- Program Details
- Price and Date
- Itinerary
- Service Details
- Gallery
Introduction
Mt. Zhongshan is 6886 meters above sea level. It is located in Minya Konka Range by the Hengduan Mountains. Mt. Zhongshan is the second highest peak of Sichuan Province. Mt. Zhongshan has an elevation difference from the start of approach to the summit around, bigger than even the elevation difference from base to top of that of Mt. Everest which is of around 3600m. The name Zhongshan came from former Chinese reformer Sun Zhongshan.
Program at a Glance
Day 01 - Day 03 Acclimating Days
Day 04 - Day 10 Climbing Days
Day 11 – Day 12 Going back to Chengdu
Day 13 – Day 14 Flexible Days
What to Expect
A 6886-m Mountain
Mt. Zhongshan, along with Mt. Gongga are the two most prominent peaks in Minya Konka Range. Its elevation 6886m is shadowed by the 7556-m Mt. Gongga but it’s a much more climbable mountain than Gongga itself. Mt. Zhongshan has a vast elevation difference. Its elevation is the second highest in Sichuan Province and also the second highest in Minya Konka Range. It’s a near-7000-m mountain in China that has relatively easier summit and relatively short drive to get to. It has a similar height as Aconcagua and a trip to Zhongshan takes around 2 weeks.
Long Approach
It is total 36km from starting of approach to the summit on steep terrain. It has relatively a very long approach comparing to many other 6000ers in China. Long approach is a test on physical conditions of climbers. Starting of approach is at 2350m and the summit is 6886m. It has a total of over 4500m ascent via animal trails, debris, glacier, snow, etc.
Glacier Views
The hidden glacier views of Zhongshan is another highlight on a climbing trip. The normal glaciers you see are often mixed with rocks and dirt while the glacier towers by Zhongshan is amazing.
Available Dates: upon inquiry
Price: from35800 yuan PP (based on 4 pax)
Upfront Payment 18000yuan, Rest of Payment due 15 Days prior to departure date.
Price Inclusions:
Mountain Guide (Chinese -speaking);
Lodging and Tents at campsites;
Campsite food (B&D): meals above BC are basic mountain food;
Shared climbing gears;
The carrying for part of gear for each before BC;
Climbing Permits;
Logistics and Medical Support;
Necessary transfers as per plan.
Price Exclusions:
English-speaking guide;
Flights/trains, accommodations and meals in Chengdu and other personal expenses;
Lunches;
Personal gears including personal technical gears (including crampons, harness, helmet, climbing boots, ice axe, etc can be arranged);
Porter service above BC, single supplement;
Summit Certificate;
Fapiaoa and other personal costs;
Optional tips to guide and porter.
Cancelation
As costs happen after confirmation, the following refunding policies are applicable when a cancelation happens:
Cancelation 30 days prior to departure date, full refund;
Cancelation 16-30 days prior to departure date, 50% refund;
Cancelation within 15 days prior to departure date, no refund.
01. This is a standard trip to Mt. Zhongshan, however you can add more time prior to this trip for better acclimating to have usually a higher chance of successful summiting.
02. There could be minor changes of locations for overnight/distance of walking each day given possible changing weather, road/trail conditions, etc.
03. This trip is customizable to better fit your pace.
04. Climbing trips involve uncertainties such as extreme weather, changing trail conditions etc, that may delay or extend your trip. We recommend you to plan extra days for such trips especially when coming to booking departure flights.
Itineraries
Day 01 - Day 03
Acclimating (3000m-4500m)
Starting from Chengdu (450m) and drive to near the base of Mt. Zhongshan and have first night sleep by around 3100m in village near Kangding. After arrival easy walk around the village to acclimate. The next day you will go higher to over 4000m at around 4300m by road pass and spend some time there before driving further to another village by around 3800m. You will spend your time at around and over 4000m during day time. The next day you will have a late start and drive to the base of Mt. Zhongshan by Moxi at around 1850m. After arrival, pack and check gear, food and make preparations for the climb. The acclimating of overnight above 3000m is necessary for such trip as the base of Mt. Zhongshan at Moxi is too low. It helps you to get used to the altitude quicker and it is safer to do so. Overnight hotel.
Day 04
Moxi – Intermediate Camp (3700m)
In the morning we use a short ride from hotel to end of road by around 2200m and from there we start to walk. We will gain 1500m by today from 2200m to 3700m to the intermediate camp by the hut. Total walking is around 6km in wild forest. It takes roughly around 6-8 hours. Overnight Camping.
Day 05
Intermediate Camp – Base Camp (5000m)
Today is another 1200m going up to around 5000m by the base camp of Mt. Zhongshan in around 8km. We will continue go up when views start to open up. Today we will go above the tree line and the bush line. It is another day of necessary steep ascending. We will need to stay together on this day since there is no decent trail and it can get foggy at any time. The terrain is complicated with rocks. Overnight camping.
Day 06
Base Camp (5000m)
Today is one day’s time by base camp to acclimate to the altitude and basic training of climbing techniques and using of climbing gears.
Day 07
Base Camp – C1 (5300m)
Today we will push further and higher to C1 to 5300m in 4km on glacier for around 4-6 hours. From base camp we should start to see the giant glacier and glacier towers of Zhongshan. We will be walking by the rocky terrain near the glacier for around 3km before traverse onto the glacier. We’ll rope in while walking on the glacier. The first 2-3km from base to the glacier can be the most challenging part of this climb due to its many rocks. C1 is also near glacier where we have chance to see the amazing glaciers of Mozi.
Day 08
C1 – C2 (5800m)
Today we will go from C1 to C2 to around 5800m also in around 4km for about 4-6 hours. Today we will be walking all the way on the glacier. Everyone needs to rope in while walking. C2 is at 5800m.
Day 09
C2-C3 (6300m)
Today we will go from C2 to C3 to around 6300m in around 3km on glacier for around 4-6 hours. Today we will encounter bigger ice cracks. Everyone needs to rope in while walking. We have chance to see Mt. Gongga today in a very close range. After arrival C3 we prepare for the next day’s summit. (Under certain circumstances we may use 2 advanced base (at around 5600m and 6200m) camps instead of 3 as stated above)
Day 10
C3 – Summit (6886m) – C3 (6300m)
Today we will go from camp to the summit in around 6 hours for 3km ascending nearly 600m. We will need to start very early after midnight. After a mild ascent we will encounter the steeper part that leads to the summit where we need to rope in or use ropes and ascender. As we getting close to the summit the views are getting more and more amazing. After a short stay by the summit go back to C3.
Day 11 - Day 12
Go back to base and back Chengdu
From C3 descend for 1400m to base camp in 9km for around 6-8 hours and normally we spend a night by BC and the next day go back to Moxi from 5000m to 2250m in 8hours for 11km before drive back to Chengdu directly or have night in Moxi to decompress and re-pack in a hotel.
Day 13 - Day 14
Flexible days
Flexible days are required and recommended to be planned in case of circumstances such as bad weather while summiting. We strongly recommend you to plan for 1-2 extra days after the trip in case of delaying on the above schedule. In a climbing tour it is highly possible that one may be delayed due to bad weather, bad trails, etc.
Service Details
Service-Oriented Expeditions:
Most comfortable possible BC;
Detailed expedition briefing;
High-quality gears;
Food provided;
Well-experienced Mountain Guides:
Years of training and climbing;
Guides have done this climb many times and have the knowledge about the climb;
Guide knows the risks and the counter-measures;
All guides have AHA certificate;
Safety is Everything:
a.Most sufficient possible acclimating as shown in the program;
b.Well-equipped communication gear including satellite phone and radios;
c.Medical support including oxygon;
d.First response system
Before Signing Up
a. Exprience of former treks, climbs at high altitude including at least one trip to above 5000m that requires long hours of trekking, or experience of climbing on snow & ice, rope-involved climbs.
b. More climbing techniques or ice-climbing experiences will help a successful summit to Mt.Zhongshan but these are not mandatory.
c. A form will be sent to you for personal experience checking and assessment according to each individual based on your experience etc.
d. If you are not sure about if you are up to this trip, please send your inquiry.
e. A healthy physical condition is required before sign up. You are not opt to sign up such trip if you have any major ailments, cardiovascular disease; heart cerebrovascular disease; cardio-cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, cardiac disease, etc, any former surgeries shall be made known to us. Consult your doctor before sign up for such trip. We may ask you to provide a health check result within 3 months when you sign up this trip.
f. Advices given by your guide is crucial. There are unpredictables in a climbing trip, signing up on such trip may expect minor or even major changes of plan. Safety is the first priority under any circumstances. All mountain guides are working under safety guidelines in a climbing trip. Any injuries or death caused by factors out of our control or by your own activity against our suggestion, will be on your own responsibility.
g. Please care nature and take your trash with you all the time, don’t harm plants and animals;
h. Please give care to the gears provided.
Expeditions Risks
By Signing up to this trip, you understand and accept the risks below:
1. Expedition such as this, requires certain level of physical performance and has risks from nature, your own activity under certain circumstances, your master on using of gears, performance of your own personal gears, terrain, weather, etc
2. We have insurance purchased for each climber. Any accident or incident that will require compensation will be done via insurance.
3. We are not responsible for results caused by your acting against our advices.
Suggested Personal Gears
Shared gears will be provided including whole set for BC, ropes, etc
Personal gears need to be prepared by yourself:
Personal technical gears: Climbing boots, crampons, ice axe(ice tool), helmet, harness, carabiners and locking carabiners, ascender and descender, belay devices, sling (renting available, around 500/P)
Personal gears: Duffel bag, 20L-30L summit pack, approaching boots, heavy down jacket (200g and above), fleece jacket and pants, wind-breaker jacket and pants, quick-dry underwears, hats and warm-keeping hats, socks and warm socks, gloves and warm/water-resilient gloves, headtorch, sunglasses, thermal/water bottle, lip oil, sun cream, gaiters, sleeping bag (comfort temp -15, mat), walking poles, personal utensils and toiletories, personal high-energy snacks for lunches,.
If you are not sure about your list of packing, please send your inquiry.
