This winter, I was already browsed by the beautiful ice and snow of Wawu Mountain in my circle of friends.
Everyone left messages saying that they had saved a ticket to Switzerland, and this winter's snow-watching plan in Wawu Mountain must be included in the schedule!
But there are still eight months in winter, and the May Day itinerary has not been arranged yet. Is Wawu Mountain in spring worth our visit?
The answer is yes, it must be worth it!!!
You must know that in May, the mountains and plains of Wawu Mountain are full of dazzling azalea flowers!!!

However, I'm a little embarrassed to say that as a traveler who often stays in Chengdu, it is only more than 100 kilometers away from Wawu Mountain.
However, I have never found the opportunity to pay homage to Sichuan's largest alpine rhododendrons, which even National Geographic recommended. This is regrettable and disrespectful.
Finally, in the spring of 2021, we put aside all other travel plans and embarked on a plan to seek spring to Wawu Mountain.
It is said that April in the world ends its fragrance, and peach blossoms in Shansi begin to bloom.
When the Chengdu Plain is ready to enter summer, due to the altitude advantage, spring is strong on Wawu Mountain. This May Day, you aim to avoid crowds and find niche destinations. Let the azalea sea become the most dazzling touch of pink in your circle of friends!!!

The rhododendrons have not announced the news of spring, so let the east wind shine first!

ˇChengdu two-day round-trip self-driving tour
DAY1: Depart from Chengdu and drive 3 hours to Qiliping. Visit the Qiliping Forest Trail, soak in hot springs, and stay overnight in Qiliping.
DAY2: Qiliping drove to Wawu Mountain (90 minutes by car), visited Wawu Mountain and returned to Chengdu.

ˇChongqing three-day round-trip self-driving tour
DAY1: Depart from Chongqing and visit the Leshan Giant Buddha (3 hours drive). After the tour, go to Qiliping Hot Spring Town to soak in the hot springs and stay overnight in Qiliping.
DAY2: Drive to Wawu Mountain by Qiliping (90 minutes by car). After visiting Wawu Mountain, go to Yanu Lake (15 minutes by car) and stay overnight at Yanu Lake.
DAY3: Drive to Yanu Lake to visit Gaomiao Ancient Town and Liujiang Ancient Town, taste rattan pepper duck, and return to Chongqing.

⭐️班车三日游线路
DAY1: Chengdu--Hongya County (Xinnanmen Bus Station and Shiyangchang Bus Station, every 50 minutes, 08:10-16:10), Hongya County--Wawushan (06:00-16:30, every 40 minutes), the total commuting time for the two journeys is about 180 minutes.
DAY2: Visiting Wawu Mountain
DAY3: Return journey.
PS: There are direct buses from Chengdu, Chongqing, Leshan, Ya 'an, Emei, etc. to Hongya.

Wawu Mountain is a natural table mountain that is wonderful all year round. In spring, you can see rhododendrons, in summer, you can watch waterfalls, in autumn, you can enjoy the red leaves, and in winter, you can have snow forest ice waterfalls. After entering mid-April, we usher in the season of full bloom of rhododendrons. There are more than 40 species of rhododendrons here. Due to altitude and temperature factors, during the period from April to June, rhododendrons will open from the mountainside to the top of the mountain. The time I arrived at Wawu Mountain was April 19. A large number of flower buds are already ready to go. It is estimated that the peak of full bloom will reach on May Day and last until early June.

Tours in Wawu Mountain are divided into low mountainous areas, Zhongshan Area and high mountainous areas
The main tourist destination in the low mountainous area is Shuangdong River-Qianwozi Waterfall Observation Route, which can be reached by sightseeing bus from the tourist center;
The main tourist destination in Zhongshan Area is Gufoping. Gongtong Villa is currently being upgraded and maintained and cannot be visited for the time being;
The alpine area is the essence of Wawu Mountain. The routes you can visit are Zhengjue Temple (Gufoping Cableway Station)-Xianger Mountain Villa-Yuanxi Waterfall-Lanxi Waterfall-Yuanyanchi Loop Line. You can take the Gufoping Cableway Station and get off Zhengjue Temple (Gufoping Cableway Station) at the terminal of the sightseeing bus.
ˇ The spring rhododendrons in Wawu Mountain are mainly concentrated in the Zhongshan Area and alpine areas, especially the ring line of Zhengjue Temple (Gufoping Cableway Station)-Xianger Mountain Villa-Yuanxi Waterfall-Lanxi Waterfall-Yuanyang Pond, there are colorful rhododendrons on both sides of the trail.️
ˇWawushan Business Hours:
Admission time from Monday to Friday: 08:00--14: 00, weekends and legal holidays: 07:00--15: 00
Running time of the first trip Jinhua Bridge cableway: 08:20--17:30, and 07:20--17:30 on weekends and legal holidays
Running time of the second journey Gufoping cableway: 08:40--17:00, and 07:40--17:00 on weekends and legal holidays

Wawu Mountain is named because of its shape as "like a tile-roofed house". Do you think it has a "earthy flavor"? In fact, during the tour, we were amazed by the fairyland elegance of Wawu Mountain countless times, and from time to time I exclaimed "Wow". Therefore, I have long renamed Wawu Mountain to "Wow Mountain" in my heart.
Even the ancients said that Wawu Mountain is full of immortal spirit."The atmosphere is strong, and there is no one around, and it flies like a Taoist from a tall seat... The mountain has four seasons, and the scenery is very different." The explorer Wilson also praised Wawu Mountain as "a huge Noah's Ark above the clouds."
Indeed, Wawu Mountain is tall and steep, with a maximum altitude of more than 2830 meters, which creates a climate with a wide range of differences from the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain. It has a long sea of clouds, brings its own fairy aura, and has special landform and vegetation characteristics. Visiting this mountain, you will truly feel what a mountain has four seasons in a fairyland on earth.

We bought tickets from the visitor center and got on the bus, followed the rugged mountain road into the Wawu Mountain Scenic Area. We saw the lush forest along the road and the boundless horizon. Climbing the mountain along the forest trails was refreshing and enjoyable.

Especially when climbing halfway up the mountain, the climate and scenery here are even more amazing: the mountainside is shrouded in clouds and clouds, and the dark green forest is spread all over the mountains and fields like a carpet. There are also a few rhododendrons blooming pink flowers among the rocks, making people feel that spring has not yet gone far in Wawu Mountain.

As we continue to climb, the temperature is getting lower and lower. When we enter the lush fir forest belt, a feeling of late autumn has shrouded our body and mind again, and the seasons are changing little by little with the altitude.

You can ignore the weather when visiting Wawu Mountain. Sunny days have the magnificent beauty of sunny days, and rainy days have the romantic poetry of rainy days. I even think this is a temperament unique to Wawu Mountain. The few smoke floating in the mountains guides everyone. The Taoyuan in the hearts of people.

The mountains become even more blurred in the lingering fog color. The mountains are connected to the mountains and are endless. With the embellishment of the fog, it is unique and more attractive. I feel that this Wawu Mountain is virtual. It is floating in the sky like the celestial heaven of gods.

The rain and fog all over the mountains are flowing with boundless ethereal air; in the distance, there are strange peaks and beautiful forest ravines, which are like a natural screen, standing quietly in the hilly areas of western Sichuan.

When you come to Wawu Mountain, you don't have to read the weather forecast. Different weather gives you different beauty. The Wawu Mountain that everyone sees every day is different. This is the surprise and it is enough to "wow".

"When I enter Huanghuaguan, I pursue clear streams every time." Every time I see a stream in the forest, I will unconsciously read Wang Wei's poem, because I have long been moved by this leisurely and leisurely manner. The Shuangdong Creek in Wawu Mountain is the best interpretation of this poetry in front of us.
The stream gurgling in my ears, the gentle and humid air and the endless green green that you can see in your eyes is really a great joy in life. The creek flows gracefully and is always four to three kilometers long. When you come here in spring, you can take your family to enjoy the fun of oxygen-rich hiking in the forest.

The first stop where the sightseeing bus stops is the entrance of Shuangdong Creek, which is also the gate to explore the virgin forest of Wawu Mountain. The surroundings are full of spring, everything rises, and the atmosphere in the air is full of vitality. Deep in the dense forest, you can see the beauty of forest ravines, the rolling mountain springs, and the century-old vines covered with moss. Wherever you go, you feel like a secret realm.

At the entrance is the Green Leaf Pool, which is named because it looks like green leaves. The water is green and the surroundings are green.

Walking along the path in the forest for two to three hundred meters, you will harvest four or five more water features along the way. Pearl Waterfall, Shuanglong Waterfall, Yuxian Waterfall, and Moon Lake, each with its own charm and different beauty. The gurgling water is like silk, and the clear water flows slowly. This small section is completely a microcosm of the "water world" of Wawu Mountain.

Shuanglong Waterfall is about 8 meters wide and 20 meters high. It is divided into two by a huge rock during its rushing downward process. It flies down the steep rock wall, splashing tens of thousands of water, making it magnificent; and during the flood season, Shuanglong Waterfall will merge into one again, just like a lover who has been reunited for a long time.

Yuxian Waterfall is about 5 meters wide and 15 meters high. It is pearl water that flows down from the top of the mountain and falls down through the thousand-layer rocks. It is said that the moon fairy often comes here to draw water and bathe, so it is called Yuxian Waterfall.

Qianwozi is the end of the low mountainous area of Wawu Mountain. The surrounding mountains are covered with Davidia trees. In May, this is a good place to see Davidia flowers. By then, the trees are covered with "silver coins" and swaying in the wind. It must be very beautiful. You can walk 3 kilometers along the trail of Shuangdong River to Qianwozi, or you can get off at the second stop of the sightseeing bus.

Today is a rainy day. When I arrived at Qianwozi, it was already misty, as if I had reached a fairyland. There were also spirit monkeys who came to guide the way. The ecological protection was even more than that of Mount Emei.

From Qianwozi, you will reach Gufoping. From here, you can take the second section of the cableway to visit the alpine area on the top of the mountain.
PS: You can choose sightseeing buses or cableways for the first section of the cableway, and only cableways for the second section.

After getting off the cable car and reaching the top of the mountain, the mysterious temperament of Wawu Mountain becomes even more outstanding. The misty fir forest is completely a living mythical world, completely different from the scenery in the low mountainous areas. Along this circular tour, we also began to look for traces of alpine rhododendrons.

The low bushes under the fir forest are alpine rhododendrons. Most of them are ready to go with flower buds. They will usher in a peak in full bloom on May Day, so if you are still looking for a small and beautiful destination, you know where the steering wheel should be heading.

In some warm hills on the trail, azaleas are already in full bloom. The azaleas on both sides of the mountain road are as tall as a person. When a person enters the flowers, they are surrounded by flowers in front of, behind, left and right. The red flowers are in the shape of conical flowers, with three or four flowers on each branch, surrounded by branches, and luxuriant flowers.

In clusters and patches, the oily green color is dotted with pink alpine rhododendrons. The dense fog behind it outlines the unique temperament of Wawu Mountain. You must know that there are many places to see rhododendrons, but you can see such an elegant and beautiful sea of rhododendrons. Wawu Mountain is really the best choice.

Why do you need to see the spring breeze in a famous garden? The mountain flowers will live up to you all the way. Every day, the Jinjiang River looks like a brocade, and the Qingxi shines brightly on the mountains. Only one-tenth of the rhododendrons in full bloom can bring such beauty. When it is in full bloom in May, I wonder what kind of beautiful scenery the top of Wawu Mountain will be.

There are about 40 species of rhododendrons in Wawu Mountain, each of which has a myriad of appearance. The blooming petals are as delicate as satin, and the petals are curved like a girl's skirt. The flower is composed of five petals, surrounded by several yellow stamens, which are so beautiful.

At this time, the rain was falling patteringly, and the raindrops fell on the delicate petals and looked more and more shy. Walking on the quiet plank road, I heard a rustling sound in my ears, with a bit of melancholy. Wandering in the winding path leading to the secluded place, enjoying the beautiful scenery that Wawu Mountain gave to the world, I never thought that Wawu Mountain in the rain would have a unique scenery.

There are also some small animals in the forest that add to the aura of the scenery. It is said that a wild giant panda named "Wamei" is still often found in the Wawu Mountain Reserve. Whether you have the chance to see it depends on everyone's fate.

After stopping and stopping along the way, I saw many colorful and colorful flowers. If the weather was fine, the top of the mountain would still be a good place to watch the clouds of clouds and the sunrise. At that time, Wawu Mountain would also change its appearance and become more atmospheric and calm.

We walked along the pedestrian path and walked past Yuanxi Waterfall. Not far away is Xianger Mountain Villa. This is our lunch place and the end of this alpine area tour. If the weather is better, we can go all the way to Lanxi Waterfall and Yuanyang Pond. It's just that the fog is too thick today and the visibility is not high.

There is also a sculpture by the explorer Wilson at the entrance of Xianger Villa. He has come to China four times and entered the Hengduan Mountains three times for inspection. He is called by the Western world as "the man who opened the garden of western China." They set out from Leshan and traveled along the Jiajiang River. Go in the direction of Ya 'an and arrive in Hongya County. Later, he climbed Wawu Mountain for the first time. In the book "Naturalists in Western China", he wrote: "Looking from the top of Mount Emei, Wawu Mountain looks like a huge Noah's Ark, with its sides towering high among the clouds of clouds."
At the top of Wawu Mountain, Wilson was stunned by the scenery in front of him: "The top of Wawu Mountain is a slightly undulating plateau. It is decorated with tall rhododendron bushes, as well as remnants of fir trees and their young trees. Many rhododendrons grow on fallen and decaying fir trunks. Under the rhododendrons, moss grows wantonly, weaving a beautiful but unreliable carpet. Autumn peonies and primrose grow on some open spaces. There is a stream winding on the top of the mountain."
Wilson really couldn't find beautiful words to express it. He quoted the words of American natural scientist Babel and aptly described the top of Wawu Mountain as "the most magical natural park in the world."

Entering Wawu Mountain Scenic Area after 9 a.m., I was already hungry when I arrived at Xianger Mountain Villa. However, it offers a variety of delicious lunch options, and the price has not increased because of the scenic area. The per capita price of a delicious lunch is only around 60.

After lunch, we were also ready to go down the mountain and were amazed by the rich vegetation and natural conditions of Wawu Mountain.
Spring is the time when all things in Wawu Mountain flourish, and it is also the best time to enjoy flowers. On this May Day, you don't have to crowd people anymore, just go to the top of Wawu Mountain to experience the comfort of nature.

There are also these fun places around Wawu Mountain

Yanu Lake

After getting off the highway, I plunged into the depths of the mountains of Hongya County and drove through the dense virgin forest. Everything in the mountains of the rain was refreshing, and even the air was refreshing... Climbing along the winding mountain road to an altitude of 1100 meters, a mountain lake appeared. Winding and winding, lying here quietly, echoing the misty and misty Wawu Mountain in the distance, it seems to be a love between mountains and rivers that blend feelings and scenes. This is the little-known Yanu Lake.

She is not as famous as Mugecuo, but she is gentle and quiet, just like a graceful girl, making people calm and comfortable. Later, walking by the lake, she will be like a landscape picture of pastoral songs.

Here, the clouds will always be light and the wind will always be leisurely.

There is no crowded crowd here, nor is there the noise of heavy traffic, waiting for the clear wind and bright moon to live here. Push the door and see the mountains; go out and see the water.

Yanu Lake has a total length of 19 kilometers and a maximum water depth of more than 100 meters. The lake rises in winter and disappears in summer. Whenever the lake recedes, the relics of ancient villages are exposed, and people's life can be seen everywhere.

Putting aside these literary rhetoric, Yanu Lake is actually a very good stop at the foot of Wawu Mountain. You can leave from Chengdu on Friday and stay at the resort hotel on Yanu Lake for one night (the price is around 200). Then go up the mountain early the next morning to see the flowers.

Qiliping is about one and a half hours away from Wawu Mountain Scenic Area. It is located at the foot of the western mountain of Emei. It specializes in health tourism. Recently, it has also done some related tourism real estate projects. It has relatively complete tourist facilities. There is a landscape road about 3 kilometers long here. On both sides of the road are a long river of flowers, and flowers bloom all year round. The landscape avenue is built with dozens of scenic spots such as Xiancao Garden, Baihe Garden, Lubinghua Garden, Daqian Juexiang, Qinqin Bay, and Dutch Windmills. Here, you can be surrounded by flowers of flowers and shade. This is the essence of the beautiful scenery of the mountains and the epitome of Emei.

It is 1400 meters above sea level and surrounded by forests. Driving into the town gives you a feeling of contentment. There is the illusion of being in the Swiss Alps.

In addition to the natural scenery, the most resounding business card of Qiliping is the hot spring. The hot spring comes from 2500 meters underground and is rich in elements and trace elements with medical value such as strontium, fluorine, metaboric acid, and metasilicic acid, which is of great benefit to health.

Book a hot spring hotel in a small town (the price is about 300 yuan) and you will receive two hot spring tickets. You will be very comfortable to live and enjoy at the same time.

Some health concepts have been added to the hot springs, and various medicinal hot spring pools are very suitable for enjoying them when they are warm and cold. After soaking in the hot springs, you can also experience Qiliping's unique tofu fish.

concluding remarks

May Day is not far away. Have you already figured out how to spend these five-day holidays? Stop hesitating and come to Wawu Mountain. It has already put on pink spring clothes here, with gurgling water in the world as a skirt, and with the few clouds in the sky. It is the most beautiful April day in the world.

Blue sky, clear water, azaleas, and forest seas, every inch of Wawu Mountain is beautiful and lost. When you climb to the top of the mountain and face the sea of clouds, you will bring eternal grandeur into the beautiful four seasons.

May Day is not far away. Have you already figured out how to spend these five-day holidays? Stop hesitating and come to Wawu Mountain. It has already put on pink spring clothes here, with gurgling water in the world as a skirt, and with the few clouds in the sky. It is the most beautiful April day in the world.
Blue sky, clear water, azaleas, and forest seas, every inch of Wawu Mountain is beautiful and lost. When you climb to the top of the mountain and face the sea of clouds, you will bring eternal grandeur into the beautiful four seasons.