4 Days Daocheng Yading Photography Tour

Itinerary Details Day by Day

Day 1 Chengdu to Daocheng & Daocheng County (L)

Today, your guide and driver will meet you at your hotel and then escort you to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to catch the flight to Daocheng Yading, which needs only 1 hour. After your arrival, you will be welcomed by your local guide and driver at the arrival hall of Daocheng Yading Airport (4,411m).

You will be escorted to visit Benbo Monastery (3,940m) first to take some nice pictures of the striking claret-red Kagyu Buddhist temple cluster of over 900 years old, learn the interesting story of its establishment and the creator, and feel the sincere Buddhist pursuit and persistence of local Lamas. Next, go to Sangdui Red Grassland at Sangdui Town to shoot the painting-like landscape with fiery red grass in water against the typical Tibetan village houses, colorful poplar trees and azure sky, which is superb like an ocean of bright colors and available in September and October.

Then, go to shoot the ten thousand acre of poplar forest (3,740m) from the best location at Sela County and Bang River. In autumn around October, the wide spread of poplar trees are dressed in orange and golden to be so charming under the frequent azure sky.

After the visiting, your guide and driver will send you to your hotel at Shangri-La Town (2,950m) and help you check in. Have a good rest for the following hiking experience!

Tips: Since the altitude of Daocheng Yading area is mainly over 3,000 meters, you are highly suggested not do strenuous exercise to release or avoid altitude sickness.

Photography Tips:

1).Benbo Monastery is beautiful all year round and particular charming in clear days.

2).Sangdui Red Grassland changes into red in September and October, and morning with Rembrandt light and afternoon with front light is best to shoot the brighter red grass.

3).Poplar Forest changes into golden yellow in autumn, and is most beautiful in October. Sunrise to morning hours and dusk are best to shoot the poplar forest with countryside view with soft sunshine.

Day 2 Yading Nature Reserve (B)

After an early breakfast, start your photography exploration of Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve, the Last Pure Land on Earth first found by Joseph Rock in 1928 and then be widely treated as the “Soul of Shangri-La” with extremely dreaming wonderland.

First, go to the best viewing deck to catch the panorama of Yading Village that is hidden in the embrace of snow mountains and forest like a mysterious holy land with around 30 households living on the bright colorful cultivated land. Take the sightseeing bus from the tourist center to Zhaguanbeng for about 1-1.5 hours and walk for 0.5km (20 minutes) to Chonggu Monastery (3,900m) to get on the battery car directly to Luorong Pasture (4,150m) for another 0.5 hour (you can also choose to hike for 1.5-2 hours to Luorong Pasture). Enjoy your relaxing roam here and take fascinating photos of the idyllic pasture with those carefree grazing cattle and goats, layers of multicolored dense alpine forest, clear winding stream, etc. backed by the three holy snow mountains, namely Xiannairi (Mount Chianrezig), Yangmaiyong (Mount Jambeyang) and Xianuoduoji (Mount Chanadorje). Do not miss the chance to take the most beautiful picture of Xianuoduoji snow mountain like a powerful man!

Next, you can choose to ride a horse (extra payment needed) for about 5km or hike for 3-3.5 hours up to shoot the fabulous Milk Lake (4,600m), unbelievably charming like a precious blue gem that can even move one to drop tears. Continue to visit Five Color Lake (4,500m) (0.3 km away and needs 0.5 hour if you hike there) to record the impressive world-class oil painting sightseeing with beautiful snow rock mountain in white, grey, silver and chocolate, blue and green water, various alpine plantations, clear sky backdrop, etc. After the photography visiting, ride your horse and take the car and bus back to the entrance. And our guide and driver will send you back to your hotel at Shangri-La Town. Have a good rest!

Photography Tips:

1).The highway to Yading is best to take the high angle shot of Yading Village with Xiannairi and Xianuoduoji. Sunrise (around 06:10 in Summer and 07:30 in Autumn) is recommended to shoot Xiannairi with red glow, and sunset hour (around 20:00 in Summer and 18:30 in Autumn) is great to shoot Xianuoduoji with brilliant setting sun.

2).Luorong Pasture is great to shoot Xiannuoduoji with splendid autumn golden larch and the essential Daocheng Yading view in red, yellow and blue, which is beautiful either in the morning or afternoon.

Day 3 Yading Nature Reserve - Daocheng County (B, L)

Today after breakfast, go to Chonggu Monastery as the same way on Day 2 by sightseeing bus and hike. Have a stop at the temple to shoot the sacred Gelug Buddhist temple architecture in white, red, yellow and black and learn the interesting story about the temple and Joseph Rock’s stop by. From such unbeatable location, you will easily take some excellent photo of the brilliant temple with the three pure white holy snow mountains. After some short walk, embrace the lovely Chonggu Meadow (4,020m) that can be paralleled with the fairyland on earth. Stroll on the vast grassland like a thick and soft carpet in yellow and green in each season. Play along the particularly appealing transparent chanting river with clearly visible little stones like countless grains of gold sank to the bottom. Do not miss the best angle to admire the Xianuoduoji snow mountain.

Then, continue to hike for 30 minutes to Pearl Lake (4,120m) that is super wonderful to take fantastic photos of the picturesque landscape of surrounding snow peaks, green and orange dense forest, iridescent prayer flags, and their dazzling reflections in the shimmering clear lake. Also, it is the best location to admire the holy Xiannairi snow mountain.

After the visiting, our guide and driver will send you to your hotel in Daocheng County (3,700m) and help you check in. Have a good rest!

Photography Tips:

1).When approaching Chonggu Monastery, it is great to shoot Xiannairi with the stream and forest being the foreground.

2).Chonggu Meadow is the best place to shoot Xianuoduoji and particularly the snow peak dyed into red by sunset glow. 3).Pearl Lake is the best location to shoot Xiannairi. Around 9:00 is better to shoot the representative Daocheng Yading photo of the snow peak with golden autumn leaves.

Day 4 Daocheng Yading Departure (B)

After breakfast, your local guide and driver will send you to Daocheng Yading Airport for your flight to Chengdu or other destinations. Tour ends.

Departure Idea: Daocheng Yading Airport has direct flights to Chengdu, Chongqing and Xian, and very few connecting flights to Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Kunming.