Daocheng Yading, Sichuan · 9 days / 8 nights · Challenging (4.5/5) · $200/day · $1,800 total per person
Duration9 days / 8 nights
DifficultyChallenging (4.5/5)
Max altitude~5,036 m (Cuogaida Pass)
Best seasonAutumn (late September to early November) for clear skies and golden larch and meadow colour
Group sizeSmall group, guide-to-guest ratio of at least 1:4
LanguageEnglish-speaking guide on request · or local guide + Inglite app for English support
Walk the full sacred circle around Yading's three holy peaks.
Highlights
Yading's three holy peaks (Gongga Risong Gongbu) — Xiannairi, Yangmaiyong and Chanadorje, three snow-clad bodhisattva mountains in a perfect triangle, consecrated by Padmasambhava and ranked the eleventh of the world's twenty-four sacred sites; the Grand Kora circles all three in a full 360 degrees.
Boyong Lake (4,750 m) — the most exquisite stretch of the route, with an entire free day to ride the ridge above camp for views of all three peaks, distant Gongga and Yunnan's Meili Snow Mountain, plus star fields, mirror reflections and golden dawn light.
Cuogaida Pass (5,036 m) — the trek's high point and biggest crossing, opening onto Cuogaida Lake and the cloud-wreathed, rarely-visited Niang Lake hidden in a northern valley.
Snake Lake (Shehu / Lexi Cuo) — a serpent-shaped "Lake of Wisdom" set below a 4,730 m pass, clear, remote and ethereal beneath the watching peaks.
Milk Lake, Five-Color Lake and Pearl Lake — the celebrated jewel lakes of Yading, including the sacred Five-Color Lake said to "replay history and foretell the future," and Pearl Lake (Zhuoma La Cuo), the classic spot for Avalokiteshvara's mirrored reflection.
Black Lake (Yajiao Chuna) — a green-black gem of a tarn at the southwest bend of the Jambeyang massif, the turning point of the high circuit.
Songluo Pass (4,650 m) — the most prayer-flag-laden col of the journey, the symbolic gateway out of the stark Kasi Hell Valley and into the paradise of Yading.
Where in China
📍 Sichuan Province · Daocheng Yading, western China
What you'll do
In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, to circumambulate the three guardian snow peaks of Yading is to fulfil the wishes of this life and the next — a single Grand Kora is said to carry the merit of reciting a hundred million mantras. Where most visitors glimpse Yading from a shuttle bus, this nine-day trek walks the complete outer ring, a full 360 degrees around the three holy mountains, on a route that stitches together the finest sections of the classic Joseph Rock, Luhuo–Yading and Niru–Yading lines.\n\nThe three peaks stand in a near-perfect triangle, each independent yet bound to the others, and each named for a bodhisattva: Xiannairi (6,032 m) to the north, the embodiment of Avalokiteshvara; Yangmaiyong (Jambeyang, 5,958 m) to the south, Manjushri; and Chanadorje (Xianuoduoji, 5,958 m) to the east, Vajrapani. Their collective Tibetan name, Gongga Risong Gongbu, means \"the holy land of three guardian snow mountains, snow-clad year round\" — said to have been consecrated by Padmasambhava himself in the 8th century, and ranked the eleventh of the world's twenty-four sacred sites.\n\nFrom Chonggu Temple inside the Yading scenic area, the trail climbs past a string of names that read like a litany of the high Tibetan world: Boyong Lake beneath the peaks, the soaring 5,036 m Cuogaida Pass, the lonely Niang Lake wreathed in cloud, Gongga Zhaze and Zhabala passes, the jade-black waters of Black Lake, the serpentine Snake Lake set below a 4,730 m col, and the famous trio of Milk Lake, Five-Color Lake and Pearl Lake on the descent home. Cumulative ascent runs to roughly 3,900 m, with the route swinging between 3,990 m and a high point of 5,036 m.\n\nDay 2 leaves the road behind, riding the shuttle some 50 minutes to Chonggu Temple before climbing through the scenic boardwalk to the Gate of Holy Water, then turning off into primeval forest. Emerging above the treeline, the three holy peaks reveal themselves in full, and the day ends camped at the Boyong Lake meadow (7 km, +760 m, about 4 hours).\n\nDay 3 is a free day at Boyong Lake — the most exquisite corner of the whole circuit. A scramble up the ridge behind camp opens a view that takes in all three Yading peaks, distant Gongga (the King of Sichuan) and even Yunnan's Meili Snow Mountain, while the lakeshore is among the finest places anywhere for star fields, mirror reflections and golden first light on the peaks.\n\nDay 4 is the big crossing: roughly two hours up to the 5,036 m Cuogaida Pass, then a long descent past Cuogaida Lake and the misty Niang Lake viewpoint to Galuo cattle farm, and on through forest along the White Water River to the Gongga Zhaze camp (16 km, +300 m, −940 m, about 8 hours) — the closest point on the route to Chanadorje.\n\nThe middle days trace the high contour. Day 5 crosses a traverse pass beneath Chanadorje, running parallel to and above the Joseph Rock line, to camp below Zhabala Pass (7 km, about 5 hours). Day 6 climbs the steep haul over Zhabala Pass (4,750 m) and descends past Niangxi cattle farm to Xinguo camp at the southwest foot of Jambeyang (9 km, about 5 hours). Day 7 threads several small passes and slide zones to the 4,720 m Black Lake Pass — the turning point around Jambeyang — past the landmark \"Butterfly Stone\" and over the Snake Lake Pass (4,730 m) to camp beside the still, jade waters of Snake Lake (11 km, about 6 hours).\n\nDay 8 crosses the 4,670 m Songduo Pass into the heart of the scenic area to visit Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake, with an optional climb to the 4,770 m double-lake viewpoint, then follows Avalokiteshvara's shorter kora down past Resong Lake to camp at Kasi cattle shed (12 km, about 7 hours). Day 9 climbs the flank of Avalokiteshvara's peak above the dramatic Kasi Hell Valley to Songluo Pass (4,650 m), the most prayer-flag-laden col of the trip and the gateway from the valley into Yading's paradise, before a long forested descent to Pearl Lake and the boardwalk back to Chonggu Temple — the close of the Grand Kora — and the drive back to Daocheng (11 km, +250 m, −660 m, about 6 hours).
Day by day
Day 1
Arrive and gather in Shangri-La Town, Daocheng (2,900 m)
Meet the team in Daocheng's Shangri-La Town to acclimatise and run final gear checks before the trek.
Day 2
Shangri-La Town to Chonggu Temple (3,990 m) and Boyong Lake camp (4,750 m)
Drive to the visitor centre and ride the shuttle about 50 minutes to Chonggu Temple, then climb the boardwalk to the Gate of Holy Water and into primeval forest; above the treeline the three holy peaks appear before camp at the Boyong Lake meadow. Hike 7 km, +760 m, about 4 hours.
Day 3
Free day at Boyong Lake (4,750 m)
Scramble the ridge behind camp for a panorama of all three Yading peaks, distant Gongga and Yunnan's Meili Snow Mountain; the lakeshore is one of the best spots anywhere for stars, reflections and golden alpenglow.
Day 4
Boyong Lake to Cuogaida Pass (5,036 m), Niang Lake, Galuo farm and Gongga Zhaze camp (4,100 m)
About two hours up to the 5,036 m Cuogaida Pass, then down past Cuogaida Lake and the misty Niang Lake viewpoint to Galuo cattle farm and on through forest along the White Water River to Gongga Zhaze, the closest point to Chanadorje. Hike 16 km, +300 m, −940 m, about 8 hours.
Day 5
Gongga Zhaze (4,400 m) to the Chanadorje traverse pass (4,500 m) and camp below Zhabala Pass (4,400 m)
Cross several small cols to the Chanadorje traverse pass, then contour along the slope parallel to and above the Joseph Rock line, overlooking valley cattle farms and Dulu Lake, to camp below Zhabala Pass. Hike 7 km, +400 m, −100 m, about 5 hours.
Day 6
Zhabala Pass (4,750 m), Niangxi farm and Xinguo cattle farm camp (4,300 m)
A steep 300-plus-metre haul of about two hours over Zhabala Pass, then a gentle descent past Niangxi cattle farm and across slide zones and the easy Jiangbei traverse to camp at the southwest foot of Jambeyang. Hike 9 km, +350 m, −450 m, about 5 hours.
Day 7
Xinguo to Black Lake Pass (4,720 m), Butterfly Stone, Snake Lake Pass (4,730 m) and Snake Lake (4,500 m)
Thread several small passes and slide zones with long views to Jambeyang and Chanadorje, reaching Black Lake Pass — the turning point around Jambeyang — then past the landmark Butterfly Stone and over Snake Lake Pass to camp beside the still jade waters of Snake Lake. Hike 11 km, +430 m, −230 m, about 6 hours.
Day 8
Snake Lake to Songduo Pass (4,670 m), Five-Color Lake, Milk Lake, Resong Lake and Kasi cattle shed camp (4,400 m)
Cross the 4,670 m Songduo Pass into the scenic area to visit Milk Lake and Five-Color Lake, with an optional climb to the 4,770 m double-lake viewpoint, then follow Avalokiteshvara's shorter kora down past Resong Lake to camp at Kasi. Hike 12 km, +270 m, −370 m, about 7 hours.
Day 9
Kasi to Songluo Pass (4,650 m), Pearl Lake, Chonggu Temple (3,990 m) and back to Daocheng
Climb the flank of Avalokiteshvara's peak above the Kasi Hell Valley to the prayer-flag-laden Songluo Pass, then descend through forest to Pearl Lake and the boardwalk back to Chonggu Temple — the close of the Grand Kora — before driving to Daocheng. Hike 11 km, +250 m, −660 m, about 6 hours.
Why this trek
The complete sacred circle
Not a viewpoint day-trip but the full 360-degree Grand Kora around all three of Yading's holy peaks — the pilgrimage that, in Tibetan tradition, carries the merit of a hundred million mantras.
Six nights in the wilderness
Six nights of remote high camps beside glacial lakes and prayer-flag passes, far from the crowds, with a free day at Boyong Lake for stars, reflections and dawn light on the peaks.
Yading's jewel lakes, the long way round
Black Lake, Snake Lake, Milk Lake, Five-Color Lake and Pearl Lake strung across a high traverse that links the classic Joseph Rock, Luhuo–Yading and Niru–Yading lines.
Fully supported at altitude
Licensed guides at a 1:4 ratio, a mountain cook, mule-portered duffels, and a full safety kit of oxygen, oximeter, satellite phone and radios on a route topping out at 5,036 m.
Included
Licensed mountain guide team (guide-to-guest ratio of at least 1:4), high-altitude cook and full logistics support
8 nights' accommodation: 2 nights in Yading Village plus 6 nights of wilderness camping
All meals on trek: 8 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners, including camp dinners of four dishes and a soup (such as matsutake chicken soup or yak hotpot), tea breaks and fresh fruit
Ground transfers and scenic-area shuttle bus tickets, plus park entrance tickets
Light-pack trekking service: vehicle, porter and mule transport of personal gear (up to 15 kg per person), shared supplies and food
Personal camping equipment (120 L waterproof duffel, two-person tent, sleeping pad) and shared gear (dining and toilet tents, generator, kitchen, cookware)
Safety and communications: medical oxygen cylinders, pulse oximeter, satellite phone, two-way radios, GPS and first-aid kit, plus environmental and resource-management fees
FAQ
How many days is the Yading Grand Kora trek?
Yading Grand Kora runs 9 days / 8 nights.
How hard is the Yading Grand Kora trek?
It's rated Challenging (4.5/5), topping out around ~5,036 m (Cuogaida Pass). Reasonable hiking fitness and time to acclimatize to altitude are recommended.
What is the maximum altitude on the Yading Grand Kora trek?
The high point is around ~5,036 m (Cuogaida Pass). Acclimatize gradually and take altitude-sickness precautions — consult your doctor before any high-altitude trek.
What is the best time to do the Yading Grand Kora trek?
The best seasons are Autumn (late September to early November) for clear skies and golden larch and meadow colour.
Do I need a guide for the Yading Grand Kora trek, and is there English support?
English-speaking guide on request · or local guide + Inglite app for English support It's run by an independent, licensed local mountain operator, with Inglite supporting you in English the whole way.
How much does the Yading Grand Kora trek cost?
Approximately $1800 per person ($200/day · $1,800 total). You arrange payment directly with the licensed local operator — Inglite never collects payment.
Who runs this
This Grand Kora is operated by an experienced licensed local mountain outfitter, with a certified guide team, high-altitude cook and full camp logistics on the ground throughout. English-language support is provided via the Inglite app and your guide, so you can focus on the walking and the peaks.
Run by an independent, licensed local operator. You arrange payment with the operator directly — Inglite connects you and never collects payment. Outdoor travel carries inherent risks; we recommend travel/outdoor insurance. Terms
