Family Hiking in Mianyang Pingwu Baima Tianmu Lake Hujia Valley

During the autumn holiday, we went to Tianmu Lake in Pingwu and hiked through Hujia Valley, located behind Baxijia Ancient Village. It is a lesser-known hiking secret spot around Tianmu Lake, with the best autumn colorful forest scenery. 1. Transportation and Entrance: From Chengdu, take the Jiumian Expressway to the Baima Expressway exit, then navigate to "Baxijia Ancient Village." The hiking entrance is at the back mountain inside the village. It takes about 4 hours to drive from Chengdu. The ancient village parking lot can accommodate 40 to 50 cars, but it gets very congested during holidays because cars often park disorderly on the road. We slowly maneuvered in; traveling on weekdays is smoother. 2. Hiking Route: Starting from the back mountain of Baxijia Ancient Village, the entire route is mostly stone and dirt paths. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the core area. Along the way, there is a primitive forest covered with fallen leaves, scattered sweetgum and birch trees, and streams flowing through. At the end, you can see meadows where cattle and horses roam; if you have good stamina, you can go deeper into the dark coniferous forest area. For average fitness, a round trip of about 3 hours allows you to experience the core scenery without going to the deepest part. 3. Best Time: Late October to mid-November is the best period to enjoy the colorful forest, with mid-November having the most saturated colors. It is recommended to start on a sunny morning for soft light and great photos, and to leave the mountain before 4 PM to avoid poor visibility and possible sudden risks in the evening. 4. Gear and Supplies: It is 5°C cooler in the mountains than at the foot, so bring fleece or light cotton clothing for warmth; wear anti-slip hiking shoes to handle dirt and gravel paths. There are no shops, trash bins, or toilets along the way, so bring enough snacks and water, and prepare trash bags to carry all garbage out of the mountain. 5. Accommodation and Tips: You can stay in Tibetan-style guesthouses inside the village, with options for electric blanket rooms and floor heating rooms. We chose the electric blanket room at 180 RMB/night. Soundproofing is average since all houses are wooden. Solar-heated water cools down after 10 PM. There are dining options in the ancient village, including barbecue, but prices are indeed high, even more expensive than in Chengdu. During the hike, watch out for landslides and falling rocks. There is also horse manure and free-range cattle and horses on the path, so try to avoid them gently. Next to the ancient village, you can also ride horses, starting at 50 RMB per person per ride.