Don’t rush to Daocheng Yading in October—I've spent 1500 yuan falling into all these traps, here’s a direct copy of my guide

Everyone! Who understands this! Going to Daocheng Yading in October almost cost me half my life on the plateau 😭 Severe altitude sickness with splitting headaches, got scammed 500 yuan on horse riding, instant noodles in the scenic area sold for 35 yuan… Luckily, I figured out the hidden tricks. This tested anti-trap + packed practical guide, save it if you’re going, don’t be a big fool!

📅 3 days 2 nights "anti-trap" itinerary

Day 1: Depart from Chengdu · Altitude sickness warning first

- 7:00 Take the "oxygen bus," don’t drive yourself 🚌: Listen up! Don’t drive your own car! The oxygen bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station (268 yuan/person) is the way to go, seats have free oxygen ports, drivers are experienced in western Sichuan, can safely drive icy roads on Zheduo Mountain (new drivers will slip). Stop for 20 minutes in Kangding, drink a bowl of yak meat soup (25 yuan) to warm up, slowly adapt to the altitude, don’t rush or jump around.
- 14:30 Stay in Daocheng town, not Yading village 🏨: Yading village is over 4000m altitude, beginners will definitely get altitude sickness staying here! Choose Daocheng Impression Hotel (about 180 yuan/person/night, with diffused oxygen supply). First thing after dropping luggage: drink the hotel’s free glucose water! Don’t shower or wash your hair! Go buy oxygen cans in the old town (15 yuan/can, half the price of the scenic area), don’t buy cans under 10 yuan, they’re expired!
- 18:00 Eat "light Tibetan food, don’t mess around" 🍲: Don’t touch spicy food! Don’t order butter tea! Go to Zhaxidele Tibetan Restaurant, order yak meat stewed with radish (68 yuan/pot, fresh and not greasy), barley cakes (10 yuan), sweet tea (15 yuan/pot) which is friendlier than salty butter tea, beginners get nauseous from salty. Eat to about 70% full for 50 yuan per person, overeating worsens altitude sickness.
- 20:00 "Rhodiola + oxygen all night" 💤: Take 1 Rhodiola tablet before bed (start 3 days in advance for effect!), turn oxygen supply in the room to max, save hotel front desk and scenic area emergency station numbers on your phone (for altitude sickness emergencies), don’t stay up late on your phone, fatigue is altitude sickness’s worst enemy!

Day 2: Yading long route · Don’t push yourself! Reaching Milk Lake is already a win

- 6:30 Carpool to the scenic area (about 30 yuan/person) 🚗: Ask the hotel to help arrange carpool, 10 yuan cheaper than taxi, arrive before 7:30, buy tickets + shuttle bus (266 yuan/person, valid 48 hours). After the shuttle bus reaches Zhaguanbeng, don’t take private electric carts! Walk 10 minutes to Chonggu Temple, take deep breaths for 5 minutes to adapt to 3800m altitude before moving.
- 8:30 Horse riding only to Luorong Pasture 🐎: Don’t believe you can ride horses all the way to Milk Lake! Official horse rides only cover Chonggu Temple → Luorong Pasture (300 yuan/horse, 1.5 hours one way). Private riders charging an extra 500 yuan to Milk Lake are scams (you’ll be stopped by the scenic area). At Luorong Pasture, take photos of snow mountains + golden meadows (October meadows are stunning), eat a chocolate bar for energy.
- 10:00 Take the short route to Pearl Lake 💧: Don’t rush the long route first! The short route (Chonggu Temple → Pearl Lake) is flat and easy, takes 1 hour. Pearl Lake in October is breathtaking, the lake reflects Xianuoduoji Snow Mountain, sunlight sparkles on the water like diamonds. Around 10 am there are fewer people, avoid tour groups after 11 am, the snow mountain reflection photos are super clear.
- 12:30 Eat self-heating meals, don’t buy scenic area instant noodles 🍚: Scenic area instant noodles cost 35 yuan/cup, too expensive! Buy self-heating yak beef rice in Daocheng in advance (12 yuan/box), eat at Luorong Pasture rest area, free hot water available. Pair with an energy bar (5 yuan), don’t drink too much water or it’ll be hard to find toilets while hiking.
- 13:30 Climb the long route "zigzag, don’t rush" 🌊: Luorong Pasture to Milk Lake takes 3 hours, the path is all gravel, zigzagging reduces oxygen shortage. Stop for 1 minute every 50 meters, inhale oxygen from the can for 3 seconds each time (don’t inhale too fast or you’ll get dizzy). Reaching Milk Lake is enough! Five-color Lake requires another 200m climb, many get altitude sickness there, don’t push yourself! When photographing Milk Lake, don’t step on grass (500 yuan fine), stand on lakeside rocks for photos, the blue lake with snow mountains is stunning.
- 17:00 Descend before 18:30 🚌: Shuttle bus stops at 18:30, start heading back before 17:00! Descending is more tiring than ascending, hold the handrail and walk slowly, don’t run. After returning to Daocheng you can shower, but keep it under 10 minutes, dry your hair quickly.

Day 3: Short route retakes · Don’t buy expensive souvenirs

- 7:30 Morning mist photos at Chonggu Temple 🌫️: October mornings in Yading have mist, Chonggu Temple wrapped in fog looks like a fairyland. Arrive at 7:30, photograph Xianuoduoji Snow Mountain in the mist, the fog disperses after sunlight comes out. This time is great for panoramic shots of Chonggu Temple, fewer people and beautiful scenery, better than the long route.
- 9:30 Retake Pearl Lake photos 💧: If yesterday was too crowded, go again today. Before 10 am no tour groups, you can enjoy Pearl Lake alone. Use panorama mode to capture snow mountain + lake + forest, no filter needed, it’s wallpaper quality.
- 12:00 Eat Tibetan snacks 🍜: Return to Daocheng food street, try Tibetan potato cakes (8 yuan/serving, crispy outside and sticky inside), yak yogurt (12 yuan/bowl, add honey to reduce sourness), buy air-dried yak jerky here (50 yuan/jin, vacuum packed, 30 yuan cheaper than scenic area).
- 14:00 Souvenir anti-trap guide 🛍️: Don’t buy Tibetan silver jewelry in the scenic area (it’s alloy, fades after a few days)! Go to Daocheng specialty stores, buy barley wine (50 yuan/bottle, low alcohol good for gifts), plateau snow chrysanthemum (30 yuan/box, good for lowering blood lipids), yak meat sauce (20 yuan/bottle, great for noodles). Free shipping over 100 yuan, don’t carry heavy stuff yourself!
- 16:00 Fly back ✈️: Daocheng Airport to Chengdu takes 1.5 hours (580 yuan/person), 6 hours faster than bus, choose plane if altitude sickness isn’t well controlled. Airport altitude is 4411m, after check-in go straight to the waiting hall (with oxygen supply), don’t stay outside too long.

✨ October Daocheng Yading "anti-trap tearful checklist" (don’t miss!)

1. Altitude sickness trap: Take Rhodiola 3 days in advance! The 100 yuan quick altitude sickness medicine in the scenic area is a scam, better to buy 15 yuan oxygen cans + glucose water. Don’t push yourself if altitude sickness is severe, Zhaguanbeng has an emergency station with free oxygen.
2. Horse riding trap: Only buy official tickets! Private horse rides claiming to go to Milk Lake are scams, you’ll be stopped and charged extra. Official horse rides require queuing 1 hour in advance, latecomers wait 2 hours.
3. Food trap: Don’t eat spicy, don’t drink alcohol, don’t overeat! October temperatures are low (5-15℃), spicy food upsets stomach, alcohol worsens altitude sickness, bring mint candies to relieve nausea.
4. Gear trap: Wear anti-slip hiking shoes! The long route gravel is slippery, white sneakers will definitely slip, mid-cut hiking shoes protect ankles. Don’t bring too much luggage, carrying it up and down tires you out and worsens altitude sickness.
5. Photo trap: Don’t shoot at noon, don’t step on grass! Noon sunlight is harsh, snow mountains look dark in photos; stepping on grass fines 500 yuan, don’t use flash for snow mountain photos or it will be washed out.
6. Accommodation trap: Stay in Daocheng, not Yading village! Yading village is over 4000m altitude, beginners will get altitude sickness. Choose hotels with diffused oxygen supply, don’t be cheap and stay in places without oxygen.

October in Daocheng Yading is truly beautiful, golden meadows with snow mountains, lakes like gems, but don’t be fooled by the "fairyland"! Avoid these traps, you can fully enjoy it for about 1500 yuan per person. Remember to bring a friend who can look out for you, having someone hand you an oxygen can during altitude sickness is so important!