At an altitude of 4,000 meters—Daocheng Yading will take your eyes to heaven and your body to hell!

▲ The newly built “Zunsheng Pagoda Forest” has quickly become a landmark of Daocheng, where Tibetans come daily to circumambulate the stupas.

Text and photos / Mirror Media Weekly

“Daocheng” and “Yading” are two inseparable place names, so much so that many people assume “Daocheng Yading” refers to one single location. In fact, Daocheng is not a city but a county under the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, while Yading is a scenic area within Daocheng County. Daocheng can be considered the gateway to the Yading Scenic Area. From Daocheng southward to “Shangri-La Town” (formerly known as Riwa), it is 72 kilometers, and from Riwa another 37 kilometers south will bring you to the actual Yading Scenic Area.

Located in the southwestern part of Sichuan, Daocheng sits at an altitude of 3,745 meters. Along Provincial Highway 216, you’ll pass by Daocheng’s new landmark, the “Zunsheng Pagoda Forest,” also known as the Daocheng White Pagoda. With a square base divided into five levels, the tallest level in the center features a grand white stupa, and from top to bottom, there are 108 smaller white stupas. Tibetans come here daily to circumambulate the pagodas. To the south of Daocheng lies “Eluo Village,” where traditional earthen Tibetan houses, built using classic construction methods, blend with the poplar trees lining the road to create a scene that makes me feel as if I’m in southern Xinjiang.

▲ On the way from Riwa to Daocheng, you’ll pass through “Eluo Village,” where the earth-colored Tibetan homes and poplar woods evoke a borderland vibe reminiscent of southern Xinjiang.

▲ A Tibetan grandmother enjoys a leisurely afternoon in the highlands.

As the saying goes, “Your eyes will be in heaven, but your body in hell,” and that’s the real experience of entering Daocheng Yading. The average altitude in Daocheng is about 4,000 meters, and most people may experience some degree of altitude sickness, including chest tightness, shortness of breath, and even symptoms like headaches, diarrhea, or vomiting. Usually, it takes 1 to 3 days to adjust.

▲ If you experience oxygen shortage or similar conditions in Daocheng Yading, oxygen cylinders are available locally to alleviate discomfort.

This article is published by HowToTrip. Sharing and reposting are welcome — please credit the source.
Article URL: https://www.howtotrip.net/views-2366