Daocheng Yading Long Route Super Detailed Guide | For Ordinary People

PS: My physical condition: healthy and uninjured, usually maintain a certain amount of exercise. Used one oxygen bottle per person for the entire trip.
🌟Route Planning
Visitor Center → Zhaguanbeng (bus 53 min) → Chonggu Temple (electric cart 20 min) → Luorong Pasture → Milk Lake → Five Color Lake, total about 6-8 hours. It is recommended to arrive at the visitor center before 8 AM to take the bus and allow enough time.
🎫Ticket Information
· Full price ticket 266 RMB, including 146 RMB entrance fee and 120 RMB round-trip bus ticket. Can be purchased in advance on the "Daocheng Yading Scenic Area" WeChat public account.
· Note: The ticket includes two entries to the scenic area and one round-trip bus ticket. If you finish the short route on the first day and enter the park again on the second day for the long route, you need to buy a second round-trip bus ticket for 60 RMB at the manual window.

🏠Accommodation Recommendation
Shangri-La Town: altitude about 2900 meters, less prone to altitude sickness. Choose hotels with oxygen diffusion if possible, so you can have sufficient oxygen supply while resting after hiking.

💊Altitude Sickness Prevention
① Arrive at Kangding or Xinduqiao at least 2 days in advance to acclimate.
② Take Rhodiola capsules in advance.
③ Avoid washing hair for the first few days, drink plenty of water, and avoid eating too much meat.

🎒Essential Checklist
Sun protection: sunglasses, sunscreen
Warm clothing: shell jacket + fleece liner, wool hat
Hiking gear: trekking poles, non-slip shoes, raincoat
Supplies: chocolate, candy, instant food, thermos, oxygen bottle

📸Hiking Route
At the Qujiu Zhaga supply point, there are two directions:
【Go left】A slightly gentler but longer route to Milk Lake (most people choose this), then climb further to reach Five Color Lake.
【Go right】A steeper climb, reaching Five Color Lake first, then descend to Milk Lake.
(Choose the route that best suits your physical condition)
We chose to avoid the crowd and went right. Although the climb was tough, seeing Five Color Lake made it all worthwhile.

Milk Lake｜To capture the entire lake surface, you need to climb further towards Five Color Lake.
Five Color Lake｜Best lighting around 1-3 PM. Suitable for quietly enjoying while avoiding crowds.

⚠️Pitfall Avoidance Guide
• Horse Riding
From Luorong Pasture to Five Color Lake horse riding costs 300 RMB per horse, only 3 km on flat road, the last 2 km is a steep slope you must climb yourself, choose as needed.
• Route
There is only one main long route, fully paved with stairs, just follow the signs.
• Time
After 3:30 PM, access to Milk Lake and Five Color Lake may be restricted; the last electric cart from Luorong Pasture is at 6:00 PM.
• Supply Points
When crowded, hot water at supply points may not be hot, so it’s best to bring your own hot water in a thermos.

Summary:
The Yading Scenic Area has relatively well-developed routes for both short and long hikes.
If you seek a more natural hiking experience, you might find it too commercialized.
But for ordinary people, it is still worth the challenge and a must-see.