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Mountaineering / Jinyin expedition
Private expedition · guided
Ten days to a 6,410-metre summit by the all-season snow of Jinyin's south face — a 3,700-metre elevation gain from road end, three camps to 6,100 metres, and a technical final section past crevasses, ice walls and towers.
Ask about this itineraryBase camp country · the green valley below the south face
Jinyin summit — medium technical, hard from around Camp 3
your own dates and group, from one climber upward
from around 2,700 m at road end to 6,410 m — comparable to Everest's north face
the south face holds the more stable weather of the mountain
Why this route
Jinyin is the medium-technical 6,000er with a serious training reputation. The total approach is around 20 kilometres with a 3,700-metre elevation gain — from roughly 2,700 metres at road end to the 6,410-metre summit, a vertical range comparable to the north face of Everest. The climbing itself sits at a medium technical level, with the genuinely hard ground starting around Camp 3 at 6,100 metres.
Two things set it apart from its peers. First, the south face is snow-covered through the season and offers training on every kind of ice terrain — crevasses, ice walls, ice towers — between Camp 1 and the summit. Second, it is among the lower-risk climbable 6,000ers in China: the weather on the south side is comparatively stable, and the road's quick approach means fast evacuation if it is ever needed. Difficulty sits above Mt. Chola, Mt. Banji and Mt. Nama — a good mountain for anyone aiming at higher peaks.
Route Briefing
Drive to Caoke at 1,500 metres, up to base camp at 3,750 metres, then three camps — 4,900, 5,500, 6,100 — before the summit day returns to Camp 1.
Along the way
Jinyin's route runs from a green hot-spring valley at 1,500 metres to an ice world at 6,410 — the range of country is half the story.
Caoke valley · the south face · the ice towers
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Day by day
The expedition climbs the south face in single-camp steps, which is what keeps a 3,700-metre gain manageable.
Chengdu → Caoke, 1,500 m
The drive from Chengdu down into the Caoke valley at 1,500 metres — the start of the 20-kilometre approach and the lowest night of the trip.
Overnight in a guesthouse.
→ base camp, 3,750 m
On foot from Caoke to base camp at 3,750 metres, gaining 2,250 metres of the trip's total 3,700 in the process — the biggest single jump of the expedition, made on foot and by design.
Overnight in tents.
Base camp, 3,750 m
A full day at base camp. Gear checks, an easy higher walk, and early nights — the acclimatisation the big jump on day two pays for.
Overnight in tents.
→ Camp 1, 4,900 m
The first camp on the mountain, at 4,900 metres. The terrain from road end to here — animal trails, rock, debris — is its own training in mixed walking.
Overnight in tents.
→ Camp 2, 5,500 m
Up the south face to Camp 2 at 5,500 metres. The snow deepens and the ground begins to ask for technique rather than endurance alone.
Overnight in tents.
→ Camp 3, 6,100 m
The move to Camp 3 at 6,100 metres — the launch camp for the summit, and the height where the genuinely hard ground begins.
Overnight in tents.
Summit, 6,410 m → Camp 1
From Camp 3 the technical section: crevasses, ice walls and ice towers on the way to the 6,410-metre summit. Descend as far as Camp 1 at 4,900 metres the same day — the long descent that makes the exit days short.
→ Caoke, 1,500 m
From Camp 1 down and out to Caoke — from 4,900 metres to the valley floor, with the thick air arriving faster than you expect.
Overnight in a guesthouse.
Caoke → Chengdu
The drive back to Chengdu, with a flexible tenth day in the plan for weather or tired legs.
Flexible day
A flexible day built into the plan — the buffer for weather on the summit, or simply the slow exit after a big climb.
Private departures
This expedition runs privately between 1 June and 26 October — no fixed join-in dates. The price per person falls as the group grows; every departure is guided end to end.
| Group size | Per person | Booking type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 climber | CNY 92,600per person | Private only |
| 2 climbers | CNY 61,200per person | Private only |
| 3 climbers | CNY 56,800per person | Private only |
| 4 or more | CNY 52,400per person | Private only |
Among the lower-risk climbable 6,000ers in China — the road approach allows quick evacuation. Tell us your record and we will confirm the fit.
What's included
A guided private expedition: leadership, permits and the mountain logistics are in the price.
Arranged and paid for before you arrive.
A mountain guide
Private guiding from Chengdu to Chengdu, including the summit day.
Camps and camp food
Lodging and tents at the campsites; breakfasts and dinners while camping, basic mountain food above base camp.
Shared climbing gear
Ropes and group technical equipment for the crevasse and ice terrain.
Gear carrying
Personal gear carried for each climber before base camp.
Permits and support
Climbing permits, logistics and medical support, and every transfer on the plan.
Yours to arrange, or ask us about.
Chengdu lodging and meals
And lunches throughout; flights and trains.
Personal gear
Including crampons, harness, helmet, boots and ice axe — these can be arranged.
Summit certificate
And optional porter service above base camp, and tips.
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Enquiry
Tell us your climbing record — summits, technical ground, altitude history — as well as your dates. We will come back with an honest assessment and a written outline.
Enquiry sent
We reply within one business day. A copy of what you sent has gone to your inbox.
Need to add something? Write to inquiry@chinadventure.com.
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