Searching for the dark night sky - 3-day trip through the Genyen Snow Mountain

The biting cold wind in the mountains and the stream flowing in the forest.
Snow-capped mountains piled up by glaciers and grasslands scattered with cattle and sheep.
The warm night sky with stars embellishes the night of meteor shower.

What attracted me the most about the name of Mount Genyen was not its mysterious or time-travel attributes, but the fact that it is located in the heart of the cross-section and has little light pollution. It is the dark night starry sky of level 1 of the Botel spectrum that we have been looking for.

This will be a road trip deep into the heart of Hengduan and to the stars. Under the light and dark conditions of magnitude 7.6-8, those hidden stars began to be discovered by us. (Just a joke, there are so many stars that I need to carefully locate the North Star) Starting from Shangri-La, driving all the way from the canyon to the top of the mountain, from the primeval forest to the golden grassland under the snow-capped mountains, from the glacier relics to the world's highest city Litang, this is a road out of Yunnan

Take the loop line to western Sichuan, avoid the congestion of Route 318, and enjoy the pure wilderness.

This time we will have a three-day trip around the Genyen Snow Mountain, the Shaluli Mountain, and the Haizi Mountain. (There are Tibetan houses of different styles along the way, which will make people feel that the lifestyles of people separated by mountains are also very different.)

On the first day, we will rest in Shangri-La and set out from the canyon (if you have altitude sickness, you need to acclimate to the altitude in advance when setting out from Shangri-La). We will pass through the dry and hot valley of the Jinsha River with sparse vegetation, cross the primeval forest with good ecology, cross the Laozhelongba Pass to see the main peak of Genyen, and arrive at the hinterland of Genyen in the afterglow of the setting sun. We will look for a small village sandwiched between two mountains, where the local Tibetan people live. (I like what they say, "Blond-haired and blue-eyed foreigners, from the other side of the sea". The guests from the plains bring many stories from the outside world, which are more attractive than the legends in the mountains.") To watch the stars at night, we will sit on the grass (or on the rooftop of the inn; maybe sit by the stove in the inn and look through the window You can drink hot tea (or wine) and look for nebulae or galaxies that can be seen in this season with your naked eyes. You can also run the half-marathon of Messier celestial bodies that can be seen in this season. The moon phase on that day is 12% of the crescent moon. You can watch the moon set over the snow-capped mountains, take photos, and talk about the stars. Without so many constraints, you can sit opposite the snow-capped mountains and enjoy the moonlight and starlight leisurely. Fireballs may also pass by. The Quadrantid meteor shower will come next year (although it often fails, it is still possible to have fireballs). In the dark night without the interference of moonlight, count the first meteors of the new year.

On the second day, we set out for the Eye of Genyen, where we can see the peaks surrounding us. At the end of the desolate meadow are the sacred mountains of Genyen, Xiaozha and Cameroon. On the way back, we looked back at the peaks at the Tiejiangshan Pass and took a look at the world's largest ancient ice body. We crossed the Maoya grassland and arrived at Litang, the world's highest city, in the sunset that dyed the earth golden. (I think we have time to lie down on the withered grass at noon, with our backs pressed tightly against the ground, basking in the warm sun, looking at the sacred mountains in the distance, listening to the bells on the cows, looking for the eagles on the snow-capped mountains to fly in the sky, and feeling the connection with nature. If you like hiking, you can walk the 8-kilometer canyon section and spend 3 hours to see the ancient temple that is said to be a thousand years old.)

On the third day, stroll around the ancient town of Letong in the morning (very small), sit in Changqingchun Coles, and listen to the monks' chanting. Set off under the warm sun and cross Haizi Mountain. Arrive in Xiangcheng in the afternoon. It is said that there is also the dream of Shambhala. See the most beautiful white Tibetan house under the sacred mountain of Bamu, walk the most difficult crossing line of the big and small snowy mountains (now it is paved), see the steep peaks on the east slope of Balagzong, and return to Shangri-La to find a dark night to wait for the first Quadrantid meteor shower of the new year (although he often stands up).

Itinerary: This trip takes about 3 days (there is no signal on most sections of the road, so it is recommended to arrange your work in advance)

Departure time: 2025.01.03
Departure location: Shangri-La (you need to stay in a place with a relatively high altitude one day in advance to adapt to the high altitude in advance)
D1: Shangri-La - Derong - Bomi Township (passing through the primeval forest) - Zeba Village (see the main peak of Genyen)
D2: Zeba Village - Eye of Genyen - Blacksmith Mountain Pass - Litang (the highest city in the world)
D3: Litang - Haizi Mountain (passing by) - Xiangcheng (Tianyuan Baizang House) - Big and Small Snow Mountains (see the Big and Small Snow Mountains at the junction of Sichuan and Yunnan + Bamu Sacred Mountain + the eastern slope of Balagezong) - Shangri-La trip ends (if there is heavy snow in the first few days, in order to prevent hidden ice, we will return through the canyon)
Note: On the return trip on the third day, you will pass by Daocheng Yading Airport, where you can take a flight to end your trip

The activity fee includes: car rental, fuel, tolls, tour guide fees, starry sky explanations, telescope use, refreshments, fruits, and insurance.

Other expenses that need to be shared (not included in the activity fee): accommodation expenses, meal expenses, attraction tickets,

Note: Other shopping and other personal expenses are at your own expense.

Accommodation conditions:
The conditions in Tibet are difficult. There are ordinary standard rooms of 100-200, and there are also standard rooms of 300-500 with oxygen and heating. You can negotiate and decide on your budget.
Lunch and dinner, original yak beef hotpot or native chicken hotpot, stir-fried dishes, 50-80/person

Travel vehicle:
Check the weather before departure. If it is sunny, drive an SUV. If it snows, drive a hardcore off-road vehicle.

Tips
1. When crossing the Snow Mountain Pass, the altitude is over 4500 meters, the wind is strong and the temperature is low, so you must take good cold protection and warm measures
2. Accommodation conditions in Genyen are limited, and the accommodation location is 3,800 meters above sea level.
3. The weather in western Sichuan is dry and the sunshine is strong in winter, so please bring sunscreen and moisturizing products.