Turning the screensaver into reality｜How breathtaking is Daocheng Yading

Known as "China's Last Shangri-La," Daocheng Yading is truly worth a visit. Lakes, snow-capped mountains, and meadows look like they've been enhanced with HDR; one route lets you see all the colors nature has to offer. If this is your first time in Western Sichuan, just follow this guide! 📌1. When is the best time to visit? 🌈 September–October: Best season (colorful forests + snow mountains + blue sky, every photo looks great) 🌿 May–June: Less crowded, comfortable, beautiful scenery ⚠ Winter (after November): Some routes may be closed due to weather, not recommended for beginners. 🚗2. How to get to Daocheng with ease? ✔ Recommended: Carpool or charter from Chengdu Reasons: Mountain roads and big altitude changes make driving exhausting for beginners. There are scenic spots like Haizi Mountain and Litang along the way, very worthwhile. Gradual altitude gain helps with acclimatization and reduces altitude sickness. ❌ Not recommended: Fly directly to Daocheng Airport At 4,411m altitude, many people feel unwell upon landing. 🏨3. How to arrange accommodation? 📍 2 nights in Daocheng County + 1 night in Riwa (Shangri-La Town) ⭐️ Daocheng County: Lower altitude, convenient food and lodging, easier to acclimate ⭐️ Riwa: Closer to the scenic area, saves queue time on the day of visit, but colder and more expensive. 🗺️4. How to explore the scenic area? (Most important!) Only 2 main routes are open in the scenic area👇 ① Easy route｜Pearl Lake (a must for beginners) 🔹 Scenic area shuttle bus → Zhaguanbeng → about 1 hour hike to Pearl Lake 🔹 Easy and pleasant walk, healing scenery Suitable for: average fitness, with kids/parents ② Big loop｜Milk Lake + Five Color Lake (classic + highly recommended) 🔹 Chonggu Temple → electric cart → Luorong Pasture 🔹 Then hike 3–4 hours further up Suitable for: outdoor enthusiasts with good fitness Tip: Milk Lake is over 4,500m altitude, go slow! Descend immediately if feeling unwell, safety first. Five Color Lake is stunning on clear days. 🎒5. Must-bring list (not many, but all important) Warm clothes: fleece + windbreaker (cold mornings and evenings) Sunscreen 50+ (strong UV on the plateau) Thermos (hot water helps relieve discomfort) Oxygen bottle (just in case) Trekking poles (especially useful for the big loop) ❗6. Five pitfalls to avoid (all learned the hard way…) 🔸 Don’t walk too fast (high altitude environment is most sensitive to heart rate) 🔸 Don’t hike on an empty stomach 🔸 Get used to queues in the scenic area: especially for the electric cart at Luorong Pasture 🔸 Staying in very cold hotels can cause headaches at night 🔸 Don’t wash your hair at night (not drying it properly can cause discomfort) 📸8. Recommended photo spots (highly suggest saving) ▫️Front view of Chonggu Temple snow mountain ▫️Luorong Pasture meadow + wooden boardwalk ▫️Forest crevice at Pearl Lake ▫️Aerial shot of Five Color Lake ▫️Red grassland in autumn ❤️ Daocheng Yading is not just "a place," it’s more like "turning your screensaver into reality." Walk slowly, breathe deeply, and you’ll understand why this is called "the last pure land on the blue planet."