7 Days in Daocheng-Yading

Land at the 4411-m airport and settle in the county town at 3750 m — a stupa-grove stroll and an evening at the Rubuzhaka springs keep day one gentle. Hydrate, slow steps, no alcohol.

1. daocheng white stupas
2. daocheng rubuzhaka hot springs

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

The gentle entry day — shuttle to Chonggu Temple at 3880 m, forest path to Pearl Lake at about 4100 m under the 6032-m wall of Chenrezig.

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 and Five-Color Lake at 4700 m. First shuttle out, snack often, turn around if the headache sharpens.

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

A built-in second chance — clear skies mean the 4700-m lake in full light, bad weather means a valley stroll and an early hot-pot; either is a good day.

1. daocheng five color lake

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

1. litang

The return road crosses the stone-river plateau of Haizi Mountain, averaging about 4500 m and scattered with more than 1100 glacial lakes — a slow drive with stops, then the airport.

1. daocheng haizi mountain