Xichang Xiaoxiangling Hike | Flower Sea, Ink Lake, Yi Village Charm

| Flower Sea, Ink Lake, Yi Village Charm. ‌🌤️Weather and Outfit Guide‌ ‌Climate‌: Altitude 3,000-4,000m, large temperature difference between day and night. Summer summit temperature is around 10-15°C, winter can be as low as -5°C.‌ ‌ 🎒Essential Gear‌: Windproof and Warm: Hiking jacket/light down jacket + quick-drying base layer for high-altitude wind and cold protection.‌ Hiking Boots: Non-slip hiking boots (lots of gravel and muddy sections).‌ Protective Gear: Sunglasses, sunscreen (strong UV rays), raincoat (rainy season June-September). ‌ 🚶Day 1 Xichang → Erze'e Village → Ink Lake Round Trip‌ ‌Transportation‌: Drive to Erze'e Village (approx. 2.5h drive). You need to pass a fire prevention checkpoint at the village entrance. Non-local vehicles need to contact a guide (fee approx. CNY 200/group) and be led up the mountain by a villager.‌ ‌Hiking Section‌: Starting Point: Village parking lot → 10km gravel road (can be driven slowly) → Hiking trailhead.‌ Core Attractions: ‌Alpine Rhododendron Sea‌🌸 (full bloom in June, pink and white flowers intertwined with the sea of clouds).‌ ‌Ink Lake‌: A glacial lake reflecting the surrounding peaks. On a clear, windless day, you can capture symmetrical compositions.‌ Duration: Approx. 4 hours round trip (altitude 3,000m+, slow walking recommended).‌ ‌ 🚶Day 2 Xiaoxiangling Tea-Horse Trail → Today Mountain Scenic Area‌ ‌Cultural Hiking Route‌: Walk through the Xiaoxiangling Tunnel (3.5km) and experience the "Ten Miles, Different Skies" climate phenomenon.‌ Climb to the "Today Mountain" viewing platform to photograph the warhorse sculptures and the landscape.‌ Lunch Recommendation: Yi farmhouse restaurant on the mountainside. Try buckwheat pancakes + sour vegetable and potato soup (approx. CNY 40 per person).‌ ‌🍜 Food Guide‌: Breakfast from Xichang‌: [Dechang Laobing Mutton Restaurant]: Mutton rice noodles + mint leaves, rich and flavorful soup (search term: Dechang mutton rice noodles).‌ ‌Hiking Snacks‌: Roasted potatoes from the Yi guide's home, dipped in chili paste + pepper powder (portable and filling).‌ ‌Dinner after Descent‌: [Qionghai 17 Degrees Fire Pit BBQ]: Small intestine wrapped bean curd + Tuo Tuo meat (dipped in soybean chili powder).‌ [Erze'e Farmhouse Restaurant]: Firewood chicken + wild mushroom soup (approx. CNY 60 per person).‌ ‌⚠️ Safety and Environmental Tips‌: ‌Mandatory‌: No solo hiking. Must follow a guide (to prevent getting lost + deal with sudden weather changes).‌ ‌Water Source‌: Ink Lake water is not drinkable. Bring at least 2L of drinking water.‌ ‌Leave No Trace‌: Take away all trash, protect the alpine rhododendrons and the virgin forest.‌ 🚗Alternative Route Suggestions‌: If you have limited physical strength, you can wait for the new road to open (estimated completion by the end of 2025), which will lead directly to the trailhead.‌ Combined Itinerary: Xiaoxiangling + Luojishan (hot springs to relieve hiking fatigue).‌ Xichang Xiaoxiangling, an unspoiled plateau, reveals its natural beauty and rich culture to those who explore it on foot.✨