Introduction
Minshan Range is located in north of Sichuan Province in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture. It is a 400km long range goes from north to south. The south of the range connects Qionglai Shan Range and the north is in Gansu Province. It separates Minjiang River of Yangtze and Heishui River of Yellow River. The highest peak of the range is the 5588-meter
Xuebaoding, a snow-capped mountain in Songpan County of Aba.
The historical Minshan refers to the huge mountain range from Dieshan Range of Gansu all the way to Emeishan of Sichuan. In general it indicates the mounains west to Chengdu. Today the Minshan Range refers to a smaller area. It has the easternmost 5000-meter mountain on the earth.
Location
It is 300km northwest to Chengdu by driving it takes about 1 day. On G213 turn at Minjiang Village and the road goes all the way to Mafeng Village at 3360 meters. Southwest base camp of Xuebaoding is at around 4200 meters, hiking for about 3 hours.
Xuebaoding in the old times was called Xuelan Mountains. In local Tibetan language it is called “Shire Dongri”, which means Oriental Conch Mountain, the one with religious significance and a holy mountain. It is the highest peak of the Minshan Mountains, with an elevation of 5588 meters. It is located 25 kilometers east of Songpan County. Its southern part extends from north to south to the junction of Dazhai Township and Huanglong Township. The main peak of Xuebaoding is surrounded by many other peaks, and there are no less than 10 peaks above 5000 meters in an area of about 20 square kilometers. There is a big Daxuebaoding and a little Xuebaoding, while the big Xuebaoding usually refers to Mt. Xuebaoding.
Climbing Season
October to the next April is the dry season and from May to September is the rain season. However July and August is relatively dry and good season to climb. In winter the snow line is at 4600 meters and in summer at 5100 meters.
Mountains
The mountains are consisted of sandstones, slate, limestone and granite. Elevation of the mountain ridges is between 4000 meters and 4200 meters. The main massif and the high mountains are at Xuebaoding. There are Yuzhen Feng (5119m), Sigenxiang Feng (5359m), Little Xuebaoding (5440m).
Mt. Xuebaoding is 5588-meters above sea level. Former attempts to this mountain was in Spring, Summer and Autumn.
The main peak of Xuebaoding is surrounded by many peaks. The southwest of the main peak is its side peak Mt. Yuzhen, with an elevation of 5119 meters. To the southeast of the main peak, there is Mt. Sigenxiang with an altitude of 5359 meters and the Little Xuebaoding with an elevation of 5440 meters.
Little Xuebaoding is often called Mt. Duri, a mistaken name from Tibetan language Dongri Cheju, meaning the little Shire Dongri (Xuebaoding). There is galcier on its west side, which is described as a 30 degree slope. The other three sides are rock debris. This mountain is also the highest point of the eastern Mianyang Area. Its first recorded summit was made by a Japanese team in 1991 July from its west side. In August 2014 a Chinese team made summit from west sdie. Same year in October another Chinese team made the summit and measured this mountain is 5535 meters above sea level.
Mt. Sigenxiang, its name was given later. Sigenxiang means “four incenses”, name came from its four forking glaciers on its west side. Its Tibetan name is unknown. This mountain is 5359 meters above sea level. It is located bebtween Little Xuebaoding and Xuebaoding: south to Mt. Xuebaoding and west to Little Xuebaoding.
Mt. Sanyaqiang is 5092 meters (or 5068 meters). It is a mountian in Minshan Range south to Xuebaoding Mountains. It could the actual easternmost 5000-er mountain on the planet. There is no recorded climbs til 2020. This mountain can only be accessed from its east side via Pingwu and then one can get to its east, north and west sides.
Hongxingyan is a mountain located in the northern range of Minshan Mountains. It is north to Xuebaoding Mountains just 10km east to Jiuzhaigou Airprot. In Tibetan its name is “Diwon” meaning “Demon Tamer”. It has three other side peaks.
Luanshijiao Peak is a mountain located in the northeast part of Minshan Range. It is east to Hongxingyan and northeast to Xuebaoding Mountains. The high points of Luanshijiao are 4869 and 4855 meters.
Besides the cluster of big mountains near Mt. Xuebaoding there are some minor mountains that are below 5000 meters including the 4767 Mt. Garna, the 4866-m peak and 4500-meter Mt. Zhama Chemodep.
Longmenshan Mountains is a subrange of Minshan Range. It has dozens of mountains that are over 4000 meters.
Climbing History
In August 1986, a joint Chinese and Japanses team made the summit for the first time. And the main peak of Mt. Xuebaoding has then been climbed several times after worth.
Songpan is the stopover place for trips to Minshan Mountains.