Here's the continuation from my Sichuan trip on October 2025. Gaisssss!!! I was so filed up with my health condition and so on. Plus I lost my motivation to do the write up. I'm about to embarked to another journey next month. My swollen ankle makes me worries a lot. Can I make it this trip. I went to the doctor yesterday for an ultra scan. Not a sprained ankle which is phewww!!! relief . It look like inflamation. The Doc prescribed a cream to apply and antibiotics. But this morning, I woke up with elephant feet. Nope! that was exhaggerating. But it look more swollen than yeasterday. However the pain isn't so frequent like the day before la. I hope it reduce tomorrow or the day after. I side track again , right. OK! let me continue my Sichuan Travel diary.
By the way, if you miss out my earlier Sichuan diary...scroll to the bottom of this post. I drop the links there for leisure reads.
Snow-Capped Peaks, World’s Highest Cable Car 4860 meters & A Restful End in Dujiangyan
Day 3 is the grand finale of this Sichuan journey, I checked out from the homestay at the Tibetan village nearby and started a one our journey from Heishui to the breathtaking Dagu Glacier National Park, before winding down in the historic city of Dujiangyan.
• Heishui → Dagu Glacier: ~1 hour
• Dagu Glacier → Dujiangyan: ~3.5 hours
Total driving time: ~4.5 hours, balanced with long scenic rides and minimal walking.
Dagu Glacier National Park (达古冰川国家公园)
What to See: Golden Monkey Lake, Dagu Lake, glaciers, and the world’s highest cable car to 4,860m.
To be honest gaissss… I totally lost track of which lake is which and where exactly I was. I just bought the shuttle bus + cable car combo ticket from trip.com, then exchanged it at the tourist centre. Easy peasy.
The sightseeing shuttle bus ride itself was already an adventure 32 km of winding road, twisting and turning like a roller coaster. But oh my, the view along the way… breathtaking! So colorful, so beautiful. It instantly reminded me of the Alpine Route journey I took in Japan many years ago. Nostalgic moment right there.
There were a few stops along the way, but I decided to just go all the way up to the cable car point. The moment I stepped off the bus, the cool breeze slapped my face. Nose almost froze wei! Lucky me, I came prepared with face mask and gloves. Still, at that altitude, I started feeling out of breath. Tired. Like I needed oxygen tank already.
Then came the highlight...jeng...jeng... the cable car ride. It ascends from 3,600m to 4,860m in about 15 minutes. Each cabin fits 8 people. I shared mine with a group of friendly Thai tourists. The higher we went, the more surreal it felt. Honestly, it was like being transported into another world.
Summit at 4,860m — Oxygen Please!
Gaissss!!! When the cable car finally reached the summit at 4,860m, I swear my legs refused to cooperate. Barely could walk to the snow area. Lucky me, I had my oxygen tank with me. Without it, confirm pengsan already. Even with my trusty walking stick, I was struggling to move around like the other tourists happily playing in the snow.
I did try to walk out for a while… then chicken out. Ended up retreating to the highest altitude café in the world. Wahhh… warmer there. I treated myself to the most expensive slice of cake and a cup of cappuccino. Consider it my 51st birthday self-treat. Sitting there, admiring the view outside, I kept pinching my arms. Am I dreaming or what? I made it here! Above the clouds, sipping coffee.
But honestly, moving around made me feel sick. High altitude sickness, I guess. Hahahaha… I finished my oxygen tank before descending. Don’t worry, that oxy tank was leftover from my Bipenggou adventure the day before.
By afternoon, I started my descent. Can’t recall the exact time, but I had to because the next drive to Dujiangyan was about 4 hours. The road was long, winding, with big lorries squeezing through narrow lanes. Stressful but memorable.
Next Stop: Pandas!
The next day, I planned to visit the panda enclosure at Dujiangyan. Muahaha… from glaciers to pandas, what a combo!
Final Thoughts for Day 3
Day 3 is truly the crown jewel of this trip. Soaring to nearly 5,000m without hiking, sipping coffee above the clouds, and marveling at glaciers that shimmer all year round. For travelers with knee pain (like me!), Dagu Glacier proves you don’t need to trek to experience the majesty of high-altitude landscapes. Ending the day in Dujiangyan adds a cultural touch, balancing nature’s drama with serenity.
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