Taking Kids to Explore Daocheng Yading! Is an 8-Hour 4600m Hike Worth It? Complete Guide to Snowy Mountains and Flower Seas

Who understands! Taking kids to challenge Daocheng Yading, hiking at an altitude of 4600 meters for 8 hours, the child cried and said, "Mom, I want to go home," I almost couldn't hold on either! But the moment I saw the snow-capped mountains, lakes, and flower seas, all the fatigue was worth it—indeed, the best scenery requires giving your all to encounter it～

1️⃣ How to Choose Transportation? Avoiding Altitude Sickness is Key!
- **Self-driving is highly recommended**: Starting from Chengdu, take the route "Chengdu → Kangding → Yajiang → Litang → Daocheng Yading." Along the way, you can gradually adapt to the altitude and stop anytime to enjoy the scenery. It's more flexible with kids and not like flying, which suddenly takes you to a high-altitude area and can cause discomfort.
- **Be cautious with flights**: Yading Airport is at 4441 meters altitude. The sudden altitude rise upon landing can easily cause headaches and palpitations from altitude sickness in both adults and children. Unless you are fully prepared to handle altitude sickness, don't try it lightly!

2️⃣ Accommodation Guide: Choose the Right Place to Avoid Trouble, Top Luxury Wild Hotels Recommended!
Comfortable accommodation for kids is very important! We recommend heading straight to **Shangri-La Town’s top luxury wild hotels**, such as the town’s Tibetan-style luxury lodges. They not only have independent oxygen supply systems (a must for altitude sickness!), but you can also see the silhouette of distant snow mountains from the room. At night, you can take the kids to the hotel’s viewing platform to watch the stars, making the experience unforgettable～
Here are two other accommodation options for reference:
- Daocheng County: Over 100 km from the scenic area, more than an hour’s drive. Too exhausting to rush with kids, not recommended;
- Yading Village: Inside the scenic area, close to attractions but expensive, and some accommodations lack proper oxygen facilities. If kids get altitude sickness, it will be troublesome. Unless you plan to explore deeply for more than 3 days, prioritize the luxury wild hotels in Shangri-La Town!

3️⃣ Kid-Friendly Routes: Choose Long or Short Lines to Avoid Pitfalls!
🌟 Long Route (Suitable for kids with good stamina who can persist, recommended to start early!)
Ticket office → 70-minute sightseeing bus to Zhaguanbeng → walk to Chonggu Temple → electric cart to Luorong Pasture (must take the electric cart! Otherwise, kids will be exhausted walking this part) → grab horse riding tickets before 9 AM (ride to Shesheng Cliff, the last 1.8 km must be on foot) → hike to Milk Lake (surrounded by snow mountains, great for photos) → finally to Five Color Lake (colors are stunning on sunny days, like a spilled palette)
⚠️ Important: Horse riding tickets are in high demand, arrive early! If you don’t get one, remember to bring trekking poles for the kids, wear anti-slip shoes, rest often, and don’t rush～

🌿 Short Route (Suitable for younger kids and families with average stamina)
Visitor center → bus to Zhaguanbeng → walk to Chonggu Temple → then to Pearl Lake (best spot to view Mount Xianuoduoji, clear water, easy for kids to take photos by the lake, low difficulty, round trip takes 2-3 hours)

4️⃣ Tickets & Validity: Money-Saving and Worry-Free Tips!
- **Ticket prices**: It’s peak season now, adult tickets are 146 RMB/person. If bringing kids, remember to bring student IDs (for discounts) and senior IDs (if elders come along, you can save a lot). Also, holding a ticket for the movie "Love Never Lost Contact" grants free admission! Don’t miss this deal～
- **Must-buy transportation tickets**: Scenic area sightseeing bus (Visitor Center - Zhaguan Lake) round trip 120 RMB/person; Chonggu Temple - Luorong Pasture electric cart one way 50 RMB/person, round trip 80 RMB/person (long route must buy round trip, short route no need).
- **Validity notes**:
- Staying outside the scenic area (e.g., Shangri-La Town): tickets valid for 2 days. If you want to enter the mountain again on the second day, bring photos taken in the scenic area on the first day. Sightseeing bus is half price at 60 RMB/person;
- Staying in Yading Village: tickets valid for 3 days, but you cannot leave the scenic area during this period. You must leave before 6:30 PM on the third day. Sightseeing bus tickets can only be used once round trip.

5️⃣ Practical Tips for Traveling with Kids! Avoid Detours and Pitfalls
1. The 1.8 km hike from Shesheng Cliff to Milk Lake and Five Color Lake climbs higher in altitude. Remember to bring oxygen bottles for the kids (buy in advance in Shangri-La Town, cheaper than in the scenic area), walk a few steps then rest, don’t let kids run or jump;
2. Shangri-La Town is over 2000 meters altitude, a good place to adapt to altitude sickness. It’s recommended to stay here the first night, don’t go directly to Yading Village;
3. Chonggu Temple is at 3800 meters altitude and is the starting point for renting electric carts. Here you can take photos of kids with the temple and snow mountains in the background;
4. Luorong Pasture is at 4150 meters altitude and is the starting point for horse caravans. There is a rest area where you can buy hot drinks to replenish kids’ energy;
5. Milk Lake and Five Color Lake are both at 4600 meters altitude. After arriving, don’t let kids do intense activities. After taking photos and checking in, slowly descend to avoid altitude sickness.