Siguniangshan National Parks

The Third and Fourth Girls of Mount Siguniang

Siguniangshan National Park (四姑娘山国家公园 - lit: Four Girl Mountain National Park) is in Aba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province.

Understand

Mount Siguniang National Park lies 220km west of Chengdu, in the Qionglai Mountains of western Sichuan in China. The park is comprised of Mount Siguniang itself and the three most accessible valleys surrounding it. The nearest town is Rilong (日隆镇). The three valleys are called Changping Valley (长坪沟), Haizi Valley (海子沟) and Shuangqiao Valley (双桥沟). The first two lie adjacent to Siguniangshan, whilst the Shuangqiao Valley is 7km west of Rilong. The Changping and Haizi Valleys are accessable only by non-motorized transport while the third valley has a paved road and is where most of the tourists visit. The Shuangqiao Valley also has 28km of boardwalk extending to the valley's end, whilst the first 3km of the Changping Valley is equipped with a boardwalk.

History

Mount Siguniang National Park was approved for establishment in 1994 by the State Council of the People's Republic of China. An application for World Heritage status as part of the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuary: Wolong, Mt. Siguniang and Jiajin Mountains was submitted to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), leading to its inscription as a World Heritage site in 2006. The National Park is a category II national park under the IUCN’s Management Categories of Protected Areas.

Flora and fauna

Because of its geographical location and diversified landforms, Siguniang Mountain is home to a diversity of animals, many of which are rated in China as first-class protected species. Its mammals include the Sichuan golden monkey, white-lipped deer, clouded leopard, snow leopard and occasional giant panda. It is also home to a number of iconic birds, such as the Chinese monal pheasant, Chinese hazel grouse, bearded vulture, Sichuan pheasant partridge, Tibetan snow-cock, and blood pheasant. Over 1000 plant species have been recorded in the national park.

Fees/Permits

Each valley has a different entry fee for both the high and low season. Haizigou (entrance: ¥60 and ¥40 in off-season, Dec. 1 - March 30), Changpinggou (entrance: ¥70 and ¥50 in off-season, Dec. 1 - March 30) and Shuangqiaogou (entrance: ¥80 and ¥50 in off-season, Dec. 1 - March 30)

Buy

A number of products are unique to this area. Sea Buckthorn（shājíshǔ; 沙棘属), a tree that grows along the riverbanks, produces berries that are used in a number of products. Visitors can try the locally-made sea buckthorn juice, sold in small cans or as a powder. The berries are also used to make various types and strengths of alcohol (shājíjiǔ; 沙棘酒), which can be purchased at most shops in the main street of Rilong. There is also a locally-made red wine that can be purchased for around 120 yuan from liquor shops. Dried yak can be purchased in vacuum-sealed packets from many shops, in addition to a large number of other Tibetan-style souvenirs. During spring, Caterpillar Fungus (chóngcǎo; 虫草) can be purchased from street vendors in Rilong and around the region. Caterpillar Fungus is a traditional Chinese medicine, and sells for 20-50 Yuan per caterpillar, however in Rilong it is collected from within the World Heritage site, depriving some native animals of a natural food source. Refrain from buying this unusual product if you can.

Eat

Rilong has a number of excellent restaurants serving Sichuan-style food. There are also good restaurants in the Shuangqiao Valley 7km to the west, including a number of tasty, but less unique, restaurants outside the gate to the Shuangqiao Valley.

• Sisters Restaurant (姐妹饭店; Jiě​mèi Fàn​diàn), Rilong. Serves excellent traditional Sichuan food, and allows non-chinese speakers to point at the ingredients on display out the front.

• The Bamboo Chicken Restaurant (竹香鸡饭店; Zhúxiāngjī Fàn​diàn), Rilong. Specializes in chicken and bamboo hotpot.

• Douhua Fish Hotpot Restaurant (豆花鱼火锅; Dòu​huāyú Huǒ​guō), Rilong.

• Cow Shed (牛棚子饭店; Niúpéng​zi Fàn​diàn), Shuangqiao Valley. The most unique restaurant in the national park serving traditional Tibetan food, including freshly-baked bread with yak butter, yak and potato stew, and yak butter tea.

Drink

• Icedrock Bar (冰石酒吧; Bingshi Jiuba), Changping Village (turn right toward the Changping Valley as you come in to Rilong, go past the tourist centre and along the river, the bar is close to the Changping Valley entrance gate), ☎ +0086-837-2791747 ([email protected]), [1]. Has the only espresso coffee machine in Siguniangshan, along with the expertise to use it. The owners hand-roast their own coffee beans, bake their own bread and have valuable advice and interesting stories about the area. There is also a computer with internet and Wi-Fi, drum kit, guitars and stereo with a broad music selection for visitors wanting to jam.

Get out

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!