Changping Valley, Sichuan, China

5dppr 5:00 PM Aug 4, 2018

Great hike
Some specific directions and suggestions: Once you purchase your entry ticket, you can take the shuttle bus (included in the entry price) to the trail head (7 km away). I wouldn't walk the 7 km as it is uphill and along a tarmac road; your time would be better spent on the trail. From the bus dropoff point, you walk past some vendors until you reach a Tibetan temple. Just beyond the temple, you will see 2 divergent paths. The left one is a boardwalk, which most of the Chinese tourists will choose. The right is a dirt trail (called the "horse trail" for reasons below) going down towards the river. For most parts, they run parallel on opposite sides of the river. But the boardwalk only goes part of the way and the rest must be covered on foot or by horse via the "horse trail". I definitely recommend the right trail, which affords a more authentic and peaceful experience. You will have the trail to yourself mostly, save for some Chinese tourists on horseback led by their local Tibetan guides. Along the way, you will have glorious views of the snow capped mountains while crossing lively streams and traipsing through mossy forests. The 2 trails will converge and diverge a couple of times. I walked until Muluozi, a beautiful, expansive meadow grazed by languid yaks and flanked by mountains, 14 km one way or 4-5 hours. You can take the boardwalk (or a horse) on the way back to save time. Between Changping and Shuangqiao Valleys, I definitely preferred the former. The latter is rather commercial.

4Nico179 5:00 PM Aug 5, 2013

Nice for a walk
The first part of the valley (1.5 hour) you can walk on a wooden boardwalk in the forest. Then there is a muddy trail (1 hour more) which leads to a wider part of the valley where local people keep yaks, this is the end for most tourists. If you are adventurous and well equiped (waterproof shoes required) you can proceed following yak trails till the end of the valley (2 hours), on this part you will not meet anyone and it leads to the most beautifull views. If you go all the way to the end of the valley it is a two day trip for fit persons. If you stay on the boadwalk it is a trip for anyone (including kids and ladies on city-shoes). The above mentioned times are without breaks and keeping a good pace.