“An astonishing happiness welled up in me, but I could not define it. Everything was so new, so utterly unprecedented.” -- Maurice Herzog

High land: At an average elevation of 3800 meters, Daocheng, also called 'Dabpa' in Tibetan, is located in Southwest Sichuan, close to the border of Northwest Yunnan. Although Daocheng is renowned for Yading's spectacular mountain scenery, the scenery around Daocheng is also worth a rating. The attractive wild river valley and hills hide a number of splendid Tibetan monasteries, natural sites. Local Tibetan farmers still live in their own culture and lifestyle.

Map: Around Daocheng.

Hongchaodi (Red Glass Lake): A lovely lake fringed by red bushes, located half way between Sangdui and Daocheng (see left photo 4).

Rupuchaka Hot Springs: 4km outside Daocheng. You can go there either by walking or by taxi. In autumn 2003 when water was in short supply at most hotels in Daocheng, travelers went to Rupuchaka for a hot-spring bath. It was reported that many cockroaches were found in the bathroom. Avoid going there during the night when cockroaches are extremely active, and can be found everywhere, even in your clothes and shoes. Believing in Buddhism, local Tibetans do not bother to eliminate them.

Comments from travelers: " the hot spring 2 km out of town is also nice, did not see any rats or coackroaches, but i went during
the daytime. the hot spring told me it would be 30Rmb for a soak but i bargained it down to 20Rmb (or was it offer of 40 and bid of 30? sorry i forgot). The walk out to the hot spring is also very pleasant if you don't want to take taxi." (Fanglangzhe)

Monasteries:
Bangpu Si: Built in the 12th century and located 1km north of Sangdui along the main road. Ticket: Y10.
Zhujie Si: South of Sangdui, 18km north of Daocheng.
Xiongdeng Si: 10km northeast of Daocheng, at an elevation of 4105 meters.
Rewu Si: South of Daocheng, built on a slope (see left photo 3).
Gongling Si (Konkaling): Built in the 15th century and located 62km south of Daocheng along the road to Yading. Ticket: Y10. It is the biggest monastery in Daocheng.

How to visit: Rent a car either in Sangdui or in Daocheng. Try to find other travelers to share the car. Another option is to walk to these sites except Gongling Si if you have enough time. It must be a pleasant journey to discover these fabulous monasteries and hidden Tibetan villages by foot among pastoral scenery.

Getting there: Two options:

Option 1: Chengdu (Alt. 500M) --> Kangding (2500M) --> Daocheng (3800M); Around 800 km; Minimum 2 days by bus or car.

- Take a bus heading for Kangding either at Chengdu Tourist Transportation Center (ex. Xinnanmen bus station) or at North Bus Station in the morning. (Y97 - Y109).
- Upon arriving at Kangding in the late afternoon, buy your ticket immediately for the Daocheng bus. Tickets can be sold out quickly during the peak season. If you are not tight on schedule, you can stay at Kangding for one or two days. Visit Mugecuo Lake, Tagong Glassland and adapt yourself to the altitude.
- Kangding to Daocheng: 12 hours by bus. Most travelers would feel the strong effect of high altitude if they come to Daocheng from Chengdu in two days.

Option 2: Kunming --> Lijiang --> Tiger Leaping Gorge --> Zhongdian (3300M) --> Daocheng: One of the most fabulous travel routes in China for independent travelers. If you are adapted to Zhongdian's altitude, you would have no difficulty in Daocheng.

- Travel from Kunming to Zhongdian see Zhongdian - Getting there.
- The regular bus connecting Zhongdian to Daocheng (330km, 12 hours) zigzags in the awesome Shangri-La Gorge (ex Birang Gorge). However this route is often cut by landslides.
- If the direct bus service between Zhongdian and Daocheng is suspended, take an alternative route although it looks more complicated: Zhongdian - Derong - Xiangcheng - Sangdui - Daocheng

First take a bus from Zhongdian to Derong, (5 hours) and then find a collective taxi to Xiangcheng (4 to 5 hours). Stay overnight in Xiangcheng and catch the morning bus for Sangdui (3.5 hours). From Sangdui, the friendly owner of Happy Shop can send you to Daocheng by his own car for Y20 per person.

Derong is located in a sheer gorge, 144km north of Zhongdian. A daily bus leaves Zhongdian for Derong at 9:00am (Y40, 5 hours).
One bus every two days leaves Derong for Kangding, passing through Xiangcheng, Sangdui, and Litang. Accommodations: Liangyou Hotel has double rooms from Y80 to Y120. From the bus stop, cross the bridge and turn right. (See Map: Derong Town.) Surrounded by sacred mountains, awesome gorges, high meadows, Derong is a nice place to discover a wild and pristine landscape.

Xiangcheng nestles in a beautiful valley of terrace fields, dotted with traditional Tibetan farm houses and splendid monasteries. The surrounding landscape is more flagrant and peaceful than that of in Derong.
Xiangcheng - Sangdui: take a daily Kangding bus. Check the departure time in advance as it is not the same every day!! It takes three and a half hours for the bus to climb to a col of 4700M and descend to Sangdui (nearly 4000M).
Accommodations: Bamushan Hotel has dormitory rooms, Y30 per bed. A standard double room costs Y150.-.
Xiangcheng is worth a visit. A day tour proposed by a guide at Bamushan Hotel includes visiting a Tibetan farm house in a nearby Tibetan village, hot springs, and the fabulous monastery outside the town. See Xiangcheng Map.
Don't miss the trek information from Khamaid.org: Xiangcheng - Bamu Mountain Hike .

Sangdui is a quite, charming Tibetan village. Ugly modern buildings haven't come up in Sangdui yet. Don't miss Bangpu monastery, 1km north of Sangdui, along the enchanting Daocheng River. Don't stay at Sangdui as the only lodge run by Happy Shop looks awful. Go further to Daocheng (28km) by the car of Happy Shop.

Getting away:
It's a pity if you return the same way you come. I recommend to go to Daocheng from Zhongdian and then quit Daocheng for Litang, Kangding and Chengdu. Daocheng has daily bus leaving for Kangding. During peak season, a mini bus is added for Xingduqiao. Both buses pass through Litang where you can head for west, starting your adventure in Tibet.

Daocheng Town:
Among Tibetan family-hostels, Pengshongcuo 彭松错 (Tel: 0836-5728581) has gained a good reputation. This hostel has several double rooms with WC for Y80. It is located on a street, one hundred meters north of the bus station, at the same side.

Yadingren Shequ Hotel 亚丁人社区 provides travelers with a lot of hiking information.
A clean double room without bathroom: Y50 - Y60. The hotel organizes hiking in Yading Nature Reserve. They can help organize treks from Yading to Muli or other places.

Yading Hotel 亚丁宾馆: A newly built luxury hotel in Daocheng. Double room starts from Y220.-. Run by the local government, the hotel offers a typical Chinese style service. During my visit in Daocheng in 2003, this was the only hotel having hot shower in the room.

In September 2003, the town was in a state of chaos. The city's water and electricity supplies had been cut during most hours of the day due to a renovation project. Main street were full of bumps and hollows.

Before Daocheng : Zhongdian, Derong, Xiangcheng
After Daocheng : Litang, the route to Tibet.
Upon arriving Litang, you can wait for a bus going west to Batang by the national road 318, and go further to Markham(Mangkang) in Tibet.