For global alpinists looking for an alternative to the crowded routes of the European Alps or the expensive logistics of the Himalayas, Mount Siguniang (Four Girls Mountain) in western Sichuan is quickly emerging as the ultimate high-altitude playground. Consisting of four continuously soaring peaks that resemble four women standing shoulder to shoulder, the area offers a breathtaking blend of extreme technical ice climbing and lush, flower-filled alpine valleys.
While the first three peaks offer manageable challenges for intermediate climbers, the youngest and tallest sister—Yaomei Peak (standing at 6,250 meters or 20,505 feet)—is a notoriously fierce, highly technical climb. It demands advanced knowledge of mixed rock, ice, and alpine climbing. Its sheer, aggressive ridges and unpredictable weather patterns have humbled many of the world’s most elite mountaineers. Conquering Yaomei has become a highly respected badge of honor within the international extreme sports community.
For those who prefer a less extreme but equally stunning adventure, the base of the mountains is split into three magnificent valleys: Shuangqiao, Changping, and Haizi. Trekking or horseback riding through these valleys provides an incredibly scenic journey past ancient Tibetan stupas, massive seabuckthorn forests, and vast alpine meadows that explode with wildflowers during the summer months. It is an area where the raw, jagged power of extreme alpinism perfectly meets the serene, silent beauty of the Tibetan plateau.