Daocheng Yading

Yading sits at the far western edge of Sichuan, on the Tibetan plateau, arranged around three snow peaks - Chenresig, Jampelyang and Chana Dorje - that stand in a rough triangle above meadows and larch forest. From Yading village a shuttle and then a boardwalk lead to Luorong pasture, and from there a hard day walk climbs past Milk Lake and Five Colour Lake at over 4,500 metres. The peaks are sacred to local Tibetan communities and the area is a pilgrimage circuit as well as a trekking destination. Everything here happens high up: the village itself is around 3,900 metres, and the walking starts above that.

What you actually see

• Chenresig - the central peak seen from Chonggu monastery, usually the first clear view in the reserve.
• Luorong pasture - the flat grazing meadow at the foot of the peaks, reached by shuttle and boardwalk.
• Milk Lake and Five Colour Lake - two small glacial lakes above 4,500 metres, a steep climb from the pasture.
• The larch forest - the valley woodland that turns gold for a few weeks in October.

When to go

Late spring and early autumn give the clearest skies. October brings gold larch but also the biggest crowds and cold nights. The summer monsoon keeps the peaks hidden for days at a time, and winter is clear but bitter, with ice on the upper trail. Book rooms in Shangri-La town or Yading village well ahead in October.

Honest expectations

Altitude sickness is common and not everyone reaches the upper lakes; the final climb is steep at over 4,500 metres and turning back is normal. Getting here takes a full day of travel whichever way you come. Rooms in the village are basic and expensive for what they are, and cloud can hide the peaks for an entire stay.

Nearby

The high town of Litang and the long road east towards Kangding.