Highlights
Paradise for photographers XinDuQiao
Red Grassland located in SangDui town
Primitive Tibetan villages, Buddhism monasteries in DaoCheng
Holy Mt.XianNaiRi, Holy Mt.MeiLi, ChongGu Temple, Pearl Lake, Five-color Lake, Milk Lake
Napahai Nature Reserve, Jinsha River Grand Canyon, ZhongDian, Shangri-la, Tiger-leaping Gorge, LiJiang
Overview
Shangri-la, the very name is an incantation that evokes images of a mythical mountain paradise where peace reigns and life approaches perfection. Daocheng was famed as "the Last Shangri-la" due to its sunny weather for most of the time and its fantastic natural landscapes. It was classified as "Man and Biosphere Reserve Network" by the UNESCO. Yading Natural Reserve and the Sanshen Mountain are the two most popular attractions in Daocheng. The best travel time is in April, May, September and October, especially in October when she's at her best.
Lying on the southeast of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the east of Hengduan Mountains, Daocheng is at the conjunction areas of Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet. It has been known for its special topographical features: rolling hills and deep canyons, high mountains covered with snow, surreptitious rivers under the valleys, broad pastures and loquacious brooks.
Daocheng is also a great place for people to explore the primitive Tibetan villages, Buddhist monasteries and pastoral scenery. There are altogether 12 monasteries in Daocheng, and a few of them like the Konkaling Temple are well known for being presented by some influential Buddhists.
Yading is one of China's most awe-inspiring nature reserves, Tibetan's holy land. Every stunning vista here is celebrated with a gompa, prayer flags or Mani Stones. On this adventurous trip you will take in relatively remote areas of Tibetan culture - small towns reminiscent of the wild west, rolling landscapes characterized by wheat and barley fields and Tibetan houses.
Duration: 10-12 days
Inclusion:
4 wheel drive vehicle
Airport transfers
All accommodation
All meals (B,L,D) except meals during trekking
Local bilingual guide
Entrance fees
Trip preparation and pre-departure briefing
Exclusions:
International airfares
China visa
Tips for guide and driver
Personal expenditure
Itinerary:
D1: Arrive in Chengdu(500m)
Meet flight in Chengdu，the capital city of Sichuan province. Chengdu is located near sea level, so we will face no acclimatization problems here. After dinner we will together study maps and check our equipment.
(Hotel)
D2: Chengdu/YaAn/LuDing(1330m)/KangDing/ZheDuoShan Pass(4298m)/Xindu Qiao(3400m)
Start off in the early morning. Mostly spent travelling to Xinduqiao, cross YaAn, LuDing, KangDing, en route see the Mt. Erlang and Dadu Rive. We will drive some 8 hrs today. You'll pass ErlangShan tunnel-the first pass of the countless high mountains on the Sichuan-Tibet highway. Cross over the ZheduoShan at an elevation of 4300m, you will finally arrive in Xindu Qiao, paradise for photographers. Overnight in Xinduqiao.
(Hotel)
D3:Xindu Qiao/GaoErSi Pass(4412m)/YaJiang(2640m)/JianZiWan Pass/KaZiLaShan Pass(4718m)/LiTang94130m)/HaiZiShan Pass(4969)/DaoCheng(3700m)
Today drive from Yajiang to Daocheng via Litang, in the morning pass two 4,300m high mountains-the Jianziwan & Mt. Kazila. Lunch at Litang . The county town of Litang lies at an altitude of 4014m and therefore belongs to one of the highest towns in the world. Pass several high mountains. After another 146km’s ride, you will arrive in Daocheng.
(Hostel)
D4: DaoCheng/BoWaShan Pass(4513m)/RiWa(2950m)/YaDing LongLongBa(3700m)/Chonggusi(3880m)/Pearl Lake(3950m)/YaDing
Yading, the "Shangri-La" discovered by Joseph Rock in 1928, is renowned for the 3 holy peaks, which were blessed in the 8th century by Buddha Padmasambhava of projecting his divine light onto the range and naming the 3 elevations after 3 bodhisattvas. Drive ahead to the dreaming Yading Nature Reserve, full day sightseeing. Grasp your camera all the way! When arrive, you can trek or ride a horse directly to Chonggu Temple. Pearl Lake is the best spot to view the holy peak Xiannairi. Check out the crystal clear water. From here, you’ll see Mt. Xiannairi shinning under the sun with drop of blue skies. Standing 6,032 meters above sea level, it is one of the three holy mountains in Yading. Overnight in a wooden guesthouse in Yading Village.
(Guesthouse)
D5:YaDing/Chonggu Temple/ LuoRong Cattle Pastureland(4150m)/Milk Lake(4600m)/ Five-Color Lake(4600m)/YaDing
Warm up for a challenge! It will be a long trek about 32km in total. Hike up to Chonggu temple, then take a battery driven bus to LuoRong Cattle Pastureland which is surrounded on three sides by the three snow peaks of Konka Risumgongba. A delightful contrast is formed by nearby snow peaks, forests, meadows, streams, lakes waterfalls and log houses. Milk Lake(4600m)and Five-Color Lake(4600m) are both situated at high altitude. It takes three hours to hike from LuoRong Pasture to Milk Lake. Five-color Lake is hidden behind a steep slope. Count 30 minutes to reach it from Milk Lake. No clear trails. Follow the direction of Tibetan praying flags hanging above the slope. The route is mostly made-up of rocky slabs. You will have to embark on the trek to Milk Lake/Five-Color Lake prior to 12:00pm, or you will be forbidden to enter the mountain for safety precaution. After photo shooting the breathtaking panoramic landscape, descend back to YaDing village for good rest.
(Guesthouse)
D6:YaDing/RiWa Town/DaoCheng/SangDui County(3952m)/DaoCheng
Leave YaDing and drive to DaoCheng via SangDui. The Sangdui Valley is noted for its spectacular scenery, open land along the highway and unpolluted rivers. In view from a distance, the mountain rises and falls, creating a picture majestic in all its variety. Villages, herdsmen and cattle are scattering here and there all in harmony with the nature.
(Guesthouse)
D7:DaoCheng/GaJinShan Pass(4700m)/MaXiong Valley/XiangCheng(2836m)
Leave DaoCheng, drive about 6 hrs, passing the anonymous mountain, and the dangerous natural barrier Maxiong ditch. Stay overnight in Xiangcheng.
(Hotel)
D8:XiangCheng/DeRong(2210m)/BenZiLan(2000m)/DeQin(3250m)/FeiLai Temple(3400m)
Cross the Ma On Shan, Yuan-Gen Hill after breakfast, via the western Sun Valley in the Jinsha River Grand Canyon at DeRong county, and the first Bay of the Jinsha River, then enter to Yunnan province.
(Guesthouse)
D9:FeiLai Temple/DeQin/Mt. WhiteHorse Pass(4239m)/NaPaHai Prairie(3266m)/ZhongDian(3300m)
Feilaisi is several km away from Deqin, it is the best place to see holy Mt.Meili. Mt. Meili is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. 'Kang Karpo Peak' means the God of Snow Mountain in Tibetan, and is a holy land for worshiping. Thousands of devout pilgrims worship together and encircle the holy mountain, adding even more mystery and loftiness to the mountain. Visit Shudu Lake, Napahai Nature Reserve, Yila Grassland and Gedan Songzanlin Monastery. Stay overnight at a hotel in Zhongdian.
(Hotel)
D10:ZhongDian/LiJiang(3266m)
Leaving ZhongDian (old town of Shangri-la) for Lijiang, en route visit Tiger Leaping Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha (Gold Sand) in this area because you can find gold in the river. Drive toward you'll visit the First Bend on the Yangtze River with imposing gorge scenery. Upon arrival in LiJiang old town, enjoy the leisure nice town. Take your time to appreciate the UNESCO World Cultural Heritages site. Our journey ends here.
