Daocheng Yading: The first trip in autumn, passing by your whole world

Chengdu-Daocheng Aden 6-day round trip guide

Daocheng Yading

Daocheng Aden is always compared with Shangri-La.

"Shangri-La" is the paradise described in the novel "Lost Horizon" by American writer James Hilton, which gives people a literary image that is divorced from the world. Although there is a Shangri-La County in Yunnan, Daocheng Aden in Sichuan is the true prototype of "Shangri-La".

Daocheng Yading is actually two place names.

Daocheng refers to Daocheng County, and Yading refers to Yading Village. What we call Daocheng Yading generally refers to the scenic area covering the entire Daocheng County and Yading Village - Daocheng Yading Scenic Area.

The scenic spot is located in Sichuan Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture - Daocheng County - Shangri-La Town - Yading Village. Yading Village is located on the mountainside of the scenic area. The whole village has 30 households with less than 200 people.

The most suitable tourist season here is around October, when the sky is blue, the sacred mountains are white, and the meadows are deep red...

DAY 1

trip planning

Chengdu reaches Xinduqiao via Yakang Expressway + G318 National Highway, which is more than 350 kilometers and takes 5 to 6 hours by car.

Accommodation: Xinduqiao

Xingkang Bridge

The Xingkang Super Bridge, the first bridge in Sichuan and Tibet on the Yakang Expressway section, has a total length of 1,411 meters, a main span of 1,100 meters, and a height of more than 200 meters from the bridge deck to the river surface. It will be opened to traffic at the end of 2018.

This is the second time we have passed this bridge, and at first we felt it was beautiful and imposing. The exterior structure is simple and neat, as if flying across a steep natural chasm like a rainbow.

But what is shocking is far more than her appearance. It is also known as the "Everest of highway construction" because of its ultra-long-span suspension bridge built in high-altitude and high-seismic intensity zones, which has overcome many world-class problems.

The Xingkang Bridge won the IBC "Gustav Linden" Gold Medal in 2019, which can be called the "Nobel Prize" in the bridge industry.

Xinduqiao

Xinduqiao is known as the "photographer's paradise". The greenery of early summer is tranquil and full of life.

DAY 2

trip planning

Xinduqiao reaches Daocheng County via G318 National Highway + S216 Li (Litang) Ya (Aden) Highway, and continues to Shangri-La Town for check-in, which is more than 420 kilometers and about 10 hours' drive.

The next day, it is only about 30 kilometers from Shangri-La Town to the Aden Scenic Area and about 40 minutes by car. If you stay in Daocheng County that night, it will take more than 80 kilometers to reach the Aden Scenic Area and takes more than 2 hours. Therefore, many online guides recommend staying the day before. In Shangri-La Town.

Accommodation: Shangri-La Town

Shangri-La Town

The fields on both sides of the road are full of green leaves and seedlings, a particularly vibrant new green. Most of them are highland barley.

On the plateau, where there is water, there is spiritual power. The ever-changing white clouds are always the protagonist on the mountains.

Shangri-La Town, the town's sultry night scene, the bar decoration style has the flavor of Lijiang, the plateau wind accompanied by the refreshing beer, will definitely amaze you.

DAY 3

trip planning

The short route from Daocheng County to Yading Scenic Area-Zhaguanbeng-Chonggu Temple-Chonggu Meadow-Zhuomlacuo

We stopped and visited for 4 hours.

Accommodation: Shangri-La Town

Daocheng County

DAY 4

trip planning

Rested for most of the day in Shangri-La Town, and officially returned after 16:00

Accommodation: Daocheng County

It's June, and the highland barley has begun to ear. The pastoral scenery from Shangri-La Town to Daocheng County and the emerald green highland barley will make your eyes full of love.

DAY 5

trip planning

Daocheng County-Xinduqiao, then view Shihe Park and Haizi Mountain

Accommodation: Xinduqiao

For people who have been stuck in the city for a long time, the opportunity to get close to nature trumps everything.

There is no eye-catching figure. Maybe when you lower your head inadvertently, you will be delighted to discover the wild flowers on the grass. The flowers blooming on the plateau are as warm as the sunshine on the plateau.