“Your eyes are in heaven, but your body is in hell”—this is the phrase repeated most often by everyone who has been to Daocheng Yading. And it’s true. But when you look back at the road you’ve traveled, surrounded by mountains, all the hardship feels worth it for the thrill of standing in what feels like paradise.
Daocheng Yading is a place you absolutely have to visit at least once in your life. But when should you go? What should you see? What should you pay attention to? After reading this article, you’ll know~
A large portion of Daocheng’s attractions are concentrated in Yading. Yading Scenic Area not only has magnificent, sacred snow-capped mountains, but also vast meadows, colorful forests, and crystal-clear alpine lakes. Almost everything most beautiful about the snowy plateau comes together here, and all of it makes people reluctant to leave.
Transportation to Daocheng Yading
External Transportation
① Daocheng Airport: There are direct buses available—35 RMB to Daocheng County and 85 RMB to Shangri-La Town.
② Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station: Buy a ticket for a little over 300 RMB and take a full-day coach ride here.
③ Shangri-La Bus Station in Yunnan: Take an eight-hour coach ride here, with tickets costing around 150 RMB. If you’re driving yourself, the route via Derong County and Xiangcheng County offers even better scenery.
④ Litang Old Bus Station: Take a bus to Daocheng County, then transfer to Shangri-La Town.
⑤ Shangri-La Town to the scenic area: There is a public bus—ask at the bus station. Or you can take a private car by the roadside for 10 RMB, but you’ll need to wait until it fills up.
Internal Transportation
① The bus from the visitor center to Zhaguanbeng is mandatory. The mountain road has sixty-four winding bends, so prepare a plastic bag in advance if you’re prone to motion sickness.
② After getting off at Zhaguanbeng, you need to walk to the area near Chonggu Temple before transferring to the sightseeing shuttle to Luorong Pasture. To get to Pearl Lake, hiking is the only option.
③ From Luorong Pasture to the Vajra Challenge Route, you can choose to walk or ride a horse, but after the Vajra Challenge Route, hiking is the only option.
Daocheng Yading Touring Routes
There are two recommended touring routes for Yading Scenic Area: (The ticket is valid for 2 days, and it’s recommended to spend 2 days in Yading. On the first day, do the long route, stay overnight, and then re-enter the scenic area on the second day for the short route.)
Daocheng · Yading Long Route
Luorong Pasture + Milk Lake + Five-Color Lake
Average elevation around 4,500 meters / total distance 10 km / walking time about 6–9 hours
Route: Take the scenic shuttle bus from the entrance of the scenic area to Zhaguanbeng, then walk 0.5 km to Chonggu Temple. You can choose to take an electric cart to Luorong Pasture. From Luorong Pasture to Milk Lake is another 5 km, including 3 km of dirt road that is relatively easy to walk, and 2 km of steep uphill road, so comfortable shoes are a must. From Milk Lake to Five-Color Lake is another 1 km at a higher elevation. This route is quite long, so please proceed according to your physical ability.
TIP: From Luorong Pasture to Five-Color Lake and Milk Lake, you can either hike or ride a horse. However, the number of horses available each day is limited, so if you’re not in great physical condition, it’s recommended to start early.
Daocheng · Yading Short Route
Chonggu Temple + Pearl Lake
Average elevation around 3,800 meters / total distance 3 km / walking time about 2–3 hours
Route: Take the scenic shuttle bus from the entrance of the scenic area to Zhaguanbeng, then walk 0.5 km to Chonggu Temple, and continue another 1.5 km on foot to Pearl Lake (elevation 3,950 meters) and Xiannairi Sacred Mountain. This route is entirely made up of metal-grate boardwalks and is very easy to walk. Even at a slow pace, it should be no problem to reach the top in about 2 hours.
Other Recommended Daocheng · Yading Routes
✅️Sichuan Daocheng Yading & Mount Siguniang 5-Day Tour for 2–8 People
✅️Sichuan Daocheng Yading & Mount Siguniang 6-Day Tour for 2–8 People
Daocheng Yading Attractions
Luorong Pasture
Luorong Pasture is surrounded by the three sacred mountains of “Rishong Gongbu.” The Gongga River winds through the grassland, and forest streams murmur among the trees, blending beautifully with the wooden ranch cabins to create a primitive yet enchanting scene that draws people into a back-to-nature state of mind.
Milk Lake
Milk Lake is located in a mountain hollow at the foot of Yangmaiyong Sacred Mountain. It is a small ancient glacial lake shaped like a water droplet. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, the lake water is crystal-clear and blue, while the shoreline is ringed with a milky-white band, which is why it is called Milk Lake.
Five-Color Lake
Five-Color Lake, also known as Dengchongcuo, gets its name from the five different colors produced by the refraction of light. It lies between Xiannairi and Yangmaiyong, with the glacier valley stretching down to the lakeside. Reflections of the snow mountains on the lake surface create a fantastical display of color.
Chonggu Temple
Chonggu Temple stands right at the foot of Xiannairi and is the first attraction every visitor reaches after arriving in Daocheng Yading. No one knows who built it, nor can the year of construction be verified. It seems to have stood here forever, together with the flowers blooming all around it.
Pearl Lake
Starting from Chonggu Temple, it takes about half an hour to reach Pearl Lake. This is the ideal spot for photographing the reflection of Xiannairi and catching the sunset.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Daocheng Yading?
“For western Sichuan scenery, 80% of the beauty depends on the weather.” If you go at the wrong time, you may miss the best scenery. So, when is the best time to visit Daocheng Yading?
[April-May]: In the season when everything comes back to life, the spring snow in Daocheng Yading gradually begins to melt, and along the route through western Sichuan you can also see the fresh new look of green grass just starting to revive.
[June]: In summer, Daocheng Yading is filled with fresh green mountains, blooming rhododendrons, crystal-clear reflective lakes, and majestic snow-capped peaks, making it impossible not to stop and admire it.
[July-August]: Wildflowers of every color bloom all over the hillsides, the alpine lakes reach their fullest levels, and the vast blue sky, white clouds, azure waters, and pure, winding snow mountains all come together in the vibrant beauty of Daocheng Yading.
[September-October]: This is the most poetic season of the year in Daocheng. The deep red of the meadows, the brilliant blue of the sky, and the pure white of the sacred mountains create the illusion of standing inside a painting.
[December-March]: Winter lasts quite a long time in Daocheng. Usually by the end of October, heavy snow has already begun to fall widely, turning everything into a silver world.
Daocheng Yading Hotels
There are three accommodation areas to choose from in Daocheng Yading: Yading Village, Rencun, and Shangri-La Town.
Choose Yading Village for the best views, but room rates are relatively expensive, accommodation conditions are limited, and the high elevation makes oxygen deficiency more likely.
Choose Rencun for a balance of affordability and convenience. It is right at the entrance to the scenic area and easy to walk to, though the accommodation conditions are fairly average.
Choose Shangri-La Town if you prioritize value for money and better accommodation conditions. It is about a 15-minute drive from the scenic area, and the town has more complete dining, shopping, and entertainment options with better overall value.
Recommended Hotels in Yading Village
Yunshantai Hotel: Oxygen supply + floor heating, separate wet and dry bathroom areas, though the decor is a bit dated.
✅️Discount Booking: Trip
Jianshan Hotel: Has floor heating and a humidifier; oxygen supply is charged separately; separate wet and dry bathroom areas.
✅️Discount Booking:Trip
Craftsmanship · Thousand Autumn Snows: A luxury guesthouse inside the scenic area with fully equipped facilities, but the price is sky-high as well.
✅️Discount Booking:Trip
Recommended Hotels in Rencun
Daocheng Yading Howard Johnson Hotel: Stylish decor and full facilities, but oxygen supply is charged separately, and it is a little farther from the scenic area.
✅️Discount Booking:Trip
Recommended Hotels in Shangri-La Town
✅️Daocheng Sangjie Linka Light Luxury Homestay: Oxygen supply + floor heating, separate wet and dry bathroom areas, but the soundproofing is average.
✅️Crowne Plaza Yading Risong Gongbu: Spacious rooms and complete facilities, but the decor is more business-style and the price is high.
Recommended Food in Daocheng Yading
How could you go on a trip and miss the food? In Daocheng, the local cuisine mainly features Tibetan foods such as butter tea, beef and lamb, tsampa, highland barley wine, and yogurt—all of which are definitely worth trying.
Air-Dried Yak Beef: As the name suggests, this is made by air-drying yak beef. The meat is relatively firm, but when eaten it becomes loose and flaky, and the flavor is even richer and more fragrant than the beef jerky sold in shopping malls.
Highland Barley Wine: A low-alcohol drink brewed from highland barley. It doesn’t smell like most other liquors; instead, it has a light, delicate fragrance. When you drink it, there’s a hint of sweetness afterward. It is also one of the essential drinks for major festivals in Tibetan regions.
Butter Tea: Butter tea is an everyday drink for Tibetan people. Because it contains butter, it provides a lot of heat, making it especially suitable for high-altitude cold regions. Local families usually serve butter tea to guests.
Daocheng Tibetan Fragrant Pork: Tibetan fragrant pork is also known as “ginseng pork.” It has a very low fat content, and after roasting, the skin becomes crisp while the meat is especially flavorful.
Daocheng Fritillaria Chicken: Because of the climate and geography, Daocheng is especially suitable for the growth of fritillaria, which is known for its ability to moisten the lungs and relieve coughs. Since ancient times, it has been praised as a “white pearl.” Daocheng fritillaria chicken has a delicate aroma and tender flavor.
