Yading Trekking | 4-Day Classic Trekking Tour of Chengdu & Daocheng Yading (Pearl Lake + Milk Lake + Five-Color Lake)

This morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in Chengdu and escort you to the airport to fly to Daocheng Yading (about 1 hour 20 minutes). Upon arrival, our local driver will meet you at the exit of Daocheng Yading Airport (DCY, altitude about 4,411 meters) and escort you to Shangri-La Town. On the way, you will pass through Sangdui Town. If it happens to be golden autumn, you can enjoy the stunning scenery of the "Sangdui Red Grassland," where the wetland grasses are as red as flames, complementing the surrounding golden poplars, blue streams, and distant snow peaks, like a brilliant plateau oil painting with a powerful visual impact. As you approach the holy "White Stupa," Daocheng is before your eyes. Daocheng White Stupa, also known as "Dzogchen Stupa Forest," is the largest white stupa in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a landmark sight when entering Daocheng, and one of the iconic cultural landmarks of the Tibetan region. Its main stupa is 37 meters high, round on top and square below, entirely white, with a pure gold-gilded top, decorated with over a hundred animal reliefs and 512 brass prayer wheels, surrounded by 119 small stupas, forming a spectacular stupa forest. You can take a panoramic photo directly in front of the white stupa, especially sacred under the evening sunset. After the tour, head to Shangri-La Town. For the remaining time, you can enjoy free activities or rest at the hotel to prepare for the upcoming Daocheng Yading hiking trip!

This morning, you will drive about 1 to 1.5 hours (about 41.5 kilometers) from Shangri-La Town to Daocheng Yading Scenic Area. Daocheng Yading is a highly representative plateau natural and cultural landscape in southwestern China, famous for its ultimate fusion of "three sacred mountains, plateau lake wonders, and Tibetan culture." It is known as "the last pure land on the blue planet" and "the soul of Shangri-La in China," a fascinating paradise. Today's Daocheng Yading itinerary: Visitor Center → Scenic Area Sightseeing Bus (about 1 hour, with a stop at Yading Village along the way) → Zhaguanbeng (the terminal station of the sightseeing bus and the starting point for hiking to Chonggu Temple and Pearl Lake, with a distant view of Mount Chenresig) → Hike 0.5 km → Chonggu Temple (located at the source of the stream at the foot of Mount Chenresig, known as the "Gate of Shangri-La Fairyland," and because it faces Chonggu Meadow and Yading Valley with Mount Chenresig behind it, it is also called the "Gate of Heaven." Here you can see Tibetan Buddhist Gelug Yellow Sect temple architecture and enjoy the magnificent scenery of Mount Chenresig) → Hike 1.5 km → Pearl Lake (also known as "Zhuomala Tso," located at the foot of Mount Chenresig, the lowest sacred lake in Yading Scenic Area and the best spot to view snow mountain reflections, offering close views of Mount Chenresig) → Return along the same route to Yading Village. This hiking route from Zhaguanbeng to Pearl Lake is about 3 kilometers round trip and takes about 2 to 3 hours. The entire route is metal boardwalk or stone-paved path with gentle slopes, suitable for most tourists. Note: the section from Chonggu Temple to Pearl Lake rises from 3,900 meters to 4,100 meters in altitude, so pay attention to altitude sickness. After the tour, return to Yading Village for overnight stay. On clear days, you can enjoy the brilliant "plateau starry sky" in the evening. Daocheng Yading practical tips 1. Today we will transfer to the scenic area sightseeing bus to Yading Scenic Area, and our vehicle and driver cannot enter the scenic area with team members. Tonight we will stay overnight in Yading Village. Local weather is unpredictable, so team members are advised to leave their suitcases in the vehicle and bring a small backpack (containing necessary toiletries, warm clothing, valuables, rain gear, etc.) into Daocheng Yading Scenic Area. 2. Accommodation conditions in Yading Village are relatively simple, and facilities are also basic, as they are converted from local homes. Therefore, please be mentally prepared, but you can better experience the simple local customs. Note: seasonal water and power outages are unavoidable, so please prepare a flashlight and portable toiletries in advance. 3. There are a limited number of dedicated restaurants in Daocheng Yading Scenic Area. Team members can dine at their accommodation or at the Luorong Pasture restaurant in the scenic area. However, since all supplies must be transported from outside the scenic area, it is recommended to prepare sufficiently in advance. During National Day and autumn, traffic congestion or long waiting times may occur in Daocheng Yading Scenic Area, and arrival times at dining spots may be delayed, so it is recommended to bring some snacks and chocolate to replenish energy. 4. On the hike to Pearl Lake, you will encounter many small animals. Please do not tease or provoke them to avoid accidental injury.

After breakfast, you will go from Yading Village to the Visitor Center, then take the sightseeing bus to Zhaguanbeng, about 1 to 1.5 hours. Afterwards, starting from Zhaguanbeng, hike for 2 to 2.5 hours, passing Chonggu Temple (altitude about 3,900 meters), and arrive at Luorong Pasture (altitude about 4,180 meters). If you wish to save energy, you can also choose to walk 20 minutes to Chonggu Temple, then take a 30-minute electric cart to Luorong Pasture. Luorong Pasture is a traditional Tibetan pasture. You can stroll leisurely and enjoy natural beauty such as herds of cattle and sheep, wild flowers in full bloom, alpine forests, and clear streams, enjoying a peaceful and healing moment away from the noise of the city. The three sacred snow mountains, Chenresig, Jampelyang, and Chanadorje, surround the pasture in a triangular arrangement. Among them, Chanadorje Peak is sharp like a warrior, Jampelyang is like a pure and noble fairy, and Chenresig resembles a seated Buddha. The scenery is spectacular, and you can view all three mountains at once from the pasture boardwalk or observation deck. Because Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake are at higher altitudes, you can decide based on your own condition whether to continue the next 5-kilometer hike, which takes about 3 to 3.5 hours to reach the fairyland-like Milk Lake (altitude about 4,600 meters; if interested, you can also pay to ride a horse to Milk Lake). Milk Lake is a turquoise lake formed by glacial meltwater, embedded among snow mountains like a gem, surrounded by milky white calcium shoals like silk, like blue tears dropped from the sacred mountains to the human world, known as the "Sea of Heaven." On sunny days, the lake surface shows gradient blue-green, while on cloudy days it appears deeper. Afterwards, continue walking about 30 minutes to Five-Color Lake (altitude about 4,500 meters), only 300 meters away. Due to minerals and light refraction, Five-Color Lake displays colors such as turquoise, dark green, and golden yellow, and is called "nature's palette," overlapping with reflections of sacred mountains such as Jampelyang and Chenresig, holy and mysterious. After touring Daocheng Yading Scenic Area, take the sightseeing bus out of the scenic area and head to Daocheng County for overnight stay (about 117 kilometers in total, about 2 to 2.5 hours by car). Daocheng Yading travel tips 1. There are five stops on the sightseeing bus from Chonggu Temple to Luorong Pasture: starting point (Chonggu Temple Station), first stop (Thousand Buddha Mountain Station), second stop (Holy Water Lake Station), third stop (Jampelyang Station), and terminal (Luorong Pasture Station). Round-trip fare is 70 yuan per person, one-way fare is 40 yuan per person. Interval fare between each stop is 10 yuan per person (hiking is optional; guests may choose at their own expense; if fares change, the official announcement shall prevail). 2. Disclaimer: Five-Color Lake and Milk Lake are not included in the travel agency's regular itinerary. If you wish to visit these two attractions, the expenses and safety are your own responsibility, and you assume the risks yourself. 3. There are two ways from Luorong Pasture to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake: one is hiking along the horse trail, about 5 to 6 hours round trip, about 10 kilometers; the other is horseback riding, about 3 hours uphill (horse riding fee is self-paid, 300 yuan per person one way; the horse caravan goes 3.5 kilometers from Luorong Pasture to the destination). Please pay attention to safety when riding, and ensure the horse is led by a groom. From the end of the horse caravan route to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake, there is a 1.8-kilometer hiking section. The path is relatively rugged and requires high physical fitness. In addition, the area is at high altitude, with low temperatures and strong mountain winds, so please bring sufficient warm clothing. 4. Regarding visitor flow control in Daocheng Yading Scenic Area: to avoid overcrowding, the maximum capacity of Daocheng Yading Scenic Area is 15,000 people. We will reserve Daocheng Yading Scenic Area tickets for you in advance. If there are too many reservations during peak season and you cannot visit Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake, we will adjust the itinerary according to the actual situation.

After breakfast, our driver will take you to the airport. At this point, this wonderful and unforgettable 4-day Chengdu-Daocheng Yading hiking trip comes to an end. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Huangshan, Harbin, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Tibet, Guilin, Xinjiang, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.