Sitting next to Sichuan Basin and the eastern edge of West Sichuan Plateau, Four Sisters Mountain has abundant sunshine all year round with variable and spectacular scenery thanks to the high mountains on West Sichuan Plateau that shelter Four Sisters Mountain from being impacted by the West China Rainy Zone. With only over 200 kilometers from Chengdu city proper, Four Sisters Mountain is an excellent choice for a holiday with friends, where you can feel the nature in the mountains and think about the future under a starry sky.

▲ The scenery of Four Sisters Mountain

Led by a professional nature teacher from ApandaTour, we will help you understand the plants and wildlife living at different elevation ranges after we take you to Four Sisters Mountain via Balang Mountain. If the weather is good, we stay under the starry sky in Rilong Township, gazing at stars one after another like our ancestors with full of imagination. The next morning, we take you to Shuangqiao Valley located at the foot of Four Sisters Mountain to observe the geological phenomenons like Glacier Sediment, and tectonic movement, trying to understand the miracles created by earth and glaciers. We believe the two-day Astro-and-geo itinerary will give you a special experience.

▲ Snow-capped Mountain and Alpine Meadow 

Trip Targets

Full enjoyment from satisfying your curiosity：With nature wonders and our nature games, we hope to cultivate your curiosity and build up your interests;

Positive conception built upon practices：After understanding the fragility of the ecological environment on Plateau, we will have a strong awareness of environmental protection and practice it better;

In-depth learning enhanced by experiencing：Observe the wildlife and plants at different elevation ranges and learn their surviving wisdom. Gaze at the Milky Way in the starry sky and learn about Ursa Minor, and Ursa Major that tell us the directions and constellations visible in different seasons. Study geological phenomena such as rivers and glaciers and explore the causes that lead to the rugged landscape in Four Sisters Mountain.

▲ The Red Rocks in Shuangqiao Valley

Trip Highlights

1. A trip for wildlife and plants：Searching for alpine birds such as Himalayan Vulture, White-browed Rosefinch, Alpine Accentor, and Grandala, and alpine flowers such as blue poppies, primroses, and orchids;

2. A trip for Astro-observation：If weather is good, we will have stargazing at Rilong Township to look for some stars that can be identified such as the Polaris, the Plough, and the Cassiopeia. We will learn how those stars are named in China and the western countries and legend stories about those stars;

3. A trip for geological study：We get into Shuangqiao Valley to learn how the landscape of the Four Sisters Mountains having been shaped by ancient glaciers, and some special landscapes created by glaciers such as glacial lakes and U-shaped valleys through glacial erosion.

▲ Shuangqiao Valley Glacier Lake

▲ Tour Map

Day 1：Visit Balang Mountain and Stargazing.

In the morning, we board our bus to leave for Balang Mountain, experiencing the change of climate when we move from Sichuan Basin to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in route, we will have our camp-opening ceremony with introductions about the landscape in Sichuan and the beauty of nature. Lunch at Wolong Township.

In the afternoon, we observe the plants and birds in the lower and medium elevation of Balang Mountain with a possible encounter of local star bird——Golden Pheasant. 

In the evening, we drive to our guest house located at the foot of the Four Sisters Mountain.

At night, if the weather is good, we will have a stargazing program, observing the Milky Way and the constellations visible only in a certain season, for example, Leo, Bootes and Virgo in Spring season. If the weather is not good, we will arrange an indoor lecture on popular science and making stargaze bowls.

▲ Rich geological knowledge can be discovered in a short section of a river

Day 2：Our first geological exploration in Four Sisters Mountain.

In the morning, we drive to Shuangqiao Valley, which is one of the scenery spots there, to appreciate its stunning scenery and learn about the unique geological phenomenons such as glacial deposit, and inversion of relief with a possible encounter of alpine birds like Snow Pigeon and Grandala.

In the afternoon, we return to Chengdu from Four Sisters Mountain with what we have learned during the trip.

▲ Typical scrapings from glacial movement in Shuangqiao Valley

Location： Balang Mountain, Shuangqiao Valley of Four Sisters Mountain

Dates： The first trip is April 20-21, the second， May 4-5, and the third May 11-13 in 2024. This trip can be customized

Target Participants： Children alone above 12 or Families ok with high altitude

Trip Size：10-15pax, Minimum 10 pax

Trip Price：200USD/Pax, same price for adults and children

The price includes： transportation to our destination from Chengdu and back, one night's stay, the expense for teachers, service charges, meals during the trip, material preparation, and travel accident insurance

The price does not include：expenses of personal nature, and any items not being specified as being included in the itinerary

Binoculars：We provide every participant a pair of binoculars to use for free during the trip

About Hotel：Local guesthouse at Four Sisters Mountain ( one twin-bed room for one family, for children without a parent, arrange room-sharing according to the actual situation. In principle, we do not use one room for one single child. If parent hopes to use a single room, the single supplement is 25USD/pax ) .

Transportation：We rent a registered tour bus for the transportation of all participants during the trip.

Food：Local popular dishes with a balanced selection of meat and vegetable dishes.

Safety Measures：

1. All around process control and safety check before the start of the trip.

2. Staff with AHA first aid certificate and first aid kit during the whole trip.

3. Detailed rules and reminders for the trip and ensure all the participating parents and children know them.

4. Measures for epidemic prevention：we will prepare epidemic prevention materials such as surgery masks, pure alcohols, hand sanitizer, and thermometer. We will have a temperature check before the start of our trip activities.