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How would I describe autumn in Yading?
A long road leads up to Boyong Lake.
A canyon with endless stretches of brilliant golden pine trees.
The snow-capped Yang Maiyong mountain rises like a sword straight up into the blue sky.
An experience that surpassed all my preconceived notions of autumn...
Mount Xiannairi and Pearl Lake
Located in Daocheng County, Sichuan Province, atop the majestic Hengduan Mountains, Yading is a renowned Tibetan nature reserve where three sacred peaks surround pristine valleys and turquoise lakes. Situated at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, this area is known as "the eternally pure land on earth," and served as inspiration for the Shangri-La region in James Hilton's novel, *Lost Horizon*.
What fascinated me was the idea of walking around the mountain peaks, a place almost completely untouched by human activity. The indigenous Tibetans consider this a sacred spiritual place; they believe that completing a clockwise circle around the three peaks is a way to show reverence, accumulate merit, and purify karma, bringing life's journey into a sacred cycle.
Chonggu Monastery is located within the Yading Nature Reserve.
Along the trails, you'll find vivid evidence of their reverence for nature: mountain peaks, lakes, and every landscape is treated with utmost respect, as if fulfilling the will of “Mother Earth.” Prayer flags are scattered along some sections of the trail, symbolizing the deep connection the indigenous Tibetans have to this land.
In fact, Yading captivated me not only with its magnificent beauty but also with the enchanting sense of adventure it offered. But the question was: how could I explore this paradise alone without knowing the local language?
Honestly, nowadays, with smartphone apps, you can absolutely travel to China independently. All you need to do is research your destination, choose accommodation, and figure out how to get around. However, my trip was much more challenging because I had to carry bulky camera equipment and spend nights in the mountains. Therefore, every plan had to be meticulously detailed.
Mount Zunsheng Talin is nestled between grasslands and snow-capped mountains.
Stepping across the plateau's threshold, one touches a land of fairy tales.
On the first day, I flew from Hanoi to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. Afterward, I took the subway from the airport to Xinnanmen bus station and stayed at a nearby hotel.
On Monday morning, I took a bus from Xinnanmen to Daocheng town, spending the night in Riwa (also known as Shangri-La). The 18-hour journey was long and tiring, but in return, I had time to acclimatize to the gradually increasing altitude. Crossing mountain passes at 4,300m and then 4,600m, the scenery along the way unfolded into layers of towering mountains, dry, cold plateaus, and vast stretches of golden grasslands. At that moment, I realized I had absolutely no regrets about this decision.
Colorful Lungta flags flutter in the wind.
On the way, I stopped by Zunsheng Talin, a stunning religious and cultural site located in Daocheng County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. Nestled on the edge of a vast grassland and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, this site is often considered the spiritual gateway to the Yading Nature Reserve.
The following day, I continued my journey to Yading Village, right after the ticket area for the nature reserve. Here, I spent a whole day acclimatizing to the altitude of 4,000 meters and chose the shorter route leading to Chonggu Temple and Pearl Lake, both to get used to the mountain climbing activity and to enjoy the stunning scenery.
The next leg of the journey, the real pilgrimage, began. I packed the necessary gear into a backpack, along with my professional camera equipment. As a full-time photographer, I'm always on the lookout for the most dramatic moments, and often those moments appear while everyone else is asleep. So, I decided to camp on the edge of the reserve, to get to the ideal shooting spot early the next morning, when the first rays of sunlight illuminate the snow-capped peaks, creating a truly unique scene.
After two days at the 4,500m campsite, I continued my journey to Boyong Lake at 4,700m. Spectacular scenery is often hidden in remote places, and Boyong Lake is like an emerald gem hidden deep within the Yading Nature Reserve. This is a rare and little-known spot where you can fully admire the three snow-capped peaks sanctified by the 5th Lama: Chanadorje (5,958m) – symbolizing strength; Jampelyang (6,032m) – symbolizing wisdom; and Chenrezig (6,032m), symbolizing compassion.
Camping at an altitude of 4,500 meters was a real challenge. At night, temperatures fluctuated between -5 and -10 degrees Celsius, so sleeping bags and jackets had to be able to withstand the cold for a night on the mountain. In addition, drinking enough warm water every day was essential to help the body adapt to the altitude more quickly. Food for several days on the mountain also needed careful consideration: don't bring too much to avoid overloading your backpack, but still ensure you get enough nutrients. I chose dried vegetables, instant rice, and energy gels, which were both lightweight and convenient. In areas without phone signal, I switched to airplane mode to save battery, only using it when I needed to track my route. Everything needed careful preparation to ensure safety and a complete experience at high altitude.
Camping at an altitude of 4,500 meters was truly a great challenge.
Because of these harsh conditions, my photos and experiences here are incredibly valuable. During my days on the plateau, I was able to touch the pristine landscape, breathe the air of the mountains and forests, and gain a deeper understanding of the unwavering faith of the Tibetan people – a faith deeply connected to nature and profound reverence for this land.
How to have a self-guided trip to Yading?
Expense:A 10-day self-guided trip to Daocheng-Yading costs approximately 25,000,000 VND. This includes around 7,000,000 VND for round-trip airfare from Hanoi to Chengdu, 3,000,000 VND for transportation by bus, taxi, and local vehicles, and around 10,000,000 VND for accommodation (not including 4 nights of camping in the mountains). Other expenses such as food, entrance fees to tourist attractions, and essential supplies amount to approximately 5,000,000 VND.
Visa:Tourists traveling to China need a tourist visa (L). A single-entry visa, valid for a maximum stay of 15 days, costs approximately US$75 (around VND 1.98 million), while a visa for a maximum stay of 30 days costs approximately US$85 (around VND 2.24 million).
Move:There are two ways to get to Yading. The first is to take a bus from Chengdu to Yading, costing approximately 1,500,000 VND and taking about 18 hours. The second is to fly to Yading Airport in Daocheng County, then take a taxi to Yading, with airfare around 4,000,000 VND and taxi fare around 400,000 VND.
Prepare:Before climbing the mountain, visitors need to prepare adequate camping equipment, sleeping bags, insulation mats, thermal clothing, personal medications, and dry food, as nighttime temperatures can drop to -5 to -10 degrees Celsius. Climbing aids such as portable gas cylinders can be purchased at shops in Riwa town (Shangrila).
Note:
Yading is located at an altitude of 4,000-4,500 meters, so visitors need to ensure their bodies have adapted before ascending to such heights. Move gently and avoid strenuous activity. If symptoms such as headache, nausea, shortness of breath, cough, or loss of appetite occur, immediately move to a lower altitude area. In addition, drink about 2 liters of warm water daily and monitor your blood oxygen levels in the morning upon waking and in the evening before going to sleep. Avoid showering in the first few days to reduce the risk of catching a cold. In case of emergency, contact the resort's rescue team for assistance in getting to a safer location.
- Visitors are not permitted to camp or stay overnight within the nature reserve. However, they may hike to higher elevations and camp outside the protected area. Absolutely no spontaneous campfires are allowed to prevent forest fires.
