11 days Sichuan tour: trek Minya Konka mountain (- Gongga shan trek)

6 days on trekking

(Kangding, Ganzi Tibetan prefecture, Sichuan province)

Highlights:
Rising to a height of 7,556 meters (24,784 feet), Mt. Gongga towers above all the other mountains of Sichuan Province, thus earning it the moniker, "King of Sichuan Mountains." This 12-day high-altitude trek (total trip is 15 days) not only provides breathtaking views, but also allows us time to explore the traditional Tibetan lifestyle of this area.

Towering to a height of 7,556 meters (24,784 feet), Mt. Gongga in western Sichuan Province offers stunning scenery, an abundance of beautiful plants and wildflowers, rich Tibetan culture, and of course spectacular trekking routes. Known as the "King of Sichuan Mountains", Mt. Gongga is situated in the rugged, seldom visited western part of Sichuan Province, within the Tibetan cultural sphere. Over the course of this 12-day trek, Tibetan guides lead us across three passes over 4,420 meters (14,498 feet), and through a variety of alpine terrains with lakes and meadows. We stop in Tibetan homes and share butter tea and tsampa with our hosts. The climax of the trip will be our visit to Gongga Temple, which in times past produced many famous lamas.
The preferred months for this trek are May, August, September, and October, when there is little rain and the mountain views are clearest. In May you have the added bonus of rhododendrons in bloom. You may also visit during the rainy season in July, when you can see wildflowers spreading over grasslands everywhere, but clouds may obscure your views of the high mountains, and you should be prepared to be wet.

D01: Travel from your homeport to Chengdu

D02: Drive from Chengdu to Kanding, 2500m. (6-7 hours)

D03: Drive from Kanding to Shangmuju (named Moda on map) via Liuba (now called as Gongga village), 3860m. (7 hours)
It is said that a simple road has been built and extended to Sahngmuju

D04: Shangmuju to Zimeishan Yakou
Trek with horses or yaks over the Zimei La, 4560m 9requiring about 5 hr)

D05: Zimei La to Zimei village to Konka Gongpa
Down to the village of Zimei, 3480 m (requiring 3hr); the continue to Konka Gongpa, 4100m, (requiring 2 hr). Konka monastery belongs to Kargyuelpa order of Tibetan buddhism

D06:Konka Gongpa to Zimei village
In the morning, resting, walk around; after lunch, trek back to Zimei village

D07:Zimei village to Campingsite by the riverside (Bawanghai ) (requiring 6 hr)
It is said that the road bas been extended to Bawanghai from Caoke village

D08:Campsite to Sandaoqiao/Jiebeishi (6 hr)
the bridge (Sandaoqiao) and Jiebeishi is by the place where two rivers joins each other.
From Sandaoqiao, there is a route leading to Renzhonghai.

Both Bawanghai and Renzhonghai are caused by mountain slides, which blocked the river and cause the water to rise

D09: Campingsite to Hailuogou by car

D10: Hailuogou to Chengdu

D11: Leaving Chengdy.

because of the road to Shangmuju and the road around Sandaoqiao is under building, the length of trek will be subject to change