Xiaojin · Visitor Guide
Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain) (四姑娘山, Sìgūniáng Shān)
Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain, named for four peaks said to be four Tibetan girls turned to stone) is a 6,250m massif in western Sichuan's Qionglai Mountains, 220 km from Chengdu. The four peaks — Da Feng (Big Peak, 5,025m), Er Feng (Second Peak, 5,276m), San Feng (Third Peak, 5,355m), and Yaomei Feng (Youngest Sister Peak, 6,250m) — rise dramatically above three parallel valleys: Shuangqiao Valley (双桥沟, most accessible, sightseeing bus), Changping Valley (长坪沟, trekking, Muluozi Meadow), and Haizi Valley (海子沟, alpine lakes, Erfeng/ Dafeng base camp). Yaomei Feng (6,250m) is considered one of the most beautiful mountains in China — a pyramidal peak that has been compared to the Matterhorn. Da Feng (5,025m) is the most accessible 5,000m+ summit in China and a popular first mountaineering objective.
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Quick Answer
Is Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain) worth visiting?
"Four Girls Mountain" — 6,250m peak, trekking paradise with 3 valleys. Yaomei Feng is China's answer to the Matterhorn. ¥150. 2-3 days from Chengdu. Alpine lakes, glaciers, Tibetan villages.
Quick facts
| Ticket | ¥150 (Shuangqiao Valley, includes sightseeing bus). ¥90 (Changping Valley). ¥60 (Haizi Valley). Dafeng summit permit: ¥150. |
|---|---|
| Hours | 8:00-17:30 (valley entry). Sightseeing bus in Shuangqiao runs until 18:00. |
| Recommended duration | 2-3 days minimum. Day 1: Shuangqiao Valley (half-day). Day 2: Changping Valley trek. Day 3: Haizi Valley or return. Dafeng summit: 2-3 additional days. |
| Best time to visit | June-October. July-August for alpine flowers and greenest valleys. October for autumn colors (golden larch forests). May-June for snow-capped peaks and fewer crowds. |
| How to get there | Bus from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station to Rilong (Siguniangshan town): 4-5h, ¥95. Private car: 3.5h, ¥600-800. The road passes through the 2008 earthquake zone and the Balang Mountain tunnel (8 km, opened 2016, reduced travel time from 7h to 4h). |
| English signage | no |
| Wheelchair accessible | no |
| Highest peak | Yaomei Feng 6,250 m |
| Easiest summit | Da Feng 5,025 m |
| Valleys | 3 (Shuangqiao, Changping, Haizi) |
| From Chengdu | 220 km (4-5h) |
| Best for | Trekking, mountaineering, photography |
What to expect
Mount Siguniang is Sichuan's trekking capital — a high-altitude paradise of alpine lakes, glaciers, Tibetan villages, and four pyramidal peaks that dominate the skyline. The mountain sits at the transition zone between the Sichuan Basin and the Tibetan Plateau, creating dramatic vertical relief: Rilong town is at 3,200m, and Yaomei Feng rises 3,000m above it. The three valleys each offer a different experience: Shuangqiao is a scenic bus tour with boardwalks and photo stops (easiest), Changping is a trekking valley with Muluozi Meadow (a high plateau at 3,800m with 360° mountain views), and Haizi Valley leads to alpine lakes and the Dafeng/Erfeng base camps.
Da Feng (5,025m) is the most climbed 5,000m+ peak in China — a non-technical snow walk (crampons + ice axe) that takes 2 days from Rilong. It is a legitimate mountaineering objective but accessible to fit beginners with a guide. Er Feng (5,276m) is slightly more technical. San Feng and Yaomei Feng are technical climbs requiring rock and ice skills.
I trekked Changping Valley in late October. The larch forests were a blaze of gold, and the morning frost glittered on the boardwalks. After 4 hours, I reached Muluozi Meadow — a vast grassland at 3,800m with Yaomei Feng's north face rising 2,500m directly above. A Tibetan herder was grazing yaks by a stream. The mountain was so close it felt like I could touch it. A red fox crossed the meadow at dusk. I understood why this place is called the "Alps of the East."
How to get there
Bus from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station to Rilong (Siguniangshan town): 4-5h, ¥95. Departs morning (check schedule — usually 7:00-9:00 AM). Private car: 3.5h, ¥600-800. The route passes through the Balang Mountain tunnel (8 km at 3,800m). Altitude gain is significant — Chengdu is 500m, Rilong is 3,200m. Acclimatize upon arrival.
Best photo spots
- Muluozi Meadow (Changping Valley) — Yaomei Feng north face reflecting in the stream
- Shuangqiao Valley's final bus stop — the four peaks in profile (best in morning)
- Haizi Valley alpine lakes — the peaks reflected in turquoise water
- Balang Mountain pass (before the tunnel) — panorama of all four peaks from 4,500m
Tips
- Altitude: Rilong is 3,200m. Spend the first day acclimatizing (walk Shuangqiao Valley — easy, low exertion)
- Shuangqiao Valley is the easiest (sightseeing bus, boardwalks). Changping is the most beautiful (trekking). Haizi is for mountaineers and lake-baggers
- Dafeng summit: hire a guide through a Rilong agency (¥800-1,200 for a 2-day guided trip including gear rental as of June 2026)
- Weather changes rapidly — bring layers, waterproof gear, and sun protection. The UV at 3,000-5,000m is intense
- The bus from Chengdu takes 4-5h — bring snacks and water. The road is winding
- Accommodation in Rilong: guesthouses ¥100-300/night. Book ahead during October (peak autumn color season)
Scams to avoid
- "Summit guide" freelancers at the Rilong bus station without proper certification or insurance — use a registered agency in Rilong. A legitimate Dafeng guide has a Sichuan Mountaineering Association license. Check credentials before paying.
Frequently asked questions
Can I climb Mount Siguniang?
Da Feng (5,025m): yes — non-technical, 2-day guided ascent, suitable for fit beginners. Er Feng (5,276m): yes — slightly more technical, some rock scrambling. San Feng (5,355m): technical rock climbing, experienced mountaineers only. Yaomei Feng (6,250m): extreme technical climb, only a handful of ascents in history. All climbs require a guide and permit.
Which valley should I visit?
Shuangqiao Valley: easiest, sightseeing bus, boardwalks, good for acclimatization and photography. Changping Valley: best for trekking, Muluozi Meadow is the highlight, full-day hike (7-8h round trip or camp overnight). Haizi Valley: for alpine lakes and mountaineering access, strenuous, multi-day. Most visitors do Shuangqiao (half-day) + Changping (full day).
How do I get to Mount Siguniang from Chengdu?
Bus from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station to Rilong: 4-5h, ¥95. Private car: 3.5h, ¥600-800. The road is paved and passes through the Balang Mountain tunnel (8 km). No train. The bus is reliable and affordable.
What's the altitude — will I get sick?
Rilong town: 3,200m. Changping Valley trek: 3,200-3,800m. Dafeng summit: 5,025m. Altitude sickness is a real risk. Spend the first day acclimatizing in Shuangqiao Valley (low exertion). Symptoms (headache, nausea) usually resolve within 24h. Descend if symptoms worsen. Acetazolamide (Diamox) can help — consult a doctor before your trip.
When is the best time to visit?
July-August: greenest valleys, alpine flowers, warmest weather. October: autumn colors (golden larch forests), clearest skies, best photography. May-June: snow on peaks, fewer crowds, but some trails may be muddy. Avoid November-March (snow closes higher trails, many guesthouses close).
Do I need a guide for the valleys?
Shuangqiao Valley: no — sightseeing bus with audio guide (Chinese only). Changping Valley: no guide needed for the day hike to Muluozi Meadow (the trail is clear). Haizi Valley: recommended for multi-day treks. Dafeng summit: guide required (legally and practically). Guides available in Rilong: ¥400-600/day for trekking, ¥800-1,200 for a 2-day Dafeng summit trip.
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Three thousand years of bronze masks with protruding eyes, a 2.62-meter standing figure, and a 4-meter sacred tree — all from a civilization that left zero written records, displayed in a 54,400 m² museum that opened July 2023 in Guanghan, 40 km north of Chengdu. Budget 3-4 hours and ¥72 (as of 2026); book ahead or you will not get in.
Wide and Narrow Alleys
Three restored Qing-dynasty courtyard alleys in central Chengdu (free, open 24/7), laid out on the grid of a 1718 Manchu garrison. Budget 2-3 hours for a slow walk plus a courtyard teahouse stop; go on a weekday after 19:00 for lit lanterns and thin crowds.
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Sanxingdui Museum
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Sichuan Cuisine Museum
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Jinsha Site Museum
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Chengdu Museum
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Sichuan Museum
Provincial museum with Sanxingdui bronze replicas, Tibetan Buddhist art, and Sichuan painting. Free. The quieter alternative to the Chengdu Museum downtown.
Sichuan Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
A small but dense university museum with 3,000+ TCM artifacts covering Sichuan herbal medicine — plan 60–90 minutes and skip the gift-shop photo backdrop.