Daocheng

‘An astonishing happiness welled up in me, but I could not define it. Everything was so new, so utterly unprecedented.’ — Maurice Herzog

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 seeing. 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.

Things around Daocheng
Hongcaodi (Red Glass Lake): A lovely lake fringed by red bushes, located half way between Sangdui and Daocheng.

Rupuchaka Hot Springs: 4km outside Daocheng. You can go there either by walking or by taxi. Sometimes when water is in short supply at hotels in Daocheng, travelers go 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.

Monasteries:

• Bangpu Si:  Built in the 12th century and located 1km north of Sangdui along the main road. 
• 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.
• Gongling Si (Konkaling):  Built in the 15th century and located 62km south of Daocheng along the road to Yading. It is the biggest monastery in Daocheng.