Daocheng Yading Autumn Guide, Where are the best autumn photography spots in Daocheng Yading?
Preface
Before introducing Daocheng Yading, let me first tell you a legend about the Three Sacred Mountains of Yading.
The Legend of the Three Sacred Mountains of Aden
Long, long ago, Guanyin Bodhisattva made a great vow before the Buddha, to save all those who could be saved, otherwise his head would be torn into a thousand pieces and he would never become a Buddha.
Then, when he arrived at Yading, nestled in the mountains, he saw a valley of jagged rocks where countless people struggled. This was the Valley of Hell. Seeing so many people still struggling in the cycle of rebirth, their hearts ached like needles. At that very moment, his vow came true. The Bodhisattva's head shattered into a thousand pieces, spreading across the snowy landscape. He cried out in agony.
The Buddha took pity on Guanyin Bodhisattva and pieced his broken head together, telling him that since the sentient beings here were still struggling in hell, he should stay here for a while and continue to save them.
Thus, the Bodhisattva stood in the clouds, constantly saving the suffering people in the Hell Valley. As the years passed, the Bodhisattva slowly transformed into a huge snow-capped mountain, towering above the Hell Valley. His tears transformed into twenty-one beautiful fairies. More tears slowly gathered at the foot of the snow-capped mountain, transforming into the emerald green Dolma Latso.
An unknown amount of time passed before Guanyin Bodhisattva's closest companions, the wise Manjushri and the mighty Vajrapani, also arrived. Together, they transformed into snowy mountains. Mighty Vajrapani stood opposite Guanyin, dispelling the evil spirits that had escaped from the Valley of Hell. Manjushri, the embodiment of wisdom, guided those who had escaped the sea of suffering. His towering snowy mountain, its pyramid-like peaks, represented Manjushri's serene and tranquil form, while the wings extending from his body were the blue lion, the Bodhisattva's mount.
Gradually, Chonggu Cattle Farm and Luolong Cattle Farm, surrounded by three snow-capped mountains, became pastures with gurgling water and cattle and sheep everywhere.
A village gradually emerged on the northern slopes. People spontaneously turned their windows toward the sacred mountain, chanting scriptures and performing daily pilgrimages. They gave the village a beautiful name: Yading, which in Tibetan means "the first place to be illuminated by the sun" or "the place facing the sun."
More than 1,300 years ago, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, Guru Padmasambhava, came to Aden after conquering many enemies of Buddhism along the way. He was deeply attracted by this land. After listening to the stories told by local villagers, he named the three snow-capped mountains Xiannairi (Avalokitesvara), Yangmaiyong (Manjushri), and Xianuoduoji (Vajrapani), and personally presided over the consecration ceremony. He named the three snow-capped mountains "Nyainqen Gonggar Risong Gongbu", which means the three sacred mountains where snow never melts all year round.
Since then, Risong Gongbu Snow Mountain has received pilgrimages from people from all over the snow-covered areas every year, and the incense is still strong today.
Image from China-TravelNote Photography Network
Where is Aden?
The Shaluli Mountains are the longest mountain range in Sichuan. To the north lies the Queer Mountains, which stretch across National Highway 317. In the middle lies the sacred Mount Genyen, Sichuan's third highest peak. And at the southern end, the Three Sacred Mountains of Yading—Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong, and Xiannuoduoji—are named "Nyainchen Gongga Risong Gongbu" by Guru Padmasambhava.
Starting from Chengdu, head west along National Highway 318. After arriving in Litang, turn onto the north-south Provincial Highway 216, cross Haizi Mountain and arrive at Daocheng County. From the county, continue south and cross the Bowa Mountain Pass, cross the Chitu River Gorge, and you will arrive at the entrance of the scenic area formerly known as "Riwa" and now called "Shangri-La Town". Take the scenic shuttle bus that departs in shifts, and Daocheng Yading, known as "the last pure land on the blue water planet", will begin to appear before people's eyes.
In the movie "Passing By Your World," DJ Chen Mo, played by Deng Chao, said, "I'll tell you in secret: there's a place called Daocheng. I want to go there with my beloved, to see the azure sky, the white snow-capped mountains, the golden grasslands, and an autumn fairy tale. I want to tell her that if I don't live in your heart, I'm dead in a foreign land! I want to tell her that love means being together forever."
Yes! The most beautiful road should be walked with the one you love most; the most beautiful scenery should be shared with the one you love most!
The autumn in Aden is particularly gorgeous among all the seasons!
The snow-capped mountains stand majestically under the blue-purple sky of autumn, with the sky sometimes clear and the occasional wisp of clouds passing over the top of the snow-capped mountains; the sun casts mottled light and shadows on the meadows surrounded by snow-capped mountains and nourished by the meltwater of glaciers; the upper forests on the hillsides are dyed with light yellow and deep red, layer upon layer, covering the huge mountain bodies below the snow line of the three sacred mountains, as if putting on gorgeous robes for the three snow-capped mountains that are the incarnations of Bodhisattvas.
The above pictures are from China-TravelNote Photography Network
Aden Photography Guide
Aden Village
The Yading Village Observation Deck is located between the scenic area's main entrance and Yading Village. It's located on a higher ground, offering panoramic views of Yading Village, Xiannairi Mountain, and Yangmaiyong Mountain in the morning and evening. Facing the valley, it's also the perfect spot for capturing distant views of Chonggu Temple.
Yading Village is located on the northern slope of the Three Sacred Mountains. Standing in Yading Village, you can see Xiannairi and Xianuoduoji, two of the Three Sacred Mountains in Daocheng. At the same time, the entrance platform and rooftop terrace of the Da Chong residential building at the entrance of Yading Village, as well as the roadside about 500 meters away from Station No. 1 outside the village are the best places to photograph the starry sky in Yading Village.
The above pictures are from: Cheche who loves taking photos
Chonggu Temple and Chonggu Meadow
Chonggu Temple is located in a canyon where the Xiannairi Snow Mountain and the Xianuoduoji Snow Mountain face each other, and was formed by the convergence and erosion of meltwater from the snow mountains.
Heading towards Chonggu Temple, a plank path leads directly to Zhuoma Lacuo, at the foot of the Xiannairi Snow Mountain. This is the perfect spot to photograph the reflection of the Xiannairi. On the way back, we recommend walking through the woods; the afternoon sunlight in the jungle offers an unexpected treat.
There is a rest area in Chonggu Temple. Next to the rest area, you can use a wide-angle lens to capture both Chonggu Temple and the sacred mountain Xianuoduoji.
Walking to the riverbank in Chonggu Meadow, you can capture the scene of the river flowing slowly through the colorful forest with Chonggu Temple in the background. You can also capture the gurgling water of Chonggu Meadow beneath the snow-capped Xianuoduoji Mountain and the sunset over it. If you're willing to hike the five kilometers back to Yading Village, you can also wait for the stars at Chonggu Meadow.
Luolong Cattle Farm
Luorong Ranch is located north of Chonggu Meadow, surrounded by three snow-capped mountains. It offers the best view of Yangmaiyong Snow Mountain. However, the plank road can easily freeze in the early morning, so please be careful and pay attention to safety. Also, currently, the scenic area does not allow people to leave the grasslands, so please abide by the regulations.
On the way from Chonggu Temple to Luorong Ranch, you'll pass a large platform where you can get off. Before the sun illuminates the snow-capped mountains, you can wander into the jungle and take slow-motion photos with the flowing water in the foreground. However, you'll need to take the earliest bus from Yading Village and transfer to the fastest shuttle bus to Luorong Ranch.
After arriving at Luolong Cow Farm and photographing the sunrise at Yangmaiyong, if you don't have the energy to head to Five-Colored Lake, you can instead walk down the river along the plank path. Along the way, you'll find densely colored forests and a gurgling river, a perfect place to find creative inspiration. However, if you're shooting slow shutter speeds of the river and snow-capped mountains, you'll need a high-ND filter. Otherwise, the water and mountains will be severely overexposed.
In autumn and winter, around sunrise, there is often dense fog in the valley facing the Yangmaiyong Snow Mountain, and the scenery here is also very beautiful.
Milk Sea and Five-Colored Sea
The Milk Lake and the Five-Colored Lake are located at the pass where the Xiannairi Snow Mountain and the Yangmaiyong Snow Mountain meet. A round trip from Luolong Cow Farm to the Milk Lake and the Five-Colored Lake takes about 4-6 hours. This trip should be done according to your ability. However, a plank road is currently being constructed on this section of the road, significantly improving the road conditions compared to the past.
It is recommended to take the left road to Milk Lake first, then to Five-Color Lake, and then return the same way. Because the road on the right side of the intersection is extremely steep, coupled with an altitude of nearly 5,000 meters, it is very physically demanding and will hurt your knees.
Since it is not possible to capture the light in the morning and evening at Milk Lake and Five Color Lake, the highlights of the photography here are the changes in light and shadow on the lake surface and the snow-capped mountains.
From Five-Colored Lake, continue up the gravel slope for 30-50 minutes. From the higher slopes, you can use a wide-angle lens to frame both the Five-Colored Lake and Milk Lake. This has become a popular Instagram-worthy spot in recent years. However, due to the high altitude, the ascent requires considerable stamina, so be sure to exercise within your capacity.
Photography Guide around Daocheng
Poplar Forest
Located on the road from the county seat to Yading, it's within walking distance. In autumn, the area is covered in golden yellow. On moonless nights, away from the city lights and traffic, you can capture the beautiful Milky Way or practice light painting in the open spaces between the trees.
Eluo Village/Banghe Township
Located next to the river valley beside the road from the county seat to Yading, it is a famous pastoral scenery shooting location around Daocheng. Whenever the sun sets, the fields, villages, rivers and valleys here are shrouded in beautiful light and shadow, making it a place where great films can be produced.
Eluo Village boasts a spacious landscape, with a tower just south of the village entrance. Climbing to the top offers a prime vantage point for overlooking the entire Banghe Township valley. Eluo Village faces Banghe Township across the river, and abundant farmland nestles among the poplar trees, making it a great spot for capturing farmers at work with a telephoto lens.
Zunsheng Tallinn
Located on the right side of the S216 road entering Daocheng County, it is the northernmost end of the main road in Daocheng County.
The massive buildings create a powerful visual impact at any time of year. If the sky is filled with rosy clouds or a rainbow hangs high, the magnificent Tallinn will appear incredibly magical.
At night, Zunsheng Tallinn turns on its lights. You can climb up the nearby hillside to overlook Tallinn, or take pictures of the vehicle light tracks with the passing vehicles as the foreground.
Red Grassland
Located on the road between Sangdui Town and Daocheng County, it's quite small, but famous for the unique red aquatic plants that cover it about two weeks before and after National Day. The red grass is protected by a wall and is free to park, but the parking lot across the road does charge a fee.
The best place to take photos of the Red Grassland is in the southeast corner. There are some stones in the foreground and the background is a golden poplar forest under the blue sky and white clouds.
However, due to the influence of climate and precipitation, the landscape of the red grassland is inconsistent every year, with good and bad years. In a bad year, it will be disappointing, while in a good year, it will be very stunning.
bang pu temple
Located just outside Sangdui Town, across the river from the S216, Bangpu Temple, built during the Southern Song Dynasty, is one of the earliest Karma Kagyu temples in Khampa. Founded by the first Karmapa himself, Bangpu is a prime spot for panoramic photographs.
Bangpu Temple is located in the river valley. It is a small temple with only two main Buddhist halls. However, because it is located in the widest part of the river valley, the top of the cliff behind the temple is the best place to overlook the entire Sangdui River Valley.
Bangpu Temple is also famous for its white-eared pheasants. The temple's lantern master, Ngawang Jigme, is responsible for the birds' feeding. In the afternoon, when the birds are feeding, you can walk into the light-dappled woods behind the temple and photograph Jigme feeding the birds.
China-TravelNote Exclusive Spot - Heimani Pass
China-TravelNote's exclusive spot, [Heimani Pass], is a newly discovered excellent location for photographing the panoramic views of the Three Sacred Mountains of Aden.
