Shortcut to Yi Village
Region: Alpine Lakes Region
Itinerary: Haba Village—Access Gate to Lan Hua Meadow Route—Yi Village
Distance: 5 km one-way
Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes one-way
Altitude in Meters: Start 2,650. Max 3,100. End 3,100
Elevation Gain: 450 meters
Rating: Moderate
Hiking Times: Haba Snow Mountain Inn to Access Gate 1:10 hrs. Yi Village 1:20 hrs.

Note: The initial sections of the Yi Village Route (彝家村路线) and the Lanhua Meadow Route (兰花坪路线) trace the same path together, when electing to follow the shortcut. For the alternate road approach, see Road to Yi Village.

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Dirt path that leads uphill

Black rock

Trash incinerator on the road to Yi Village

Access Gate

Description

From Haba Snow Mountain Inn (哈巴雪山客栈) in Haba Village (哈巴村), turn right (north) and follow the paved road as it ascends through the village. After 10 minutes or so the road levels off. Turn left onto a dirt path that leads uphill. A cement drainage ditch runs along the left side of the path.
 
Pass a cement water tank on the left and continue uphill with a stone wall lining the path on the left. Join a dirt road going uphill through cultivated fields, and when the road turns left, immediately turn right onto another road. Immediately pass another concrete water storage tank and turn left at once onto another road through cultivated fields. 
 
20 minutes after leaving the paved road through Haba Village, the dirt road veers left at a large black rock.  Continue ascending to a patch of evergreen trees. You’ll encounter forks in the road, and when this happens, take the uphill branch. Walk along the crest of a small ridge and pass alongside a cement block wall to reach a cluster of homes. At a spot along the wall 20 minutes above the black rock, the road continues left and a dirt path branches right. Turn right onto the path and soon arrive at the paved road coming up from Haba Village.

Across the road stands a cement structure used to incinerate trash. This is a helpful landmark when descending the route. Walk up the road for several minutes until you reach the Access Gate on the right (north), elevation 3,030 meters. If your goal is the Lan Hua Meadow Route, pass through the gate onto the woods road beyond. When the gate is locked, descend a few meters for a steep bypass or 40 meters for a more gradual workaround. Trekkers may continue beyond to Black Lake. For details, please consult the Lan Hua Meadow Route.

If your goal is  Yi Village, stay on the paved road. In 10 minutes you will reach the lower edge of the village. Trekkers may continue above the village to Jianshan Waterfall and Base Camp. Please consult the Yi Village Route for details.