10 Days in Daocheng-Yading

Land at the 4411-m airport and settle in the county town at 3750 m — stupa grove, springs and an early night. Hydrate, slow steps, no alcohol.

1. daocheng white stupas
2. daocheng rubuzhaka hot springs

A deliberately flat second day — the big stupa circuit, long lunches and tea houses; acclimatization is the itinerary.

1. daocheng white stupas

The road south breaks at the Gongga Langjiling monastery before dropping to sleep at about 2900 m — the night that buys the mountains.

1. daocheng gongga langjiling monastery
2. daocheng shangri la town

Shuttle to Chonggu Temple at 3880 m, forest path to Pearl Lake at about 4100 m under the 6032-m wall of Chenrezig; an easy high-courtship day.

1. daocheng chonggu temple
2. daocheng pearl lake

The big day — 4150-m Luorong Pasture between the twin 5958-m peaks, then Milk Lake at about 4600 m. First shuttle, snack often, turn around if the headache sharpens.

1. daocheng yading sanctuary
2. daocheng luorong pasture
3. daocheng milk lake

The reserve day for the 4700-m lake; if yesterday took it all, make it a valley stroll instead and bank the legs.

1. daocheng five color lake

Back up to the county for springs, laundry and slow food before the high-town run.

1. daocheng rubuzhaka hot springs

North over the pass to Litang at 4014 m — grassland horizons and the monastery founded in 1580; overnight high, keep the evening flat.

1. litang

A morning on the grassland margins and town roofs, then the afternoon road back down to the county for a long night.

1. litang

The airport road crosses the stone-river plateau of Haizi Mountain — more than 1100 glacial lakes averaging about 4500 m — with the Sangdui meadows as the last stop.

1. daocheng haizi mountain
2. daocheng sangdui red grassland