Out of all the places I visited in China, Yading Scenic Area in the southwestern province of Sichuan is hands down my favorite. It’s home to stunning snow-capped peaks, wide-open grasslands, and pristine lakes. Everything about this place is incredible, from the hikes you can do to the unbeatable scenery and viewpoints here!
If you’re planning to visit, you’re going to need this travel guide. Unlike many other popular attractions in China, Yading isn’t connected by high-speed rail. Getting there requires some preparation and thoughtful planning, and this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.
In this travel guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about getting to Yading, based on my own experience traveling through the area during my one-month backpacking trip around China. Without further ado, here are the ways you can reach Yading Scenic Area.
Ways to Get to Yading
By Air
The fastest and most convenient way is to fly into Daocheng Yading Airport (DCY), one of the highest airports in the world at 4,411 meters above sea level. You can find direct flights from major cities like Chengdu, Chongqing, and Kunming. The flight should take between 1 - 2 hours and cost around 261 USD. You can book the flight here.
From the airport, it takes about two hours to reach Shangri-La Town, and you will need to arrange a pick-up with your accommodation before you arrive. Do not expect to find buses or taxis waiting at the airport due to how remote it is. A taxi from the airport to Shangri-La Town typically costs around 400 CNY per car.
In case there happens to be a taxi waiting at the airport, you might be able to catch one to Daocheng Town’s bus station, where you can transfer to the bus to Shangri-La (Riwa). The bus typically departs twice a day, around 10:00 and 14:00. Keep in mind that schedules can change and taxis may not always be available at the airport. Personally, I wouldn’t risk relying on this option just to save a few bucks.
Be prepared for high altitude here, as the airport is significantly higher than wherever you fly from, so there is a high risk of getting high-altitude sickness. Breathe fully, pace yourself, and drink lots of water before going to bed that night! It should help you acclimatize a bit.
By Bus from Shangri-La (Yunnan)
This is the recommended way and the one that I personally took as I was already traveling around Yunnan and happened to be in Yunnan's Shangri-La City (not to be mistaken with Shangri-La Town or Riwa in Sichuan).
From Yunnan's Shangri-La City, you will have to go to the bus station the day prior to get the physical ticket. There should be 2 buses leaving in the morning and the afternoon, and it should cost around 148 CNY. I got the one at 8:20 AM, but there should also be one at around 2 PM.
What’s great about this bus nowadays is that it takes you directly to Shangri-La Town without passing through Daocheng, traveling along some of the most scenic roads you will ever see. The journey takes about six hours, with one toilet break roughly an hour before arrival.
At the rest stop, you'll find the infamous classic Chinese toilet with no doors 🤣 and a few kiosks selling fruit and nothing else, so be sure to pack some food for the journey and avoid drinking too much!
By Bus from Chengdu
If you have time to spare and prefer to acclimatize as you go as well as save some money, you can take a long and winding overland journey from Chengdu to Daocheng. The bus typically leaves at 6:30 AM from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station to Daocheng and should take about 12 - 15 hours. Once in Daocheng, you can switch to a second bus to Shangri-La Town. Be sure to confirm the time and get the ticket the day prior.
Personally, I do not recommend this option, as buses in China are not always the most comfortable and are often fully packed. If you are seeking an adventure, by all means, go for it, but do not expect any comfort throughout your journey.
Things to Know Before Traveling to Yading
- Get the bus ticket the day before: As a foreigner, you won't be able to book a bus to Yading with an app, so you will have to go to the bus station to get the bus ticket the day before to ensure you have a seat and the exact departure time.
- Altitude & health: Because of the high altitude, it’s strongly recommended you take time to acclimatize by resting a day or more in Daocheng/town, or travel through altitude area in Yunnan like Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La City before getting here. You will be hiking the entire day at 3500+ altitude, so be sure your body is ready, pace yourself, and stay hydrated.
- Layered clothes & weather gear: Temperatures vary a lot: even if it's sunny during the day, evenings or higher elevation spots can be cold. Waterproof & windproof jackets, warm layers, sturdy hiking shoes/boots, and sun protection (sunglasses, sunscreen) are a must.
- Good hiking gear & provisions: Bring a daypack, water bottle, some high-energy snacks, basic first-aid, maybe altitude-sickness pills (or pre-acclimatize), a phone with an e-SIM (data access are available throughout the park), tissues, etc.
- Skip the easy trails & focus on the hard ones: Yading has plenty of hiking routes, but if you only have one day, skip the flat, easy trails at the start by taking the electric shuttle cart. Save your time and energy for the high-altitude hike from Luorong Cattle Farm to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake, which takes around 5–6 hours roundtrip.
- Start early: Arrive at the scenic area right when it opens, take the all shortcuts provided to reach Luorong Cattle Farm quickly, and start your hike to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake. This way, you can get ahead of the crowds and enjoy the mountains in peace before the rush begins.
My Experiences Getting From Shangri-La to Yading
Getting from Shangri-La City, Yunnan to Shangri-La Town, Sichuan
As I was wrapping up my trip in Shangri-La City in Yunnan, not to be confused with Shangri-La in Sichuan, which is where we’re heading next, I took a taxi to Shangri-La Bus Station the day before my departure to buy a bus ticket to Yading. These tickets cannot be booked online unless you’re a local, so make sure to purchase yours in advance to secure a seat on the morning bus.
The bus cost around 21 USD and I got the one at 8:20 AM. When I took the bus, it was jam-packed, and I was seated at the very back, which was hella shaky at times since parts of the road were unpaved and winding. I was fine, but my seatmate wasn’t doing so well, spending much of the time with a plastic bag at hand 😅. If you have a weak stomach, avoid sitting at the back!
The bus stopped at a small roadside rest stop for a toilet break about an hour before arriving. The toilet is as basic as it gets, just holes in the ground and no doors, so be prepared. There’s also a small fruit stall where you can buy some snacks for the ride. After about 6.5 hours, I arrived at Yading Bus Station around 2:30 PM, exhausted but physically intact.
Getting from Shangri-La Town (Sichuan) to Yading and Back
The next morning, I woke up around 6 AM and walked to the main road by 6:30 AM to find a taxi to Yading Nature Reserve. After about five minutes, I found a car-pool taxi. The driver asked where I was headed and invited me to hop on with other tourists, and I was on my way to the reserve. The ride took only about 15 minutes and cost 10 CNY per person, dropping us off at the ticket office at the entrance.
By 3:35 PM, I was already checked out, exhausted from all the hikes. I took the scenic bus back to the exit, arriving back in Shangri-La Town by 4:30 PM, where a car-pool taxi was waiting. I paid 10 CNY to return to Shangri-La Town and didn’t have to wait more than 10 minutes before the taxi departed, as more people were leaving the park around the same time.
Getting from Shangri-La Town (Sichuan) to Daocheng-Yading Airport
After the long and winding six-hour drive from Shangri-La in Yunnan to Yading, I decided to fly out to Chengdu instead. Although flying is faster, it comes with its own challenges. There is at least one daily flight between Chengdu and Yading, usually departing around 10:30 AM, but Yading Airport is about a two-hour drive from Shangri-La Town, so I had to arrange transportation in advance to ensure I made my flight on time.
Thankfully, the hotel reception helped me get in touch with a taxi driver who organized the transfer the day before. The fare was 400 CNY per car, and since I was traveling solo and no other passengers were going the same way, I had to pay the full amount.
If you are not traveling alone, the cost can be shared, but 400 CNY on top of an already expensive flight of around 250 USD was a bit hard to swallow. Since there was no alternative for me, I bit the bullet and went ahead with it. The taxi picked me up at 7 AM from my hotel, and the drive took about two hours to reach Yading Airport.
Despite the unexpected cost, flying out of Yading was an amazing experience. Yading Airport is considered one of the highest commercial airports in the world, standing at 4,111 meters above sea level, so you can check "flying out from the highest airport in the world" off your bucket list. Its unique UFO-like exterior is also pretty cool to see.
Another perk of flying from Yading to Chengdu is the incredible aerial views of Sichuan’s mountains. I believe I saw Hailuogou Glacier Forest Park and even Siguniangshan Scenic Area as we flew over the mountain range, and the scenery was breathtaking. If you want to avoid the long bus ride out of Yading, flying is a great option. Just be aware of the extra cost. Personally, the views alone made the experience completely worth it.
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