Love the purity of the outdoors
My name is Shi He, my outdoor ID is Nile, and the reason for this ID goes back to middle school when my classmates started calling me Nile. It stuck, so I made it my nickname and have used it ever since.
I'm an outdoor enthusiast, starting with long-distance cycling and now transitioning to hiking and mountaineering. What has changed is the way I enjoy the outdoors, but not my passion for it. I’m captivated by the wilderness, reveling in the blue skies and white clouds of the highlands. With the New Year’s holiday approaching, I decided to climb Mount Siguniang's DaFeng Peak for the third time. Don’t ask me why I’m going back for the third time—let’s just say that different times offer many unique experiences.
Let me briefly introduce my destination: Mount Siguniang, known as the "Alps of the East." Its four peaks stand tall above the clouds, guarding this pristine land. Also called the "Queen of Sichuan Mountains," starting in late November, all four sacred peaks are covered in snow. Above the snowline amid these ranges, it fulfills all our fantasies about snow.
The main peak, DaFeng, stands at 5,025 meters, making it an entry-level 5,000-meter mountain—perfect for novice climbers. This is exactly why I’m climbing it for the third time. It’s only a four-hour drive from Chengdu.
Early on, I received a sponsorship watch from Casio, the PRW-3100Y-1BPR. The first thing that caught my eye was its large dial. After using it for a few days, I found its best feature to be the solar-powered battery—no need to replace batteries as it converts sunlight into energy. Just three to four hours of sun can power it for about a month. Additionally, the watchband fits my wrist perfectly, and the rubber material is comfortable, not causing any redness or irritation. This watch should appeal to many young outdoor enthusiasts. I’ll explore its other features during this trip.
Day 1: Chengdu – Dujiangyan – Balang Mountain – Siguniangshan Town
On Day 1, we gathered in Chengdu at 9:00 AM and set off for Siguniangshan Town, passing through Dujiangyan. After getting on the Chengdu-Mianyang-Abazhou Expressway, we exited at the epicenter of the 5.12 Wenchuan Earthquake, Yingxiu. Then, following Provincial Highway 303, we arrived at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base before heading up the Wolong Gorge. We crossed the 4,532-meter-high Panda Kingdom—Balang Mountain. There was some light black ice along the way, but it didn’t affect passage, though there was a bit of traffic.
On the way to DaFeng, we passed one of the best photo spots in Siguniangshan: Cat’s Nose Ridge. It’s an unassuming little place, but if you want to see sunset sea of clouds and snow-capped mountains, the locals will always recommend Cat’s Nose Ridge.
From here, you can see the full panorama of the Four Sisters Mountains and thick sea of clouds. Thankfully, all four peaks were visible. At the viewing platform, I calibrated the altitude, which was fairly accurate and within an acceptable range.
I also calibrated the direction to get more accurate readings for the climb the next day. We arrived in Siguniangshan Town at 4:00 PM and checked into our hotel.
Day 2: We set off promptly at 9:00 AM from the hotel to the Outdoor Management Center to complete the mountaineering formalities. Even though we’ve been here many times, we still follow local regulations, completing the proper procedures and purchasing tickets. At 9:30 AM, at 3,200 meters and Kilometer 0, we set out from the management center and walked along the trail in Haizi Valley. Due to snowfall in the past few days, there was some snow on the shaded sections of the path. Along the way, we passed several scenic spots in Haizi Valley: Zhaijieping (3,440m, 3.3km), Guozhuangping (3,516m, 4km), Chaoshanping (3,552m, 4.7km), Shibanshi (3,655m, 6.5km), and Dajianbao Shelter (3,470m, 9.1km). As it was a holiday, we encountered many tourists and pack horses. After walking for a while, we took a break and had a packed lunch at Dajianbao Shelter (3,470m, 9.1km). This shelter is the only resupply point on the way up. There were hot boxed meals and instant noodles here; beyond this, you’ll have to cook your own food. Here, I’d like to introduce another member of our team—Hei Zi.
Yes, he’s a black Labrador named Hei Zi. He came with us to climb DaFeng. If he makes it to the top, he’ll be the first black Labrador to summit Mount Siguniang. Why not the first dog? Because other dogs like Golden Retrievers, Border Collies, and Tang Dogs have already done it. But as for Labradors—especially black ones—I can confirm he’s the first. By the time we reached Dajianbao Shelter, Hei Zi was covered in dust. He lay lazily in the sun, basking comfortably. He was storing up energy for the summit.
Once we reached the transfer station, I took my watch out to get some sun. With a full charge, I wouldn’t have to worry about battery life for a month. When placed in sunlight, the dial clearly displays the battery status—an incredibly thoughtful design.
After lunch, the climbing route diverged from the hiking path. Most tourists headed downhill to explore Haizi Valley, while we went upward. Right away, we faced a steep incline that even locals dread—but Hei Zi had no issues and actually ran faster than us.
He still had the energy to admire the ladies. Throughout the journey, Hei Zi stayed ahead of us. I realized his stamina is really impressive. Around 4:30 PM, we reached DaFeng Base Camp at around 4,400 meters. We walked a total of 13.3 kilometers that day. In the evening, after dinner by the stove, I checked the pressure and trend chart—the steady upward curve indicated we’d have good weather at dawn.
Day 3: We woke up at 3:30 AM, had breakfast, and officially set off at 4:30 AM.
The watch face brightness was just right for reading the values without wasting too much power.
It was a holiday, so there were many people climbing DaFeng. When we looked back at the start, we saw a line of tiny moving lights—each representing a climber.
After passing the pass, the number of climbers dropped by two-thirds. Many gave up due to altitude sickness, others because of the cold. Everyone has their reasons, but those who persevere will witness the most beautiful dawn.
We got the answer to whether dogs get altitude sickness today. Hei Zi followed me to the plateau below the summit, where he unexpectedly vomited—apparently, he had it too. It made me feel nauseous too, but I held on and continued pushing toward the summit with him.
After persistent effort, we finally reached the summit of DaFeng around 7:50 AM.
The temperature at the top was freezing—even Hei Zi couldn’t handle it. He wasn’t as mighty as he is at lower altitudes. I’d also advise against letting your watch directly touch your skin in high-altitude environments.
The elevation of DaFeng has always been a bit of a mystery. The official figure is 5,025 meters, but the actual summit marker says 5,038 meters, and my watch measured 5,047 meters. The watch reading was closer to the marker, suggesting that after calibration, its accuracy aligns more closely. When calibrating your watch’s altitude, make sure to consider local elevation signs, maps, and other data. Environmental factors and atmospheric pressure changes can also cause variations. For those who demand high precision, let the watch sit in a natural environment for over 15 minutes for more accurate readings.
From the summit of DaFeng, you can see Peaks Three and Yaomei, as well as numerous ranges of the Hengduan Mountains. The summit of DaFeng is an excellent 5,000-meter vantage point near Chengdu. After staying for over ten minutes, we began our descent. There were still many friends aiming for the summit during the holiday, and we saw plenty of fellow hikers pushing toward the top as we descended.
During the descent, to save energy, we chose to ski down a section. Hei Zi came with us, but unfortunately, he slipped on some rocks and hurt his paw. Thankfully, it wasn’t serious and didn’t affect his walking. After two hours of descent, we reached the base camp, packed up our gear, and retraced our steps to the starting point. Our joyful third climb of Siguniangshan had come to an end, and we drove back to Chengdu.
On the way home, reflecting on my years of exploring the outdoors, I deeply felt a sense of reverence for the mountains, waters, and nature itself. Finally, I’d like to thank Mount Siguniang for welcoming me time and time again.