Hailuogou Glacier Park: Map, Best Things to Do and Travel Tips

On an October afternoon, we finally arrived in Moxi Town (磨西古镇) after a scenic but intense drive from Ya’an (雅安). The winding S211 provincial road was no joke—beautiful, but not for the faint of heart.

Hailuogou Transportation Map (Highways & Airports)

Following a large sign pointing to the Hailuogou Tourist Service Center, we parked and headed straight in to grab tickets. After a quick lunch and some much-needed bottled water, we made our way to the ticket counter.

Inside, the walls were plastered with maps, brochures, and posters. That’s when we realized—half a day isn’t nearly enough for Hailuogou Glacier Park.

Getting to Know Hailuogou Glaciers

As I flipped through the brochures, I started getting a feel for Hailuogou Glacier Park (海螺沟冰川森林公园). The name literally means “Conch Gully,” and it sits on the eastern slope of mighty Mount Gongga in Sichuan. At 7,556 meters, this is the highest peak in the region—and the glaciers here are just as impressive.

**Hailuogou Glaciers Visitor Route Map**

Hailuogou Glacier, also called No.1 Glacier, is the longest of Mount Gongga’s 71 glaciers. It stretches 14.7 kilometers, with elevations ranging from 6,750 to 2,850 meters. What’s special is that it’s a low-altitude modern oceanic glacier, making it incredibly accessible compared to others in China.

The glacier itself forms in three stunning stages.
First comes the Firn Basin (粒雪盆), where snow hasn’t yet compressed into solid ice.
Next is the Large Ice Fall (大冰瀑布)—a breathtaking cascade, 500 to 1,100 meters wide and over 1,000 meters high. It’s the tallest and most majestic icefall in all of China.

Finally, the glacier narrows into a 6-kilometer glacier tongue (冰川舌), curling deep into untouched forest. That contrast—ice meeting ancient trees—is unlike anything I’ve seen.

But there’s more. Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park is also home to lush, old-growth forests and natural hot springs. To explore it all, there are four main viewing camps.

Shuttle buses run to Camps 1, 2, and 3 in Hailuogou Glacier Park — Shuttle buses run to **Camps 1, 2, and 3**.

Shuttle buses run to Camps 1, 2, and 3. To reach Camp 4, you’ll need to take a cable car from Camp 3.

Camp 1 and Camp 2 focus on forest walks and relaxing hot springs. Camp 4 and Camp 3 are for seeing and touching glaciers.

We decided to visit Camp 4 that day for glacier views, and saved Camp 3 for the next day’s adventure.

Tickets, Shuttle & Cable Car to Camp No. 4

That afternoon, we decided to head straight to Camp No. 4 (海螺沟4号营地). Since our goal was to see and feel the Hailuogou Glaciers, we skipped Camps 1 and 2. We planned to save Camp 3 for the next day, where we could actually walk closer to the glacier. From Camp 4, you only get a distant view of the ice.

The ticket prices were a bit steep.

Entrance ticket: ¥90
Shuttle bus: ¥70
Cable car (round-trip from Camp 3 to Camp 4): ¥135

The next day, we’d need to buy the entrance and shuttle tickets again—no reusing tickets here! Like many scenic areas in China, Hailuogou Glacier Park wasn’t cheap.

The shuttle bus ride from Moxi Town’s Service Center to Camp 3 took us by surprise. It lasted nearly an hour, zigzagging up 30 km of winding mountain roads. We climbed from 1,600 meters at Moxi to 2,980 meters at Camp 3.

Our local driver handled the curves like a pro. He weaved through tight corners and squeezed past other buses with ease. It was almost fun to watch.

When we finally arrived at Camp 3 in Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park — When we finally arrived at **Camp 3**

When we finally arrived at Camp 3, we took a short break—stretched our legs, used the toilet, and enjoyed the fresh mountain air. Some people started hiking here, searching for real glacier ice.

We, however, chose to continue by cable car to Camp 4, hoping to glimpse the Big Ice Fall and Neve Basin at the top of the 14.7-kilometer Hailuogou Glacier.

Carrying our cameras, we walked to the ropeway station. The alpine cableway, at 3,500 meters long, is one of the longest in China. It crosses the heart of Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park, offering incredible views of the glacier valley.

Through the transparent windows, we looked down on endless virgin forest, and the glacier’s surface below—though, to be honest, it wasn’t quite the pristine white I had imagined. The glacier was covered in dust, dirt, and scattered rocks.

The glacier was covered in dust, dirt, and scattered rocks — The glacier was covered in **dust, dirt, and scattered rocks**

Still, it was amazing to fly above an alpine glacier—a moving river of ice flowing through the valley. Unlike polar ice sheets, Hailuogou Glaciers are nestled in steep mountain terrain, slowly carving their way downward.

We’d get a closer look the next day—right at the ice. But for now, this bird’s-eye view was more than worth it.

Camp No. 4: Catching a Glimpse of the Large Ice Fall and Firn Basin

When we arrived at Camp No. 4, the entire area was wrapped in fog and clouds. That’s when we realized something important—seeing the Hailuogou Glaciers depends entirely on the weather.

If it’s rainy, overcast, or misty, forget about seeing the Firn Basin or Large Ice Fall. Sometimes, the entire Hailuogou Glacier Valley disappears into thick clouds.

the 3600-meter-high observation deck in Hailuogou Glacier Park — The **3600-meter-high observation deck**

At the 3600-meter-high observation deck, we found the same story. Most of the glacier valley—including the upper snow basin and massive icefall—was hidden behind drifting fog.

Still, we didn’t give up. Instead, we waited, hoping for a brief clearing.

Suddenly, the clouds above the second step of the glacier began to lift. The sky turned a little bluer. And just like that, the Great Ice Fall revealed itself—bright, massive, and alive!

The Great Ice Fall revealed itself—bright, massive, and alive! — The **Great Ice Fall** revealed itself—bright, massive, and alive!

I quickly swapped out my lens for the long-range zoom and caught a clear shot of the glacier’s towering ice wall. A moment later, sunlight broke through again, this time touching the upper layer—the Firn Basin. The snow sparkled through the thinning clouds, giving us a rare look at the glacier’s very beginning.

The Firn Basin viewed from my my lens for the long-range in Hailuogou Glacier Park — The **Firn Basin** viewed from my my lens for the long-range

Everyone scrambled to take photos. Some posed for selfies. Others just stared in awe.

Less than 30 minutes later, the clouds crept back in. The entire scene turned grey once again. But we felt incredibly lucky—many visitors never get to see any part of the Hailuogou Glaciers from Camp 4.

With my zoom lens, I managed to spot ice caves and thick glacier mass down in the valley. I even zoomed in on what looked like crystal-blue ice. I’d heard Camp 3 was the best place to see clean, close-up glacier ice. Tomorrow, I’d find out for myself.

Feeling satisfied and grateful, we took the cable car back to Camp 3, then hopped on the shuttle that would bring us home to Moxi Town.

Shuttle Bus to Camp No. 3

The next morning, we boarded the first shuttle bus at 7:30 a.m. from Moxi Town to Camp No. 3 in Hailuogou Glaciers Park.

We had visited Camp No. 4 the afternoon before and were lucky enough to see the Firn Basin and Large Ice Fall of the No. 1 Hailuogou Glacier. But a distant view wasn’t enough. This time, we wanted to walk into the valley—to see, feel, and touch real glacier ice.

We’d heard there was a trail from Camp No. 3 leading down into the glacial valley, where visitors could find ice caves, ice ladders, and other frozen wonders. From Ganheba where we would get off the shuttle bus not far from Camp 3, we would hike along the glacier walkway from Ganheba to Ice Tower Forest in the valley ( see the map below).

**Hailuogou Glacier Walkway Map** ( We would walk from Ganheba to Ice Tower Forest)

So we bought new admission and shuttle bus tickets again—yes, for the second day in a row. Honestly, we were a bit frustrated. Hailuogou Glaciers Park should allow multi-day passes. That way, travelers could enjoy the glacier, forests, hot springs, and mountains without extra fees. It would also help local hotels and restaurants.

An hour later, our bus pulled into Camp No. 3 at 2,940 meters. A new adventure was waiting, and we were ready.

Hiking Deep into the Glacier Valley from Camp No. 3

That morning, the weather wasn’t on our side. It was cold, rainy, and grey. Still, we threw on our raincoats and set off, determined to get closer to the heart of Hailuogou Glaciers Forest Park.

a 5-kilometer round-trip hike in Hailuogou Glacier Park — A **5-kilometer round-trip hike**.

The trail from Camp No. 3 starts with a 1.8-kilometer boardwalk. It climbs from 2,940 meters to an observation deck at 3,200 meters. From there, the path drops into the glacially carved valley at around 3,000 meters. In total, it’s about a 5-kilometer round-trip hike.

The boardwalk winds through dark, dense coniferous forest. It looks gentle, but don’t be fooled. Hiking at this altitude, with heavy backpacks full of cameras, snacks, and emergency gear, turned out to be tough—really tough.

The boardwalk winds through dark, dense coniferous forest in Hailuogou Glaciers Forest Park — The boardwalk winds through dark, dense coniferous forest.

We stopped more times than I can count. Not to sit, just to lean against the railings and catch our breath. I didn’t take off my pack; that would have made it harder to keep going. I even unbuttoned my jacket because of the heat and sweat—something I later regretted. That chill I caught here? It stuck with me for the rest of the trip.

A Visitor Service on the Glaicer Walkway in Hailuogou Glacier — We reached the Visitor Service and Sightseeing Platform

After nearly two hours of steady climbing, we finally reached the Glacier Observation Deck. There was a basic wooden toilet and a small restaurant—more of a hiker’s stop than a scenic viewpoint. The entire Hailuogou Glacier Valley was still hidden beneath clouds.

The path downto the glacier valleye was less maintained in Hailuogou Glacier Park — The path downto the glacier valleye was less maintained

Next, we started descending toward the valley floor. The path here was less maintained, with steep, uneven stone steps. On one side, a sheer cliff. On the other, a drop into the fog. Rockfalls seemed possible, so we moved carefully.

we were cheered by the autumn colors clinging to the valley in Hailuogou — We were cheered by the **autumn colors** clinging to the valley

Despite the gloomy sky, we were cheered by the autumn colors clinging to the valley walls—mosses, wildflowers, fiery leaves, firs, and cedar trees. Nature softened the harshness of the trail.

the Hailuogou Glaciers were hidden beneath the debris — The **Hailuogou Glaciers** were hidden beneath the debris

Once we reached the bottom of the glacier valley, we were stunned. Not by shining ice, but by a sea of gravel and boulders. Under the low clouds, the Hailuogou Glaciers were hidden beneath the debris. It felt like standing on a rocky riverbed.

“Don’t worry,” one of my teammates said. “Let’s go farther. The ice is out there. And the sun might come!”

Encouraged, we pushed on—carefully navigating the unstable rocks. Thankfully, my hiking boots held up. Confidence matters when you’re walking on moving stones in the wild.

We started seeing the glacier ice—clear, azure, and beautifully fractured — We started seeing the glacier ice—**clear, azure, and beautifully fractured**

Eventually, we started seeing hints of glacier ice—clear, azure, and beautifully fractured. Glaciers move under their own weight, forming crevasses, ice towers (seracs), and bizarre shapes.

Then, just before noon, something magical happened: the clouds parted, and for the first time all day, the sun broke through.

The glacier briefly lit up as sunlight broke through the clouds in Hailuogou Glacier Valley — The glacier briefly lit up as sunlight broke through the clouds

A patch of blue sky opened above the valley, lighting up the cliffs and glacier surface. We grabbed our cameras and shot everything we could. Later, we learned that we were among the very few tourists that day who saw any sun down in the valley.

Less than 30 minutes later, the clouds returned. The light vanished. The valley grew cold again, and I felt the chill sink deeper into my bones.

We retraced our steps, hiking back up to the observation deck, where we stopped for a simple snack at the wooden café. Exhausted but content, we caught the shuttle bus and made it back to Moxi Town by in the late afternoon.

Travel Tips for Hailuogou Glaciers Forest Park

After exploring both Camp 3 and Camp 4, I came away deeply impressed—and a little exhausted! Hailuogou Glaciers Park truly offers a rare mix of glaciers, hot springs, and forest trails, all nestled beneath towering peaks.

Here are a few tips I wish someone had told me earlier:

Sit near the front on the shuttle bus. The mountain road is full of hairpin turns, and the back seats swing wildly.
Altitude matters. Camp 4 sits around 3,600 meters. Avoid overexertion, and consider packing a portable oxygen bottle.
Dress smart. Temps shift fast. Bring a fleece and shell jacket. In rainy season, wear waterproof shoes and use a hiking stick.
Stay safe. Never cross glacier safety lines. Always follow marked trails and signs—conditions can change fast.
Sun protection is a must. UV is strong at high altitude—bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sunhat.
Don’t skip the cable car or shuttle. Distances are long and the elevation gain is serious.

Despite cloud cover and glacier dust from the 2022 earthquake, Hailuogou Glaciers Forest Park still felt like a dream—half in the sky, half on Earth. A true alpine escape for nature lovers and adventurers.