Five-color Sea

🌿 Hey, dear friends! Today I am going to take you into a legendary place—Daocheng Yading, a place known as 'the last pure land on the blue planet'. 🏔️ The three sacred mountains of Daocheng Yading—Yangmaiyong, Xianuoduoji, and Xiannairi—are simply masterpieces of nature. They rise high into the clouds, magnificent and imposing, as if showing off the power and charm of nature to the world. Nestled among these sacred mountains are verdant grasslands, azure lakes, and meandering rivers, forming a breathtakingly beautiful picture. 🌊 I still remember the first time I saw Milk Lake, the stunning feeling is still vivid in my memory. The lake is crystal clear to the bottom, like a huge mirror reflecting the surrounding snow mountains and blue sky with white clouds. Sitting by the lake, listening to the babbling sound of water, I felt the tranquility and harmony of nature, as if the whole world had become quiet. 🚶‍♂️ Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery, there are many outdoor activities to participate in Daocheng Yading. I tried trekking, starting from Zhaguanbeng Village, passing Milk Lake and Five-Color Sea, all the way to Luorong Pasture. The scenery along the way was so beautiful that I couldn't help but stop and take out my camera to capture these wonderful moments. And at Luorong Pasture, I also met a group of lovely yaks, they were gently eating grass, and occasionally looked up at me, as if saying: 'Hello, stranger, this is our home.' 🌌 The night in Daocheng Yading is breathtakingly beautiful. When night falls, the entire valley is covered with a starry sky, as if you are in a vast sea of stars. Lying on the grass, looking up at the starry sky, I felt the vastness and mystery of nature, and my heart was filled with endless reverie. 💖 In summary, Daocheng Yading is a place that makes people linger and forget to return. Its beauty, its tranquility, its mystery, all made me fall deeply in love with this place. If I have the chance, I will definitely return here to continue exploring its beauty and secrets.

Getting There - Stay in Shangri-la (Riwa Village) the night before entering the park or stay in Aden Village inside the park at bus stop 2. Moving through the park is only on Green Park busses. Purchase the bus and park entrance ticket for 193 RMB in Shangri-la. Busses run from 720 AM to 6 PM. The bus takes about 45 minutes to Aden Village and 30 minutes onward to Chonggu Monastery. From the bus parking walk about 500 meters uphill past Chonggu Monastery to the small park bus lot. Purchase a ticket for 80 RMB round trip or 50 RMB one way to Luorong Pasture. Takes about 20 minutes. Alternatively, hike to Luorong Pasture on a wooden and metal boardwalk for nearly 7 km, takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Trail begins on the right of the open field near the Chonggu Monastery. To begin walk up the steep path from the bus parking lot, come to an area with a small river on the right with Tibetan water wheels, to the left is the bus ticket purchase window, cross the bridge and follow the path into the woods. The Monastery will be behind you and the open field on your left. Most of the hike is flat with a few minor climbs. The last couple of kilometers is a flat boardwalk that follows a small river on the right. At Luorong Pasture follow the hoards of people on the boardwalk and into the woods past a small village, waterfalls, and views of the mountains. The trail is relatively easily of properly acclimatized. The final push to the two lakes is steep metal stairs for 400 meters or so. Once you complete the stairs you'll have a decision to make, had towards Milk Lake or Five Color Lake. The hike to Milk Lake is to the left, flat, and easy and takes about 25 minutes, 1.5 km. The hike to Five Color Lake is uphill, steep, wooden stairs and is 800 meters. Hike towards Milk Lake first, the trail connects from there to Five Color Lake and the climb is more gradual and only 400 meters. After viewing both lakes complete the circle heading down the wooden stairs that would have led you to Five Color Lake at the fork. Return to the metal stairs and continue down. If you hiked in from Chonggu Monastery take the bus back. If you bussed in consider hiking back. It's better to hike in so you have views of the mountains as you approach the Luorong Pasture. Attractions - Five Color Lake, Milk Lake, Chonggu Monastery, villages, waterfalls Food & Restaurants - You can purchase food at the trailhead where the bus drops you off near Chonggu Monastery or at Luorong Pasture, otherwise bring your own snacks.

Daocheng Yading, the last Shangri-La, a pure land on the blue planet. The 'last Shangri-La' that is often talked about refers to Daocheng Yading! However, it should be distinguished from Shangri-La in Yunnan, as they are not the same place! Yading is the most unmissable scenic spot in Daocheng. Yading Scenic Area is located in Shangri-La Town, Daocheng County, Sichuan Province, and is a sacred place in the heart of every traveler. Here, the Chonggu Temple, Luorong Pasture, Milk Lake, Five-Color Lake... each spot seems like a masterpiece of nature, breathtakingly beautiful. Don't forget the three sacred mountains—Mount Xiannairi, Mount Yangmaiyong, and Mount Xianuoduoji. They stand between heaven and earth, guarding this pure land. Around Daocheng, there are also beautiful sights such as Bang River, Sangdui, and Red Beach waiting for you to explore. The ancient monasteries of Gongga Langjiling, Bangpu, and Xiongdeng are witnesses to history, allowing one to feel the profound cultural heritage of this place. Tips: The best travel season for Daocheng Yading is from March to October every year, especially during the golden autumn, when the scenery here is even more picturesque. How to get there? Plane: There are flights to Daocheng from all over the country, but remember to take precautions against altitude sickness! Bus: Depart from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station, but it takes two days to arrive, and you can't stop to enjoy the scenery along the way at will, which is not very free. Self-driving: Although self-driving allows you to explore the scenery along the way more freely, the roads in western Sichuan are steep and dangerous, and it is not recommended for those unfamiliar with the road conditions or novice drivers. Of course, you can also choose to join a local group day tour or semi-independent travel, which is time-saving and worry-free, and you can make new friends! Travel essentials: ID card, sunglasses, sunscreen, travel water bottle, canned oxygen, common medicines, etc. Before setting off, remember to prepare physically and mentally, maintain an optimistic mood, and understand that altitude sickness is a normal phenomenon that usually improves after a day or two. Daocheng Yading, the last pure land on this blue planet, is waiting for you to explore its mystery and beauty. Take your good mood and set off together!

The Five-Color Sea is one of the highest, most mysterious, and most beautiful lakes in the Daocheng Aden Scenic Area, located between the two snow peaks of Xiannairi and Yangmaiyong, at an altitude of about 4600 meters. The lake is round and covers an area of 0.7 hectares. The Five-Color Sea is astonishing because its water color changes with the light and angle. It is a famous sacred lake in Tibet, along with Yamdrok, Namtso, and Mapang Yongtso. After reaching the Milk Sea, the azure Milk Sea is like the tears of the blue earth dotted among the snow-capped peaks. From the right side of the Milk Sea, go up about 100 meters to reach the highest point of this trek - the Five-Color Sea. The Five-Color Sea presents a colorful and fantastic color under the refraction of the sun. From different angles at the highest point of the Five-Color Sea at an altitude of 4600 meters, it is refreshing to admire the sacred mountains and lakes, and it is unforgettable. Starting from Luorong Cattle Farm, you can ride a horse or walk to the Milk Sea and Five-Color Sea (it is recommended to choose horse riding if you have poor physical strength, 300 yuan per person for round trip, you will still be asked to walk in dangerous and steep sections, and there will be a lot of queues because there are more people and fewer horses, 4-6 hours for round trip on foot, pay attention to the closing time of battery cars and sightseeing cars), and finally return to Dalorong Cattle Farm after watching the Five-Color Sea. Take a battery car from Luorong Cattle Farm back to Chonggu Temple, walk to Zagunbeng and take a sightseeing car back to Shangri-La Town, and return to Daocheng County. Daocheng Aden is a very large scenic spot. Starting from the Aden Scenic Area Visitor Service Center, it takes nearly 1 hour to transfer to the transfer station - Zagunbeng on the mountain road by the scenic area tour bus. Walk to the Chonggu area, choose to go to the Pearl Sea area in the Chonggu area, continue to take the battery car up to the Luorong Cattle Farm area after the tour, and walk all the way from Luorong Cattle Farm to the Five-Color Sea and Milk Sea. After reaching the Milk Sea, the entire scenic area is completed and returned the same way. The must-visit attractions in the Daocheng Aden Scenic Area include Chonggu Temple, Luorong Cattle Farm, Milk Sea, etc., and you can enjoy the three major sacred mountains of Daocheng Aden (Xiannairi, Shanuo Duoji, Yangmaiyong) along the way.

The Five-Color Pond, known in Tibetan as 'Dan Zeng Cuo', is a highland lake nestled between the sacred mountains of Xiannairi and Yangmaiyong, at an altitude of 4600 meters. Its shape is circular, and although it only covers an area of 0.7 hectares, it is the highest lake in the Yading area, thus holding an extraordinary natural status. To reach the Five-Color Pond, travelers must start from the right side of Milk Lake, climb over a steep slope, and then ascend about 100 meters in height. Once atop the ridge, the magnificent view of the Five-Color Pond unfolds before your eyes. Approaching the lakeside, the scene on the water's surface is enchanting, as if you are in a dreamlike world. The water is crystal clear, and the lakebed is like a grid outlined with ink, filled with shades of blue. When the weather is clear and the air is fresh, the sunlight sprinkled on the lake makes the plants at the bottom and the water itself emit different glows. This gradual transition of light is full of subtle changes, like a still yet majestic heavy-color oil painting, eliciting wonder and admiration. Even on cloudy days, the Five-Color Pond still exudes its charming allure. Nestled among the mountains, it displays the deepest blue, calming the mind and allowing one to profoundly experience the ever-changing nature of life, like flowing water. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Become a Trip.com member for free! Unlock exclusive deals and enjoy special offers only for Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members. Members can use Trip Coins to offset orders on the App, with no restrictions on the type of products, making everyday enjoyment possible!