High adventure at Dagu glacier range

A cable car zips above snowcapped peaks at the Dagu Glacier Scenic Area. [Photo by Xu Lin/China Daily]

I sipped a small cup of steaming coffee while looking at the frozen water mass out the window of a cafe that claims to be the world's highest at 4,860 meters.

The cup was close and warm. The ancient glaciers seemed cold and far away.

But they weren't, really.

I was exploring the Dagu Glacier Scenic Area in Sichuan province's Heishui county. The county in the Aba Tibetan autonomous prefecture is encapsulated by 13 glaciers that encrust an area of over 210 kilometers.

They're among the world's youngest.

From below, autumn visitors can float above yellow leaves and snowcapped peaks on a 15-minute cable car that zips 1.6 km upwards vertically to the two-story coffeehouse.

Tourists can sniff oxygen from tabletop machines while nibbling on local snacks.

I walked from the coffee shop to a large wooden platform offering panoramic views of this remarkable landscape. The path leads to a lake that's like an oasis among the white. It's like a gemstone in a crown.

This constellation of glaciers attracts photographers who come to its lakes, valleys and Tibetan villages.