Back from Daocheng Yading, never going again—it was so beautiful it made me cry
📍Attraction Addresses: Daocheng Yading has numerous attractions mainly distributed in Yading Village, Shangri-La Town, Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and surrounding areas. Here are specific addresses of key attractions:
Three Sacred Mountains
• Xiannairi: Located in the northern part of Daocheng Yading Scenic Area, with an altitude of 6,032 meters, its Tibetan name means "Avalokiteshvara."
• Yangmaiyong: Situated in the southern part of Daocheng Yading Scenic Area, with an altitude of 5,958 meters, its Tibetan name means "Manjushri."
• Xianuoduojie: Located in the eastern part of Daocheng Yading Scenic Area, with an altitude of 5,958 meters, its Tibetan name means "Vajrapani."
Temples
• Chonggu Temple: Located at Chonggu Meadow at the foot of Xiannairi Snow Peak, with an altitude of 3,885 meters.
Lakes
• Pearl Lake: Above Chonggu Temple, it serves as the "dressing mirror" of the sacred Xiannairi Mountain and is a seasonal alpine lake.
• Milk Lake: Translated from Tibetan as "Erongcuo," it is situated at 4,500 meters above sea level, between Yangmaiyong and Xianuoduojie.
• Five-Color Lake: Also known as "Danzengcuo," it is at 4,700 meters above sea level, covering about 5,800 square meters, and located above Milk Lake.
Meadows
• Chonggu Meadow: Once a glacial barrier lake, it became a meadow after the dam collapsed. It was a primary filming location for the movie "I Belonged to You."
• Luorong Pasture: Surrounded by the three sacred mountains of "Risongongbu," with the Gongga River flowing through, it offers an excellent view of Yangmaiyong Snow Mountain.
Others
• Haizi Mountain National Nature Reserve: Located on Provincial Highway 217 in Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, about 20 km northeast of Daocheng Yading Airport along the highway.
• Red Grassland: Located in Sangdui Town, Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, beside the road from Sangdui to Daocheng.
• Daocheng White Pagoda: Located at Zunsheng Pagoda Forest on G227 in Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
🚗Transportation: Here are ways to get to Daocheng Yading Scenic Area and travel within it:
External Transportation
• Flight: Daocheng Yading Airport offers flights to/from Chengdu, Chongqing, Luzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Xi'an, and Kangding. If there are no direct flights from your city, fly to Chengdu first and then transfer. After landing, take an airport shuttle to Shangri-La Town or arrange a pickup with your homestay.
• Bus: Chengdu Xinnanmen Station has direct buses to Daocheng, departing at 10:00 AM daily. The journey takes about 22 hours, with an overnight stay in Kangding, arriving at Daocheng County Bus Station the next afternoon.
• Self-drive: From Chengdu, there are two routes: the southern route (Chengdu → Ya'an → Kangding → Xinduqiao → Daocheng) with good road conditions and gradual altitude gain, and the northern route (Chengdu → Dujiangyan → Yingxiu → Wolong → Balang Mountain → Xiaojin → Danba → Bamei → Tagong → Xinduqiao → Daocheng) with diverse scenery but complex road conditions.
In-Scenic Area Transportation
• Sightseeing Bus: Full price 120 RMB/person, from Tourist Center to Zhaguanbeng, 37 km one way. Operating hours: Tourist Center to Zhaguanbeng 7:00 AM–5:00 PM, Zhaguanbeng to Tourist Center last bus at 6:30 PM, Yading Village to Zhaguanbeng first bus at 7:30 AM.
• Scenic Electric Cart: Round trip 80 RMB/person, one way 50 RMB/person, from Chonggu Temple to Luorong Pasture, 6.7 km one way. Operating hours: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM.
• Horse Caravan: Operates annually from April 10 to November 9. From Luorong Pasture to Sheshen Cliff, 3.5 km one way, 300 RMB/person. From Sheshen Cliff to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake, 1.8 km, requires hiking.
👍️Must-Visit Attractions: Daocheng Yading's must-see spots include natural and cultural landscapes:
Natural Landscapes
• Yading Three Sacred Mountains: Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong, and Xianuoduojie form a triangle, all above 5,900 meters. They are sacred to Tibetans, representing compassion, wisdom, and power.
• Luorong Pasture: A vast, beautiful alpine meadow surrounded by the three sacred mountains, ideal for worship and viewing Yangmaiyong.
• Milk Lake: At 4,500 meters, its blue waters with a milky-white rim resemble a sapphire set between snow-capped mountains, fed by glacial meltwater.
• Five-Color Lake: Tibetan name "Danzengcuo," at 4,700 meters, covers 5,800 square meters. Sunlight refracts to create colorful hues.
• Pearl Lake: A seasonal alpine lake, the "dressing mirror" of Xiannairi, perfect for photographing the mountain's reflection.
Cultural Landscapes
• Chonggu Temple: Tibetan for "temple built by filling a lake," it belongs to the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, enshrining Tsongkhapa, Sakyamuni, and Avalokiteshvara.
• Daocheng White Pagoda: Also called Zunsheng Pagoda Forest, it's the largest white pagoda in Kham, with one main pagoda and 108 smaller ones.
• Sangdui Red Grassland: In Jiyi Village, Sangdui Township, Daocheng County. Each autumn, the red grass contrasts with distant snow mountains, blue sky, and white clouds, like a painting.
🎟️Ticket Information: Daocheng Yading Scenic Area ticket details:
• Entrance Fee: Peak season (April 1–November 30) 146 RMB/person; off-season (December 1–March 31) 120 RMB/person.
• Sightseeing Bus: Round trip 120 RMB/person, from Tourist Center to Zhaguanbeng (37 km), mandatory.
• Scenic Cart: Chonggu Temple to Luorong Pasture, round trip 80 RMB/person, one way 50 RMB/person. Optional.
• Horse Caravan: Luorong Pasture to Sheshen Cliff, one way 300 RMB/person. Operates April 10–November 9, requires advance booking (limited spots).
• Insurance: 10 RMB/person, optional.
Discounts are available for youth, students, seniors, disabled persons, and military personnel per national and provincial regulations. Full-time students, seniors aged 60–69, disabled persons, and active military personnel get 50% off with valid ID. Children under 1.2 meters and seniors over 70 (with ID) enter free.