Golden ice

Visitors can travel by cable car between the mountains.[Photo provided to China Daily]

The change in colors of leaves through the four seasons gives the park an additional touch of charm. But the favorite season for many tourists is fall, when the forests blaze in hues of gold and red. Set against the reflection of blue lakes that are surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the experience is balmy, especially for city dwellers.

The forests are mostly temperate deciduous, with glacial erosion landforms featuring sharp gravel and detritus on the higher reaches of the mountains. Hiking the area's meandering roads is like going on a trip to a botanical garden. The alpine rose, which is unique to high-altitude regions, is a true beauty of the place.

According to the local tourism bureau, the glacier sees 130,000 to 150,000 visitors every year. Locals say the glacier has receded by hundreds of meters since 2008.

Although the river and lakes have enough water to nurture the forests and wildlife, the shrinking of Dagu is a worrisome reminder of the harmful effects of global warming.