1, All permits are now only given to climbers through authorized companies.
This has been the case since 2023. All independent climbers are not able to get permits from SMA. All permits have to be done by one of the authorized company like Sichuan Mountain Guide.
2, SMA is the organization who gives permit to climbers, but there is more.
The China Climbing Laws & Regulations (Regulations for foreigners climbing in China) now has a list of mountains that are open for climbing in Sichuan Province. Now some peaks are not given climbing permits to in Sichuan. SMA has the power to give permits to climbers but SMA is less powerful than before 2024. Now it’s the local sports administration are more involved in deciding which peaks are open for climbing. Please send your inquiry to us to check if your planned peak is open for applying permit.
3, Independent Climbing by Domestic Climbers in China since 2020.
Most independent climbing/first summits (non-commercial climbs) done by domestic Chinese climbers in the last 5 years are mostly done without a permit and nothing really happened to them. Now some popular peaks have strict check and un-registered climb will face more serious issues. The remote places have basically zero checks by SMA but local authority are now more involved in checking un-registered climbs in remote areas in west Sichuan.
4, Climbing without a Permit as a Foreigner.
Please read the “Regulations for Foreigners Climbing in China” for the consequences of climbing without permits in Sichuan. Normally the checks are done by the local authority, and the consequences for unauthorized climbs depend on how you respond to local authority checks.
Sichuan Mountain Guide only writes the above content based on the facts and we do not suggest you to climb mountains in Sichuan without a permit. To follow on the most recent updates and regulations or other easier ways of climbing in Sichuan, you may contact the following people for information: alexlitang@aliyun.com
5, What’s Open and What’s Closed? (since 2025)
Climbing permits are not given to the following mountains: A, all mountains in Siguniang Massif; B, peaks south to Road G317 and west to Xinluhai Lake in Chola Range(this include some of the highest peaks in this range); C, peaks in Northern Qionglai Range mainly around Lixian.
The rest of the mountains in Sichuan are open and good to climb.
6, Climbing Season
Climbers can choose their own season to climb but the permits are not given in the winter seasons from late November/December to the next March/April due to fire restrictions. Each year the restricted season differ.
