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Our Alpine Programme
Generally speaking, Western Sichuan is composed of five main mountain ranges more or less running north-south.
Due to their various and highly different features concerning altitude, topography, and natural and man-made environment
within an area of about 330.000 sqm there are plenty of alpine opportunities satisfying each mountaineer‘s demand.
Hiking besides a wide stream leisurely meandering through the Tibetan High Plateau or climbing up the glaciers of the 7556m
high Minya Konka may be mentioned as simple instances.
Only a few places had the (bad) luck to being opened up for extensive tourism, such as Jiuzhaigou or Emeishan. For these
reasons there are many places still undiscovered (including umpteen of unclimbed peaks between 5000m and 6700m) what has
the side effect that they mostly lack in accessibility.
We are offering mountain trekking with duration of 3 to 27 days, expeditions in undiscovered areas and onto summits, and rock
climbing to you. Of course, individual consulting, custom-made planning and intensive support do belong to our basic service.
Detailed tour description you will find below. For further information also consult the page about Sichuan.
For maps please follow the link maps.
Here you find a list of Sichuan‘s most prominent mountains: [Download: PDF; 50kb]
OFFERS:
- In order to successfully accomplish your expedition we provide all-round service to you. Our logistics and supply include accommodation, food,
and medical care for the time until we reach and after we abandon the base camp, and within the base camp. Specific gear
and equipment depend on individual demands and are treated respectively. I.e. items not included in the base camp supply such
as ice tools, food for advanced camps, oxygen etc. have to be brought along individually or have to be ordered in advance.
- The ascent of most peaks requires payment of ascent fees charged by the Sichuan Mountaineering Association. Depending on
height and other circumstances the fees are quite different.
- Below you will find a short description of recommendable expedition mountains. For more detailed or further
information on other mountains please email to wstourix
 gmail.com.
- Due to a high hazard exposition and abnormal physical strain on a mountain expedition we do assume no
responsibility for the whole undertaking. Unforeseeable accidents or emergencies (avalanches, weather, crevasse, etc.)
may lead to an abort of the expedition. Thus, we refuse any kinds of claims for damages. This will be stipulated before departure.
EXPEDITIONS:
Siguniang Shan – The Four-Sisters-Mountain (6250m)
A long time ago, four beautiful and kind-hearted girls, in order to save their treasured giant panda, fought bravely with a
ferocious leopard and thus became four graceful mountains standing tall and straight: The Siguniang Mountain. Rising at 6250m, 5355m,
5276m and 5025m above sea level respectively, the four peaks comely stand shoulder by shoulder in the middle reaches
of the Qionglai Mountain Range. Yaomei Feng (peak of the youngest girl) is with 6250 m the highest one. Perennial erosion made it
extremely steep and full of precipices and steep walls. Plenty of glaciers hover in the air, hanging on the south slopes
of the main peak while the glacier tongues go right to the foot of the mountain.
Much easier to climb are the three other sisters and some adjacent peaks such as Yangmantai (5666m) or Luotuo Feng (5484m).
Nimbleness and basic skills in walking with crampons are the only required qualifications for these routes which entirely
belong to our general Siguniang programme and can be accomplished within 5 to 8 days in general. The ascent of the peak
of the youngest and highest sister should be calculated with duration of two weeks. Perfect ice climbing skills and rich
alpine experience is requested to challenge this summit.
Minya Konka (7556m), Mt. Nochma (5575m) and Dogonomba (5958m)
For a long time the alpine world wondered if there really should exist another mountain higher than the Mt. Everest:
A mountain deep in the remote Xikang province, anywhere between Tibet and Sichuan (as this area was called until the 50ies of
the last century). This rumor lasted for a couple of decades because there was no western geologist finding the way to the awe-inspiring
glacier world of Minya Konka.
Due to its majestic height in relation to the surrounding peaks, one surely will be impressed
when watching it from the Buddhist mountain Emei Shan or out of the air plane when landing in Chengdu. Not many ascents of
this holy mountain have been tried, only a few of them were successful, some of them even had to pay a high tribute.
For those who did not plan to challenge this giant ice peak, we offer two delicate expeditions to the neighboring
summits Reddomaine (6110m) and Dogonomba (5958m) in the northern part of the range, and Mt. Nochma just besides the King of
the Mountains. Although these tours are not as difficult as Minya Konka itself, but one needs excellent roping and climbing
skills for safe moving within high gradient glaciers, as well as a good portion of patience due to the weather is quite unstable.
For one tour should be calculated with 12 to 15 days of duration, for just the hike to the base camp takes 3 days itself.
Taizicheng - Prince Castle (4776m)
Mt. Prince Castle is located in the southern part of the Min Shan mountain range, and at the four corners of the
counties Wenchuan, Maoxian, Shifang and Pengzhou（latter belongs to Chengdu). Therefore it is the highest peak of Chengdu district.
You will find no glaciers around its peak but instead thick, untrodden jungle to its feet. Here and there suddenly emerge
a few rotten wood ladders dangling in the mist to a cliff, seeming to be witnesses of former times. Adventure pure in a
highly inaccessible area not far from Chengdu. Required time: 12-14 days
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While hiking across mountain ranges from valley to valley, the wanderer will experience the marvelous change
of landscape, soil, vegetation, and rock. On routes leaving the Sichuan Basin to the West, for instance, everyone
is able to retrace a visible change of vegetation. Plants that grow in humid habitat become less and less, and due
to the more and more arid climate cacti and oak shrubbery become more and more common. Hiking up the narrow valleys of Gyarong
onto the wide Tibetan High Plateau you will feel your mind is following the landscape and inhales a breeze of release.
Our trekking tours reach from two to 26 days of duration. Shorter ones are more or less small hikes
on mountains not far from Chengdu with accommodation in monasteries or family driven guest houses. For active
participation in the miraculous change of nature you should be prepared for at least four days of walking and
accommodation in tents. On some of the tours there is a disproportionately high number of important cultural monuments,
thus, these are designated as cultural trekking tours.
SHORT INTRODUCTION of our Permanent Programme:
The Mengdun Valley <<Trekking, 4 days, Pass on 4324m>>
In the heart of the Gyarong area, following cliffs and lush meadows, the Mengdun River and its smaller tributary brooklets
rush down from about 5000m high rock towers. Start of this tour is a typical village of Gyarong. The track leads us through thick
rhododendron forest and along two beautiful lakes. A narrow notch inside a high rock formation makes for a pass to
Maoxian County and further on to a traditional village of the Qiang people, the final aim of this trekking route.
→ Detailed Description: [Download: PDF; 140kb]
Jiudingshan <<Trekking, 4989m, 7days>>
This route is due to a lack of good guides extremely uncommon but very typical for the mountains along the Sichuan Basin fringe.
The ascent begins behind a mine, and leads directly into subtropical jungle. We pass along waterfalls and canyons which's bottom nobody ever has trodden (except Pandas). After two and a half days we reach the ridge that leads
us to the pasture beneath the foot of Mt. Shiziwang (Lion King) the highest peak of the Jiudingshan Massif.
Recreated by the peaceful atmosphere it is only a leap to its summit. Two days of descent down into the
arid MinJiang Valley may feature the differences in climate and vegetation in an extremely obvious and astounding way.
Siguniangshan – Bipenggou <<Trekking, Pass at 4650m, 7 days>>
Getting off the pavement in Rilong town we follow the Changping Valley to the North. We leave the Four-Sisters
Mountain (6250m) behind us. The track towards the pass rises smoothly but drops heavily when reaching it. Down to the
Bipeng-Valley, another kind of both, rough and sharming alpine landscape welcomes us. On more than 80km way we
cross high alpine territory, carpets of green grass, luxuriant forests, clear valley brooks and an alpine biosphere
with many endemic species and plenty of pieceful solitude.
The Three Buddha Mountains Jambeyang, Chanadorje and Chenresig
<<(5958m, 5958m, 6032m) Trekking, Pass at 5208m; 15 days>>
The hike begins within the matriarchal territory around Lake Lugu. Via many traditional villages of the Yi, Moxi, Mongol, Tibetan people and other
ethnic groups we head directely to the centre of the triangular mountain massif. Over a pass at its eastern side
we follow the way to two bewitching lakes, surround Mt. Chenresig, and further on reach at the highest point of our journey,
the Songduo pass (5200m).
After enjoying the splendid panorama we bid farewell to the awe-inspiring but icy rock and glacier world and sneak off through the Hell's-Canyon.
The last two days we explore Mt. Haizi Shan on a relaxing promenade off road. Mt. Haizi Shan is a huge
geological relic of glacier cover which existed during the last ice age.
→ Detailed Description: [Download: PDF; 750kb]
Labyrinth of 108 Lakes
<<Trekking 18 days, Danba – Xinlong – Garzê>>
The route begins in Danba, a very spectacular place: Hundreds of defence towers are scattered in narrow valleys through
which we hike to the hot springs beneath Zhara Lhatse. Here we saddle our Ponies and pass through rolling hills and wide
grassland towards Nyagrong (chin. Xinlong). In Nyagrong we enter a fascinating labyrinth of 108 lakes that lies on
an elevation over 4000m and leads us to the south slopes of Mt. Kawaluori (5992m). The pass across its icy
edges is the last task we have to cope with until we reach our destination: Garzê town.
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We also offer ice climbing and rock climbing. Our ice climbing base camp was especially set up for you.
Because of rock climbing is not very popular in China yet, you have a big choice of unclimbed routes in
carefully selected areas. For further information please write or phone us.
Except our permanent programme there is still a high number of routes, mountains, areas, and other alpine
features waiting for you. We would be very pleased to helping you arranging your own trip, holidays or expedition.
Feel free to contact us to obtain consultancy. The only thing you have to
provide to us is some information about duration and date, number of persons participating, and the grade
of alpine level you want your route to be designed.
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1. Mountain Expeditions