Niubei Mountain

Niubei Mountain is located at the border of Yingjing County and Luding County in Ya’an City, Sichuan Province. It belongs to the Erlang Mountain range and serves as the watershed between the Qingyi River and the Dadu River. With an elevation of 3,666 meters at its summit, it offers a 360-degree viewing platform. Legend has it that Laozi, the ancient Chinese philosopher, thinker, writer, and historian who founded Taoism, rode his green ox westward through Hangu Pass and traveled here. Upon seeing the surrounding mountains, snow-capped peaks, and the central prominence, he deemed it an ideal place for enlightenment and spiritual cultivation, thus settling here permanently. One day, the green ox emitted a mysterious glow as Laozi ascended to immortality. His mount then chose this blessed land to lie down and transform into Niubei Mountain. Empowered by the continuous divine energy of the surrounding sacred mountains, the sky manifested an auspicious purple aura from the east. Soon after, the mountaintop revealed the breathtaking “Six Wonders” celestial phenomena, bringing hope and happiness to this land and its inhabitants—hence the name Niubei Mountain. Transportation route: From the Luding direction, visitors can drive directly to the Niubei Mountain Changhaizi parking lot and transfer to the attraction’s shuttle vehicles to enter. From the Yingjing direction, visitors must gather at the Niubei Mountain East Visitor Center (Shuanglin, Niubei Mountain Town) for dispersal. To ensure visitor safety, only professional travel agency teams are currently accepted from the Yingjing direction. Best time for photography: Each season offers unique scenery. From spring to summer, flowers like azaleas, primroses, and Himalayan blue poppies bloom across the landscape. Summer brings cool temperatures and ever-changing sea of clouds, while autumn showcases vibrant red foliage. Winter transforms the area into a snowy wonderland with frost-covered trees. The recommended period for visiting Niubei Mountain is from October to May, when the mountaintop enjoys dry air and frequent clear skies – making it the ideal time to witness the majestic Gongga Snow Mountain and breathtaking cloud formations. Location and area: Niubei Mountain covers a planned area of 394 square kilometers, with a core zone spanning 90 square kilometers. It consists of the existing 360-degree viewing platform, Sirentong, Shuanglin (Niubei Mountain East Visitor Center), and Changhaizi (Niubei Mountain West Visitor Center). The core zone is located in Niubei Mountain Town, Yingjing County, Ya’an City, Sichuan Province.