Sichuan - Yading Hiking Tours

11 Days of Chengdu - Xichang - Muli - Luodou Village - Dongla - Dulu Temple - Mancuo - Zangbie - Dulu Lake - Zabala Pass - Qu'ao Arcuomu - Gari Pasture - Shehu Lake - Luorong Pasture - Riwa - Daocheng

 
Muli lies on the border of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, just north of the famous lake of Lugu. Until 1953, it was a Gelugpa Buddhist kingdom, dubbed "The Yellow Lama's Kingdom" by explorer- the famous botanist Rock.

Tips: the best time to visit is the following two periods: from June to July, when the mountains are dotted with flowers; September to November, when the autumn colors is intensive.

Take the train from Chengdu south to Xichang. According to the train schedule, more than 20 trains are available daily from Chengdu to Xichang. It will take you about 10 hours covering 560 kilometers. The price is about RMB140 to RMB224 from hard sleeper to soft sleeper. Most of the train depart at night and arrive in the morning of the second day. You can make your choice due to your schedule.

Upon your arrival in Xichang(it is about 200 kilometers from Xichang to Muli), take the coach to Muli by bus. It will take you about nine hours by bus with the cost RMB56.00 net per person. The coach is set out at 6:00 each morning, you are suggested to make your schedule well before you get there. Or you can choose to connect the coach in Yanyuan, since the bus schedule is more than that in Xichang. The way is take the bus from Xichang to Yanyuan(RMB 33.00) and then transfer to Muli from Yanyuan(RMB25.00). (Tips: Though the bus from Xichang to Yanyuan is frequent, the last one is 14:30; there are two bus schedule from Yanyuan to Muli, which set out at 07:00 and 14:30). Stay overnight in Muli. You are suggested to stay in the Shancheng  Binguan -RMB10.00/bed in trpl, RMB15.00/bed in dbl, RMB30.00 for a single room, all with shared facilities

The third day, hire a jeep from Muli to Luodou of Shuiluo. Take stop to visit the Big Muli Temple during your route. From the Temple, you can overlook the 3 holy peaks of Yading. After visiting the temple, it comes Changhai - a volcano take surrounded by a meadow 5 kilometers away. Through Wachang of the Muli along the river, turn over Longsha meadow, and then you will arrive in Luodou village in Shuiluo. (Tips: Though the road to Luodou village is very difficult to walk, it is the nearest place to accommodate. You can lease horses and hire a guide here.)

The fourth day, trek from Luodou village, and go down to the valley along a narrow riverside and steep path. In the canyon, the river winds around the turns and twists rapidly. Beyond Dongla Village, the road turns to hillside. Trek for about 8 hours of 30 kilometers, you will arrive in the Dulu temple, and stay overnight there. (Tips: The elevation rising for the day is around 1000-1500m. Landscape is average, while the Naxi and Tibetan life can be seen on the way.)

The fifth day, upstream the White River("Baishui He" in Chinese), go through the virgin forest along with streams, and you will see waterfalls and singing birds. When get to the relatively flat valley-bottom, the view is becoming broader and Chanadorje sacred peak comes in sight. Stay overnight in the local village of Mancuo.

Tips: Hiking in Muli is going upstream the White River from Shuiluo county, through Shuiluo Gongga, around three sacred mountains into Yading, Daocheng. Along the way, forests, rivers, waterfalls, lakes and snow-capped mountains compose a marvelous highland view.

The journey on sixth day is much easier than the day before. Marching along he  south face of Chanadorje, splendid alpine lakes, rivers and meadows are the only things you can see during your route. Zangbie is reachable in 5 hours. You can camp in the Dulu Lake, which is 3 hours away from Zangbie.

Trekking from Zangbie on the seventh day's morning, the view is getting more enchanting. This is the first scenic climax of the journey. You can slow down your strides to enjoy the picuresque scenery comprised of Jambeyang and Channadorie Peaks, small but turquoise alpine lakes, meadows. The view here is quite different in Summer and early Autumn, say, azalea scattering  over the slopes is the characteristic of summer, while yellow and red leaves describing the yet warm autumn in October.

After crossing over the 5000m high Zabala Pass, the virgin glacier is visible. Down from the Pass to Qu'ao Arcuomu under the cliff, which is a typical high mountain pasture with two stone cowsheds to be used for overnight camping.

The eighth day's journey is a bit more dangerous of ploughing through a snow-covered road, but not to its worst.

From Qu'ao Arcuomu to Gari Pasture, march in the canyon between the steep mountains. Turn over the high chine along the rugged way of sinuosity. The ridge is full of Mani Piles. The most exciting place is Black Lake, which is glistening like black pearls while seen in distance. On the two sides are Jambeyang and Chanadorje facing each other. You can see buddhist pagodas, huge butterfly-shaped rocks and thousands volumes of Dazangjing on the way.

The ninth day, you have to conquer 2 passes during your route from Gari Pasture to Luorong Pasture, which is the second scenic climax of the route.

The 3 sacred mountains lie on the three points which just formed a triangle. Turning over the first pass, Jambeyang and Chanadorje are just under your eyes. A little further is the Sher Lake("Shehu" in Chinese) set among the holy peaks, offers un-describable tranquil beauty. Overlook from the Shehu pass of 4800m by Five-Colored Lake, the holy peaks reflects clearly in the Milk Sea.

After walking through Milk Lake(" Niunai Hai" in Chinese), you finally get tot Luorong Pasture in Yading Natural Reserve. Stay overnight in the camp.

The tenth day, trekking from Luorong Pasture to Chonggu monastery, you can see the amazing view of the 3 peaks again in different angles. On the way to Longlongba of Yading village, you may see the Yujia Sacred Lake Gyshen-Tso, glaciers on Jambeyang Peak, ice-eroded lakes, Holy Zhuomala-Tso Lake for pilgrims, etc. You can hide a horse to Yading village from Longlonba if you feel tired. Stay overnight in the Yading village.

Your memorable hiking in Muli ends. The eleventh day, you can take the green minibus to return to Riwa and then catch a public bus or hire a jeep to Daocheng(refer to Daocheng for detailed info. ) Or you can stay in Yading and trek around according to your schedule.