Balang Mountain, known as "Balangla" in Tibetan, is 5,040 meters above sea level, located between the northeast of Xiaojin County and Gengda Town, Wolong Special Administrative Region, and about 200 kilometers away from Chengdu City. It is the highest peak of the Qionglai Mountains and a paradise for trekking enthusiasts. The scenery of Mount Balang changes with the seasons, whether it is a sea of azaleas in spring, green grass in summer, autumn leaves, or snow in winter, it attracts countless tourists.
1. Itinerary planning.
The schedule of a day trip to Mount Barang needs to be tight and reasonable, and it is generally recommended to depart around 7 am and return around 5 pm to make the most of the time and avoid driving at night. The whole trip can be divided into the following stages:
1.Prepare before you go.
Before you go, make thorough preparations, including carrying the necessary equipment and food, etc. In general, it is advisable to bring the following items: sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses, raincoat, hiking shoes, backpack, water bottle, camera, etc. In addition, according to your physical condition and itinerary, you should prepare some commonly used medicines, such as painkillers, cold medicines, band-aids, etc.
2.Head to Mount Balang.
From Chengdu, there is an option to get to Balang Mountain by self-drive or public transport. If you choose to drive, you can go north along the Chengguan Expressway, pass through Dujiangyan, Yingxiu and other places, and finally arrive at Gengda Town. If you choose to take public transportation, you can take a shuttle bus to Xiaojin County at Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station or Chadianzi Bus Station, and then transfer to a shuttle bus to Gengda Town at Xiaojin County Bus Station. Once you arrive in Gengda town, you can rent a car or charter a car to go to Balang Mountain.
3.Trekking Mount Balang.
Once you reach Mount Barang, you can start your trekking. There are a variety of hiking trails in Mount Barang, and you can choose the one that suits you according to your interests and abilities. In general, hiking trails can be divided into the following phases:
1) Foothill to Alpine Meadows: This is the first stage of the trekking trail and takes about 2-3 hours. During this journey, you can enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery and abundant vegetation. During walking, pay attention to maintaining a steady pace to avoid injury.
2) Alpine Meadow to Pass: This is the second and most challenging part of the hiking trail. The distance above the alpine meadows gradually increases in elevation, which can be a bit difficult to walk. However, as long as you keep moving forward, you will definitely be able to reach the pass. At the pass, you can overlook the entire mountain range and feel the magnificence and vastness of nature.
3) Pass to the top of the mountain: The distance from the pass to the top of the mountain is relatively short, but it also requires a certain amount of physical strength and perseverance. During the climb, be careful to keep your breathing even and avoid altitude sickness. At the same time, it is also important to pay attention to safety and avoid accidents during the climb.
4.Descend the hill and return.
Once you're done with your hike, it's time to start descending and back. During the descent, you should also pay attention to maintaining a steady pace to avoid injury. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to safety and avoid accidents during the descent. After arriving in Gengda Town, you can choose to rent a car or charter a car to return to Chengdu city.
2. Precautions.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when taking a day trip to Mount Barang:
1.Stay safe: During the hike, pay attention to safety to avoid accidents. Especially during climbing, pay attention to keep your breathing even and avoid altitude sickness. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the prevention of risk factors such as wild animals.
2.Protecting the environment: Mount Barang is a nature reserve, and we should pay attention to protecting the environment while enjoying the natural beauty. Do not throw away garbage and other wastes at will, and keep the scenic spot clean and beautiful.
3.Plan your itinerary wisely: When taking a day trip to Balang Mountain, plan your itinerary reasonably to ensure that you have enough time and are not too tired. At the same time, it is also important to keep your energy level and emotional stability to better enjoy the good time on your trip.
All in all, Mount Balang is a beautiful scenic spot worth visiting. When taking a day trip, we should make adequate preparations, pay attention to safety and environmental protection, and plan our itinerary reasonably to fully experience the beauty and charm of Mount Balang.