Zagana Hiking Diary｜Exhausted but Healed to Tears

Originally planned to go to Guma Lake first, but the road was suddenly closed! By chance, I put Zagana on the schedule, and now I’m super glad about this “accident”✨ Day 1: Hiked 18.6km! Falling in the rain and turning into mud was totally worth it ⏰5:30 The alarm in Daigu Temple Village went off. I got dressed in the dark with my eyes closed, feeling so dizzy I wanted to give up… but thinking of the snowy meadows instantly woke me up! ⏰7:20 Entered from the south gate of the scenic area. It’s super convenient to drive yourself after booking tickets online in advance. The distance from the south gate to the north gate is a full 50 kilometers. Don’t miss the viewing platforms along the way—every snap looks like a Windows desktop background. Drive a bit, stop a bit, very free～ ⏰9:00 Arrived at Dongwa Village parking lot, altitude suddenly rose to 2900m, quickly changed into hiking gear. Key point here! Even in summer, you must bring a thin jacket. The mountain wind blows and it gets chillingly cold immediately. ⏰10:00 Took the shuttle bus to Yixiantian (altitude 3200m), officially started hiking. From Yixiantian, passing through Shenxianggong and Marisongduo, climbing higher. At the 10km mark, altitude 3900m, my legs were trembling with soreness. I was so tired I doubted my life, sitting on a rock gulping water. ⏰16:00 On the way back, passed Fairy Beach. The meadow was soft like a carpet, looking up at the continuous stone mountains, the wind carried the scent of fresh grass. Suddenly, all the previous fatigue felt wasted! ⏰17:30 The last 3 kilometers suddenly poured rain! I clearly brought raincoat and rain pants, but foolishly thought the rain wouldn’t last long and only wore the raincoat. As a result, my pants and shoes were soaked, squelching in the mud, extremely miserable😅 Tip for rescue: Don’t gamble with mountain weather! Put on the full raincoat and rain pants set immediately. ⏰18:30 Finally back in the car to change clothes. The moment I put on the warm jacket, happiness exploded. Stayed at a guesthouse at the entrance of Dongwa Village, the owner was super warm, made ginger tea to warm me up, instantly revived. Day 2: Encountering Slow Time at Lasang Monastery ⏰7:00 Got up early and skipped the crowded viewing platform, went to Lasang Monastery instead. Morning sunlight shone on the golden roof, Tibetan grandmas were spinning prayer wheels, the whole world was quiet and peaceful, my heart sank into calmness. ⏰9:00 Visited the century-old houses in the village. The wooden buildings’ grain told stories. The villagers were very simple and honest, handing me fragrant butter tea. Although a bit hard to get used to drinking, it was very heartwarming. Practical tips summary, take it without thanks! About village choices: - Dongwa Village: Lowest altitude, liveliest, hiking start point + visitor center, very convenient to stay here - Yeri Village: Rock viewing platform is here! Sunrise and morning mist shots are amazing, perfect for photographers - Dari Village: Wide open views, overlooking the whole village is stunning, also a great place to watch the sunrise - Daiba Village: Highest altitude, quietest, suitable for those wanting to zone out, can see the stone forest 🥾 Recommended hiking routes: - Beginner friendly: Fairy Beach - Fairy Lake, round trip 2h, meadows perfect for photos - Intermediate: Tiger Mouth - Yixiantian, 2-3h, amazing scenery along the way - Expert level: Tiger Mouth - Shenwang Temple - Stone Forest, round trip 6h, must have good stamina! Zagana (Tibetan for “Stone Box”) really feels like a treasure hidden by God. At the moment I collapsed from exhaustion, looking up at the snowy mountains, all fatigue was healed🌄