Tu'er Mountain Viewing Point: The Rabbit Ears Piercing the Sky and the Ancient Glacial Wilderness

The Sentinel of the Plateau

Located at the junction of Litang County and Batang County in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, Tu'er Mountain Viewing Point (Tu'er Mountain Pass) stands as a formidable gateway on the Sichuan-Tibet line. Situated at an altitude of approximately 4,690 meters, this pass is not merely a high point on the road but a geological spectacle. The mountain gets its charming name, which translates to "Rabbit Mountain," from a distinctive rock formation at the summit. Two tall, upright rocky pillars rise sharply from the desolate peak, bearing an uncanny resemblance to a pair of rabbit ears pricked up in alertness, as if listening to the whispers of the wind from the ancient plateau,.

A Legend of the Mountain God

Despite the rugged and harsh environment, Tu'er Mountain is steeped in local legend and spirituality. In the days of the ancient Tea Horse Road, this pass was a perilous barrier that caravans had to overcome. The "Rabbit Ears" are not just rocks to the locals; they are revered as the incarnation of a mountain god or guardian deity. Legend holds that these stone ears serve as the listening posts for the deity, protecting the pilgrims, merchants, and travelers who brave the thin air and steep ascents to cross the pass. Prayer flags (Lungta) flutter violently in the high-altitude wind around the Mani stone piles at the viewing platform, marking it as a site of spiritual significance where travelers pause to pray for a safe journey,.

A Wilderness of Ice and Stone

1.The landscape surrounding: Tu'er Mountain is a stark, primitive display of Highland Aesthetics. It is part of the Haizi Mountain National Nature Reserve, renowned for its ancient glacial remains. Standing at the viewing point, visitors are surrounded by a vast, desolate wilderness scattered with glacial erratics and "sheepback" stones (roches moutonnées) left behind by the retreat of the Quaternary ice sheet. The terrain is rugged, with moss and lichen clinging to the granite boulders, creating a scene often compared to the surface of another planet. Scattered across this glacial wasteland are small, crystal-clear glacial erosion lakes that reflect the sky and the jagged peaks, adding a touch of vitality to the barren environment.

The Thrill of the "Heavenly Road"

2.Reaching the: Tu'er Mountain Viewing Point is an adventure in itself. The road leading up to the pass involves navigating a series of sharp, winding turns that test the skill of any driver. The viewing platform offers a panoramic vista of this engineering marvel, allowing travelers to look back at the ribbon-like highway coiling through the deep valleys. The air here is thin and pure, offering exceptional visibility on clear days. Whether you are capturing the dramatic silhouette of the Rabbit Ears against a deep blue sky or gazing down at the winding road cutting through the glacial debris, Tu'er Mountain offers a profound sense of conquest and the raw beauty of the Sichuan-Tibet "Heavenly Road",.