[2024 Wenchuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Aergou Peak (Updated Nov)
Forests
Canyons
Address:
Longxi Township, Wenchuan County, Aba Prefecture
Opening times:
Open year round, 24/7Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
0.5-1 day
Sichuan Travel | Wenchuan's Hidden Gem: A'er Valley
Western Sichuan is truly a tourist paradise. No matter how many famous attractions it already has, new ones keep emerging every year. Who knows how many hidden gems are still waiting to be discovered? A'er Valley in Wenchuan is one of them.
📍Location: A'er Valley, Wenchuan County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province
🎫Tickets: None
🌟Scenic All Year Round: A'er Valley is a place that offers beauty in every season. In spring, you can enjoy a sea of flowers; in summer, it's a cool retreat; in autumn, it's perfect for hiking; and in winter, it's a great ski resort. Each season offers something unique.
🌟Cool Summer Retreat: In Sichuan, where the "autumn tiger" heat can be relentless, you might need a jacket here. The fresh mountain air and misty landscapes give it a Zhangjiajie-like feel, making it ideal for a summer retreat. There are several resort hotels in the mountains to choose from.
🌟Outdoor Hiking: A'er Valley is famous for its hiking trails. Gear up and dive into the mountains. After about 4 hours, you'll reach a lake known as the "Western Sichuan version of Altay." It's a photographer's dream. Unfortunately, we couldn't reach it due to the weather, but we're looking forward to trying again next time.
🌟Winter Skiing: As winter approaches, A'er Valley becomes a ski destination. As one of the few alpine ski resorts in Sichuan, it offers good equipment and slopes. It's said to be getting a major upgrade this year, so we're eagerly awaiting winter!
Simmons_~Avery
A One-Day Round-Trip Guide from Chengdu to A'er Valley
Western Sichuan Fall Hiking Guide
1. The Charm of Fall in Western Sichuan
Western Sichuan is a dream destination for countless hiking enthusiasts in the fall, with its stunning snow-capped mountains, lakes, streams, and colorful forests. Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature.
2. Transportation
Departure: Chengdu
Method: Join an outdoor group tour. Depart from Chengdu, transfer to a local shuttle bus at the parking lot, and head to the hiking starting point.
3. Hiking Route
Distance: 5 km one way, 10 km round trip.
Time: About 3.5 hours uphill, about 1.5 hours downhill.
Features: The round-trip route is the same, suitable for leisurely photography of fall scenery, saving time and effort.
4. Recommended Gear
Outdoor clothing: Windbreaker, hiking pants, hiking boots, quick-dry clothes, backpack, knee pads, headscarf, trekking poles, sunglasses, trash bags, etc.
Food: Mineral water, energy drinks, beef jerky, bread, candy, etc.
5. Gear Experience Sharing
Windbreaker: Northland Poplar Forest Windbreaker, windproof and waterproof, breathable, with 280g air down lining, anti-static treatment, comfortable and warm.
Design: Same style as Liu Yifei, suitable for outdoor hiking and everyday wear.
6. Precautions
1. A'er Valley: Currently free, not fully developed, no supplies along the way, no restroom facilities except at the foot of the mountain.
2. Signal Issues: No signal throughout the journey except at the first stop, so agree on the latest descent time in advance.
3. Environmental Protection: No trash cans along the way, so remember to bring trash bags and take your trash with you.
7. Conclusion
Fall in Western Sichuan is a place that will refresh your mind and body. Here, you can experience the joy of hiking and feel the tranquility and beauty of fall. Remember to bring suitable gear, respect nature, protect the environment, and enjoy this unforgettable journey.
xavier_nightshade_82
A new popular hiking route in Wenchuan, the scenery of Al Gou is indeed beautiful.
With the rise of outdoor sports, the popularity of mountain hiking has also increased in the past two years. In particular, Nanji Luo in Yunnan has been on the hot search several times, attracting a large number of young people to fly to Yunnan for hiking tours. However, on this trip to Wenchuan, I found a hiking destination in Western Sichuan that is no less than Nanji Luo: Al Gou.
Al Gou is located in Wenchuan County, and the entrance is just outside the Qiangren Valley Ski Resort. You can navigate to the Al Gou Scenic Area Labor Union Outdoor Workers Service Point by car, and there is a parking lot nearby for convenience. You can also take a bus to Wenchuan County and then take a taxi to get there.
The difficulty of hiking in Al Gou is not high, and the round trip is about 10 kilometers. The Dragon Pool at an altitude of 3900 meters is the end point for basic hiking. Start hiking at 10:00 am and return around 3:00 pm. The road conditions along the way are also good, and the oxygen content in the valley is sufficient, so there is no need to worry about altitude sickness. You can walk with confidence.
The first half of the valley is a stream and forest, with crystal-clear water and lush green forests. When I came here, it was drizzling, and the mountains were shrouded in mist, like a fairyland. The second half is a continuous mountain range and vast alpine grassland. In summer, it is green, and in autumn, it is colorful and very beautiful. Of course, the most beautiful place is still the Dragon Pool on the mountain, with a cliff behind it, like a gem embedded in the mountainside, which is particularly magical.
Al Gou is still under development, and there are no supply stations along the way. Remember to buy some water and snacks before hiking, and of course, remember to take your trash with you to protect this pristine secret land.
After coming out of Al Gou, you can stay at the Li Xia Boutique Guesthouse at night. It is close to the Panda Lake of Wolong National Panda Park, with beautiful scenery. I had a delicious meal at the guesthouse, the food was good and the price was not expensive. The guesthouse has a basketball court and a children's play area, and it also raises rabbits, which is very fun for children.
MiaSorcerer
Argou | Sichuan has its own Atelier.
🎈Argou Longchi
🚗Transportation strategy:
Navigation [Argou Scenic Area Trade Union Outdoor Labor Service Station]
🕙Opening hours: open all day
💰Ticket price: no ticket required
📸Photo location:
There are 3 large stones on the way, you can climb up the stone to take a big picture, but pay attention to safety first. The most out-of-the-box location is at the end of the wooden plank road, walking towards the small road, you can take a big picture of life with a telephoto lens.
📌Tips:
[One] Argou is in the development stage, there is no supply station along the way, you need to prepare related materials by yourself.
[Two] Except for the foot of the mountain, there are no toilet facilities throughout the journey.
[Three] Except for the pass, there is no mobile phone signal throughout the journey, it is recommended to make an appointment to go down the mountain in advance.
Honey Fluffy Wobble
Sichuan version of Altai [Algou].
I'm really tired of the roads to Wenchuan and Siguniang Mountain. Sichuan, you're the best... I haven't been anywhere recently and I don't have anywhere in particular I want to go, so let's go there...
🎒 Hiking strategy:
Arrive at the hiking starting point around 10:40. The hike is 5km one way with an elevation gain of 1000m. Parking is 10 yuan, and insurance is 5 yuan per person at the entrance. There is no signal📶 throughout the hike, so you need to rent a walkie-talkie. I already had one, so I brought my own.
Road conditions🦓: Scenic area road, all stairs, you can walk to the top. Of course, I took a wild road halfway, a slope of 60.70 degrees. It's not slippery if it doesn't rain. I recommend beginners to stick to the scenic area road, the distance is about the same.
Photo shooting📷: There is a small stream in the first half of the journey, and there are large rocks in the mountains during the ascent. There is a dragon pool at the top, and it's still very photogenic when the weather is good.
Temperature🌡️: Chengdu is 35 degrees, and it's only 20 degrees there. It's very windy at the top of the mountain, so it's best to have a wind shell. I wore a base layer when I wasn't in the sun, and shorts and long socks the rest of the time.
🎒 Equipment list:
👟 Hiking shoes, quick-drying clothes, windproof jacket and pants, sun hat, headscarf, gloves, knee pads.
🌂 Raincoat, sun hat, sunscreen, sunglasses.
🎒 Backpack, trekking poles, thermos, food and water, garbage bags, common medicines, etc.
⚠️ Difficulty analysis:
High altitude, prone to altitude sickness. Long distance, diverse road conditions, large elevation gain, suitable for experienced and physically fit people~
There are food and fruit vendors at the entrance of the scenic area. Wenchuan's plums are really sweet. You can bring some.
Finally, to summarize, Algou is actually quite cost-effective. Of course, the altitude is 3000, so it's still demanding on your physical fitness. Our children didn't go up because they weren't feeling well due to altitude sickness. There are also quite a lot of people, so the experience is a bit worse for those who prefer a small and quiet environment... There are too many people with loudspeakers
OliviaDavis
Today's extreme challenge in Al'er Valley was great, don't come
Title card, haha
You must come, it will definitely blow up your social media
Navigation address: Al'er Valley or Sanjiaoba Post Station
It is a 3-hour drive from Chengdu, depart at 6 am and arrive at 9 am to start hiking. The leader repeatedly emphasized that beginner plateau hikers must take Rhodiola a week in advance to prevent severe altitude sickness!!
📣 The altitude ranges from 2700 meters to 4600 meters, with a total hiking distance of 10 km
📣 Climbing at high altitudes is a challenge of heart rate and endurance. Novices without hiking experience are discouraged, as altitude sickness is a very serious matter. The feeling of severe headache and difficulty breathing is unforgettable for a lifetime
😭 Unfortunately, we didn't reach the top and didn't see the most beautiful lake. Our teammates took 4 hours to climb to the top and 3 hours to descend
📣 Currently, the scenic area is free, with only a 10 yuan parking fee. Remember, there is no signal! Follow the leader's arrangements, we have walkie-talkies.
Also, there are no places to buy water and food! You need to bring your own, especially water! The temperature these days is around 20 degrees, you can wear a thin jacket with an outer layer. It's not cold during the climb, but very cold when you stop. Bring a scarf to protect your back if necessary to prevent catching a cold
📣 Wearing a pair of shoes with good grip is very useful, and a hiking stick is essential
One-day round trip, return at 5 pm, and back to Chengdu after 8 pm! No severe discomfort after taking the medicine, but physically exhausted, taking a break every few steps. But youth has no price, just go for it
williamdesert
Wenchuan County's A'ergou
A'ergou | Come before it starts charging a fee
Blue sky, white clouds, snow-capped mountains, meadows, streams, lakes, you can find them all here~
Destination: A'ergou, Wenchuan County
Drive: 180km, 2.5h
Altitude: 3100m-4100m, climbing about 1000m
Route: 11km round trip, about 4h uphill, about 2h downhill
We set off at 7 am, arriving at the destination around 9:30 am, and started hiking at 10:30 am. The overall road conditions are good, mainly stair paths without difficulty, but due to the high altitude and significant climb, it can be quite tiring for the feet (knee pads are recommended).
Along the way, there are babbling streams and various trees, high-altitude rhododendrons, and the higher you go, the broader the view becomes. Occasionally, turning around, you can see the snow-capped mountains behind, very clear. In the first third of the hiking route, there is an abundance of Allium monanthum, which is a delight for foragers.
The last 1-2km has a steeper climb, and looking up, the nearest mountain is covered with a continuous rhododendron forest (currently not in full bloom, with only a few flowers open, but when the season comes, you should be able to see a mountain full of flowers).
At the mountain top, there are still unthawed patches of ice, and there is snow on the ridge line. The photos are very picturesque. Overall, the route and scenery are worth the visit. The scenic area is currently under development, and there is no admission fee for the time being, so come before it starts charging.