The Flame of the Plateau: Red Sequoia Forest and the Glacial Symphony at the End of Shuangqiao Valley

The Final Aria of the Shuangqiao Valley

1.Located at the very end of the Shuangqiao: Valley in the Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain) Scenic Area, the Red Sequoia Forest (Hongshanlin) stands as the magnificent finale of this alpine journey. Situated at an altitude of approximately 3,840 meters, this scenic spot is surrounded by mountains on three sides, creating a natural amphitheater of snow peaks and dense forests. It serves as the terminus for the scenic area's sightseeing bus, offering visitors effortless access to a world that feels completely detached from the mundane. Here, the landscape transforms into a dramatic display of vertical zones: towering jagged peaks pierce the sky above, massive glaciers extend their icy tongues downwards, and at the base, a sea of ancient trees creates a sanctuary of silence and beauty. It is often hailed as the "Best Place for Autumn Colors in the Eastern Alps," where the vibrancy of life meets the eternal cold of the ice age,,,.

2.A Living Fossil: The Sichuan Red Sequoia

3.The soul of this attraction is the Sichuan: Red Sequoia (Larix mastersiana), a unique and endemic species to the region, classified as a national grade II protected plant. These trees are often referred to as "living fossils" left over from the Fourth Glacial Period. Unlike typical vegetation, the Sichuan Red Sequoia grows tall and straight, with reddish-brown bark that gives the forest a warm, rugged texture. The trees form a dense forest covering hundreds of acres, with some ancient specimens dating back over a century. Walking along the wooden boardwalks that wind for kilometers through the forest, visitors can observe the thick moss covering the ground and the gnarled roots gripping the earth, breathing in air rich with negative oxygen ions. This "natural oxygen bar" offers a refreshing and cleansing experience for the lungs, allowing travelers to deeply immerse themselves in the pristine highland ecology,,,,.

4.A Canvas of Seasons: From Emerald to Flame

5.The visual allure of the Red Sequoia: Forest changes dramatically with the seasons, making it a year-round destination for photographers. In spring and summer, the forest is a lush ocean of emerald green, with tender shoots offering a vibrant contrast to the stark grey and white of the surrounding rocky peaks. However, the most spectacular season is undoubtedly autumn (typically October). During this time, the needles of the sequoias turn from green to gold and finally to a fiery red. The entire valley floor appears to be ablaze, earning it the nickname "The Flame of the Plateau." This riot of warm colors contrasts sharply with the blue sky and the snowy peaks above, creating a three-dimensional oil painting that is visually arresting. In winter, the forest sheds its needles and becomes cloaked in silver snow, transforming into a solemn, silent world of white, where the dark red trunks stand out against the ice, offering a stark, poetic beauty,,,.

Glaciers and Legends under the Sacred Peaks

6.Standing in the Red Sequoia: Forest, visitors are treated to a panoramic view of majestic glaciers, including the Jade Hare Peak (Yutu Feng) and the Hunter Peak (Lieren Feng). The glaciers here hang precipitously from the cliff faces, and in summer, meltwater cascades down forming spectacular waterfalls that feed the streams winding through the forest. Culturally, this area is steeped in Jiarong Tibetan lore. The forest is revered as a "Red Forest Holy Land." Legends say that the four beautiful mountain goddesses threw fire seeds to protect the valley from demons, and these seeds grew into the red sequoia trees, standing as eternal guardians. Local Tibetans revere these trees as incarnations of mountain deities. Visitors will often find Mani stone piles and colorful prayer flags fluttering among the trees, where locals perform "Wei Sang" (burning aromatic plants) rituals to pray for harvest and safety, adding a layer of spiritual mystery to the natural grandeur,,.