1, since 2026, almost all permits have been suspended to all peaks in Sichuan. Sichuan Mountaineering Asociation does not pose power to issue permit without appove from local authority of where the mountains are. No authorization from local authority of any peaks are officially open for climbing in Sichuan since Spring 2026 except some easy (and usually touristy 5000m summits near Siguniang).
2, 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.
3, 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.
4, 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 & commercial peaks have strict check and un-registered climb will face more serious issues. The remote places where no one climbs have basically zero checks by any authority.
5, 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
6, What’s Open and What’s Closed? (since 2026)
Climbing permits are only give to some easy 5000m touristy summits near Siguniang as of July 2026. The rest of all the mountains in Sichuan are not giving permit to. It is not possible to climb if to do it with permit.
