Travel Guide: Solo Non-Driving Trip to Western Sichuan - Daocheng Yading Edition

❤️HI, I’m ZC, a photography and hiking enthusiast. “The Last Shangri-La”｜Solo trip to Western Sichuan, third stop Daocheng Yading, here I come~ Continuing from the previous post—solo non-driving trip to Western Sichuan, the third stop is the “Land of Sunshine” Daocheng Yading. Here you’ll find the golden-glowing Chonggu Monastery; the golden vast Chonggu Meadows and Luorong Pasture; the three towering sacred mountains⛰️; the mysterious, holy, and vibrant Five-Color Lake, Milk Lake, and Pearl Lake; plus the lovely local cattle, sheep, monkeys, and squirrels. November in Daocheng Yading is free from the busy peak season noise, offering only the pure, tranquil, and magnificent beauty. Totally worth the trip! Detailed sharing of public transportation tips and travel experiences starting from Xinduqiao. Solo trip to Western Sichuan, stay tuned for more~ ✅ Chengdu → Ya’an (Shenmulei, Dawagengza) → Kangding → Xinduqiao (Tagong Grassland, Gunong Village, Balangshengdu) check previous guides. 📷 Fujifilm XS10, Tamron 18-300 🚘 Public Transport Xinduqiao → Daocheng Yading | 2 options⬇️ ❶ Shuttle bus: Buy tickets on Chuanzang Travel, boarding at Xinduqiao White Pagoda, get off at Yading Tourism Bus Station. 💰210 RMB, 9 hours. Only one departure at 9:00 AM. You can leave a note on the order page to have the driver contact you. ❷ Shuttle bus: If you have the driver’s phone number, you can contact them directly to confirm the boarding location and time. Between 11:30-12:00, the bus passes Xinduqiao, so you can wait by National Highway 318 in Xinduqiao Town. I chose this option. 💰180 RMB, 9 hours. ✅ Tips: 🚘 Chengdu → Daocheng Yading, buy tickets, boarding at Xinnanmen Bus Station, get off at Yading. 💰298 RMB, 15-20 hours, only 6:20 AM departure. 🛏️ Accommodation The hotel I stayed at offers free shuttle service to the scenic area and bus station, and can also take you to the town center if it’s on the way. Free hiking poles provided. ✨ Travel Experience ❶ Off-season ticket 🎫120 RMB, shuttle bus 120 RMB (Tourist Center ⇆ Zhaguanbeng, 1 hour, last bus at 18:00). Tickets are valid for two days; on the second day, you pay an additional 60 RMB for the shuttle bus. ❷ Electric shuttle (ticket necessary) Chonggu Monastery ⇆ Luorong Pasture, round trip 70 RMB, one way 40 RMB. ✅ Tips: From Shengshuimen Station → Luorong Pasture is the highlight of the long route. When taking the electric shuttle, emphasize to the driver to drop you off at Shengshuimen Station. Then hike along the plank road to Luorong Pasture, 2-3 hours. Photos 2️⃣-1️⃣1️⃣ along the way. ❸ Luorong Pasture → Gonggacuo Lake, about 2 km, photo 1️⃣2️⃣ Gonggacuo. In winter, the long route only goes as far as Gonggacuo; the routes to Five-Color Lake and Milk Lake are closed. Photos 1️⃣3️⃣ Milk Lake 1️⃣4️⃣ Five-Color Lake, status as of November 27. ❹ Short route: Chonggu Monastery → Pearl Lake. Round trip 2-3 hours, photos 1️⃣5️⃣-1️⃣8️⃣ along the way. Suitable for the afternoon when the sunlight is softer. ⭐ Gear Preparation · Clothing: quick-dry shirts, underwear, long-sleeve sweatshirts, fleece/down inner layers, shell jacket. Quick-dry pants, underwear, shell pants. Hat🧢, gloves🧤. · Supplies: glucose, Snickers, chocolate, cola. · Equipment: oxygen tank, sunglasses🕶️.