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Trekking / Riwuqi trek
Private camping trek
Four days, Chengdu to Chengdu, into the roadless north of Minya Konka: the Riuqi pasture at 4,250 metres and the glacier lake under 6,112-metre Reddomain — the shortest full camping trek we run.
Ask about this itineraryThe Riuqi valley trail · a valley no road has ever entered
the Reddomain glacier lake, on the big day
same camp both nights — no moving camp
porters and packhorses take the rest
access can close for fire or land rules in some seasons
Why this route
The Riuqi valley is the roadless north face of the Minya Konka range: a walk-in valley of pine forest and open meadow that ends at a high pasture with the whole wall of the range across its head — Little Konka, Jiazi, Grosvenor, Reddomain. This trip walks to that pasture, camps two nights, and spends the middle day up at the glacier lake under 6,112-metre Reddomain.
It is built as a short, complete expedition: out of Chengdu in the morning, camp by the second afternoon, and back at your hotel by the fourth evening. Porters and packhorses carry the camp, a cook crew feeds it, and the same camp is used both nights so nothing moves on the middle day.
It is a private trek on your dates. Two short days, one long one — twenty-plus kilometres on the middle day — and thin air throughout. If you have not been high recently, add an acclimatisation day in Kangding; the enquiry can price it in.
The route
In and out by the same trail, camped twice at Liangcha — with the lake day in the middle. One valley, done properly.
Day by day
Two short days and one big one, at altitude throughout. The distances are honest — the middle day is the trek.
Chengdu → Kangding
Three to four hours on the expressway to Kangding, then straight up to the Yajiageng pass for an acclimatisation walk by the lake — four easy kilometres near 4,000 metres, the aim being hours at altitude rather than distance.
The evening is free in Kangding: walk the river, watch the square dancing, shop for trail snacks. Depending on the season, the night may move to the village near the trail head instead.
Kangding → Liangcha
Forty minutes to the road head above Laoyulin at 3,600 metres, where the porter team and packhorses take the camp loads. The trail follows the river up through pine forest, over a red-rock slide and out into open valley; camp sits at Liangcha, 3,850 metres.
You carry a day pack — lunch, water, layers, waterproofs. The pace is set for the altitude, and the evening belongs to the first camp.
Upper Riuqi · Reddomain lake
The big day. Up the valley to the Upper Riuqi pasture at 4,250 metres — a flat, wind-scoured meadow with Jiazi, Grosvenor and Reddomain across its head — then on up beside the stream to the glacier lake at 4,400 metres, under the 6,112-metre wall of Reddomain itself, the glacier's end hanging over the far shore.
A break by the lake — climbers use its shore as base camp — then back down the same line to the same camp. Twenty kilometres and more, and the finest single day within four days of Chengdu.
Liangcha → Chengdu
The full morning walks back down the valley to the road head — the peaks one more time, from the other direction — and the vehicle carries you straight home, arriving in Chengdu by six or seven in the evening. The trek ends at your hotel.
Along the way
One roadless valley, walked twice — its residents keep to the crags and the scrub.
The trail, the pasture and the lake shore
Blue sheep hold the crags above the pasture; the lake day is the best wildlife watch of the trek for exactly that reason.
Chances are field estimates, not promises. The valley sits between 3,600 and 4,400 metres.
What's included
A supported camping trek in miniature: guide, crew, horses, the camp, and the food on the mountain.
Arranged and paid for before you arrive.
An English-speaking trekking guide
Private, all four days.
Porters and packhorses
The camp moves on hooves; you carry a day pack.
Tents and camp equipment
Plus a cook crew, two dinners and two breakfasts on the mountain.
One hotel night
Kangding, twin share — or the village, by season.
All transfers
Door to door from Chengdu.
Yours, or yours to ask us about.
Lunches and other meals
On trek there is nowhere to buy food — bring snacks; the pack list explains.
Admissions
Usually none needed on this route.
Personal gear
Sleeping bag and boots; rental can be arranged.
Single room or tent
Quoted with the booking.
Tips and personal expenses
At your discretion.
Book two to four weeks ahead — guides are not always free at short notice. The valley occasionally closes for fire restrictions or land rules; if it does, we will say so before you commit.
Enquiry
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are. We will come back with the trek notes, the honest altitude advice, and a written outline with a price.
Read next: The Minya Konka group trek · The Minya Konka panorama hike · The Gongga in-depth trek · Five ways to walk Minya Konka · How hard is hard? All 15 routes, graded · What the pass names mean
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