It was the American missionary Joseph Lock who had firstly found Daocheng Dading. In 1928, he set off from Yunnan, across Muli county in Sichuan to arrive at Daocheng, and published his pictures about Daocheng on National Geographic Magazine of America, which cause an uproar. But he didn’t realize what he had found was Daocheng, and took it as Zhongdian in Yunnan. Till 1996, some experts then verified Shangri-la that Lock had found was Daocheng Yading.

The north of Daocheng is the biggest ancient ice relics of Tibetan Plateau—Haizi mountain natural reserved area, the scenery here is remote, primitive and complex. The central part is the open valley, prairie, where the grass is lush and flower is fragrant. The south of it are continuous and different shaped mountains, serene and steep valleys and fast fallings. The most famous one is and its misery legend.

The most important is that there is the purest beings, hovering hawks, and free wild animals, singing birds in the woods, as well as the quiet shepherds. In Daocheng you can see what you imagine and what you can’t imagine.

Yading scenic area is situated in Riwa county of Daocheng ,south of Garze, at the latitude of 2900 meters(the mouth of the Gonggar river ) to 6032 meters (Xiannari peak), with an area of 56000 Ha. The scenic area is comprised by Xiannari, Xiangbianyang, Xianaduoji three snow mountains, stretching from north to south. Because of the special geological environment and natural climate, unique terrain and natural scene is formed as the best reserved natural ecological system in our courtry.

daochengyading Guide Map