Bipeng Valley
Name in Chinese: 毕棚沟 Bì Péng Gōu [bi pen gəu]
Duration of Tour: Half a Day
Location: Lixian County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province
Highlights: Gorgeous Glaciers, Mirror-like Lakes and Virgin Forest
Must-see Sightseeing Spots: Zhuoma Lake and the Wilde Sheep Lake
Reputations: A National Four-star Scenic Area, A National Ecological Tourist Resort
Bipeng Valley is located in Lixian County, 220 km(137 miles) to the northwest of Chengdu. The valley is well-known for its picturesque landscape, mirror-like lakes and colorful forest in autumn. It is an ecological tourist resort which makes a variety of tours feasible, like sightseeing, skiing, camping, climbing and trekking. The valley is beautiful all year around. It attracts visitors with its blooming flowers in spring, emerald green lakes in summer, red maple leaves in autumn and snow-capped mountains in winter. Lixian County is inhabited by Tibetans and Qiang people. Visitors are also impressed by the local folk custom, like folk residence, traditional costume and dancing.
Zhuoma Lake
Zhuoma Lake covers an area of 8,000 square meters(2 acres). The lake is quite small, but it is the most ideal place in the valley which allows visitors to enjoy the sight of the red maple trees in autumn. The altitude of the lake is 3,612 meters(11,850 feet) above sea level.
The Wild Sheep Lake
The altitude of the Wild Sheep Lake is 3,676 meters(12060 feet) above sea level. The lake is 34 hectares(84 acres) in size and 10 meters(39 feet) in depth.
Travel Tips
How to Get to Bipeng Valley
Located in Lixian County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Group Autonomous Prefecture, Bipeng Valley is 220 km(137 miles) away from Chengdu, taking around three and a half hours by a car.
How to Visit Bipeng Valley
Bipeng Valley is 45 km(28 miles) in length from north to south and 4 km(2.48 miles) in width from east to west. A winding road extends for some 38 km(23.6 mils) from the entrance to the the stop near the Swallow-like Cliff, linking sightseeing spots together. Buses and buggies shuttle between the sightseeing spots. The valley lies on the back side of Siguniang Mountain. Some people also go trekking from Changping Valley to Bipeng Valley. It takes three days to hike in the two valleys.
How to Avoid Altitude Sickness
The altitude of Bipeng Valley ranges from 2,000 meters(6561 feet) to 5000 meters(16,404 feet) above sea level. The highest sightseeing spot visitors can reach is 3,837 meters(12,589 feet) above sea level. Even it is not that high, but visitor should try to avoid the AMS. Hikers and climbers have to climb the Chazigou Mountain Pass, if they go trekking from Changping Valley to Bipeng Valley. The mountain pass is over 4,600meters(15,092 feet) above sea level. Please read more about AMS.
Weather
The temperature in Lixian County ranges from minus 4℃(24.8°F) to 11℃(51.8°F) in spring, 11℃(51.8°F) to 23℃(73.4°F) in summer, 16℃(60.8°F) to 26℃(78.8°F) in autumn and minus 2℃(28.4°F) to 12℃(53.6) in winter. It goes down while the altitude goes up. The higher the altitude, the lower the temperature is. The temperature in the valley also differs evidently in daytime and nighttime. The best time to visit Bipeng Valley is between September and November.
Photography Tips
The top one place for photographers is Zhuoma Lake. A tripod, a filter, telephoto lenses and wide angle lenses are needed. Both Zhuoma Lake and the Wild Sheep Lake are the most ideal places for a view of reflection. The best time to get to the lake is before 9 a.m., because there is usually no ripple on the surface of the water in the morning and in the late afternoon.
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Author: Tina Luo
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