Qipangu Scenic Area

Qipangu Scenic Area

Qipangu is located south of Wenchuan County in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, about 7 kilometers from the county seat. The valley stretches approximately 30 kilometers in length, with an elevation of 1,500 meters at the entrance and 4,020 meters at the top where Bailong Pool is situated. At its widest point, the valley spans over 300 meters, while at its narrowest, it is only about 1 meter wide. The area enjoys abundant rainfall and lush vegetation, making it a mountainous scenic area primarily known for its natural beauty. The entire valley can be divided into two sections: upper and lower. The upper section extends from Bailong Pool to Xuehuaping, spanning about 6 kilometers with a steep slope that descends from 4,020 meters to 3,418 meters. This part belongs to the typical "Pengguan-Zagu Fault" zone, featuring precipitous cliffs as if carved by knives and axes, with peaks in countless unique shapes. Bailong Pool is a pear-shaped alpine barrier lake with deep blue waters. From its outflow, water cascades down to form multiple-tiered waterfalls, including more than 10 that are over 50 meters high. The lower section runs from Xuehuaping to the town entrance at Gou Shi, where the water flow is gentler and more varied, rushing through dense forests and bamboo groves. This section is about 15 kilometers long. The terrain here is flat and open, with towering peaks on both sides, wildflowers covering the ground, and lush green grass. The Xuehuaping Waterfall is the most spectacular sight in this area.

The area enjoys a mild climate and rich vegetation. From the mountain foot to the summit, it can generally be divided into five vertically distributed plant zones: the mountain subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest zone, the mountain warm temperate mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest zone, the mountain cold temperate dark coniferous forest zone, the subalpine subfrigid shrub and meadow zone, and the alpine frigid meadow zone. There is a wide variety of plant species, and the area is also abundant in animal resources.