From Chengdu to Aden, enter the last Shangri-La

2020 Shangri-La Loop Guide 2

The total length of the Shangri-La Ring Road is more than 2,000 kilometers, condensing the essence of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. This is a magical road, a dreamy road, and a difficult road.

Let’s start from Chengdu, walk along National Highway 318, walk into Daocheng, walk into Aden, and start the first movement of the Shangri-La Ring.

Yang Maiyong, @神游的鱼

Aden, @神游鱼

Daocheng is located at the southern end of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan. Some people say that it concentrates all the beauty of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau except the Zanda Earth Forest, and is known as the last Shangri-La.

Along Liya Road, from Litang County to Daocheng County and then to Aden, there are three main scenic spots in Daocheng: Haizishan Nature Reserve, Daocheng Scenic Area, and Aden Nature Reserve.

Yading Scenic Area consists of three sacred mountains: Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong and Xianuoduoji, as well as surrounding rivers, lakes and alpine meadows. It is the most famous scenic spot in Daocheng.

Chengdu to Aden route map

D1: Chengdu-Ya'an-Luding-Kangding-Xinduqiao-Yajiang, 405 kilometers, 7 hours

Chengdu to Kangding, expressway. From Kangding to Yajiang, it is National Highway 318, an asphalt road. After the Yakang Expressway is opened to traffic, starting from Chengdu, it is easy to reach Yajiang in one day.

Attractions: Luding Bridge, Zheduo Mountain, Xindu Bridge, Gaoersi Mountain

As the sun sets, Zheduo Mountain and Xindu Bridge turn into a world of light and shadow. In Heishicheng near the Gaoersi Mountain pass, you can watch the sunset of Gongga Mountain. The old National Highway 318 and rural roads to Heishicheng have bad roads, requiring off-road vehicles or SUVs, and it is difficult for cars to pass.

Zheduoshan, @老江

If you visit Hailuogou and Hongshitan, you need to add one day. You can enter Hailuogou on the same day, stay at the Jinshan Hotel in Rizhao for one night, leave the ditch the next morning, go directly to Kangding via Yumo Highway, and arrive at Yajiang on the same day.

Accommodation: Yajiang County, 2700 meters above sea level.

There are many business hotels in Yajiang, and the county town is built on the mountain, so parking is inconvenient. I recommend Yunmo Jiangpan Business Hotel, it is clean and cost-effective. Ling·Miya Culture Hotel is located in Riji Village, more than 20 kilometers away from the county seat. It has Tibetan characteristics, is hygienic and quiet, and has convenient parking.

Gas stations: There are PetroChina or Sinopec gas stations after entering and leaving Kangding, Xinduqiao, and Yajiang.

D2: Yajiang-Litang-Daocheng, 278 kilometers, 5 and a half hours

The entire journey is asphalt, with good surface and good scenery, so don’t drive too fast. On this day, we will climb several mountains with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters, so pay attention to the high altitude. There are dozens of kilometers of bad road to Xingyicuo, so you need an off-road vehicle, SUV or high-riding car.

Attractions : Eighteen Bends of the Tianlu (Jianzi Bend Mountain), Kazila Mountain, Western Sichuan Alpine Grassland, Haizi Mountain, Xingyicuo, Sangdui River Valley, Red Earth

Xingyicuo, @老江

After leaving Yajiang County, turn over Jianziwan Mountain and you will find the Eighteen Bends Observation Deck of Tianlu. Along the way, you will be accompanied by beautiful scenery of grasslands and snow-capped mountains. Haizi Mountain is dotted with large and small lakes and strange rocks, and is as wild as the surface of Mars. After descending from Haizi Mountain and entering the Sangdui River Valley, the picturesque pastoral scenery of the plateau reaches all the way to the county town.

There are many scenic spots along the road, which will take a lot of time; if you want to go to Xingyicuo, the round trip will take two hours. Although the journey is not long, it will take a day.

Red grassland, @against the current into a river

Accommodation: Jinzhu Town, Daocheng County, 3,700 meters above sea level.

There are many hotels and inns in the county, ranging from high to low quality. Recommended hotels from high to low: Daocheng Jinzhu Hotel (star hotel, located in the center of the county, with a dedicated parking lot), Daocheng Mama Boutique Courtyard (in the suburbs of the county, very artistic, very stylish, not Smoking), Holiday Inn Daocheng Lanka.

Daocheng County is Jinzhu Town, and the entrance to Aden Scenic Area is in Riva (Shangri-La Town). The two places are more than 70 kilometers apart. Some websites will mark the wrong location of the hotel. It’s best to ask questions before booking to avoid booking the wrong place.

Gas station: There is a PetroChina gas station at the branch road in Litang County. There are no PetroChina or Sinopec gas stations in Daocheng, and there are two or three private gas stations near the county seat.

Scenery by the river, @miracle in your eyes

D3: Daocheng-Sela-terracotta-Riva (entrance of Aden Scenic Area). 81 kilometers, about an hour and a half. After entering the scenic spot, take a short tour to Yading Village for accommodation, which takes about 5 hours.

Continue along Liya Road to Aden, where you can see the poplar forest and the scenery along the river, climb over the Bawa Mountain with an altitude of more than 4,500 meters, arrive at Riva, park at the entrance of the Aden Scenic Area Visitor Center, and transfer to the sightseeing car.

Scenic spot sightseeing bus route: Visitor Center-Yading Village-Longtong Dam-Zhaguubeng, about 37 kilometers.

Hiking route: Zhaguanbeng-Chonggu Temple-Chonggu Meadow-Xian Nairi-Dolma Lacuo. Among them, there are battery cars from Zhaguanbeng to Chonggu Temple.

The end point of the sightseeing bus is Zhaguanbeng. Follow the hiking route to Zhuoma Lacuo. Return to the original route, or return to Zhaguanbeng via a primitive path next to Zhuoma Lacuo. Take a sightseeing bus back to Yading Village for accommodation (ask for the closing time when getting off the sightseeing bus).

Aden, @The first armored donkey

Attractions: Banghe River, Sera, Ten Thousand Mu Poplar Forest, Yading Village, Chonggu Temple, Chonggu Meadow, Xiannairi, Zhuoma Lacuo

From the county town to Riva, the scenery along the river and Sala is beautiful. Since you have to enter the scenic spot before noon, don’t waste too much time on the way.

Simply put, the Aden Scenic Area has two lines: the main line and the short line. The short line is to visit Chonggu Temple, Xiannairi and Zhuoma Lacuo.

Aden Village

Accommodation: Yading Village, 3740 meters above sea level.

Tip: Aden has a high altitude. Locals say that taking the cold medicine Hashtong produced by Tai Chi Group before going to bed can prevent high fever and help you sleep better. I've taken it before, it's really effective.

Aden Village is a small village within the Aden Scenic Area. Do not confuse Aden Village with the Aden Scenic Area when navigating or asking for directions.

D4: Yading Village-Zhaguubeng-Chonggu Temple-Luorong Niu Farm-Milk Sea-Five Color Sea-Original line returns to Zhaguubeng and takes a sightseeing bus to Riva, one day

Get up early, take a sightseeing bus from Yading Village to Zhaguubeng, and start hiking. Among them, there are battery cars from Zhaguanbeng to Luorong Niuchang, and there are horse caravans from Luorong Niuchang to Milk Sea. If it rains, the roads above Luorong Cattle Farm will be muddy and difficult to walk.

Luorong Ranch, @lvlinglong

Attractions : Luorong Ranch, Milk Sea, Five Color Sea, Yangmaiyong, Shanuoduoji

This is the main line of the Aden Scenic Area, with a long journey, high altitude, and very high physical exertion.

Get up at 6 o'clock, pack your luggage, and take the first sightseeing bus to Zhaguubeng. Starting from Zhaguubeng, we will walk all the way. After arriving at Wusehai, we will return to Zhaguubeng and take a sightseeing bus to stay in Riva. It will take one day.

Accommodation: Riva, 2880 meters above sea level.

There are both high-end hotels and many mid-range hotels in Riva. Two mid-range hotels are recommended, Daocheng Yading Zangjia Theme Cultural Hotel (Tibetan-style residential house, unique) and Daocheng Jinjiang Yading Hotel.

By the river, @miracle in your eyes

Continue following

Starting from Aden, we will enter Xiangcheng, Derong, pass through Benzilan, and make a pilgrimage to Meili Snow Mountain. The guide to Aden to Meili Snow Mountain will be released in the next issue