Natural Scenic Area on the Southern Slope of Gongga Mountain

Natural Scenic Area on the Southern Slope of Gongga Mountain

Gongga Mountain (Minya Konka), the main peak of the Daxue Mountain range in the Hengduan Mountains, is referred to locally as Muya Gongga [10]. It is located between Kangding City, Luding County, Shimian County, and Jiulong County in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province. In Tibetan, "Gong" means ice and snow, and "Ga" means white, signifying a white icy mountain. The main peak of Gongga Mountain stands at 7,556 meters above sea level, making it the highest mountain in Sichuan Province and known as the "King of Shu Mountains." It is also one of the mountains with the greatest elevation difference in the world. There are 45 peaks around it that exceed 6,000 meters in altitude.

Gongga Mountain extends from the Zheduo Mountain Pass in Kangding in the north to the Tianwan River in Luding in the south, and from the Dadu River in the east to the Yalong River in the west. The Gongga Mountain Scenic Area, centered around the Gongga Snow Mountain, is the largest and most environmentally capacious scenic area in China. Due to long-term glacial activity, the mountain features cone-shaped pyramidal peaks surrounded by steep cliffs at angles of 60° to 70°, making climbing extremely challenging.

Gongga Mountain is home to glaciers such as Hailuogou, Bawang, Yanzi Gully, and Mozigou, as well as highland lakes like Mugecuo, Wuxu Sea, and Bawang Sea. It also has hot springs such as those at Erdaoqiao in Kangding. It is one of the world’s 25 biodiversity hotspots. [7-9] The area is surrounded by snow-capped peaks such as Little Gongga Mountain, Jiazi Peak, Riwoqie Peak, and Lhotse Shar. It is famous for the "Golden Mountain Bathed in Sunshine" spectacle.

The Tianwan River originates from the southern slope of Gongga Mountain, and the scenic area stretches along the river. More than 10 peaks over 5,000 meters above sea level are covered with snow all year round. The undulating mountain ridges, layered peaks, and sharp snowy summits make the "Golden Mountain Bathed in Sunshine" an especially spectacular sight — a famous marvel of Gongga Mountain. Lotus Mountain resembles a seven-petaled lotus and offers views of sunrise and sea of clouds, with five massive glaciers available for development.

The Renzhonghai Tail and Bawang Sea at the foot of the glaciers are like sapphires embedded in the valley. The shimmering lake water, together with reflections of the blue sky and white clouds, enhances their enchanting beauty. The Tianwan River is the largest river in the Gongga Mountain area, with turbulent waters and a majestic presence. Dozens of waterfalls cascade down dramatically. The area is rich in geothermal resources, with numerous hot springs such as Dashuoshui, Xiaoshuoshui, and Shenyaoshui, which have temperatures ranging from 30-70°C and are rich in health-promoting trace elements. The Shimian County Tourism Company has carried out preliminary development, attracting many visitors.