beauty. The babbling brook flowed like silk, the clear water running gently. This short section is a complete microcosm of Wawu Mountain's "water world."

Double Dragon Waterfall is about 8 meters wide and 20 meters high. On its way down, it is split in two by a giant rock, cascading down the steep cliff, splashing thousands of water droplets, magnificent in momentum; during the high-water season, the two dragons merge into one, like lovers reunited after a long separation.

Bathing Immortal Waterfall is about 5 meters wide and 15 meters high, formed by pearl-like water flowing from the mountain top through thousand-layer rock. Legend has it that the Moon Fairy often came here to draw water and bathe, hence the name Bathing Immortal Waterfall.

Qianwozi (Money Nest) is the endpoint of the low-altitude area of Wawu Mountain. The surrounding hills are covered with dove trees. In May, this is a great place to see dove tree flowers. At that time, the trees will be covered with "silver coins" swaying in the wind, which must be a beautiful sight. To reach Qianwozi, you can walk 3 km along the Shuangdong Creek trail, or get off at the second stop of the sightseeing bus.

Today was a rainy day. By the time we arrived at Qianwozi, it was already foggy, as if we had entered a fairyland. There were also macaques to guide us. The ecological protection here is even better than at Mount Emei.

From Qianwozi, we continued to Gufoping, where we could take the second cable car to the high-altitude area at the summit. PS: For the first cable car, you can choose either the sightseeing bus or the cable car; for the second, only the cable car is available.

After getting off the cable car at the summit, Wawu Mountain's mysterious aura became even more prominent. The misty fir forest was a veritable mythological world, completely different from the low-altitude scenery. Along this circular trail, we began to search for traces of alpine rhododendrons.

The low shrubs under the fir forest were alpine rhododendrons, most of them already with buds ready to burst. Around May Day, there will be a peak blooming period. So if you're still looking for niche, beautiful destinations, you know where to steer your steering wheel.

In some warm hollows along the trail, rhododendrons had already bloomed early. The rhododendrons on both sides of the mountain path were over a person's height. As we walked among the flowers, we were surrounded by flowers in front, behind, left, and right. Bright red blossoms, conical in shape, each branch had three or four flowers, clusters of branches, lush and leafy.

Clusters and patches of shiny dark green were dotted with pink alpine rhododendrons, with thick fog in the background outlining Wawu Mountain's unique temperament. There are many places to see rhododendrons, but to see such elegant and beautiful seas of rhododendrons, Wawu Mountain is indeed the best choice.

Why need famous gardens to enjoy spring breeze? The mountain flowers along the way won't let you down. Every day, the Jinjiang River shows brocade patterns, and the clear stream reflects the azaleas. Even just one-tenth of the rhododendrons in bloom can create such beauty. When they are in full bloom in May, what a magnificent scene the summit of Wawu Mountain will be.

Wawu Mountain has about 40 varieties of rhododendrons. Each one has a thousand postures. The open petals are as delicate as silk, with petals curling like a girl's skirt. The flower consists of five petals surrounding several yellow stamens, truly beautiful.

At that time, the rain began to fall pattering. Raindrops hit the delicate petals, making them even more charming and lovely. Walking along the quiet plank road, we heard the rustling sound, with a touch of melancholy, wandering in the winding path leading to secluded spots, enjoying the beauty bestowed by Wawu Mountain. I never expected that Wawu Mountain in the rain has a unique charm.

There were also small animals in the forest adding spirit to the scenery. It is said that in the Wawu Mountain reserve, there is a wild giant panda named "Wa Mei" that lives there. Whether you have a chance to see it depends on your fate.

We walked and stopped along the way, seeing many more clusters of flowers in different colors and types. If the weather were fine, the summit would also be a great place to view the sea of clouds and sunrise. At that time, Wawu Mountain would change its appearance, becoming more majestic and composed.

Following the walking plank road, we passed by Yuanxi Waterfall. Not far ahead was Xiang'er Lodge. This was our lunch spot and also the end point of our high-altitude area tour. If the weather had been better, we could have continued to Lanxi Waterfall and Yuanyang Pond. But today's fog was too thick, with low visibility.

At the entrance of Xiang'er Lodge, there is a sculpture of explorer Ernest Henry Wilson. He came to China four times and explored the Hengduan Mountains three times. He was known by the Western world as "the man who opened the western garden of China." Their group set out from Leshan, passed through Jiajiang along the direction of Ya'an, and reached Hongya County. Then, he first climbed Wawu Mountain. In his book "A Naturalist in Western China," he wrote: "From the summit of Mount Omei, Wawu Shan looks like a great Noah's Ark, with its gunwale rising high above the sea of clouds." On the top of Wawu Mountain, Wilson was stunned by the scene before him: "The top of Wawu Shan is a gently undulating plateau, decorated with tall rhododendron bushes, with remnants of fir trees and their saplings. Many rhododendrons grow on fallen and rotting fir trunks. Under the rhododendrons, moss grows wantonly, weaving a beautiful but treacherous carpet. Some clearings are covered with anemones and primroses. A small stream meanders across the summit." Wilson couldn't find beautiful enough words to express himself, so he quoted American naturalist B?hme, aptly describing the summit of Wawu Mountain as "the most magical natural park in the world."

We entered Wawu Mountain scenic area around 9 a.m., and by the time we reached Xiang'er Lodge, we were famished. However, they offer a rich and delicious lunch selection, and the prices are not inflated just because it's a scenic area. A delicious lunch costs only about 60 yuan per person on average.

After lunch, we prepared to go down the mountain, amazed by the rich vegetation and natural conditions of Wawu Mountain. In spring, Wawu Mountain is teeming with life, and it's the best time to enjoy flowers. This May Day, you don't have to squeeze with crowds; come to the summit of Wawu Mountain and experience this natural comfort.

There are also these fun places around Wawu Mountain

After exiting the highway, we plunged deep into the mountains of Hongya County. Driving through the dense primitive forest, everything in the mountains after the rain was refreshing, and even the air was invigorating... Climbing along the winding mountain road to an altitude of 1,100 meters, a high mountain lake suddenly appeared. Winding and meandering, it lay quietly here, echoing in the distance with the misty Wawu Mountain, as if performing a scene and emotion blending landscape romance. This is the little-known Yanü Lake.

It is not as famous as Mugecuo, but it is gentle and serene, just like a Yanü (elegant girl), making people feel comfortable and relaxed. Later, strolling along the lakeside, it looked like a pastoral idyllic landscape painting.

Here, it's always light wind and faint clouds, always leisurely and carefree.

There is no crowded crowd, no noisy traffic. You can sit and wait for the clear breeze and bright moon. Push open the door to see mountains; step out to see water.

Yanü Lake is 19 kilometers long, with a maximum depth of over a hundred meters. The lake surface rises in winter and recedes in summer. Whenever the water recedes, ancient village ruins dating back centuries are exposed, and you can feel the atmosphere of people's lives everywhere.

Putting aside these flowery descriptions, Yanü Lake is actually a very nice stop at the foot of Wawu Mountain. You can leave Chengdu on Friday, stay overnight at a resort hotel by Yanü Lake (price around 200 yuan), and head up the mountain to see flowers the next morning.

Qiliping is about 1.5 hours from Wawu Mountain scenic area. It lies at the western foot of Mount Emei, focusing on health tourism. Recently, some related tourism real estate projects have been developed here, with relatively complete tourism facilities. There is a landscape avenue about 3 kilometers long, flanked by a river of flower seas, blooming throughout the year. The landscape avenue features dozens of attractions such as the Fairy Grass Garden, Lily Garden, Lupine Garden, Daqian Juexiang, Tanqin Bay, and Dutch windmills. Here you can be embraced by seas of flowers and shaded by trees. It is the essence of mid-mountain beauty and a microcosm of Mount Emei scenery.

The altitude here is 1,400 meters, surrounded by forests. Driving into the town gives a feeling of contentment and ease, reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.

Besides natural scenery, Qiliping's most prominent business card is its hot springs. The hot springs come from 2,500 meters underground, rich in beneficial elements and trace elements such as strontium, fluorine, metaboric acid, and metasilicic acid, which are great for health.

Booking a hot spring hotel in the town (price around 300 yuan) can get you two complimentary hot spring tickets, satisfying both accommodation and enjoyment, extremely comfortable.

The hot springs incorporate some wellness concepts, with various medicinal hot spring pools, very suitable for enjoying in this transitional period between cold and warm. After soaking in the hot springs, you can also taste Qiliping's distinctive tofu fish.

Blue sky, clear water, rhododendrons, and sea of forest—every inch of Wawu Mountain's scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. When you climb to the summit and face the sea of clouds, you bring eternal grandeur into the stunning four seasons.

May Day is not far away. Have you already thought about how to spend these five days of holiday? Don't hesitate any longer. Come to Wawu Mountain. It has already put on a pink spring dress, with the murmuring streams of the human world as its skirt and the wisps of sky mist as its sash, truly the most beautiful April day on earth. Blue sky, clear water, rhododendrons, and sea of forest—every inch of Wawu Mountain's scenery is breathtakingly beautiful. When you climb to the summit and face the sea of clouds, you bring eternal grandeur into the stunning four seasons.