# Garze Prefecture travel guide (甘孜州) Sichuan Province · Southwest, China · 24 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/sichuan/garze-prefecture ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Chengdu → Erlang Mountain → Moxi Old Town → Hailuogou Glacier Park - **Day 2:** Hailuogou Glacier Park → Paoma Mountain → Mugecuo Scenic Area → Xinduqiao - **Day 3:** Xinduqiao → Tagong Grassland → Danba Ancient Village → Danba County - **Day 4:** Danba County → Beauty Valley → Dangling Pass → Xinduqiao - **Day 5:** Xinduqiao → Kazila Mountain Pass → Maoya Grassland → Daocheng White Pagoda → Daocheng County - **Day 6:** Daocheng County → Daocheng Yading → Haizishan → Litang County - **Day 7:** Litang County → Larong Wuming Buddhist Academy ## The feel of the place - **Shangri-La:** After American writer James Hilton wrote the novel Lost Horizon, people became curious about Shangri-La: where exactly is it? Travel through the northwest of Yunnan and the south of Sichuan, and you will find that pure, untouched nature is the state of harmony humans long for most. For these regions, it is a geographical reality; for the human heart, it is a goal to strive toward. Daocheng and Yading best evoke the dream of “Shangri-La” in people's minds. - **Gadeng Festival:** During the festival held in early in the seventh lunar month, people gather on the county's grasslands to sing, dance and take part in various trade activities. ## The feel of the place ### Preparation and Advice ### Language At any major tourist site, the locals' Mandarin is so good that you will forget where you are. There's no need to worry about communicating. Daocheng is much the same. Kham Tibetan is the mainstream language here. Just remember one phrase, “Wa la wa la”, which means “hello” and will come in handy everywhere in Daocheng. ### Climate and Travel Season Avoid winter and the rainy season when travelling in the highlands. November to March is winter, when mountain passes are often closed and roads are impassable. July and August bring the rainy season, when heavy rain can wash out roads and make scenic areas inaccessible. Therefore, mid-May to late October is the best time to visit. ### Festivals Juzhai Temple in Xinduqiao hosts a range of Tibetan-style activities from the 17th to the 21st of the seventh lunar month. ### Clothing Be sure to keep warm, as catching a chill is a major taboo at high altitude. You don't need to pack many changes of clothes, as they only add weight without any benefit. Also, choose clothing that is moisture-resistant and lightweight. For Yading, bring rain gear and gloves. A lightweight raincoat is better than an umbrella, as umbrellas are inconvenient when riding horses. Raincoats can be rented at Yading Mountain Villa for ¥20 per set. ### Gear Pack medication for stomach issues, Rhodiola, Xinyuansu heart tonic, a torch, lip balm, sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat, as you'll likely need them. If you are particular about hygiene, a sleeping bag is the best kit to have. You can never have too many memory cards. ### Altitude Sickness Everyone experiences some degree of altitude sickness on arrival in the highlands, with symptoms such as headache, chest tightness, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and insomnia. These symptoms usually ease or disappear within a day or two. However, people with serious heart, lung or high blood pressure conditions should not spend long periods in the highlands. It is also advisable not to bring children or elderly people to Daocheng Yading, as they tend to experience more severe altitude sickness. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There ### By Air Yading Airport is located in the north of Haizi Mountain in Daocheng County, 50 km from the county town. It has flights to Chengdu, Chongqing, Kunming, Xi'an, Lijiang and other cities. Kangding Airport is relatively close to Daocheng. You can fly from Chengdu to Kangding, then take a bus from Kangding to Daocheng Yading. ### By Road Daocheng Bus Station runs buses to Chengdu, Ya'an, Kangding and Shangri-La. Buses from Daocheng to Chengdu, Kangding and Shangri-La depart daily at 6:00. For short trips to Litang or Xiangcheng, there's no need to buy tickets in advance; simply board in the morning and pay on the bus. ### Chengdu → Daocheng ### Kangding → Daocheng ### Chengdu Tourist Passenger Transport Center ### Tent Camping Not Allowed Tent camping is not permitted within Yading Scenic Area. Visitors can only stay in Yading Village, so travellers heading to Daocheng Yading should plan their itinerary accordingly. ### Pointing at Sacred Mountains Remember to point with your palm facing up, using your whole hand to indicate the mountain. Pointing at a sacred mountain with a single finger is considered offensive under Tibetan custom, and some Tibetans may be displeased. ### Transport Tips The road from Daocheng to Yading is now complete, and buses can take you directly to the foot of Chonggu Temple Mountain. Bus fare from Daocheng to Yading is ¥110. There are no buses in the off-season, when you can only charter a vehicle, which costs ¥400–450 round trip. ### Local Transport Daocheng County town is a place no bigger than the palm of your hand. Xiali cars and minivan taxis are available. A trip to Wenquan Village for hot springs costs ¥30 round trip. Taxis can take you to Hongcaodi and Banghexiang. Three-wheeled motorcycles can be rented in town and hired by the hour for trips to the outskirts. - **Information Hotline** — - **Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station** — Buses to Daocheng County depart daily at 6:20. The journey takes 6–7 hours. (No. 57 Linjiang Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu (Xinnanmen)) - **Kangding Bus Station** — Two buses depart daily at 6:00 for Daocheng County. The journey takes about 8 hours. (Kangding City, Garze Prefecture, to the right of Lamuzeling Linka Hotel.) - **(Xinnanmen Bus Station)** — (No. 2 Xinnan Road, Chengdu) - **Kangding Bus Station** — (No. 108 Qingge Avenue, Kangding City) - **Daocheng Bus Station** — (Next to Xibo Grand Hotel, Daocheng County) ## Eat & drink Sichuan cuisine is available throughout a trip to Daocheng, but the more remote the area, the more ordinary the food tends to be. Local dishes are well worth trying, as they are very good. Tsampa, on the other hand, is essentially a local fast food. - tip: 1. Bring your own fruit and tinned food: Fruit is especially precious once you are up in the mountains, so it is worth bringing some to Daocheng. The camps at Chonggu Temple and Luorong Pasture serve meals, but they are expensive and not very tasty. You can bring tinned meat and buy rice, and a good meal is easy to put together. 2. Ya'an fish: On the way from Litang to Daocheng, near Litang, there is a riverside restaurant that specialises in Ya'an fish. After a hard stretch of travel, the fine, tender flesh of the fish tastes like heaven on earth. ## Shopping - **E'chu Street** — For shopping in Daocheng, E'chu Street is the first choice. The street takes its name from Mount E'chu and is lined with silver jewellery that has a strong Tibetan flavour. If you are lucky, you may meet Tibetan locals walking the street and offering shopkeepers medicinal herbs they have gathered, such as Rhodiola, snow lotus, cordyceps, fritillary bulb, snow tea and reishi mushroom. The prices are surprisingly low, and the herbs are genuine. There are small shops on the street that rent bicycles. The scenery along the river and in the direction of Sela is quite beautiful, so it is well worth renting a bike to explore. ## Where to stay Accommodation in Daocheng county town includes guesthouses, youth hostels and private homes, usually priced at ¥30–60. Staying in a private home is the best choice. The hosts are warm and hospitable, and in the evening, sitting in the spacious and atmospheric living room chatting with them over butter tea, is an unforgettable experience. Homestays cost ¥20–40 and include free butter tea and tsampa. ### Touring Garze Prefecture Routes Recommended self-drive route: Chengdu → Ya'an → Kangding → Tagong → Danba → Xiaojin → Siguniang → Wolong → Dujiangyan → Chengdu, about 910 km in total. The highland scenery along the Danba section is exceptionally beautiful and the ethnic culture is rich, making it the first choice of photography enthusiasts. ### Take This Route 2. From Leshan to Hailuogou, take the Chengdu–Leshan Expressway to Ya'an, then pass through Tianquan County and the Erlangshan Tunnel to the Dadu River. The road forks at Gangudi; follow the river downstream. When you see a bridge along the road that looks like a rainbow, Hailuogou is close. - duration: 1–2 days - tip: 1. The Hailuogou area has large altitude differences and a special climate, so take care to stay warm. 2. The terrain in Hailuogou is complex, so visitors should pay close attention to safety. Ordinary visitors and older or frail people are best off sightseeing in the low-altitude areas. Horse riding is common on local tours, so prepare in advance and do not set off on it rashly. Strong hikers heading into the mid- and high-altitude zones should guard against cold, avalanches, debris flows and crevasses, and be aware of the risks of altitude sickness. 3. There are many hotels and guesthouses in Hailuogou, as well as camps at different altitudes. 4. The hot springs at Camp No. 2 are the most famous. On a cold winter's day, soaking in the warm water while gazing at the snow-capped peaks is a true pleasure. Remember to bring a swimsuit. 5. Local signature dishes include cordyceps chicken, fritillary chicken, gastrodia pork hock, pickled cabbage with cured pork, and wild vegetables, all natural, green foods. Wild vegetables are only available from July to September. ### Quick Dissolve ### Xing → Qiaoqi → Shenmulei 2. Chengdu → Chengya Expressway → Ya'an → Lushan → Baoxing → Qiaoqi → Shenmulei - duration: 2–4 hours - tip: 1. You can ride horses into the scenic area; the round trip costs about ¥35. 2. It gets cold in the evenings, so dress warmly. - **Shengdiya Hotel** — Bicycles are provided free of charge. (No. 80, Dexi Community, Jinzhu Town, 0836-5727666) - **360° Impression Hotel** — Easy to find, with free parking. Rooms with a view let you open the window and see blue skies and white clouds; the hotel sits between mountains and water. (No. 72, Kangdong Avenue, 0836-2816888) - **Go, but drivers with limited mountain-road experience should not take risks** — ## Things to see - **Daocheng Yading** (★★★★★): Admission ¥146 (April–November), ¥120 (December–March), sightseeing bus ¥120; Opening hours 7:00–19:00 (1 April–14 November), 8:20–18:00 (15 November–31 March); Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/daocheng-yading - **Haizishan** (★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours Open all day; Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/haizishan - **Daocheng White Pagoda** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 10–20 minutes — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/daocheng-white-pagoda - **Maoya Grassland** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/maoya-grassland - **Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve** (★★★★): Admission Free — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/gongga-mountain-national-nature-reserve - **Bamei Town** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bamei-town - **Jiaju Tibetan Village** (★★★★): Admission ¥50; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jiaju-tibetan-village - **Suopo Ancient Watchtowers** (★★★★): Admission Free, but the owners of the watchtowers charge a fee when you climb up to visit. — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/suopo-ancient-watchtowers - **Ancient Villages around Danba County Seat** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/ancient-villages-around-danba-county-seat - **Danba Danglin Natural Scenic Area** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/danba-danglin-natural-scenic-area - **Danba Beauty Valley** (★★★★): Time needed 1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/danba-beauty-valley - **Shangli Ancient Town** (★★★★): Time needed 3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shangli-ancient-town - **Erlang Mountain** (★★): Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/erlang-mountain - **Hailuogou Glacier Park** (★★★★): Admission Entry ticket ¥90 + sightseeing bus ¥160; cable car (round trip) ¥135; Yajia Love Sea (雅家情海) entry ¥35 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/hailuogou-glacier-park - **Kangding** (★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/kangding - **Paoma Mountain Scenic Area** (★★): Admission Entrance ticket ¥50; round-trip cable car ¥55; museum ¥30; Opening hours 7：00—18：30 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/paoma-mountain-scenic-area - **Mugecuo Scenic Area** (★★★★): Admission ¥105 (April–November); ¥75 (December–March); Opening hours 8:00–18:00 (April–November); 8:30–18:00 (December–March); Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mugecuo-scenic-area - **Litang** (★★★★): Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/litang - **Cuopugou Scenic Area** (★★★): Time needed 4–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/cuopugou-scenic-area - **Larong Wuming Buddhist Academy** (★★★★★): Time needed 0.5–1 day — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/larong-wuming-buddhist-academy - **Xinduqiao Town** (★★★★): Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/xinduqiao-town - **Tagong Grassland** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tagong-grassland - **Shenmulei** (★★★★): Admission Off-season ¥40; peak season ¥52; Opening hours 8：30—17：30 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shenmulei - **Derong Sun Valley** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/derong-sun-valley --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 382–409. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.