Yading Nature Reserve
亚丁景区（仙乃日/央迈勇/夏诺多吉）
A land of sacred mountains and holy lakes, ringed by three snow peaks. Chonggu Monastery, Pearl Lake and Luorong Pasture form the short routes, and this is the heart of the “last Shangri-La.”
The Yading Nature Reserve, a national-level nature reserve, lies in Shangri-La Town, Daocheng County. Its core is three snow peaks arranged in a triangle: Chenrezig (6,032 m, the highest peak in Daocheng), Jambeyang (5,958 m) and Chana Dorje (5,958 m). Tibetan believers regard them as sacred mountains and walk around them on pilgrimage. From the visitor centre in Shangri-La Town, you take a sightseeing bus (about one hour, with a stop at Yading Village permitted) to Zhagonbeng. From there, it is about a 10-minute walk to the Chonggu Monastery meadow. From here, the trip splits into two routes. The short route runs from Chonggu Monastery to Pearl Lake (Drolma Tso), a jade-coloured small lake at the foot of Chenrezig. The round trip takes about 1.5 hours and offers clear reflections of Chenrezig in the water. The long route takes an electric cart to Luorong Pasture, which costs ¥80 round trip. From the pasture, which faces Jambeyang and Chana Dorje across the meadow, you can continue on foot to Milk Lake and Five-Colour Lake.
Entry costs ¥146, plus ¥120 for the sightseeing bus. A two-day ticket requires entering on two consecutive days, and on the second day you only pay the ¥60 bus fee again. During the peak season in October, you must book in advance through the official “Daocheng Yading” WeChat account, and daily numbers are capped. It is recommended to stay for two nights in Yading Village or Shangri-La Town, doing the short route on the first day to acclimatise and the long route on the second. The sunrise over the snow peaks, known as the “Golden Mountain at Sunrise,” is most spectacular at dawn, and it can be seen from Yading Village or Luorong Pasture.
Note: The altitude is 3,900–4,200 m, so walk slowly. Food inside the scenic area is expensive and basic, so bring high-calorie snacks. The weather changes quickly, so carry a rain jacket.
Opening hours
07:00–16:30 (last sightseeing bus into the park at 16:30; shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Yading Village
- Chonggu Monastery & Pearl Lake
- Luorong Pasture
- Milk Lake & Five-Color Lake
- Shangri-La Town (Riwa)
- Kasi Village & Kasi Valley
- Gongga Langjiling Monastery
- Echu Mountain