Dagu Glacier
The Dagu Snow Mountain stands within Sanda Ancient Village, Luhua Town, Heishui County, at an altitude of 3,800–5,100 metres. It boasts mountain glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, primeval forest,…
Dagu Glacier, Jiuzhaigou and Aba Prefecture
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥120; sightseeing bus ¥70; cable car ¥180
- Opening hours
- 8:30—17:00
- Time needed
- 0.5–1 day
- Getting there
- Take a bus to Heishui County from Chadianzi Bus Station in Chengdu, then take a taxi from the Heishui County Passenger Transport Centre.
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 378. Open in Google Maps
About Dagu Glacier
The Dagu Snow Mountain stands within Sanda Ancient Village, Luhua Town, Heishui County, at an altitude of 3,800–5,100 metres. It boasts mountain glaciers, waterfalls, lakes, primeval forest, extensive rhododendron groves and scattered meadows. The ecology remains in excellent condition, and you can easily spot the small wildlife that lives here.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. The local government has carried out initial development, and mountain paths are available. However, the Dagu Glacier is at high altitude, so anyone without high-altitude travel experience should hire a local guide.
- 2. If you encounter any problems while visiting Kalong Valley or the Dagu Glacier, you can first contact the Heishui County Bureau of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Dagu Glacier cost?
Admission to Dagu Glacier is ¥120; sightseeing bus ¥70; cable car ¥180, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Dagu Glacier?
Dagu Glacier is open 8:30—17:00.
How do I get to Dagu Glacier?
Take a bus to Heishui County from Chadianzi Bus Station in Chengdu, then take a taxi from the Heishui County Passenger Transport Centre.
How long should I spend at Dagu Glacier?
Plan on 0.5–1 day for Dagu Glacier.
Where is Dagu Glacier?
Dagu Glacier is in Jiuzhaigou and Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in the Southwest of China.
More places in Jiuzhaigou and Aba Prefecture

Miyaluo and Bipenggou
The Miyaluo Golden Autumn Red Leaf Scenic Area is the largest and most spectacular red leaf scenic area discovered and opened in China to date. Its main attraction, Bipenggou, combines primeval forest, canyon scenery, lake waterfalls and snowy mountain meadows, where you can admire both snow and red leaves. Along the way to Miyaluo you pass Taoping Qiang Village, where you can see the most typical Qiang architecture, the diaolou (watchtowers). The towers are truly impressive.
Bipenggou admission plus shuttle bus within the park ¥60; Taoping Qiang Village ¥30 · Miyaluo: 2–3 hours; Bipenggou: 0.5–1 day

Huanglong National Scenic Area
Separated from Jiuzhaigou by a single mountain, Huanglong is remarkable for its glistening, smooth travertine rocks. The terraces wind up the gully like a golden dragon coiling its way upward. Within roughly one square kilometre behind Huanglong Temple lies the “golden” core of the scenic area. Less than 100 metres behind the rear temple stands the Dragon King Temple, where the annual Huanglong Temple Fair is held. Behind Huanglong Rear Temple rise the highest pools in the gully, the “Shitazhenhai” (Stone Pagoda Guarding the Sea), also known as the Five-Colour Pools. Visiting Huanglong without seeing these pools would be a great pity.
Peak season ¥170; off-season ¥60; cable car ¥80 up, ¥40 down · 1 day

Jiuzhaigou
No river is more colourful or pure than Jiuzhaigou's, and no mountain's foliage is more brilliant and varied. Here nature is never monochrome: in spring new buds turn green, in summer orioles and swallows dart about, in autumn the mountains blaze with red leaves, and in winter the ice gleams like jade. Water is the soul of Jiuzhaigou, which is why it is said that “once you have seen Jiuzhaigou's water, you need not see any other.” The Shuzhenggou section is the main valley, about 14 km long, with more than 40 lakes (haizi), roughly 40% of all the lakes in the scenic area. It is the entrance to Jiuzhaigou: every visitor passes through Shuzheng Valley. Key sights include Penjing Beach, Reed Sea, Huohua Lake, Shuzheng Waterfall, Rhinoceros Lake and Nuorilang Waterfall. The Rizegou section is the highlight of the Jiuzhaigou scenic line, with stunningly beautiful and ever-changing scenery. Sights include the Nuorilang Lake Group, Mirror Lake, Pearl Shoals Waterfall, Peacock Channel, Five-Flower Lake, Panda Lake Waterfall, Arrow Bamboo Lake, Eagle Claw Cave, Swan Lake, Fangcao Lake, Jianyan Hanging Spring and the primeval forest. The Zharugou valley is the longest valley developed so far in Jiuzhaigou, at 18 km. It passes Jiwan Lake and Five-Colour Pond before reaching Changhai (Long Lake) at an altitude of 3,100 metres.
Peak season: entrance ¥190, sightseeing bus ¥90; off-season: entrance ¥80, sightseeing bus ¥80 · 1 day
Kalonggou Scenic Area
Kalong Valley is a karst landscape, where stalactites come in dazzling colours. It has over a hundred colourful pools of varying sizes, dramatic waterfalls with steep drops, and autumn mountain forests painted in brilliant hues. Its scenery rivals and, in many ways, even surpasses that of Jiuzhaigou. Every October, the “Glacier and Autumn Forest Festival” is held here.
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Zoige Rer Grassland
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Flower Lake
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