SCYTS-15: 27-DAY BIRDING TO HAILUOGOU, MUGECUO AND MINGYA GONGGA

Hailuogou is The eastest and lowest modern glacier In Asia, with an area of 200 square kilometers. It stretches from 7756m (the Holy Top of Mingya Gongka-Gongga Shan Mountain) to 2850m above sealevel, and stretches into the forest for 6 km. Because of movements of the glacier, many icefalls have been formed, one of them is 1080 meters  high, with a width 500 to 1100 meters, and which is the biggest icefall in China. The glaciers of this area appear in all kinds of shapes: some look like bridges, some look like bears, some like mushrooms. There are also many hot springs in this area. Because of the changes of Elevations and
that there are many forests here, there are also many species of birds here such as Terminck's Tragpan, White-eared Pheasant, Golden Pheasant and other birds.

Mugecuo is an area with multi-colored lakes, hot springs, azalea Forests, grasslands and beautiful mountain sceneries. Like Hailuogou, Because of
the changes of Elevations and that there are many forests here, there are also many species of birds here such as Terminck's Tragpan, White-eared Pheasant, Golden Pheasant, Mrs'Gold's Sunbird and many Other species of birds.

Mingya Gonga is located in the west of Sichuan Province ,and among Kangding, Luding, Simian and Jiulong. The highest peak of this mountain is 7556 meters above sea level. Mingya Gonga in Tibetan means Ever White. On both sides of Mingya Gonga are two very big rivers: Yalong River and Dadu River. Because of the warm humid air from Dadu River, there are rains all the year round, and it's quite warm in the lower areas. The atmosphere changes a lot from the foot of the mountain to the top. So people say that there are four seasons in the mountain at the same time and there are different skies in 10 square kilometers area.
From the lower areas of the mountain to the middle areas of the mountain,the plants changes vertically. There are more than 4500 species of plants in these areas, and lots of animals and birds including Giant Pandas, Takins,Brown Pandas,Golden Monkeys,Brown Bears,White-lipped deers, Snow leopards, White-eared pheasants, Terminck's Tragopans, Chinese Monals,etc..

Day 1:Arrive Chengdu from Hong Kong or other places.
Overnight at Chengdu Hotel
Day 2:Chengdu/Hanyuan(319km)                  Overnight at Hanyuan Hotel
Day 3:Hanyuan/Hai Lou Gou Glacier Park:The eastest and lowest modern glacier In Asia,with an area of 200 square kilometers.It stretches from 7756m(the Holy Top of Mingya Gongka-Gongga Shan Mountain) to 2850m above sealevel, and stretches into the forest for 6 km.Because of movements of the glacier,many icefalls have been formed,one of them is 1080 meters  high, with a width 500 to 1100 meters,and which is the biggest icefall in China. The glaciers of this area appear in all kinds of shapes:some look like bridges, some look like bears, some like mushrooms.There are also many hot springs in this area. Because of the changes of Elevations and that there are many forests here, there are also many species of birds here such as Terminck's Tragpan,White-eared Pheasant, Golden Pheasant and other birds.
                                               Overnight at Local Hotel
Day 4:Hailuogou Glacier Park:                  Overnight at Local Hotel
Day 5:Hailuogou Glacier Park:                  Overnight at Local Hotel
Day 6: Hailuogou Glacier Park:                 Overnight at Local Hotel
Day 7:Hailuogou Glacier Park:                  Overnight at Local Hotel
Day 8:Drive to Kangding(Datsedo): Dartsedor is the historic border town and gateway to Tibet.It is the capital of Kanze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,and it is surrrouded by mountains in three sides and two rivers flow through it.The elevation of which is 2600m.Since 1253,it has been a very important town between Sichuan and Tibet.Visit Yellow Hat Ngachu Monastery.This monastery was founded in 1653 A.D.Visit Local Market and have hot spring bath.
                                             Overnight at Kangding Hotel
Day 9:Drive to Mugechuo:An area with multi-colored lakes,hot springs,azalea Forests,grasslands and beautiful mountain sceneries. Like Hailuogou, Because of the changes of Elevations and that there are many forests here,there are also many species of birds here such as Terminck's Tragpan,White-eared Pheasant,Golden Pheasant,Mrs'Gold's Sunbird and many Other species of birds. 
Overnight at Mugechuo Hotel
Day10/11:Mugechuo:                           Overnight at Mugechuo Hotel
Day12:Sightseeing Mugechuo in the morning and drive to Kangding in the
      afternoon.                             Overnight at Kangding Hotel
Day13:Kangding/ Liuba Commune: Preparing horses and Local Tibetan horseman.
                       Overnight at very simple Liuba commune or camping
Day14:(Begin to trek)Toards Zimei Shan                           Camping
Day15:Trekking to Zimei Shan(4700m)                              Camping
Day16:Trekking towards Zimei Zhai Hamlet                         Camping
Day17: (Trekking)Birding Zimei Zhai Hamlet areas                 Camping
Day18:(Trekking)to Gongka Gomba                  Overnight at the temple
      (In April 1994,I saw hundreds of White-eared phesants outside the window of the Monastery in the morning when I looks outside.)
Day19:Birding Gongka Gompa areas.                Overnight at the temple
Day20:(Trekking)cross Longgeman(4500m) towards Yulong Xi         Camping
Day21: (Trekking)to Yulong Xi                                    Camping
Day22:(Trekking)to Yulong Yak Farm                               Camping
Day23(Trekking):to Yuling Yak Farm                               Camping
Day24:Trekking to Laoyulin and then vehicle to Kanding.
Overnight at Kangding Hotel
Day25:Kangding/Yaan.                             Overnight at Yaan Hotel
Day26:Yaan/Chengdu.                           Overnight at Chengdu Hotel