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Daocheng
The soul of Shangri-la in Sichuan
There is neither sorrow nor pain. There is only the singing of birds. This is where the immortals live.
Were this true, it would be said of Daocheng in Sichuan province.
Joseph Rock, the explorer, noticed three snow-capped mountains when he toured Lijiang in Yunnan in 1926. After consulting the local people, he found out that they were called Nianqingonggarisonggongbu in the Tibetan language. That was what is known as the Daocheng scenic area today. In the following four years, Rock explored the mountains with the help of local Tibetan officials. His words and pictures were published in the National Geographic in June, 1931, and they made a big stir in the United States. The readers there had never imagined that there existed such a world of amazing landscapes in the Far East!
Daocheng had scarcely been visited since ancient times, for it is tucked away in the hinterland, inaccessible to the outside world. Its local people have had a loving heart toward life and nature, hoping to maintain the local religious culture, which holds that any form of life should be protected. This belief has made Daocheng one of the regions in China that boasts the best preserved primitive vegetation, and is also one of the last unpolluted territories.
Since Rock's time, many tourists have been amazed by the splendid landscape of Daocheng - after they have soothed away the numerous obstacles they met on the way there.
In 2002 a road to Daocheng was completed, and this has made the scenic area accessible to the rest of the world. Photographers have been busy exploiting the enchanting natural scenery, the primitive local customs, and the mysterious cultural relics.
The Daocheng Plateau is composed of Gongga Mountain and Haizi Mountain. Situated in the north and south respectively, the two mountains account for one third of the whole area, which stretches from north to south, and from west to east, in terms of geo- graphical features. High mountains follow one after another, presenting a dramatic view. There are three principal rivers, called the Daocheng River, the Chitu River, and the Dongyi River, and all of them empty into the Jinshajiang River.
Originating at the foot of Haishan Mountain, the Daocheng River runs over 75.6 miles (121km). The Dongyi River, which comes from Echu Mountain, extends as far as 69 miles (111km). The county of Daocheng has nearly 30,000 people, over 96 percent of whom are Tibetan. The rest are Han, Naxi, and Yi.
The Yading Nature Reserve is regarded as the last Shangri-la. When you ride a horse from Yading village to the Chonggu Temple, you may spot a Tibetan village hidden in the flowers and among the extensive crops. You will come across the fathomless primitive forest, through which a jingling creek merrily runs. In addition, colourful lakes change their aspect from time to time. The snow-capped magic peak stands out, with the green forest extending around its slope and foot. What a pure and clean world this is!
If you want to experience how friendly and kind the local people are, drop in at a household in the Tibetan village. The hospitality of the people there may make you reluctant to leave.
It is said that one thousand feelings arise from one thousand tourists who return from Daocheng.
Location
Situated on the south of the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the southwest rim of Sichuan, the county of Daocheng is 500 miles (800km) away from Chengdu, the capital.
Climate
At an altitude of 12,303 ft (3750m). Daocheng receives a great deal of sunshine. Its low temperature is intensified by the drastic temperature range within a single day. Daocheng experiences its rainy season from June to August and has its winter from November to March. The best touring seasons are from April to May and from September to October.
Of Special Interest
The area boasts a great variety of fauna and flora, and charming natural scenery. The Yading Nature Reserve in the county of Daocheng is well maintained and regarded as land untouched by humans.
Main Attractions
Yading Nature Reserve, Chonggu Temple, Tibetan villages, magic peaks in Daocheng, and the Pearl Lake.
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