The Siguniang Mountain (Four Girls
Mountain) lies between Xiaojin County and Wenchuan County of the Aba Tibetan and
Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It makes the highest peak of the
Qionglai Mountain Range at eastern end of Hengduan Mountains. The Siguniang
Mountain consists of four continuous peaks in a range of 3.5 km from north to
south, rising at 6,250 meters, 5,664 meters, 5,454 meters and 5,355 meters above
sea level respectively. The four peaks are covered with snow all year round,
just like four gracious girls wearing white gauze scarves. Among them, the
Yaomei Peak (the peak of the youngest girl) is the highest and the most
beautiful.
The mountain surface is chiefly made
up of sandstones, slates, marbles, limestones and crystalline stones dating back
to the Mesozoic Era and the Paleozoic Era. The perennial erosion and corrosion
of nature make the rocks and the peaks extremely steep. Around the Siguniang
Mountain are over 20 snow-covered peaks with the height of 4,000-5,000 meters
above sea level.
To the east is the Minjiang River
surging forward, and to the west is the natural barrier Dadu River. In the
valley are carpets of green grass and wild flowers, and brooks living in the
mild climate with plenty of rainfall; half way up the mountain hovers glaciers;
and on the top are awe-inspiring steep rocks and boundless snow. In the mountain
region, forests are so luxuriant and the weather is so capricious that there
grow various species of animals and plants. Above the altitude of 2,500 meters
are distributed virgin forests, mainly the coniferous forests and the broadleaf
mixed forests, which enjoy precious trees such as Chinese larches, Chinese yews
and Lianxiang trees (Cercidiphyllum japonicum var), all special products
in Sichuan Province; and above the altitude of 3,700 meters are distributed
alpine meadows. Every year between spring and summer, the mountain forms an
ideal pastureland with green grass flourishing and flowers blossoming. It is
rich in such rare herbal medicines as the tubers of elevate gastrodia,
fritillary, and Chinese caterpillar fungus, etc. There also dwell about 50-60
kinds of animals and about 300 kinds of birds, among which there are rare
animals under the national protection, such as giant pandas, lesser pandas,
golden monkeys, snow leopards, serows, and the red-bellied tragopans,
green-tailed tragopans and blood pheasants, etc. The world famous Wolong Giant
Pandas Nature Reserve is situated on the east slope of Siguniang Mountain. In
the river valley grow such special local plants as walnut, apple, pear, and
Chinese prickly ash trees.