4 Days Daocheng Yading In-depth Hiking Tour
Worthy Hiking Exploration of “Soul of Shangri-La”
Worthy Hiking Exploration of “Soul of Shangri-La”
Daocheng Yading boasting the very primitive pleasant nature is a top favored trekking destination to please your eyes!
This 4 Days Daocheng Yading In-depth Hiking Tour will take you to explore the “Soul of Shangri-La” of the famous paradise on earth in an a bit challenging trekking way. We will arrange 2 days for you to hike in Yading Nature Reserve to appreciate the marvelous snow peaks, lakes, forests, grassland, lovely animals, etc. along the way up to 4,600 meters level, of course without missing of the close look at the three sacred mountains. To catch all the wonderful landscape of Daocheng Yading and know why it is respected so highly as the dream land by world people, take this in-depth tour to start your discovery!
Alternative Plan: This Daocheng Yading in-depth tour needs a very good physical condition to finish the 2 days’ hiking. If you want to visit Daocheng Yading in a relatively easier way, you can choose our 4 Days Daocheng Yading Classic Hiking Tour from Chengdu (by Flight) with less hiking but similar arrangement of attractions. If you have any ideas or help about your trip plan, please feel free to contact us for help!
Day 1 Chengdu to Daocheng Yading (L)
Fly from Chengdu to Daocheng Yading - Benbo Monastery - Poplar Forest
Today, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then escort you to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to catch the flight to Daocheng Yading, which needs only 1 hour. After your arrival, you will be welcomed by your local guide and driver at the arrival hall of Daocheng Yading Airport (4,411m).
You will be escorted to visit Benbo Monastery (3,940m) first to have a close look at the striking claret-red Kagyu Buddhist temple cluster of over 900 years old, learn the interesting story of its establishment and the creator, and feel the sincere Buddhist pursuit and persistence of local Lamas. Next, go to Bang River to appreciate the ten thousand acre of poplar forest (3,740m) from the best location. The wide spread of poplar trees are so charming in pure green in spring and summer and orange and golden in autumn under the frequent azure sky in Daocheng. You will also admire painting-like landscape at Sangdui Red Grassland with October fiery red grass in water against the typical Tibetan village houses on your way from Benbo Monastery to the poplar forest.
After the visiting, your guide and driver will send to your hotel at Shangri-La Town (2,950m) and help you check in. Have a good rest for the following hiking experience!
Tips: Since the altitude of Daocheng Yading area is mainly over 3,000 meters, you are highly suggested not do strenuous exercise to release or avoid altitude sickness.
Yading Poplar Forest
Day 2 Daocheng Yading (B)
Yading Nature Reserve (Luorong Pasture - Milk Lake - Five Color Lake)
After an early breakfast, start your exploration of Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve, the Last Pure Land on Earth first found by Joseph Rock in 1928 and then be widely treated as the “Soul of Shangri-La” with extremely dreaming wonderland.
Take the sightseeing bus from the tourist center to Zhaguanbeng for about 1-1.5 hours and enjoy the 2-2.5 hours’ hike to Luorong Pasture (4,150m) via Chonggu Monastery (3,900m) (you can also choose to walk 20 minute to Chonggu Monastery and take the 0.5 hour battery car to Luorong Pasture if you want to save energy). Enjoy your relaxing roam at the idyllic pasture with those carefree grazing cattle and goats, layers of multicolored dense alpine forest, clear winding stream, etc. backed by the three holy snow mountains, namely Xiannairi (Mount Chianrezig), Yangmaiyong (Mount Jambeyang) and Xianuoduoji (Mount Chanadorje). You will appreciate the most beautiful appearance of Xianuoduoji snow mountain like a powerful man!
Next, take the challenging 5 km’s hike for 3-3.5 hours up to the fabulous Milk Lake (4,600m) (horse riding is available to Milk Lake and needs extra payment) and marvel at the unbelievable charm of such a holy lake like a precious blue gem that even can move one to drop tears. Continue to walk another 0.5 hour to visit Five Color Lake (4,500m) 0.3 km away to savor the impressive sightseeing with beautiful snow rock mountain in white, grey, silver and chocolate, blue and green water, various alpine plantations, clear sky backdrop, etc. particularly like an world-class oil painting.
After the visiting, walk down and take the car and bus back to the entrance. And our guide and driver will send you back to your hotel at Shangri-La Town. Have a good rest!
Day 3 Daocheng Yading (B)
Yading Nature Reserve (Chonggu Monastery - Chonggu Meadow - Pearl Lake)
Today after breakfast, go to Chonggu Monastery as the same way on Day 2 by sightseeing bus and hike. Have a stop at the temple to admire the sacred Gelug Buddhist temple architecture in white, red, yellow and black and learn the interesting story about the temple and Joseph Rock’s stop by. From such unbeatable location, you will easily take the excellent photo of the brilliant temple and the three pure white holy snow mountains. After some short walk, embrace the lovely Chonggu Meadow (4,020m) that can be paralleled with the fairyland on earth. Stroll on the vast grassland like a thick and soft carpet in yellow and green in each season. Play along the particularly appealing transparent chanting river with clearly visible little stones like countless grains of gold sank to the bottom. Do not miss the best angle to admire the Xianuoduoji snow mountain like a powerful man.
Then, continue to hike for 30 minutes to visit Pearl Lake (4,120m) that is super fascinating to admire the picturesque landscape of surrounding snow peaks, green and orange dense forest, iridescent prayer flags, and their dazzling reflection in the shimmering clear lake. Also, it is the best location to admire the holy Xiannairi snow mountain.
After the visiting, our guide and driver will send you to your hotel in Daocheng County (3,700m) and help you check in. Have a good rest!
Day 4 Daocheng Yading Departure (B)
Fly off Daocheng Yading
After breakfast, your local guide and driver will send you to Daocheng Yading Airport for your flight to Chengdu or other destinations. Tour ends.
Departure Idea: Daocheng Yading Airport has direct flights to Chengdu, Chongqing and Xian, and very few connecting flights to Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Kunming.
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel
and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your
traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of
currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2025.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change
according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.
Dear Rita,
I am very satisfied with tour arrangements. I have recommended your company to many friends/relatives.
Overall, we are very happy with the trip. Our driver Ms Liu was a very pleasant & careful driver. I highly recommend her.
Mona
Hi Rita,
As my trip is coming to an end tomorrow, I would like to express my appreciations to the following individuals who had made my trip possible and memorable.
1) Ms Rita Jiang for helping me to plan my itinerary from scratch and in my budgeting.
2) Mr Wine Wang for being a friendly driver-cum-tour guide in Kunming.
3) Mr Andy Wang for his untiring driving from Dali to Lijiang and Shangri-La for sightseeings.
Both Wine and Wang speak good English and are knowledgeable about sightseeing attractions and local authentic food outlets. I would definitely recommend them to any of my friends and travel buddies from around the world who speak only English.
Last but not least, thanks to the Government of China for granting 15-days visa free entry to China for tourists who hold Australian passports, among many other countries. It’s timely to open up China to the world to see for themselves a modern China blended in with history-rich ancient cities, towns and villages in multi-minority communities of Yunnan Province from a tourist perspective.
Once again, thanks to Rita and her team.
Best regards,
Ping
Dear Rita,
My husband and I were on the 13-Day Beijing/Xian/Guilin/Zhangjiajie/Shanghai Tour with China Discovery from 15-27 May 2024.
Overall, we had a wonderful time on our trip.
Organisation
Everything went very smoothly, just like clockwork.
Guides
In each city, on our arrival we were met by our guide who took very good care of us.
Our guides were: Beijing- Andy; Xian - Grace; Guilin - Peter; Zhangjiajie - Nina; Shanghai - Jeff.
All the guides we had were knowledgeable about their city, its history, and culture. They were also friendly, and flexible in accommodating our requests and also showed their professionalism by always being on time in the morning and during our time with them, they were always helpful, patient and understanding.
I would like to mention that 2 of our guides (Andy in Beijing and Peter in Guilin) were excellent. Their English was fluent. It was also obvious that both took great pride in their work.
Peter was very earnest, and very clear and systematic in his explanation of what we would see and do in the places we visited and he was also extremely helpful.
Andy was the best guide we have ever had. In addition to the qualities mentioned above, we found him very energetic, enthusiastic, lively and with an amazing sense of humour. He was very flexible and really went out of his way to accommodate our requests, for example, to visit a place which was not on our itinerary, but which both of us wanted to see - a Catholic Church associated with Matteo Ricci. He knew interesting little areas and eating places to which he took us for local food and snacks. He even got us some snacks when he thought we might need some sustenance. We had interesting conversations with him and it seemed more like we were spending time with a friend rather than with a guide we had just met.
Nina, our guide in Zhangjiajie, was very sweet. Her English was not as fluent, but she was very caring, helpful, very patient and kind especially when we had to negotiate all the steps up and downhill in the mountains. She was always very concerned about how we were faring, even in the type of food we enjoyed when we told her we just wanted to try the local food.
Transportation
The cars we travelled in were very nice, clean and comfortable. All the drivers, besides being very helpful, especially with our luggage, were also skilful drivers who conveyed us safely through, often, very heavy traffic.
The express speed train from Beijing to Xian was an enjoyable experience. The train was very comfortable, and the toilets were very clean.
But the 7-hour journey on the high speed train which stopped at all the stations between Guilin and Zhnagjiajie was less comfortable.
The train itself was fine although the journey was long.
For one thing, there was a man just behind me who talked very loudly for hours on his mobile phone. I could not change seats because the train was quite full.
Then, there were 2 people quarrelling at the entrance of our compartment when we were trying to board the train. They blocked the entrance and refused to move until someone in charge of the compartment screamed (right next to my ear) for the security guard. We had to literally bulldoze our way into the train which was about to leave.
Hotels
The hotels, besides being grand, were clean, comfortable and had all the amenities we needed. The one in Guilin had a fantastic view.
In general the breakfasts provided by the hotels were also excellent.
Sights
We think China is a very beautiful country with so much history, culture and nature to enjoy. Being on a guided tour, we had less contact with the ordinary people than we would normally have when we do a free-and-easy trip. But, all in all, we had a great trip and we would like to visit China again.
So we are thinking of going to the following places sometime in October 2024, after the Chinese National Holiday in early October.
Thank you.
Loh
Hello Rita,
Some of the most incredible sights I have ever seen are on Day1 & Day2.
Nothing was too much trouble for Bree. She took us to quiet places when we needed a rest from the noise.
We only ever waited a few minutes for our driver. He was good.
Jones
Hi Rita,
So sorry for the long delay, I am still travelling and haven’t been on the laptop so much.
Very good tour, very happy with all arrangements. I am willing to recommend your service to my friends who also have an interest to visit China.
Thanks
George
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.
Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!
After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.
We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.
Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!
Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!
Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.
Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!
In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!
The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.
We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.
The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.
There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Yading Poplar Forest
Yading Milk Lake (4,600m)
Yading Luorong Pasture
Yading Five Color Lake (4,500m)
Chonggu Meadow
Yading Pearl Lake & Mount Chianrezig
Yading Chonggu Monastery
Administratively, Daocheng is a county in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province. Yading is the Yading Nature Reserve in Daocheng County, which is the major tourist area with terrific landscape. Daocheng Yading is more widely known and usually refers to Yading Nature Reserve specifically in a narrow sense mostly or Daocheng County in a board sense. During your Daocheng Yading trip, we will take you to explore the core Yading Nature Reserve and discover other top highlights in whole Daocheng County!
Visitors can go to Daocheng Yading all year round. Autumn (mid-September - mid-November) is the most popular season to see the fabulous colorful Yading Nature Reserve with white snow peaks, blue lakes, orange and yellow forests, clear blue sky, etc. with comfortable weather, and when is also the favorite time for photographers. September to October during when is also appealing to marvel at the Sangdui Red Grassland and ten thousand acre of golden yellow poplar forest, like a natural oil painting. Spring (late March - late June) is also great to see the mountains dressed with azaleas and other various flowers in different colors.
Most places in Daocheng Yading are more than 3,000 meters high above sea. To help you release or avoid altitude sickness, you are highly suggested drink some Rhodiola rosea at least one week before visiting Daocheng Yading and not do strenuous exercise during your whole trip. Besides, drink enough water and sleep well!
| Daocheng County | 3,700m | Daocheng Yading Airport | 4,411m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shangri-La Town | 2,950m | Yading Nature Reserve | 2,900m-6,032m |
| Mount Xiannairi | 6,032m | Mount Yangmaiyong | 5,958m |
| Mount Xianuoduoji | 5,958m | Milk Lake | 4,600m |
| Five Color Lake | 4,500m | Pearl Lake | 4,120m |
| Luorong Pasture | 4,150m | Chonggu Monastery | 3,900m |
| Chonggu Meadow | 4,020m | Yading Village Viewing Deck | 4,060m |
| Blue Moon Valley | 2,200m | Benpo Temple | 3,940m |
| Poplar Forest | 3,740m | Sangdui Red Grassland | 3,940m |
Visitors may not stay in only one place during you Daocheng Yading trip. For your discovery of Yading Nature Reserve, Shangri-La Town is the best place to stay with only several kilometers to the entrance and a better altitude lower than 3,000m. And for your enjoyment of other attractions and flight catching, you are more suggested to stay in Daocheng County that is 3700m high and offers more than 10 choices of 2-4 stars. Yading Village within Yading Nature Reserve is also chosen for a second hiking day, however, the altitude above 4,000 is not recommended for the first night in Daocheng, besides, the offer of facilities, hot water and electricity is not so good.
As temperature in Daocheng Yading is usually lower than that in other destinations, it is necessary to take enough down jackets, mountaineering jackets, thick sweaters, waterproof clothes, scarves, gloves and antiskid hiking shoes in spring, autumn and winter season. Long-sleeves coats are also recommended in summer. Sun block, sunglasses, hats, lip balm, and so on are suggested for all seasons.
We China Discovery based in Chengdu, Sichuan have rich experience for providing Daocheng Yading tour arrangement and customization service for global visitors. Our professional travel expert will also help you sincerely to design your Daocheng Yading tour if you are interested in extending to more stunning destinations in Sichuan such as Chengdu, Leshan, Mount Emei, Jiuzhai Valley, Mount Siguniang, Danba, Kangding, Xinduqiao, or other domestic destinations like Yunnan, Tibet, Beijing, Shanghai, etc. We will show you the terrific sightseeing, culture, history and more highlights of the whole Sichuan and all places during your memorable trip!
Usually, the highlights of Chengdu can be discovered in brief one or two days, but it is a wonderful gateway city to Sichuan’s UNESCO World Cultural Heritages sites, especially Jiuzhaigou Valley, which acts as the second best travel place (after Chengdu) and most picturesque place in Sichuan. Besides, you can visit Leshan Giant Buddha, Emeishan Mountain, Dujiangyan Panda Base and Mount Qingcheng. If you like an adventure to more primitive and breathtaking natural world, go western Sichuan. China Discovery can provide tailor-made tours to all above destinations with great prices.
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