Mugecuo Scenic Area

Mugecuo Scenic Area, also known as Kangding Love Song Scenic Area is located 21 kilometers north of Kangding County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, on the west of Yala River and 26 kilometers away from Kangding County. It is an important part of the Mount Gongga Scenic Area.

Mugecuo is Tibetan, is located at the northern foot of Hengduan Mountain. Mugecuo Scenic Area is 35 kilometers long, 10 kilometers wide, with a total area of 350 square kilometers and an altitude of 3,200-3,700 meters. It is composed of many plateau lakes, virgin forests, hot springs, snow peaks, strange mountains and rocks and waterfalls up to 8 kilometers long.
 

What to See at Mugecuo Scenic Area

Mugecuo Scenic Area is composed of 6 major attractions: Rhododendron Gorge, Fangcaoping Grassland, Medicine Pool Boiling Spring, Mugecuo Lake and Red Sea Grassland.
 

Mugecuo Lake

Mugecuo Lake is the largest alpine lake in northwest Sichuan, with an area of 3.2 square kilometers, the deepest part of which is 70 meters. The scenery of Mugecuo Lake is changeable in a day. In the morning, the calm surface of the lake is as quiet as a mirror, reflecting the snow peaks and mountains. In the afternoon, when the sun sets, the lake is golden and dazzling. At the Mugecuo Lake, you can also enjoy different scenery in different seasons, including sea of clouds, fog, stunning sunset on the Mugecuo Lake and flying waterfalls. You can enjoy sand bath and sunbathing at Pearl Beach.

At the Mugecuo Lake, you can also see the Golden Beach here. The sands here are fine and soft.

Seven Color Sea

Seven Color Sea is a lake with an altitude of 2,600 meters. At the Seven Color Sea, the spring blend with the lake water. Seven Color Sea is surrounded by forests, grasslands and sea of flowers, which are colorful when they are reflected on the surface of the lake, hence the name.
 

Red Sea Grassland

Red Sea Grassland is just on the opposite of the Mugecuo Lake. Red Sea Grassland got its name because of the Red Sea lake here. Red Sea Grassland is sea of Gesang flowers. It is called one of the six most beautiful grasslands in China by the Chinese National Geography. At the Red Sea Grassland, you can see the colorful sea of flowers, grasslands and the snow mountain. To get to the Red Sea Grassland, you can take the cruise from the Mugecuo Lake.
 

Rhododendron Gorge

Rhododendron flowers are one of the most famous things in Kangding. Rhododendron Gorge is 8 kilometers long, the rhododendron flowers are distributed from 2,800 meters to 3,800 meters at Rhododendron Gorge. The best time to visit the rhododendron flowers at Rhododendron Gorge. During this time, Rhododendron Gorge is sea of rhododendron flowers of red, pink, yellow, white, etc.
 

Fangcaoping Grassland

Fangcaoping Grassland is the nearest attraction at the Mugecuo Scenic Area. Covering an area about 6,000 square meters, Fangcaoping Grassland is surrounded by lush forests and snow mountains. In summer, Fangcaoping Grassland is full of colorful Gesang flowers. And you can see the yaks and horses on the grassland. Local Tibetans ride horses here, and they will also get together and celebrate their festivals. With its picturesque scenery, Fangcaoping Grassland is a popular destination for taking wedding photos.
 

Medicine Pool Boiling Spring

The Medicine Pool Boiling Spring is a famous spring at Mugecuo and Kangding. Here you can experience the food bath. It is said that the water in the spring here are beneficial for people’s health. And you can taste the unique egg here.
 

Things to Do at the Mugecuo Scenic Area

Look the Mount Gongga in the Distance at the Seven Color Sea

The viewing platform at the Seven Color Sea is the best place to admire the Mount Gongga, which is the highest snow peak in Sichuan Province.
 

Admire the Colorful Seven Color Sea

At the Seven Color Sea, you can enjoy the most beautiful colors. The Seven Color Sea lake will be surrounded by lush forests and colorful flowers. The calm surface of the Seven Color Sea lake is like a mirror, with the blue sky, white clouds, colorful flowers and lush forests reflected on the lake.
 

How to Explore the Mugecuo Scenic Area

Recommended Route:

1. Take the shuttle bus from Tourist Center to Mugecuo Lake Parking Lot.
2. At the Mugecuo Parking Lot, you can go to the Mugecuo Viewing Platform, the beach or take the boat to the Red Sea Grassland. Then you can get back to the Mugecuo Parking Lot.
3. From the Mugecuo Parking Lot, you can hike or take the shuttle bus to the Red Stone Beach.
4. From the Red Stone Beach, you can take the shuttle bus or hike to the Medicine Pool Boiling Spring. (At the Medicine Pool Boiling Spring, you can experience a foot bath at the spring, see the marmot and taste the unique egg here.
5. From the Medicine Pool Boiling Spring, you can take the shuttle bus or hike to the Seven Color Sea. (Here you can visit the virgin forests.)
6. From the Seven Color Sea, you can take the shuttle bus back to the Tourist Center.
    

Best Time to Visit the Mugecuo Scenic Area

The best time to visit the Mugecuo Scenic Area will depend on the scenery you prefer. If you want to admire the colorful rhododendron flowers at Rhododendron Gorge, you can visit the Mugecuo Scenic Area from April to June. If you want to experience the festival atmosphere of the local Tibetans, you’d better visit the Mugecuo Scenic Area.
 

How to Get to Mugecuo Scenic Area

Mugecuo Scenic Area is located 280 kilometers from Chengdu, which is about 3.5 hours’ drive from Chengdu.