During my second trip to China, I decided to dedicate an entire month to exploring the beautiful nature of Yunnan and Sichuan in southwest China, and out of all the twenty or so places I visited during the trip, Yading Scenic Area was by far my favorite.
Located in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on the outer fringe of Sichuan Province, near the border with Yunnan, Yading is best known for its snow-capped mountain peaks, open grasslands, and pristine lakes that you can hike around. But unlike other scenic areas in Sichuan, it is much less crowded due to its remote location and the difficulty of getting there compared to popular destinations like Jiuzhaigou.
In this guide, I will share everything you need to plan an epic hiking trip to Yading, the last Shangri-La, including how to get there, my personal itinerary, where to stay, and more. So without further ado, let's explore Yading together with this complete travel guide!
- Yading Points of Interest Map
- Where to Stay in Yading?
-
Hiking Yading: My Itinerary & Experiences
- From Shangri-La Town to Luorong Cattle Farm
- From Luorong Cattle Farm to Gongacuo Lake
- From Gongacuo Lake to Milk Lake & Five-Color Lake
- From Five-Color Lake to Chonggu Temple
- From Chonggu Temple to Pearl Lake
- From Pearl Lake Back to Shangri-La Town
- From Shangri-La Town to Daocheng Yading Airport and flying out to Chengdu
- Things to Know Before Visiting China
- When to Visit Yading?
- How to Get to Yading?
- How to Get Around Yading?
- Opening Hours and Entrance Fee?
- How Difficult is the hike in Yading?
- How Many Days to Stay in Yading?
- What to Pack for Yading?
- Further Reading for China, Hong Kong, and Macau
Yading Points of Interest Map
Where to Stay in Yading?
The best place to stay when visiting Yading is the town of Shangri-La, previously known as Riwa and not to be confused with Shangri-La City in Yunnan. This small town sits right at the entrance of Yading Nature Reserve and offers a good range of accommodation options at various price points. This is where I stayed during my visit. Below are some recommended places to stay:
👍 Top Pick
You can also stay inside the nature reserve, but accommodation there is much more expensive. Most places are located around Yading Village, which is about 40 minutes inside the reserve, and you will need to rely on the park’s tourist buses to reach them. I only recommend staying inside the reserve if you plan to spend more than a day hiking in Yading. Here are some recommended options:
Hiking Yading: My Itinerary & Experiences
From Shangri-La Town (Riwa) to Luorong Cattle Farm
This itinerary begins with a night spent in Shangri-La Town (Riwa) to acclimatize. 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. You do not need to book tickets in advance for Yading, as there is no daily capacity limit. I arrived around the opening time of 7 AM and found no line at the ticket office.
I paid 266 CNY for the entrance ticket, which included the mandatory one-day unlimited scenic bus rides. The line moved quickly and efficiently, as is typical in China. On the bus ride to the main trailhead, be sure to sit on the left side to enjoy the stunning views along the way.
The journey took about 45 minutes, passing through Yading Village and ending at Zhaguanbeng. From there, I walked about 20 minutes to reach Chonggu Grasslands and the temple, where you will find a beautiful Tibetan temple and a hiking trail leading to Pearl Lake, another scenic attraction.
I decided to save this area for the afternoon on my way back, so I went straight to the electric shuttle, bought a round-trip ticket for 70 CNY, and set off for Luorong Cattle Farm.
You could also hike this section, which is mostly flat and scenic, but it is about 6.5 km. Hiking it would add roughly three more hours, which I do not recommend, as you will need your time and energy for the longer trek to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake, which are still a significant distance away.
There is also another stop at Shengshui Lake, a great photo spot where you can see the snowy peaks of Yading. In the morning, the water is usually calm, making it a perfect place for a quick stop before continuing to Luorong Cattle Farm. You can get off here to take a few photos and then catch the next shuttle to Luorong Cattle Farm when you’re done.
From Luorong Cattle Farm to Gongacuo Lake
Once you arrive at Luorong Cattle Farm, you will be greeted by beautiful open grasslands where horses and cattle roam freely, with the snow-capped peaks of Yading towering all around.
By the time you reach this area, the sun should be high enough to shine directly on the grasslands. Depending on the time of year, you will see either lush green fields or golden-colored grass beautifully illuminated by the sun. I visited in October, and it was incredible with golden-colored grass all over!
From Luorong Cattle Farm, you have the option to begin hiking the main trail or hire a horse for 300 CNY per person to take you to Gongacuo Lake, which is roughly halfway to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake. In my opinion, this is unnecessary, as the trail from the cattle farm to Gongacuo Lake is flat, scenic, and enjoyable, and you would miss much of it if you take the horse.
Gongacuo Lake is where you can capture the iconic postcard shot of Yading’s snow-capped mountains, featuring the almost-perfect triangular peak reflected in the beautiful green lake below. The hike from the cattle farm to Gongacuo Lake takes about 45 minutes along an elevated boardwalk. The views along the way are absolutely breathtaking, so be sure to take your time and enjoy them.
There are two routes you can take from the cattle farm to Gongacuo Lake, both of which are beautiful. I recommend taking the trail along the right side of the river on the way there and returning via the other trail. This way, you get a different view for the entire hike.
From Gongacuo Lake to Milk Lake & Five-Color Lake
Now, this is where the real challenge begins as the trail started ascending the mountain pass. From here, you will be going up from around 4,000 meters to 4,600 meters above sea level along steep staircases that seem to never end. There are some rest stops along the way where you can take a break, get your oxygen supply refilled, and enjoy the view.
It took me about 45 minutes to hike the steep section before arriving at the Qujiuzhaga Rest Stop and an intersection where you can choose to visit Milk Lake or Five-Color Lake. The trails are connected in a triangle shape, so you can choose either way and continue to the next one before the trail loops back to this intersection.
I decided to visit Milk Lake first, which is the larger and more photogenic one. From the intersection, it was about 1 km flat trail until I arrived at Milk Lake. In total, it took me around 2 hours to get from Luorong Cattle Farm to Milk Lake with minimal breaks.
The view was stunning, but the clouds were rolling in quickly, so I couldn’t see the mountains behind the lake very clearly. I rested there for about 10 minutes before starting the hike to Five-Color Lake, which requires climbing up a hill to reach.
From Milk Lake, it's another 700 meters of ascent until you arrive at Five-Color Lake. It took me about 20 minutes to hike this section. Be sure to look back and check out the view of Milk Lake from above!
The Five-Color Lake is pretty cool, and you can get a really nice view of the trail you just hiked from above and a stunning view of the whole valley. I spent another 20 minutes here before I started heading back down to Qujiuzhaga Rest Stop and made my way back to the Cattle Farm.
From Five-Color Lake to Chonggu Temple
From Five-Color Lake, it took me about 1.5 to 2 hours to return to Luorong Cattle Farm. The trail was getting very busy as more and more people arrived at the trailhead and began their hike. This is why I recommend starting early, so you can hike up to the lakes in relative solitude, as I did.
From Gongacuo Lake to the cattle farm, you can also take another route back from the other side of the river so you do not have to backtrack the same way. Now, you can relax and enjoy the fact that you just completed the most epic hike you can do in Yading.
Once you arrive at the cattle farm, you can take the electric cart back to Chonggu Temple and take a break at the rest stop there and have some lunch. You will find quite a few places here selling snacks and fast food as well as coffee and tea to keep you warm.
After resting for a bit, you can walk to Chonggu Temple and explore the temple grounds. It is a beautiful Tibetan-style monastery with a stunning courtyard where you can see the iconic white exterior of the monastery set against the snow-capped mountains of Yading. This is also where you can begin your last hike in Yading, the hike to Pearl Lake.
From Chonggu Temple to Pearl Lake
After you have explored the beautiful Chonggu Temple, you can begin the hike to Pearl Lake, which is the lowest holy lake in Yading at 4,100 meters above sea level and 0.75 acres formed by the melting snow on Xiannairi Mountain.
I visited in autumn, and the trees along the trail were absolutely breathtaking, with leaves turning yellow, golden, and fiery red. You can see it in the photos here! Although I was tired from the hike to the lakes, this trail was so stunning that I almost forgot I had just completed a four-hour hike.
The lake, on the other hand, was a disappointment as it had dried up by the time I visited in late October. I didn’t get to see much of the water, but the autumn-colored trail and the snow-capped mountain peaks behind the dried-up lake more than made up for it. This whole side trip should take about an hour, including time to explore Chonggu Temple.
From Pearl Lake Back to Shangri-La Town (Riwa)
By 3:35 PM, I was already checked out, exhausted from all the hikes. I took the scenic bus back to the entrance, arriving in 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.
From Shangri-La Town (Riwa) to Daocheng Yading Airport and flying out to Chengdu
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.
Things to Know Before Visiting China
- Always Carry Your Passport: Everything revolves around your passport/ID in China, and it’s often used interchangeably as your main form of identification. Many major tourist attractions require you to show your passport when buying a ticket, and the ticket will then be linked to it. You’ll scan your passport again to enter. The same applies to high-speed trains. It’s best to carry your passport with you at all times while traveling in China.
- Get an eSIM: China’s cashless economy relies on constant internet access, so having a data connection is essential. I highly recommend getting an eSIM or a local SIM card for your trip. An eSIM is often better because the service is usually based in Hong Kong, which bypasses China’s Great Firewall, meaning you can access apps like Instagram and YouTube without a VPN. I suggest checking eSIM options on Klook or Trip.com, as they tend to be the most affordable.
- Use AMap to Navigate: Google Maps doesn’t work well in China, so local apps like AMap are much more informative and accurate for getting around. It even provides metro information, making it easy to navigate city subway systems. I used AMap throughout my entire trip, and it worked perfectly! In this guide, I’ll be linking locations with AMap links instead of Google Maps, so be sure to download it before your trip.
- Use LetsVPN to Bypass the Great Firewall: As you may know, many major websites such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more are blocked in China. To access them, you’ll need a VPN like LetsVPN installed on both your phone and laptop before you arrive in China. This is crucial as once you're in the country, you won’t be able to search for or download VPN apps. I used LetsVPN during my trip, and it worked very well throughout. The service is affordable too, with a free tier offering limited data or a basic unlimited plan for just 5.99 USD per month.
- Connect Alipay with Your Credit Card: First, download Alipay from the app store, set up your account, and link it to your credit card. This will be one of the two main ways you’ll pay for services in China. Alipay also has mini-apps built in, such as Didi (China’s version of Uber), so you don’t need to download separate apps, and you can use them directly through Alipay. Very convenient!
- Get a Transport Card Working in Alipay: Once you have Alipay set up, you’ll need to verify your account before you can activate a transport card for metro and bus rides. First, if you’re not currently in the city you want to use, tap the city name in the top-left corner and select the correct city. After that, tap the “Transport” button and request a transport card. You’ll be asked to upload a photo of your passport for verification. Once approved, your transport card will be issued, and you can use the QR code to scan and pay for buses and metro rides.
- Get WeChat Set Up: WeChat is another essential app for communicating with locals, thanks to its built-in translation feature. It’s also widely used for payments as Alipay only works about 70% of the time, while WeChat is commonly needed for paying individuals, buying entry tickets at certain attractions, and more. Setting up WeChat can be a bit tricky though because you need verification from an existing user. The easiest way is to ask your hotel’s reception to help verify your account when you arrive in China, which is how I got mine activated.
- Use Trip.com / Trip App: For hotels, day trips, attraction tickets, train tickets, flights, and everything in between, you can use Trip.com or the Trip app to book all your travel needs. It’s very convenient, offers a great user experience, and has a generous cancellation policy that gives you more flexibility when traveling in China.
When to Visit Yading?
The best time to visit Yading depends on the kind of experience you want, but most travelers agree that late spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather and the most beautiful scenery.
April to June is one of the best periods to visit. Snow begins to melt, the grasslands turn green, and wildflowers start blooming. The weather is cool and clear, making it great for hiking. Some high-altitude trails may still have snow in early April, but by May the routes are generally accessible.
September to October are widely considered the most beautiful time of the year in Yading. The forests turn golden, the skies are clear, and the mountain views are spectacular. Temperatures are crisp but manageable, and the trails are at their best. This is also the most popular season, so expect more visitors. I would avoid July to August and November to March due to high chances of rain and snow respectively.
I visited in late October and it was perfect. The autumn colors were vibrant, the skies were blue with light clouds in the evening, and the temperatures were cold but comfortable for hiking. Although there were many visitors, if you start early in the morning and hike to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake first, you can beat the crowds and enjoy some peacefulness in the mountains before the afternoon rush.
Avoid visiting during Chinese New Year (variable Jan–Feb) and National Day Golden Week (Oct 1–7) as Yading can get extremely crowded during these long holidays. The same goes for most tourist destinations in China. Avoid these periods like the plague!
How to Get to Yading?
Getting to Yading can be a bit of a journey due to its remote location, but the effort is well worth it once you arrive. The closest gateway to the reserve is Shangri-La Town (Riwa), which serves as the main base for visitors. There are two common routes travelers take to reach Yading: flying or traveling overland.
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 USDs. 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).
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!
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!
After about 6.5 hours, I arrived at Yading Bus Station around 2:30 PM, exhausted but physically intact. I checked into my hotel, and the next day I caught a car-pool taxi at 6:30 AM to the Yading Nature Reserve Ticket Office for about 10 CNY per person. The journey should take about 10 minutes. You should be able to find the car-pool taxi as soon as you step onto the main road, as the drivers are usually trying to fill their cars.
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.
How to Get Around Yading?
By Scenic Buses: Once inside the nature reserve, you can use the scenic buses to get around the park. You can purchase the bus ticket together with your entrance ticket, which gives you unlimited rides for one day. If you need the buses on a second day, you will need to buy another ticket, though a discount is usually offered. A tip: sit on the left side on the way in and the right side on the way out, you’ll thank me later 😉.
Keep in mind that from the entrance, it takes almost an hour to reach the start of the first trail, which is nowhere near the beautiful lakes Yading is famous for. So if you arrive in town at 2 PM and think you might be able to explore Yading before nightfall, don’t. There isn’t enough time. You need a full day to properly see the area, and visiting for just half a day will waste time traveling in and out of the park. You might not even see a single lake, as you would have to rush back to exit before closing time.
Opening Hours and Entrance Fee?
Yading Nature Reserve is generally open from 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM daily with the entrance fee costing around 146 CNY per person during the high season (April–November) and 120 CNY in the low season (December–March) and you will have access to the area for 3 days. In addition, there is a mandatory sightseeing bus for 120 CNY that gives you unlimited trips for the day, so you will have to pay 266 CNY for the ticket total.
Once inside the park, if you want to save time and energy, you can buy an electric shuttle ticket to take you from Chonggu Grasslands to Luorong Cattle Farm. This ride can cut your hiking time by about three hours and costs around 70 CNY for a round trip. Tickets can be purchased upon arrival at Chonggu Grasslands.
How Difficult is the hike in Yading?
The hiking difficulty in Yading Nature Reserve depends a lot on which route you take, as some trails are quite manageable while others are very challenging, especially because of the high altitude.
If you plan to hike to Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake, then it is going to be quite demanding as you will be looking at hiking around 3-4 hours round-trip and you will be gaining elevation fast from 4,180 meters to 4,600 meters along the 5-km trail, which increases the risk of altitude sickness.
The terrain also shifts from comfortable boardwalks and valley paths to rough dirt trails and steep sections as you gain elevation. Because of the high altitude, even seemingly easy uphill sections can feel very strenuous if you are not acclimatized. You can expect to spend 5 to 6 hours hiking to the lakes and back if you take the electric shuttle between Chonggu Grasslands and Luorong Cattle Farm, which I highly recommend as it will preserve your energy and time for the real thing.
On the other hand, there are more beginner-friendly walks as well. For example, the route from Chonggu Monastery to Pearl Lake and the Xiannairi viewpoint is quite gentle, featuring good boardwalks, modest elevation gain, and beautiful scenery. Also, the flat boardwalk trail from Chonggu Grasslands to Luorong Cattle Farm is mostly level and very scenic. If you don’t want to spend 4–5 hours hiking in high-altitude mountains, these two trails are perfect for you.
You can also buy canned oxygen or even oxygen bags with straws connected directly to your nose to help with the high-altitude hike, as many Chinese tourists do, and you can refill them at rest stops along the way. In my opinion, though, they don’t help much, and you have to carry them around. What worked best for me was spending a night in Shangri-La Town to acclimatize, pacing myself, hiking slowly, and drinking plenty of water.
How Many Days to Stay in Yading?
Two nights in Shangri-La Town with one full day to hike Yading Nature Reserve is enough to see the best that Yading has to offer. If you plan to do longer hikes inside Yading, such as the Kora Circuit, then three nights and two full days should suffice.
In my opinion, there isn't much to do in Shangri-La Town itself, and it is quite quiet during the day since most visitors spend their time in Yading. So generally, two nights and one day are enough here.
What to Pack for Yading?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Yading, China:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men's Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.
- Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.
- Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.
- Wool Socks: Don't forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for China, Hong Kong, and Macau
Looking for more information about your trip to China, Hong Kong, and Macau? Here are a collection of articles that you might find useful:
- Want to spend 5 days in Hong Kong? Here's a complete itinerary for you: Hong Kong in 5 Days: A Backpacker's Itinerary.
- First time in Hong Kong, but you are not sure where to begin? This is the guide for you: Visiting Hong Kong: 12 Awesome Things to Do & More.
- Macau is often called the Las Vegas of Asia, offering larger-than-life entertainment, a unique blend of Portuguese heritage, and so much more. If you’re planning a visit, be sure to check this out: Discover Macau: 10 Cool Things to Do & More.
- Guangzhou is the fourth-largest city in China and one of the wealthiest, with major trade activities taking place in and around the city for over 2,000 years. With so much history and so many places to explore, you’ll definitely want this comprehensive travel guide: Explore Guangzhou: 12 Incredible Things to Do & More.
- Guilin is, hands down, one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen in China. If you’re planning to visit, here is the comprehensive travel guide I wish I had! Check it out: Visiting Guilin: A Complete Travel Guide
- Looking for a complete itinerary to Guilin? Check out: 5-Day Itinerary in Guilin
- Want to visit Huangguoshu Waterfall, the largest waterfall in Asia? Check out this travel guide: Huangguoshu Waterfall: A Complete Travel Guide
- Visiting Guizhou and want to experience the rich culture of the Miao people? Why not visit Xijiang, the largest and arguably the most beautiful Miao stilted village in the region. Here’s a complete travel guide: Xijiang Village: A Complete Travel Guide
- Dali is one of Yunnan’s most charming and culturally rich destinations and a great place to start acclimatizing before visiting other high-altitude areas in the province. If you are planning a trip, be sure to check out this travel guide: Exploring Dali: A Complete Travel Guide
- Yulong Snow Mountain, one of the most beautiful mountains in Yunnan, is located in Lijiang, a destination you shouldn’t miss when visiting China. If you plan to visit Lijiang, check out our travel guide: Exploring Lijiang: 10 Best Things to Do & More
- The mythical town of Shangri-La, made famous by the novel "Lost Horizon", is real and located in China. If you want to visit Shangri-La, this travel guide provides all the information you need to plan the perfect trip: Discover Shangri-La: A Complete Travel Guide
- Visiting Jiuzhaigou is a surreal experience. Even though it can be extremely crowded, it is still worth the visit. With so many visitors each day, careful planning is essential. Here’s a travel guide to help you plan a smooth trip to Jiuzhaigou: Exploring Jiuzhaigou: A Complete Travel Guide
- If you are planning a visit to Huanglong, here is everything you need to know to plan your trip: Visiting Huanglong: A Complete Travel Guide
- Want to visit Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong together? Here’s a complete itinerary for you: 2-Day Itinerary for Jiuzhaigou & Huanglong
- Planning a trip to Chengdu but not sure where to start? This travel guide has you covered: Chengdu Travel Guide: 10 Best Things to Do & More
- For more articles about China, visit the China travel guide, or explore my guides to Hong Kong and Macau.
- Planning a trip to East Asia? Explore all my articles on the East Asia Travel Guide page.
- You can find all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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