Yajiageng Hiking
Yajiafeng is called Ya Jia Geng in Chinese. It is a mountain pass between Kangding and Luding. Yjiageng is located 300km west to the city of Chengdu and it is a 5-hour drive to get to. A Yajiageng Hiking is next to the big mountain range of Minya Konka Massif at over 4000 meters. This is a true adventure within a short period of time near Chengdu. The hiking is in total wilderness and it provides chance to see 6000-meter and 7000-meter mountains. This is a challenging hiking at high altitude.
Yajiageng Hiking
Yajiageng Hiking
Yajiageng Hiking
Yajiageng Hiking
Location/Getting there
Yajiageng is not a tourist place. To get to Yajiafeng by public bus one needs to get to Kangding Bus Station first where you can buy tickets and get on bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station. You will arrive Kangding by around noon if you start early in Chengdu. After arrive at Kangding, you need to hire a car to get to Yajiageng for another 1 hour’s drive.
Another way is to hire car from us that we will take you directly to Yajiageng without the transit and trouble. And this hike is exclusively provided by us as no one else has provided any hiking packages there at Yajiageng that you can use.
Map of Yajiageng Hiking
About the Hiking
Hiking at Yajiageng involves walking at high altitude at over 4000 meters. The hiking trail is either animal trail or no trail at all on meadow terrain. The walk will be on gradual slope on mountain side at Yajiageng. You will be hiking at exposed place all the time. There are no trees around but just grass or low bushes. Start of hiking is by the side of road from around 3900m to 4050m for about 3km. It usually takes about 1.5 hours to 2 hours. Hiking end point is at a lake. If the hiking is too short for you, you can walk for another 2km to the lake above at around 4400m for another 2-3 hours and come back to camp overnight by the first lake. Coming back will be the same 4km by next day’s walking. All camping gears and food will carried up to the campsite for overnight. There is clean running water by the campsite.
About the Altitude
At the start of hiking the altitude is at 3900m, it is pretty high compared to other hikings. End of hiking is at 4050m by the first lake or 4400m by the second lake. Total elevation gain is about 150 meters or 500 meters. Usually it takes about 1-2 hours of walking time to reach the first lake. By this altitude mountain sickness is possible. You are recommended to take precautions.
Tips to avoid altitude sickness:
drink more water and keep yourself hydrated all the time
keep your warm clothes handy and ready to wear them when you are not moving
use a hat to protect your head against the wind
proper eating and sleeping at former night
extra base layer for changing if the other one gets wet
Hiking Season/Weather
This hiking is available all year round at Yajiageng except the spring snowfall season at sometimes in March and April. In the winter time there is possible snow but as it is usually a very dry place so snow is not often. It is still okay to walk on although you are recommended to bring some simple crampons for any icy part there may be. The other seasons are all fine to do this hiking. In late spring you will start to see green color of the mountain. In summer it is all green but weather becomes wet. Fall is dry and not too cold being the best season to hike.
The temperature at Yajiageng is at 0-5 C during day time while drops below -5C at night in winter and spring time. In Summer and Fall the temperature during day time can reach over 20C and at night above 0 C. Note there is a big difference on temperature between day time and night time at such altitude. It is often windy and weather changes quickly. Sun can get really strong so prepare sun block and sun-glasses.
Planning Ideas/Time Required
To do Yajiageng Hiking it requires a minimum of 2 days starting and ending in Chengdu.
The car ride from Chengdu to arrive at the hiking trail end is about 300km and takes 5 hours to get to. Normally one starts in the morning by 8am and will arrive there by noon. Plus a stop to eat lunch somewhere, you will normally start the walking by around 2pm. As it has said above the total walking is about 2km and 2 hours, you will arrive at campsite by around 4pm. Then you will stay one night there camping. The next morning after watch sunrise or walk to the second lake, or to do it the former afternoon if time allows. Walk back the same way and drive back the same way and arrive back Chengdu by around 5pm to 6pm.
Note that if you use public transport, you’d probably arrive the hiking trail end by around 4pm or later. And when you come back, there may not be buses going back to Chengdu so you will have to wait for another day.
You are recommended to hire a guide from us to do this hike. It is safe and time-efficient to hire guide/driver to do this hiking. This hike is exclusively provided by us as no one else has provided any hiking packages there at Yajiageng that you can use.
Ticket Information
There is no ticket required to enter Yajiageng.
There is no horse riding service available. There is no porter service available.
About Accommodations/Food of Hiking Yajiageng
Food
Before and after the hiking there are places where you can make stops along the way for lunch, to buy bottled water, snacks, etc. During the hiking, there are no restaurants, no hotels, no villages. It is complete wild place so you need to prepare your own food for 1 night and 1 breakfast, or to have your guide to prepare them for you if you use our service. For drinking water there is stream with drinkable water after treated that you can use.
Accommodation
Camping is the only option.
Names of locations/places of Yajiageng Hiking in Chinese and English
Yajiageng: 雅家梗
Xinnanmen Bus Station: 新南门汽车站
Luding Town: 泸定县
Kangding: 康定