Free snow mountain fun for families! Brave the high altitude with kids in November, super healing
Thanks to Chuan Chao for helping us grab free tickets! Save 120💰, unlock the beautiful high-altitude snow mountain scenery with kids, much easier than expected~
(There’s still a chance to grab free tickets on 11.15, family groups go for it!)
Dagu Glacier is truly stunning, with continuous snow mountains, even more suitable for kids than Yulong Snow Mountain. We played for 8.5 hours, watching the sea of clouds in the morning and enjoying the golden sunlight on the mountain in the afternoon. The kids were excited the whole time.
⚠️ Important: This is a snow mountain, not a glacier! Be sure to distinguish it from the Laigu Glacier area, don’t take the kids to the wrong place~
⭐ Family travel tips highlight: tickets + clothing + meals + scenery + self-guided tour, all in one stop!
1️⃣ Ticket prices (family money-saving tips)
Ticket 120 RMB (children under 1.2 meters free)
➕ Round-trip sightseeing bus 70 RMB (must buy! About 1 hour one way, like a bus, smooth and comfortable, kids won’t get carsick)
➕ Round-trip cable car 180 RMB (some platforms 160 RMB, cable car holds 8 people, 15 minutes one way, ⚠️ check cable car maintenance schedule in advance to avoid wasted trips)
= Package ticket on platform 365 RMB, guesthouse 335 RMB, we got it for 230 RMB! Great value for traveling with kids
2️⃣ Family clothing guide (focus on warmth and comfort)
Temperature reference: check Heishui County weather forecast, official accounts can also be consulted. When we went, the official forecast was -1 to 5°C, Heishui 0-12°C
⛰️ The mountaintop is not as cold as imagined! Thought those who wore less on Xiaohongshu were just toughing it out, but it really wasn’t cold, especially when the sun was out it felt warm.
There are coats for rent on the mountaintop (50 RMB), bring one for the kids in case of sudden weather changes.
Family outfit reference:
Tops: kids wear base knitwear + thin sweater + thin down jacket (can add or remove anytime); adults wear base knitwear + sweater jacket + thin down jacket + cotton coat (can take off for photos)
Pants: kids wear heattech thermal pants + fleece pants; adults wear heattech thermal pants + fleece + wool skirt (or long pants)
Shoes: whole family wears non-slip Martin boots + thick socks 🧦 (warm and non-slip, safe for hiking)
❤️ Family essentials: sunglasses (to prevent snow blindness) + hat + scarf + waterproof gloves (must-have for playing in snow with kids) + oxygen (essential for high altitude, bring portable for kids)
3️⃣ Family-friendly dining recommendations
There is only one building on the mountaintop, a rest area at the cable car base with floor-to-ceiling windows to view the snow mountains, kids can rest and enjoy the scenery.
Inside one side is the Cloud Supply Station (reasonable prices), second floor is a popular coffee shop, great for photos, kids can have hot drinks and snacks.
Lunch recommendations (kid-friendly): instant noodles (plenty of hot water, convenient and quick, kids love it) + grilled sausage (firm meat) + cured ribs (not spicy, very fragrant)
4️⃣ Must-see scenery on and off the mountain for families
On the mountain check-in spots (3, easy to visit with kids)
Photo under the national flag (patriotic education from a young age, kids very serious)
➕ 4860 monument (about 15 min queue for photos, record the high altitude moment with kids)
➕ Tear Lake (walk down and back up the plank road, some altitude sickness, slippery path, lake is frozen, walk slowly with kids, be careful)
Off the mountain scenery (the sightseeing bus stops, tell the driver in advance to get off with kids for photos)
Rangu Lake, Loge Sacred Mountain, Lover’s Beach, Dagu Lake, Zhong Dagu Tibetan Village, Golden Monkey Sea! Every spot is beautiful, let kids experience the beauty of nature and learn about different landforms.
5️⃣ Family self-guided tour tips
⭐ Time reference: arrive at the scenic area at 10 AM, cable car station at 11 AM, reach the mountaintop at 11:25 AM, take cable car down at 4 PM (don’t be too late or you won’t have time to visit the spots below), play and explore along the way, arrive at the scenic area entrance at 6:15 PM
⭐ Travel arrangement: stay two nights at Qicai Jiazu Tibetan Village, 3 km from the scenic area, 15 km from the county town, convenient transportation
Take the bus to Heishui, guesthouse owner picks you up, very hassle-free! The next day visit Dagu Glacier, have yak hotpot at the guesthouse in the evening (kids love the tender beef), on the third day early morning the hotel owner takes us to Heishui bus station, direct to Chengdu, no need to worry about planning the whole trip.