Chola Mountain is a massif of mountains located in the northern Shaluli Mountain Range. It is home to dozens of high peaks over 5000m and many glaciers, lakes, old monasteries and wild valleys and animals. It is by far one of the least explored regions in Sichuan with stunning nature. The highest peak of Chola soars 6168 meters into the sky. Chola is its Tibetan name. Chola Mountain, Chola Shan, Que'er Mountain, Que'er Shan are all its name. Rongma Ezha, its Tibetan name indicates this is a mountain that the eagles can not fly over.
Mt. Chola
Chola Massif
The whole range of Chola lies by the north part of Shaluli Mountain Range, the biggest mountain range in Sichuan Province and part of the bigger Hengduan Mountain Range. It goes from NW to SE and separates Yangtze River and Yalong River. The highest peak Mt. Chola I (Rongma Ezha) is at 6168 m, a once popular 6000er to climb in China that now climbing has been banned due to environment issues. The second-highest mountain Mt. Chola II (Dopu Ezha) is at 6119m.
There are few recorded explorations of the mountains in Chola Massif. Many mountains are only accessed by foot and up until 2021 most mountains of Chola has no climbing records. The high mountains including Marong Ezha and Dopu Ezha have been climbed and recorded. There are also other mountains that few have even tried. These mountains include Zachalong Kama (5592m), Bula Chodeng (5298m), Elama (5396m), Zachari (5560m), Bendo (5375m), Elang Gongrigado (5420m), Zhogang Malong (5802m), Zauga Ama (5615m), Is Gyasa (5549m, first summit in 2021), Shuhima (5377m), Gahinong (5515m), Dolanglong (5642m), Sechong (5816m), Poru Gyabo (5472m), Zhuqen (5849m), and many other peaks above 5000 but names not yet known. The high way 317 separates the massif into two halves, the northern massif is in general called Zhuqen Mountains. The southern part of the massif is usually considered the core area of Chola.
Climbing Mt. Chola
Many mountains here are granite mountains. There are also around 30 glaciers in Chola Mountains, the second-largest size of glacier after Minya Konka Region in Sichuna. Snow line is above 5100m. The glacier lake that is located by the national highway 317 Yihun Lhatso (Xinluhai Lake) is at 4150m.
Chola Mountain Road Pass
The Chola Mountain road pass is 5050 meters high and is covered with snow all year round. From 2018 there is a tunnel that skips the usually troubled Chola Mountain Road Pass and saves around 2 hours drive. The road over the pass is now deserted and not safe to drive, despite its view on the pass is stunning.
Mt Chola Hiking used to be one of the top 10 hikings in China. As of today because it's far and some sections of the hike has been replaced by roads so anyone who is looking to do the Chola Mountain hiking is better to use an updated hiking route unless you don't mind walking on roads. Mt. Chola Hiking goes to the south of Chola Mountains to see the views few have seen before including Dopu Valley and its many mountains around, Palpung Monastery and Dzongsar Monastery, the hidden Nymapa Monastery of Tibet.
Classic Hiking Plan
New Hiking Plan
Ticket Information: Free of Charge
