Daocheng Late Autumn Travel Guide
🏔️ Sichuan Ganzi·Daocheng Yading "Symphony of Snow-capped Mountains and Autumn Forests" Travel Guide
—— For 2 people | 3 days 2 nights | Total budget ¥2,980 | Autumn Limited Edition, High-Value In-Depth Experience
📅 Best time to travel: Late September – Mid-October (Peak Autumn Colors)
👫 Number of travelers: Couples / Photography buddies / Friends
💰 Total budget: ¥2,980 (¥20 left over can be used to buy a string of Tibetan incense)
🎯 Key objectives:
✅ Arrive at the core area of Yading Scenic Area (Chonggu Temple + Luorong Pasture)
✅ View the three sacred mountains (Yangmai Mountain offers the best view)
✅ Enjoy the colorful alpine forests and snow-capped mountain reflections
✅ Take a stunning autumn photo
✅ Safely acclimatize to the altitude and avoid severe altitude sickness
⚠️ Warm reminder: This itinerary is suitable for those with moderate to high physical fitness and first-time visitors to Tibet. It is not recommended for the elderly or children.
💰 Budget Breakdown (Total: ¥2,980)
Item | Details | Cost (Total for Two People)
------ ---------- ------------------
1. Round-trip Transportation: Chengdu Xinnanmen ↔ Daocheng County | Bus | ¥220 × 2 people × 2 trips (via Kangding) | ¥880
2. Local Transportation: Daocheng County ↔ Shangri-La Town (Scenic Area Entrance) | Shared Ride | ¥40 × 2 people × 2 trips | ¥160
3. Accommodation (2 nights): Standard room in a budget guesthouse in Shangri-La Town | ¥280 × 2 nights (including heating) | ¥560
4. Meals (3 days): Average daily ¥70/person × 3 days × 2 people (including simple meals + personal snacks) | ¥420
5. Scenic Area Entrance Tickets + Sightseeing Bus: Entrance Tickets ¥146 × 2 + Sightseeing Bus ¥120 × 2 = ¥532 | ¥532
6. Emergency Expenses: Oxygen cylinders ¥30 x 2 + Altitude Sickness Medication + Warm Clothing ¥60
7. Cultural Experience: Hanging Prayer Flags ¥10, Tibetan Costume Photography ¥30 x 2 people ¥70
8. Return Trip Supplies: Yak Jerky/Barley Wine to Take Back ¥100
✅ Total —— ¥2,980
📌 Fully self-planned itinerary, no shopping tours, no hidden costs, extremely high cost-performance!
🗺️ Daily Detailed Itinerary & Practical Tips
🌄 Day 1: Chengdu → Daocheng County (Long-distance Bus) | First Steps into the High Altitude
Depart from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station at 7:00 AM
Take a bus to Daocheng County, fare ¥220/person, journey approximately 12 hours
Route: Chengdu → Kangding → Yajiang → Litang → Daocheng
Passing through: Zheduo Mountain, Gaersi Mountain, Jianziwan Mountain, Tu'er Mountain, Haizi Mountain, a journey through snow-capped mountains and meadows, magnificent scenery
Suggested items to bring: Power bank, neck pillow, thermos, motion sickness medicine, snacks, novels/headphones
Lunch will be a simple meal at a service area in Yajiang or Litang (fried noodles/boxed lunch ¥35/serving)
Arrive in Daocheng County (altitude 3700 meters) around 7:00 PM
No stopping is recommended, directly share a ride to Shangri-La Town (formerly Riwa Township, altitude 2900 meters)
Shared ride fee ¥40/person, approximately 1 hour drive
Recommended Accommodation: Standard rooms at "Yading Renjia Inn" and "Xueyu Xingchen Homestay" ¥280/night
Dinner: Home-style dishes provided by the inn (yak meat stew with radish, stir-fried wild vegetables), ¥40 per person
Important Reminder: Do not shower or engage in strenuous exercise upon arrival. Drink plenty of warm water, rest early, and prevent altitude sickness.
🏞️ Day 2: In-depth one-day tour of Daocheng Yading Scenic Area | A symphony of snow-capped mountains and autumn forests
📣 This is the core day of the entire trip. Please be sure to wake up early, pack light, and bring plenty of energy!
🕐 Wake up at 6:30 AM, arrive at the scenic area entrance for ticket inspection at 7:00 AM
Scenic Area Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Peak Season)
Ticket Purchase: Purchase on-site by scanning QR code (Entrance ticket + sightseeing bus: ¥266/person)
🚌 Take the sightseeing bus (approximately 40 minutes) to 【Zhagongbeng】
Walk 500 meters to 【Chonggu Temple】 (3900 meters above sea level)
Take a short rest and enjoy the view of Xiannairi Mountain (the incarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva), surrounded by autumn forests, sacred and solemn.
Optional Route (choose according to your physical condition):
✅ Recommended Route: Light hike to Luorong Pasture (core shooting location)
Take an electric cart from Chonggu Temple (one way ¥50/person, round trip ¥80, recommended to go only)
Get off at 【Luorong Pasture】 (4100 meters above sea level)
📸 Shooting Locations: Panoramic view of Mount Yangmaiyong (Manjushri Bodhisattva) from the front; Side view of Mount Xiannaduoji (Vajrapani Bodhisattva); Autumn colorful forests and snow-capped mountains reflected in the shallow lake beside the stream, like a fairytale.
⏳ Stay Time: 1 hour (for photos and quiet contemplation)
🔙 Return Route: Walk down the mountain back to Chonggu Temple (approximately 1.5 hours, saving on electric cart fees)
Return to Zhagongbeng before 2:00 PM and take the sightseeing bus out of the park.
Lunch: Bring your own dry food (bread + sausage + chocolate + hot water) or buy instant noodles (¥15/pack) at the Chonggu Temple shop.
Return to Shangri-La Town in the evening for rest. Dinner will be at the guesthouse again, trying butter tea and tsampa.
🍂 Day 3: Surrounding area photo shoot + Return to Chengdu
Morning flexible arrangements (choose according to your condition):
Option A (Recommended): Visit either Banghe Township or Sera Township to photograph the autumn forest and pastoral scenery. Golden poplar trees sway in the breeze, streams murmur, and Tibetan villages dot the landscape. Free admission, few tourists, excellent for photography. Shared ride available. ¥30/person
Option B: Visit Zunsheng Pagoda Forest (Free). Golden stupas surrounded by prayer wheels, perfect for quiet prayer.
Option C: Purchase souvenirs.
Recommended: Dried yak meat (¥80/jin), barley wine (¥30/bottle), Tibetan incense (¥20/box)
Check out at 12:00 noon and share a ride back to Daocheng County (¥40/person).
Depart from Daocheng at 13:00 in the afternoon to return to Chengdu (arrive the next day).
Note: Return to Chengdu on this day is not possible! Overnight on the bus required.
The bus departs at night and arrives in Chengdu around 9:00 AM the next morning.
📌 Alternative (Budget allowed): Add ¥600/person to change to a flight from Daocheng to Chengdu (limited flights, advance booking required).
🎒 Essential Items List (Expert Recommendation)
Category | Recommended Items
------ -------- Clothing: Fleece jacket + warm hat + gloves + scarf (for mornings and evenings) 🔌 Note: Extremely strong UV radiation at high altitudes, please take precautions; unstable mobile signal, it is recommended to download the offline area map app.
⚠️ Expert Tips to Avoid Pitfalls (Based on Hard-Earned Experience)
❌ Do not book "low-price all-inclusive tours"! Most "¥999 Yading tours" on the market are shared rides with hidden customers, with additional charges and forced shopping along the way.
✅ Strongly recommend staying in Shangri-La Town instead of Daocheng County! It's 1000 meters lower in altitude, easier to acclimatize, and closer to the scenic area.
🚫 Don't force your way into Milk Lake or Five-Color Lake!
At an altitude exceeding 4600 meters, a 3-day trip can easily lead to altitude sickness; safety first.
📸 Best time for photography: 7:00–9:00 AM and 4:00–6:00 PM, when the light is soft and the snow-capped mountains glow with a golden light.
🍽️ Respect Tibetan beliefs: Do not step on mani stones, do not turn prayer wheels counter-clockwise, and do not take photos inside temples.
💡 Not recommended for novice drivers! The mountain road is 800km long, with many bends and steep slopes, and landslides are common during the rainy season.
🌟 Conclusion: You don't need to complete the entire journey to experience a soul-stirring experience.
As a seasoned traveler who has journeyed through 23 provinces of China, I want to say: True travel begins with stepping into the soul of a land.
Daocheng Yading is beautiful, but it's not just for "checking off" tourist spots.
It's a place where, at an altitude of 4100 meters, as you pant towards Luorong Pasture, you suddenly stop, gazing at the snow-capped mountains, autumn forests, and prayer flags, and tears well up in your eyes in the wind.
And this 3-day, 2-night journey is the key to opening that door for you.