Atlas of China
Daocheng Yading 稻城亚丁Dàochéng Yàdīng
Three sacred snow peaks, glacial lakes and Tibetan meadows high on the plateau
- Best time
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
- Days to budget
- 3 days
- Stay in
- Daocheng
- Region
- Sichuan
- Type
- Nature
- Listed as
- 5A scenic area
Why go to Daocheng Yading
Yading Nature Reserve protects three holy peaks in the Tibetan highlands of western Sichuan, ringed by alpine meadows, larch forests and glacial lakes. Trails climb from Chonggu Monastery to Pearl Lake and, much higher, to Milk Lake and Five-Colour Lake beneath the glaciers. It's remote and high, and that is exactly the appeal.
The story
Local Tibetans regard the three peaks as embodiments of bodhisattvas and walk pilgrimage circuits around them. The botanist-explorer Joseph Rock photographed the area for National Geographic in the late 1920s, and his reports are often linked to the legend of Shangri-La.
What to see at Daocheng Yading
- Chonggu Monastery 冲古寺: A Gelug monastery at the foot of Xiannairi, where the walking trails begin. Treat it as a quiet stop and dress modestly.
- Xiannairi 仙乃日: The tallest of the three sacred peaks, known in Tibetan as Chenrezig. Its snowy summit looms over the monastery.
- Pearl Lake 珍珠海: A small green lake about 1 km south-west of the monastery, reflecting Xiannairi on calm days.
- Luorong Pasture 洛绒牛场: A high meadow on the way to Milk Lake; the trail beyond it is steep and narrow.
- Milk Lake 牛奶海: A milky turquoise lake in a glacial cirque, the main goal of the hike. Five-Colour Lake lies nearby.
How to visit Daocheng Yading
Chonggu Monastery is the hub: from here an easy walk reaches Pearl Lake, while the long hike goes via Luorong Pasture to Milk Lake and Five-Colour Lake. Electric carts help only on the lower stretch, so allow a full day for Milk Lake and start early. The full kora circuit is a strenuous one- or two-day trek, so most visitors do a short walk one day and the lakes the next.
How to get to Daocheng Yading
Daocheng Yading Airport, one of the highest in the world, has flights from Chengdu. From the airport or Daocheng town, it's roughly 2–3 hours by road to Shangri-La Town (Riwa), the gateway to the reserve.
Where to stay
Shangri-La Town (Riwa) at the park gate puts you closest to the trailheads, and its guesthouses make early starts easy. Daocheng county town is another option but farther from the reserve.
What to eat
- Yak hotpot 牦牛肉火锅: A bubbling pot of yak meat and vegetables, common in the restaurants of Shangri-La Town and Daocheng.
- Highland barley bread 青稞饼: A flat bread made from highland barley, eaten with soups and butter tea.
- Matsutake chicken stew 松茸炖鸡: A local stew of chicken with matsutake mushrooms, a popular dish across the region.
Tips for visiting Daocheng Yading
- Acclimatise before hiking: the airport is above 4,000 m and the highest lakes are higher still.
- Weather turns fast, so carry rain gear, warm layers and strong sun protection.
- Start the Milk Lake hike early; it's long and high, and the electric carts cover only part of the way.
Nearby
- Lugu Lake 泸沽湖 90 km
A clear alpine lake on the Yunnan–Sichuan border, home to the matrilineal Mosuo - Shangri-La & Songzanlin Monastery 香格里拉松赞林寺 90 km
A golden-roofed Tibetan monastery stacked up a hillside, nicknamed 'Little Potala' - Baishuitai 白水台 110 km
Milk-white travertine terraces below Haba Snow Mountain, sacred to the Naxi Dongba faith
On the map
Open Daocheng Yading on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Daocheng Yading on the map