Live Your Best Lives
Route: Guangzhou ---- Shangri-La ---- Daocheng ---- Shangri-La ---- Guangzhou
Accommodations: Shangri-La Yicheng Hotel, Daocheng Marriott Hotel, Shangri-La Yunshang Qinglu Hotel (Manor)
Attractions: Ganden Songzanlin Monastery, Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Ancient Town, Daocheng Yading, Napahai Lakeside Road, Yila Grassland, Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Special Cuisine: Yak Hot Pot, Matsutake Chicken Hot Pot, Braised Yak Beef, Tibetan Pork, Air-dried Yak Beef.
Passing through your world, Shangri-La and Daocheng Yading! Shangri-La, also known as Shambhala, is a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Meaning "sun and moon in the heart" in Tibetan, it is located in northwestern Yunnan Province, in the heart of the Hengduan Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It sits at the junction of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet, covering a total area of 11,418 square kilometers and administering seven townships and four towns. The Shangri-La Tibetan area boasts a long history and stunning natural scenery, boasting attractions such as Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Ancient City, Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, and Tiger Leaping Gorge. Shangri-La first captured the imagination of the world in the 1930s when it was featured in British author James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon. The film of the same name soon followed, winning multiple Oscars and further cementing its global fame. The Daocheng Yading National Nature Reserve is located in Shangri-La Town, Daocheng County, in the southern part of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It lies in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in the central section of the Hengduan Mountains. It borders Shangri-La, Yunnan Province, to the south and Lugu Lake and Lijiang to the southeast. The reserve covers 560 square kilometers of forest and is home to 1,126 species of vascular plants and 291 species of vertebrates. It boasts over 10 peaks exceeding 5,000 meters, over 30 peaks exceeding 4,500 meters, and 62 ancient alpine glacial lakes. The Yading National Nature Reserve primarily consists of three sacred mountains: Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong, and Xianuoduoji, along with surrounding rivers, lakes, and alpine meadows. The northern peak, Xiannairi (meaning "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva" in Tibetan), stands at 6,032 meters and is the fifth highest peak in Sichuan Province. The southern peak, Yangmaiyong (meaning "Vajrapani Bodhisattva" in Tibetan), stands at 5,958 meters and symbolizes the deity who purifies violence and upholds justice. The eastern peak, Xianuoduoji (meaning "Manjushri Bodhisattva" in Tibetan), stands at 5,958 meters and represents wisdom. 
Book your flights, hotels, and car rentals in advance. We flew directly from Guangzhou to Shangri-La at 9:00 AM, arriving at Shangri-La Airport at 12:00 PM. We then picked up a car at the airport and drove to the hotel. Shangri-La isn't a large city, so the hotel was only a few minutes away. After checking in and storing our luggage, we set off for Ganden Sumtseling Monastery.
After visiting Songzanlin Temple, we returned to Dukezong Ancient Town for dinner in the evening. We chose Yizun Hotpot Restaurant near the ancient city. Their yak noodles and ox trotters were excellent. We also ordered some fresh yak beef and vegetables for a hearty dinner. Afterward, we headed back to the hotel to rest. The next morning, we headed to Pudacuo National Park. We enjoyed a hearty buffet breakfast at the hotel and then drove off. Pudacuo National Park is over 20 kilometers from the city center, about a 40-minute drive. The first few kilometers out of town are on excellent asphalt roads, offering beautiful views of the plains. The rest of the road to the park is currently being widened and is entirely dirt. Rainwater and potholes make the road a bit bumpy. Repairs are expected to take a year. However, due to the wide road and short distance, we arrived at the scenic spot relatively early. The scenic area has a large free parking lot, making parking very convenient. After getting off the bus, we went directly to the ticket office to purchase tickets, then boarded the scenic bus into the area. Currently, only the Shudu Lake area is open to the public, which can be divided into two sections: the first section is about 2 kilometers long, with a stream, trees, and wetlands, and the second section is about 3 kilometers long, along the lakeside boardwalk. We took the sightseeing bus from the scenic area entrance and disembarked after about 10 minutes. We followed the stream upstream through the trees, admiring the stream, flowers, and other sights. We reached the waterfall, then boarded the sightseeing bus again to Shudu Lake, where we could walk along the lakeside boardwalk. Our visit was rainy and cloudy, with the temperature around 15 degrees Celsius, a very comfortable 50 degrees Celsius. The lush green mountains, wetlands, and meadows, all took in the panoramic views. We walked and took photos, and the tour lasted over four hours. It was already past 1:00 PM when we returned to the scenic area entrance, and we had cross-bridge rice noodles at the exit. Since it's within the scenic area, the price was a bit high, so the value wasn't great.
In the afternoon, I returned to Dukezong Ancient Town and slowed down to explore the old town. It's essentially the same as any other ancient town: stone-paved streets, quaint buildings, shops selling local specialties, accessories, and ethnic clothing, as well as restaurants, bars, and museums. I wandered around for over an hour, bought some souvenirs, and then dined at Shui Yi Fang Hot Pot, a popular restaurant in the old town. Their butter tea is incredibly fragrant and delicious, and deserves a special mention.
On day three, we drove from Shangri-La to Daocheng. Our mobile navigation indicated the journey was approximately 335 kilometers and would take about eight hours. We passed National Highways 214 and 215, County Road 460, and National Highway 227. The road was entirely paved and in excellent condition, but the roads were numerous, with many curves through canyons and high mountains, so driving was advised. Leaving the city and heading towards the Balagzong Grand Canyon, we encountered the majestic Songshan Mountains along the way. The canyon scenery was breathtaking, and the vegetation was sparse. I was deeply moved by the construction of a road through such precipitous mountains. I admired the ingenuity and perseverance of the road builders, and truly understood the meaning of the saying, "The road to Shu is more difficult than ascending to heaven." However, with today's technology and economic capabilities, the difficulty of the Shu road is now a thing of the past. Passing through the canyon, we arrived at a reservoir area. The road meandered along the reservoir, with numerous curves and steep cliffs on the right, requiring extreme caution. The surrounding landscape was filled with brown rock. After passing the reservoir, we arrived at a more open area with more houses. It was already lunchtime, so we stopped in what we'll call "a small town" for lunch. The restaurant owner was very kind. Seeing the three of us, he immediately recommended three dishes to us. The dishes were reasonably priced, costing under 30 yuan per person, and we were already enjoying the meal. Even better, there was a large free parking lot across from the restaurant. After lunch, we continued on our way. The road began to climb uphill, and the scenery was a stark contrast to the previous one. Lush greenery lined the road, and gurgling streams flowed along the way. It turned out to be the beginning of a plateau wetland pasture. Reaching the summit, at an altitude of 4,000 meters, we were greeted by a breathtaking alpine grassland pasture. Despite the uphill climb, the route was relatively straight, making the drive very comfortable. Along the way, we could admire the beautiful scenery and cattle. There were many viewpoints (parking areas) along the way for people to rest and enjoy the view. Although it was a bit of a journey, it was a journey to experience the diverse natural landscapes and local customs, which is one of the main purposes of travel, especially self-driving tours. We parked at a roadside viewing platform and slept for about half an hour. After hours of driving, we were exhausted, and a break to recharge our batteries before setting off would ensure safety. Passing through the majestic Songshan Mountains, the picturesque alpine pastures, and the elegant architecture of Shangri-La Town, we arrived at our hotel at 4:30 PM, located at the entrance to the Daocheng Yading Scenic Area. The hotel was about 100 meters from the scenic area entrance. After parking and unloading our luggage, we headed to the entrance to check out the area and stock up on oxygen, food, and other essentials for the next day's climb. Oxygen and chocolate were essential for the Yading Scenic Area, as climbing requires a lot of energy, and chocolate is a quick way to replenish your energy. The oxygen was also used to prevent altitude sickness. 
After breakfast at the hotel at 7:00 AM, we walked to the scenic spot to purchase tickets. The scenic spot opens at 7:00 AM. Daocheng Yading has two routes: the long route and the short route. The long route runs from Chonggu Temple to Luorong Cow Farm, then to Milk Lake and Five-Colored Lake, covering a total of approximately 11 kilometers, from 4,100 meters above sea level to a peak of 4,700 meters. The short route runs from Chonggu Temple to Pearl Lake, covering approximately 1.5 kilometers and traversing plank roads, making it a relatively easy hike. It's best to spend two days completing both routes. The ticket is valid for both days, but you'll need to purchase a half-price sightseeing bus ticket for 60 yuan on the second day. The distance from the scenic area entrance to Chonggu Temple is approximately 33 kilometers, and the bus ride takes about an hour. The bus travels halfway up the mountain, offering breathtaking views of seas of clouds and snow-capped mountains. The scenery is both beautiful and precipitous.
The first section of the long route, from Chonggu Temple to Luorong Cow Farm, is approximately 6.5 kilometers long and is entirely covered by plank roads. It takes 2-3 hours to walk. The scenery here is similar to the first section of Pudacuo and the first section of Jiuzhaigou, featuring meadows and wetlands. Therefore, experienced hikers often avoid walking this section and opt for a sightseeing bus (80 yuan round-trip), as this section leaves them with little energy for the rest of the hike. The bus takes them to Luorong Cow Farm, which features wetlands, meadows, and plank roads, offering views of three sacred (snow-capped) mountains. The second section, from Luorong Cow Farm to Milk Lake, is approximately 3.5 kilometers long and is a gravel road. The middle section involves a climb, making this the most strenuous part of the hike. You'll need to rest after every few steps, taking oxygen and eating chocolate to recharge. Near Milk Lake, there's a gentle plank road, making the hike easier after the climb. The distance from Milk Lake to Five-Colored Lake is approximately 1.5 kilometers, also on a plank road, and is relatively easy. Milk Lake is a glacial lake. We were already at the foot of the snow-capped mountains. The crystal-clear waters, reflected against the peaks, were breathtakingly beautiful. The air was fresh and clean, and the sky was clear and spotless. Climbing further up, we reached the Five-Colored Lake. At the summit, we were surrounded by three snow-capped mountains, each so close that the glacial lake loomed large, a breathtaking sight. After reaching the peak, the descent was much easier, with little need for oxygen. However, we did need to return to Luolong Ranch by the same route to catch a sightseeing bus. We brought two bottles of medical-grade oxygen, but we didn't use much. As we neared Luolong Ranch, we shared our remaining oxygen with fellow hikers who needed it. We had entered the mountain relatively early, so there were relatively few visitors. By the time we descended, the crowds were numerous, making the climb even more challenging. It was already past 1:00 PM when we arrived at the rest stop at Luolong Ranch. Our energy was almost exhausted, so we ate our packed lunch of instant noodles, fruit, and other snacks. 
Napahai is right on the edge of Shangri-La. We slowed down along the lakeside and watched herds of cattle and horses grazing leisurely. We parked and ventured into the grasslands for a close encounter with the cattle. We watched the horsemen race horses, and if we're interested, we can go horseback riding ourselves. There are many racetracks nearby. We arrived at the wetland and admired the stunning scenery of the water merging into the sky and the waterfowl flying and frolicking freely. We took photos and relaxed as we walked. After about two hours of fun, we had dinner at Yanyu Food City near the East Gate of the Ancient City. This restaurant, located near the East Gate Archway, primarily caters to locals. The yak beef hotpot and barbecue here are excellent and reasonably priced. The owner, a local man born in the 1980s, is warm and hospitable. I particularly like Cantonese songs. During our meal, we listened to all of Principal Tan’s classic Cantonese songs. The next night, we also had dinner here before going to the airport.
We hadn't originally planned any sightseeing for Day 6, but since our flight wasn't until 9 PM and we had plenty of time, we decided to visit Tiger Leaping Gorge. The highway now connects Shangri-La to Lijiang, so we took a section of National Highway 214 to Xiaozhongdian. Xiaozhongdian boasts a flower sea, but at that time, there weren't many flowers. We only saw greenery, no flowers. We then took the highway from Xiaozhongdian and arrived at Tiger Leaping Gorge Town about an hour later. We had lunch there before continuing on to the scenic area. We had previously visited Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge on our previous visit to Lijiang in 2015. This time, the surging river was like a galloping horse, a breathtaking sight. The rapid currents clashed against the rocks, creating a deafening roar. Flanked by towering mountains, the gorge narrows at the foot of the mountains, symbolizing the possibility that even a tiger could leap across, hence the name Tiger Leaping Gorge. Our tour took about two hours, immersing us in the wonders of nature. We then drove back to Shangri-La. We returned to Shangri-La at 4:30 pm and had dinner at Yanyu. After dinner, we drove to the airport to return the car and took the 9:35 pm flight back to Guangzhou. We arrived in Guangzhou at 12:30 pm and then went home, ending a pleasant journey. 
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