Conch Valley 3-Day Magical Journey: A Fairyland Appointment with the Sunlit Golden Mountain

✨ As a snow mountain and glacier enthusiast, the high-altitude trip to Conch Valley captivated me—the billion-year-old glacier hides deep blue crevices, Gongga Snow Mountain glows with golden light, and starlight falls on the forest sea beside the hot springs on snowy nights. This firsthand guide helps you efficiently unlock this fairyland. 🎒 Pre-trip Preparation: High Altitude Adaptation Guide - 🎫 Tickets and Documents: Purchase the 90 RMB entrance ticket + 70 RMB round-trip sightseeing bus in advance on the official platform (must-buy). Discounted tickets available; book accommodation 10-15 days ahead during peak season (October-November, January-February). - 🧘 Altitude Sickness Prevention: Altitude ranges from 2800-3600 meters. Take Rhodiola three days in advance. Oxygen canisters at Moxi Ancient Town cost 15 RMB each, more cost-effective than in the scenic area. - 🧥 Clothing and Gear: Day-night temperature difference over 15℃. Bring a shell jacket plus thin/thick down jacket as needed. Rent crampons for glacier trekking (50 RMB). Sunglasses and sunscreen are essential. - 📌 Others: Power bank, common medicines, and wear white clothes for better photos. 🗓️ Daily Itinerary: Immersive Fairyland Experience 🌙 Day 1: Head to Moxi Ancient Town, warm up for the snow mountain encounter 🚗 Drive 4 hours from Chengdu to Moxi Ancient Town (altitude 1600m), visit the century-old Catholic church and red historical sites, drink butter tea to adapt to the altitude. 🏨 Stay at Long March Hotel (around 300 RMB per person, close to the scenic area) or a hot spring guesthouse. 🍲 Dinner with Tibetan fragrant pork hotpot, about 80 RMB per person to eat to fullness. 🌄 Day 2: Core highlight day! Sunlit Golden Mountain + Glacier Adventure - 🌅 Early rise to catch the sunlit golden mountain: 6:30 in summer, 7:20 in spring/autumn, 7:50 in winter. The best view is beside the road at Camp 3. The moment the golden light dyes the snow peaks is breathtaking. - 🚡 Explore Camp 4: Take the cable car (135 RMB round-trip) to see the ice waterfall and Gongga main peak, or hike 3 km on the plank road to touch the glacier; 🌳 In the afternoon, walk the glacier rainforest trail and possibly encounter Tibetan macaques. - ♨️ Soak in hot springs at dusk: Choose private hot springs in the ancient town or scenic area hot springs. The 40℃ water temperature paired with the snow mountain sunset offers a “fire and ice” experience. 🪨 Day 3: Red Stone Secret Realm + Return, capture the last beauty 📍 Visit Red Stone Park in the morning; before 10 AM the lighting is perfect for photos. Do not step on the red stones. 🛍️ Before returning, buy yak jerky as a souvenir. If time allows, take the Yumo Road and enjoy Yajia Qinghai and alpine rhododendrons along the way. ⚠️ Pitfall Tips 1. 🚌 The last sightseeing bus is at 6 PM, running every 15 minutes, don’t miss it; 2. ⛰️ Do not enter glacier restricted areas, do not go alone; 3. 💡 Those sensitive to altitude sickness should stay in Moxi Ancient Town first and prepare snacks and water in advance. 🏔️ The snow mountains, glaciers, hot springs, and forests of Conch Valley form the purest natural beauty. This magical journey deserves a place on your lifetime must-visit list.