Just got back from Siguniang Mountain on 9.22, 5 days with an average cost of 1000+ per person. Just shook the poplar leaves off my hiking boots and couldn’t resist sharing this guide! September in

9.22📍Just returned from Siguniang Mountain, 5 days with an average cost of 1000+ per person. Just shook the poplar leaves off my hiking boots and had to share this guide! September in Western Sichuan is truly amazing — the entire Xianuoduoji Snow Mountain is fully visible, took 30 photos at Milk Sea with no passersby, had the Yuzixi sunset viewing platform all to myself, drank Tibetan milk tea for 3 days straight without getting tired of it, and best of all, no altitude sickness throughout. This post reveals the 5-day itinerary, gear list, and tips to avoid pitfalls. If you’re ready to go, just copy this👇
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🌟 First, let me rave! Three “divine reasons” to visit Daocheng Yading in September:
Ridiculously few people! 60% fewer tourists than summer vacation, fewer than 10 people on long hikes, exclusive use of the wooden plank road at Luorong Pasture for snow mountain photos (went on Wednesday, only greeted 2 photographers the whole way); no need to reserve spots at Yuzixi No. 2 viewing platform for sunset, sit wherever you want.
Perfect autumn vibes without peak season crowds! The meadows at Muya Sacred Land turn light gold, one-third of the poplar trees in Letong Ancient Town, Litang have turned yellow, the red grassland at Sangdui Town is just starting to blush like a scattered velvet carpet; the fir trees behind Chonggu Temple are half green, half yellow, looking like a “natural palette.”
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🚗 September exclusive 5-day 4-night itinerary (no rush, easy on the legs, 8 hours of sleep daily)
D1: Chengdu - Kangding - Provincial Road 434 - Gaersi/Zheqing Temple - Yuzixi/Gedilamu - Xinduqiao/Yajiang
D2: Xinduqiao - 18 Bends of the Sky Road - Letong Ancient Town - Shangri-La Town
D3: Yading Scenic Area day tour - Daocheng Town
D4: Daocheng - Litang - Xinduqiao - Moxi Park - Bamei/Danba
D5: Bamei/Danba - Siguniang Mountain - Chengdu
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🎒 September gear & pitfalls to avoid (learned the hard way! Don’t bring the wrong stuff)
✅ Must-have list (for altitude sickness + hiking)
🌼 Clothing: quick-dry shirt + thin fleece + windproof shell jacket (layer up! Take off fleece at noon, add it in morning and evening) + dark khaki hiking pants (no shorts! Meadows have small thorns that poke legs) + mid-cut non-slip hiking shoes (choose light colors, they don’t steal the spotlight in photos)
🌼 Hiking essentials: trekking poles (save 30% knee effort), knee pads (essential for climbing 4600m Milk Sea), 20L small backpack (carry 2L water + chocolate, don’t go too big! I carried 30L and my shoulders hurt)
🌼 Altitude sickness & sun protection: oxygen canister (buy in Shangri-La Town for 10 yuan/can, 25 yuan in scenic area), Rhodiola (start taking 3 days in advance), SPF50+ sunscreen (UV rays in September can cause peeling), sunglasses + face scarf (protects from wind and “plateau redness”)
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❌ Pitfalls to avoid (don’t fall for these!)
Don’t hike too early! Entering the scenic area at 7:30 is just right; too early and the plank road is wet with dew. I saw someone wearing white sneakers and almost slipped (wear non-slip hiking shoes!)
Don’t miss Tibetan milk tea! The milk tea at “Tibetan Courtyard” guesthouse in Xinduqiao is richer than in the scenic area, tastes better with added butter, don’t skip it because you’re afraid of getting tired of it (10 yuan/pot, enough for 2 people)
Don’t buy snacks in Yading! Hot food at Luorong Pasture warms you better than instant noodles. Buy chocolate in advance at Litang supermarket, it’s half the price of the scenic area~