Home>>China Travel Guide>>Sichuan Travel Guide>> Huanglong

Xuebaoding Scenic Spot

Holy Wonderland

The Scenic Spot comprises of modem glaciers and glacier barrier lakes - the water divide and headstream of the Minjiang River and Fujiang River. In parallel to Xuebaoding are three mountains each at an elevation of 5,000m, and they, together with Mt. Muanglong and Xueshan Ridge, covers an area of 160 m2 and forms the southeast geographical barrier of Songpan. Xuebaoding Summit looks like a resplendent pyramid, effulgent and imposing, spectacular and revered. While appreciating glacier landscapes, tourists will also perceive the religious piety of Tibetan believers, and enjoy the pleasure of mountaineering and expedition.

Xuebaoding Summit

"Xuebaoding" means the "sun in summer and day in winter" in Tibetan language, or refers to the "Trumpet Shell Mountain in the East." With the highest elevation of 5,588m, it is the summit of the Minshan Mountain Range.
Xuebaoding is covered by snow all the year round, with 108 alpine lakes in craggy rocks and crisscross valleys. Virgin forests, lush shrubs and towering pines are where rare herb medicines grow, such as Frillitaria thunbergli, Rheum officinale, and Saussurea involucrate, and where wildlife lives, like goats, deer, and roes. On the west, north and south faces of the Xuebaoding Summit are precipitous cliffs. The east side, though a little more gentle in gradient, can terrify any attempt of mountaineers. Yet in 1986, the Sino-Japan Mountaineering Team successfully reached the top of the Summit.

Xueshan (Snow-Mount) Ridge

Located in the hinterland of Xuebaoding and at the headstream of the Fujiang River, Xueshan Ridge is, at an elevation of 4,00Om, the only road toward Huanglong Valley. Prayer banners in blue, yellow, green, red and white, correspond to the colors of heaven, earth, water, fire and cloud. On the banners are religious lections and patterns waving in the trail of winds, by means of which, devout Tibetan believers know how to convey their blessings of Nature worship.
The natural beauties of Huanglong are well preserved, having much to do with local Tibetans' belief in the Benbo Religion. Benbo worships natural gods that dominate all the natural phenomena like wind, rain, thunder, mountain, forest, and animals. This is the very reason that every mountain of Huanglong is named after a mountain god.
Xueshan Ridge forms on alpine carsts and glacier sediments, in the form of towering mountains, lofty peaks and craggy rocks. The main attraction is Taojin (gold mining) Valley, with layers of rugged precipices and stalactite grottos in peculiar shapes. The glacier lake of Zhangjia Valley appears as blue as sapphire. At Guandaoshi (sword-like cliff), tourists may collect the best view of distant mountains and deep valleys. Xueshan Ridge is not only a finest tour sight, but of high scientific values in exploring alpine carsts and modern glaciers.

Pilgrimage of the Snow Peak

Huanglong Valley, the Holy Wonderland in remote mountains, was first discovered by local Tibetans.
They are devout believers of Buddhism, and it is the most important activity for the pilgrims from afar in their life to pay their homage to the Holy Summit where heavenly beings have turned into beautiful mountains and waters that summon their piety at all time. On the snow-clad slopes of Xuebaoding, pilgrims stretch their bodies on the ground, moving a bit at a time towards their destination. They are measuring their disinterested devotion with their body, and are eventually rewarded: discovery of Xuebaoding, and a heavenly gift - Huanglong the Holy Wonderland.

Circling the Mountain

It is a special term among Buddhist believers who believe that, one circle around the holy mountain equals to reciting 1,000 times of the Buddhist 6-character incantation or 8-character Benbo incantation. It is a boundless beneficence.
It is said that Xuebaoding was initially discovered by Benbo Master Ani Park. Since his time, Benbo believers have followed his instruction and circled the Holy Summit counterclockwise, all the year round.

Kwan-yin Splash

It is also called the "Shouting Fountain", on the Yucui (jade) Peak. If you shout at the foot of the cliff, water drops will multiply its volume as long as your voice increases, making up a screen of waterfall until you stop. It is said that prayer mumbling of believers moved the Mountain God to splash this holy water to exorcise the believers' evil fortunes.
According to experts, this wonder worked out by acoustic vibration of the cliff air, thus delicately changing the sound waves. The water floating down the cliff comes from the underground water below, and with the action of a special sound field of high altitudes, it balances the air pressure at the same location. When the sound wave breaks the balance, the underground water is squeezed out, making such a wonderful vision.

Huanglong Glaciers

Glaciers, also called the Glacier Rivers, refer to a moving ice body formed on snow. Glacier Rivers are pouring down from this summit, in fine contrast to virgin forests and meadows below, creating a picture scroll surging forward in billowy waves.
Huanglong glaciers are characterized by their steepness, ruggedness, magnificence, weirdness and serenity. From ice erosion to moraine, you will witness the whole process that a complete glacier takes shape and demonstrates its unrivalled grace.