“Da Gu” literally means glacier in Tibetan. Part of the 632 sq km Sichuan Dagu Nature Reserve in Heishui County, Dagu Glacier Park has a sightseeing area of 210 sq km. Some of the highlights inclide modern and fossil glaciers, primeval forests, alpine meadows, snow covered mountains, Tibetan villages, and rare flora and fauna.

       Between May and October each year the thick snow melts to reveal the icy surface of the glacier. Dagu Glacier Park is home to numerous lakes and waterfalls that are fed by the snow melt from the higher mountains.

       Over the centuaries the Dagu Glacier has reduced in size due to global warming. Sites of interest today are 13 modern alpine glaciers a glacial U-shaped valley, glacial cirque, glacial lake and a glacial waterfall.

       Dagu Glacier Park is home to more than 1,000 varieties of wild plants and some 150 wild animals, including a dozen rare animals such as the Sichuan golden monekey, Sichuan takin, mountain sheep, and flying squirrel.

 

       There is no direct transport from Jiuzhai Valley to Dagu Glacier Park (Dagu Bing Chuan in Chinese). To get there you will have to get a bus to Mao Xian, then Hei Shui. Dagu Glacier Park is 9km from Hei Shui. You could also get a bus to Ma Er Kang and then to Hei Shui but this would more than likely add a day onto your travel plans.