Trekking in Yading

Yading became famous after it was introduced to the world by Joseph Rock, an American botanist explorer. In 1928, Joseph Rock trekked from Muli to Yading. The unparalleled marvelous scenery in Yading surprised and deeply attracted Rock. When he returned to America, he published an article about Yading with the pictures of its remarkable sceneries in National Geographic Magazine. After that, Yading is well- known as “China Shangri-La Soul” and “the last piece of pure land on the blue planet”. And trekking in Yading becomes popular all over the world.

A Beautiful View of Yading

Notice: Due to travel policy changes, camping in Yading Senice Area is not available at present. When it is opened again, we will inform you at the first time. In the meanwhile, normal visiting is not affected. Please feel free to contact us ( inquiry@3rdpoletour.com ) to customize this tour.

Getting to Yading

Yading is located in Yading Country, Shangri-La Town, Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, mainly consisting of three holy sown mountains (Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong, and Xianuoduoji) , streams, alpine lakes (Pearl Lake, Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake) and meadows. It is also a paradise for photographers and trekkers. As the development of Yading tourism, it is very convenient to get to Yading nowadays. There are three kind of transportation available for you to get to Daocheng Yading: chartered cars, public buses and airplanes. The planes from Xi’an, Luzhou, Chongqing or Chengdu to Daocheng Yading Airport have been opened right now. It only takes about 1-2 hours. If you go by cars or buses, it needs much more time. But you can enjoy the landscape along the road when you take a car or bus.

Best Time to Trek in Yading

The best time to trek in Yading is from later May to early June and from September to October. During those periods of time, the road is in good condition and the weather is clear that you can enjoy the scenery with a good view. And from late June to August, it is rainy too much in Yading. The rainy days will affect your trekking a lot. The road becomes muddy and slimy. There might be so foggy that you can’t see the mountain peaks clearly. From December to the next early May, the road will be covered with ice and snow. It is not suitable for trekking.

8 Days Chengdu Daocheng Yading Tagong Danba Loop Tour

Trekking Routes in Yading

Trekking in Yading is the best way to view the picturesque sceneries. Yading has attracted thousands of trekking lovers and tourists since it is one of the best places for trekking in the world.

There are two main trekking routes in Yading. One is a short trekking route which is to trek around Xiannairi for a circle with a distance of about 30km, only taking about 1-2days; the other is a long trekking route which is to circle the three holy mountains (Xianuoduoji, Yangmaiyong, Xiannairi). The whole distance of the long route is about 120km, taking about 7 days. You can choose either trekking route according to your preference.

Trekking Road in Yading

Recommended 2 Days Daocheng Yading Trekking Route

The two days trekking route is called small Kora (Inner Kora). Kora is the most common way for Tibetans to pilgrim. They believe that as long as they trek around the holy mountain for a circle, their immorality will be relieved. Two days Daocheng Yading trekking route is a common choice for most people for it is not as challenging as the big Kora. But it is also full of fun and there are great sceneries along the route.

Check the Route Map of 2 Days Daocheng Yading Trekking Tour

Day 1: Daocheng- Longtongba- Chonggu Temple- Luorong Pasture- Pass B- C3 Campsite- C4 Campsite
Take a car from Daocheng to Yading in early morning. When you arrive at Longtongba, it is about 10am. Then, it takes about 2 hours to get to Chonggu Temple where you can see Xiannairi and Xianuoduoji. Keep moving for Luorong Paturewhich is 10 km away. On the way you will pass 18 Lohan and Shengshuimen. When you reach Shengshuimen, you will see Yangmaiyong. At about 3:30pm, you arrive at Luorong Pasture and you can take a break here. The planned destination for tonight is C3 Campsite. But if you want to take beautiful pictures, C4 Campsite is the best destination.

The way from the Pasture to Milk Lake is not in good condition. Since the altitude increases quickly, it will need much more physical exertion. About 2 and half hours later, you get to Milk Lake. You can stay here for a while. Then, walk along the mountain road which is the most obvious one and move to the Pass B. The time you get Pass B is about 6pm. The views of Yangmaiyong, Xiannairi and Xianuoduoji are very beautiful here. When you climb over the Pass B, you can see the road for Kora. The wind at the Pass B is very big. You have to keep trekking. Next, you have to go downhill for a steep slope with crushed stones.

At the bottom of the slope, there is the lake - Resongcuo. The C3 Campsite is next to the lake. C3 is the best campsite for camping. It has cattle sheds and water resource. Besides, you can enjoy the remarkable view of sunset lighting the mountains. If you want to take pictures at night, you’d better go to C4 campsite. It takes about one and a half hours from C3 to C4. C4 Campsite is the best place to take pictures of night view.

Day 2: C4 Campsite- Pass C- Guimenguan- Pearl Lake- Chonggu Temple- Longtongba- Daocheng
Get up early and have breakfast. Set out before 8 o’clock. Walk along the western slope of Xiannairi for about 2 hours and you will arrive at the Pass C at Guimenguan, at the altitude of 4995m. There will be a lot of prayer flags here. Then, you start to get down to Guimenguan and you can see Xiannairi closely soon. Keep going downhill and pass through spruce forests. About 2 hours later, you get to Pealr Lake. It takes only about half an hour to arrive at Chonggu Temple. You can take a break at Chonggu Temple and eat something here. After that, you can directly go to Longtongba. The time is about 4pm. Then, go back to Daocheng by car.

Chonggu Temple

4 Days Chengdu Daocheng Yading Flight Tour

Recommended 7 Days Daocheng Yading Trekking Route

The 7 days Daocheng Yading trekking route is also called Big Kora (Inner Kora). Trekkers who love trekking with great passion and have trekking experience can choose the big Kora. It will be more interesting and challenging.

Check the Route Map of 7 Days Daocheng Yading Trekking Tour

Day 1: Daocheng- Riwa (Shangri-La Town) – Kanggu (2800) - Dida Pasture (4400)
Get up early and you have to arrive in Kanggu Village before 9 am. The beginning of the big Kora is Kanggu Village where you can hire guides and horses. Then you start to walk along the river for about 3 hours. When you reach Zhihuozhalang, you begin to climb along the ridge of the hill for about 2 hours and you get to the other side of the hill. After about 2 hours, you enter a forest. When you walk through the forest, the campsite (Dida Pasture) is on the corner. Dida Pasture is at the altitude of 4400m.

Day 2: Dida Pasture- The First Pass (4780) – The Second Pass (4880) – Quli Pasture (4460)
Set out before 9 O’clock. The first pass you have to climb over is 4780m high above the sea level. Next to the first pass, there is the second pass of 4880m altitude. After climbing over the two passes, you have to get downhill. The crushed rock road is very steep. You have to get down slowly and carefully. At the bottom of the slope, there is a small pasture. Do not go straight when you go arrive at the pasture. You have to turn right and walk along the valley. Trek for less than 1 hour and you will reach Quli Pasture of the altitude of 4460. Quli Pasture which is this day’s campsite has good water source and beautiful scenery. There are about 5 to 6 cowsheds here.

Day 3: Quli Pasture- Zhawuqi (4400) – Gonggazhazhen (4100)
Keep trekking and climb over passes at 8am. The mountain is totally different from yesterday’s mountain. The black rocks are set up along the roads by trekkers and work as road signs. The pass you have to climb over is at the altitude of 4800m. After the pass, you start to get down a long slope. At the bottom of the slope is a pasture called Zhawuqi (4400). From here, the majority of today’s trekking roads are downhill slopes. During the way, you will come across a stream. After the stream, you enter a forest. As you go downhill through the forest, you get close to Xianuoduoji gradually. Then you arrive at a pasture called Gonggazhazhen. Gonggazhazhen is wide and beautiful. Here you can see a breathtaking picture with snow mountains, forests, meadows and cowsheds. Today you can camp at Gonggazhazhen.

Day 4: Gonggazhazhen – Niangxi Pasture – Qingyong Pasture (4400)
From today, you will trek around snow mountains for the next days. Each day you will climb over one or two passes. When you climb up to the hill, you can see the sharp and clearly white Yangmaiyong. Then you keep on to Qingyong Pasture at the altitude of 4400m. Qingyong Capture has a rugged cliff where a cave spewing snow water. It is this water flow that breeds Qingyong Pasture.

Day 5: Qingyong Pasture – Four Passes – Resongcuo
Today’s trekking starts from Qingrong Pasture. The trip after two long crushed rock roads will be comparatively easy for trekking. While you are walking on the ridge of snow mountains, you can enjoy the marvelous scenery with a wide view. Climb over the today’s last pass and you will see a peaceful lake lying among the mountains. There is the campsite for today –Resongcuo. But the way from the pass to Resongcuo is rugged and steep.

Day 6: Resongcuo- Pass –Luorong Pasture (4180) – Chonggu Temple (3885)
There are two ways for today’s trip. One is to trek aroud Xiannairi; the other is to trek through Five-color Lake and Milk Lake. If you choose to trek around Xiannairi, it will take about 8 to 10 hours to arrive at Chonggu Temple. But if you want to see Five-color Lake, Milk Lake and Luorong Pasture, you have to return back to Yading Nature Reserve. It needs much more time and energy. If you choose the other way, you have to climb up the slope for about one hour and go straight, and then you will see the Milk Lake. Go along the mountainside on the left and you will see Five-color Lake. Keep trekking for about one and a half hours and you will arrive at Luorong Pasture. Today’s destination is Chonggu Temple where you camp tonight.

Five-color Lake

Day 7: Chonggu Temple- Longtongba- Daocheng
Walk along the bridleway from Chonggu Temple to Longtongba which is the entrance of Yading Nature Reserve. You can take a car here to come back to Daocheng.

High Altitude Sickness in Yading

Since Yading is in Tibetan highland and its altitude ranges from 2900 to 6032 meters, you may get high altitude sickness when you get to Yading or during your trekking in Yading. Therefore, you have to take some measures to prevent it before you go. You can eat some anti-altitude sickness drugs (for example: Hongjintian) in advance and make sure you are in great fit. If you really get an altitude sickness, don’t worry too much. Just be relaxed, take enough rests and sleep well. Don’t drink alcohol and do not do excessive exercises.

Packing List for Trekking in Yading

You’d better prepare good-qualified camping equipment (tent, sleep bags, moisture pad), backpacks, trekking poles, waterproof clothes and boots, rain gear, cookers, sunscreen products and other things you need.

Complex vitamins, glucose products and commonly used drugs (cold medicine, gastrointestinal drugs, trauma medicine, and anti-altitude sickness drugs) are also useful during your trekking.

Since there’s no food supply during your trekking, you have to take sufficient food for 7 days or 2 days by yourself. High-energy food is recommended.