4-Day In-Depth Tour of Daocheng Yading

Daocheng Yading, the purest land in the Tibetan region's secret realm🏔️, not only boasts the natural wonders of snowy mountains and sacred lakes but also features a unique plateau culture. It is definitely a spiritual haven you must visit in your lifetime! Here’s my personally tested super practical guide to help you explore this earthly paradise without detours～

🌟 【4 Days 3 Nights In-Depth Itinerary】
Day 1: Chengdu → Daocheng County
▶️ Overnight in Daocheng County (altitude 3750m, acclimate to the plateau in advance)
▶️ Tibetan cultural experience: Visit Tibetan-style shops in Daocheng town, recommended to try butter tea and yak meat buns

Day 2: Daocheng County → Yading Visitor Center → Chonggu Monastery → Pearl Lake
▶️ Must-visit spots:
- Chonggu Monastery (altitude 3880m): A sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism, feel the peaceful and devout religious atmosphere
- Pearl Lake (altitude 4100m): Backed by Mount Xiannairi, the lake water is crystal clear, a perfect spot for photos!

Day 3: Luorong Pasture → Five Color Lake → Milk Lake
▶️ Plateau hiking challenge (altitude 4500m+):
- Luorong Pasture: A highland pasture surrounded by snowy mountains, with adorable wild blue sheep along the way
- Five Color Lake & Milk Lake: On clear days, the lake surface shows a dreamy gradient of colors, the tough climb is absolutely worth it!

Day 4: Yading → Daocheng County → Return
▶️ Early morning, catch another glimpse of the golden sunlight on the mountains, then leisurely head back

🍛 【Tibetan Cuisine Recommendations】
📍 Daocheng County: Sacred Image Tibetan Restaurant
Must order: Tibetan hotpot (yak meat is super tender), highland barley cake
Address: Binhe Road, Jinzhu Town, Daocheng County

📍 Yading Village: Ama’s Kitchen
Must order: Butter tea (relieves altitude sickness), tsampa
Opening hours: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

🏠 【Accommodation Recommendations Based on Experience】
1. Daocheng Yading Rock Culture Theme Hotel
- Located inside the Yading Scenic Area, you can see Mount Xiannairi directly in the morning
- Rooms equipped with oxygen supply, friendly for altitude sickness

2. Daocheng Fanyinhai Boutique Inn
- Tibetan-style design, the owner is very enthusiastic and shares many local stories
- The rooftop viewing platform is perfect for stargazing!

💡 【Super Practical Tips】
1. Coping with altitude sickness: Take Rhodiola a week in advance, carry glucose oral solution
2. Best season: September to October (autumn colors are stunning), but July to August is the grassland flower season
3. Ticket info: Yading Scenic Area ticket + shuttle bus 266 RMB/person, recommended to book in advance on Trip.com
4. Essential gear: Sunglasses, sunscreen (ultraviolet rays are very strong on the plateau!), and a windbreaker (weather changes frequently in the mountains)

This trip truly healed me at Daocheng Yading. Standing at the foot of the snowy mountains, I finally understood what it means to have "your body in hell, but your eyes in heaven"～ Planning to go again next autumn to see the golden fairy tale!

Pearl Lake Daocheng Town Daocheng Yading Daocheng Yading Scenic Area - Chonggu Monastery