Photography and Photo Spots of Gonggashan (Minya Konka)

Why Gonggashan?

Gonggashan is high and it is a group of snow mountains rising very high above. This massif is a 10*30km long mountain range that has morning glows on its east face and sunset glows on its west face. There are a few mountain passes that can be accessed by car, that provide good photo shoot chances for travelers. Many small lakes by its west also provide excellent spots to take photos of the big snow mountains of Gonggashan with mirror views.

Where to shoot? Minya Konka Photo Spots Recommendation

Minya Konka Mountain Range is one of the most beautiful and also one of the most photographed mountain views in China. If you are into photography or looking to take good photos of the mountains of Minya Konka, this article can help you to decide where to go. We list the famous and unknown photo spots for Minya Konka here. All spots and sites are accessible by driving or riding horse/motorbikes.

Photo Spots West of Minya Konka

West of Minya Konka is the most favored site of Minya Konka because it provides so many spots and sites to take good photos of Minya Konka. It is also because the mountain range of Minya Konka runs north-south thus photo from either east of west shows the whole range of the mountains. The famous Minya Konka photo spots are all by the west side of Minya Konka including Langgatso Lake, Yuzixi, Yaha Road Pass, Tsemed Road Pass, etc. Below are the full list of the photo spots of Minya Konka by the west side.

Yuzixi

• Yuzixi is one of the famous photo spots of Minya Konka by the west. It costs CNY30 yuan for admission and also provides views of Mt. Yala, Mt. Lotus Flower and part of Tagong Grassland.
• Location: 20km north of Xinduqiao, 45min drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: 4X4 car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4300m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: All seasons

Langgatso Lake (Lenggacuo)

• Langgatso Lake is of the best locations to take photos of Minya Konka and one of the closest with lake mirror views of Minya Konka. It costs CNY30 yuan for admission.
• Location: 40km (or 130km) southwest of Xinduqiao, 1.5h (or 4h) drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4500m
• Camping: Available (CNY50 camping fee)
• Seasons: May to October

Tsemed Road Pass (Zimei Pass)

• Tsemed Road Pass is of the best locations to take photos of Minya Konka and one of the closest accessible by road. It is the closest view point to the main peak of Minya Konka.
• Location: 60km (or 120km) southwest of Xinduqiao, 2h (or 4h) drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: 4X4 car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4600m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: May to October

Lisuo Lake

• Lisuo Lake is of the best locations to take photos of Minya Konka and has the best lake view of all locations. It is located by the southwest of Minya Konka.
• Location: 60km (or 120km) southwest of Xinduqiao, 2h (or 4h) drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: Motorbike 30 minutes
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4500m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: May to October

Gadeji Lake(Guandejie Lake)

• Guandeje Lake is of the lake views of Minya Konka. It is located by the southwest of Minya Konka.
• Location: 80km (or 100km) southwest of Xinduqiao, 3h drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: Motorbike 30 minutes / 4X4 car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4500m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: May to October

Gedilamu(Gediram)

• Yuzixi is a photo spot of Minya Konka by the west next to Yuzixi. It costs CNY30 yuan for admission and also provides views of Mt. Yala, Mt. Lotus Flower and part of Tagong Grassland.
• Location: 25km north of Xinduqiao, 45min drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: 4X4 car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4300m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: All seasons

Julisi Pass (Juli Temple)

• Juli Temple Pass is the easiest accessible road to see views of Minya Konka by the west. It costs CNY20 yuan for admission and also provides views of Mt. Yala and Xinduqiao.
• Location: 15km south of Xinduqiao, 30min drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: 4X4 car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4200m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: All seasons

Yaha Road Pass

• Yaha Road Pass is next to Langgatso Lake and has similar view of Minya Konka by the west as that of Langgatso. The road is currently inaccessible by driving. Road is planned to open by early 2026.
• Location: 45km southwest of Xinduqiao, 1h drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: 4X4 car/car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4500m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: May - October

Tinong Mijing (Tinong Hidden Land)

• Tinong Mijing is one of the closest spots to Minya Konka by the south of Yaha Road Pass. It costs 25 yuan per person to get in. It is located by the west of Minya Konka
• Location: 60km southwest of Xinduqiao, 2h drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: 4X4 car/car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4600m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: May - October

Deqin Mijing

• Deqin Mijing (Deqin Hidden Land) is a new photo spot and has become more popular in recent years. It costs CNY100 per car to get in.
• Location: 50km southwest of Xinduqiao, 1.5h drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: 4X4 car/car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4600m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: May - October

Kongzhong Huayuan (Jiagenba Sky Garden)

• Jiagenba Sky Garden (Kongzhong Huayuan) is one of the most popular photo spots of Minya Konka Mountains from the west side.It costs CNY25 per person to go up.
• Location: 45km southwest of Xinduqiao, 1h drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: 4X4 car/car
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4200m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: May - October

Muyatso Lake

• Muyatso Lake is next to Yaha Road Pass by the north and has similar view of Minya Konka as that of Yaha Road Pass. It also has a lake but doesn’t provide much lake view.
• Location: 45km southwest of Xinduqiao, 1h drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: Motorbike 40min
• View Rating: Excellent
• Elevation: 4500m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: All seasons

Black Stone Mountain (Heishicheng)

• Heishicheng photo spot is one of the furthest spots of views of Minya Konka. It provides views of Minya Konka by west. It also provides views of Mt. Yala and Tagong Grassland but far.
• Location: 40km west of Xinduqiao, 1h drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: car 1h
• View Rating: Good - Excellent
• Elevation: 4300m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: All seasons

Marka (Manyika)

• Manyika photo spot is one of the furthest spots of views of Minya Konka. It provides views of Minya Konka by west and close views of Mt. Yala.
• Location: 45km north of Xinduqiao, 1h drive from Xinduqiao;
• Accessibility: car 1h
• View Rating: Good - Excellent
• Elevation: 4500m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: All seasons

Photo Spots East of Minya Konka

Niubei Mountain

• Niubei Mountain is one of most popular and famous places to see Minya Konka Range in the east.
• Location: 50km southeast of Luding, 1.5h drive from Luding, it’s located inside Niubeishan park.
• Accessibility: car 1.5h
• View Rating: Good - Excellent
• Elevation: 3000m
• Camping: Not available but luxury tent hotel available
• Seasons: All seasons

The other spots that provide similar views of Niubei Mountain are Huajian Mountain, Hongya Ridge,Wanggangping. All these places have similar views of Minya Konka by the east. Mt. Emei Golden Summit can also see Minya Konka but it’s very far.

Photo Spots North of Minya Konka

Kangding Airport Road

• Kangding Airport Road is one of the easiest spots to see Minya Konka Range and it is one the way from Kangding to Xinduqiao.
• Location: 30km East to Xinduqiao.
• Accessibility: car
• View Rating: Good - Excellent
• Elevation: 4300m
• Camping: Available
• Seasons: All seasons

What else to shoot?

Mountain is the big deal of course. But there are also big glaciers and beautiful valleys of alpine views including forests, lakes, local nomads people and wild animals. Mountain lovers may find this tempting.

Best time for a Photo Trip

July, August and October, November, December are the best time to do a photo tour in Gonggashan. You will have warmer and comfortable days in July and August but chance of good weather is lower than the colder and less comfortable November and December.