'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
Hongchaodi (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.

Getting there and away
There are two options to reach Daocheng.
Option 1: Chengdu (Alt. 500M) --> Kangding (2500M) --> Daocheng (3800M); Around 800 km; Minimum 2 days by bus or car.
   - Take a bus heading for Kangding either at Chengdu Xinnanmen bus station in the morning.
   - Upon arriving at Kangding in the late afternoon, buy your ticket immediately for the Daocheng bus. Tickets can be sold out quickly during the peak season. If you are not tight on schedule, you can stay at Kangding for one or two days. Visit Mugecuo Lake, Tagong Glassland and adapt yourself to the altitude.
   - Kangding to Daocheng: 12 hours by bus. Most travelers would feel the strong effect of high altitude if they come to Daocheng from Chengdu in two days.

Option 2: Kunming --> Lijiang --> Tiger Leaping Gorge --> Zhongdian (3300M) --> Daocheng: One of the most fabulous travel routes in China for adventure travelers. If you are adapted to Zhongdian's altitude, you would have no difficulty in Daocheng. 
   - Travel from Kunming to Zhongdian see Zhongdian - Getting there.
   - The regular bus connecting Zhongdian to Daocheng (330km, 12 hours) zigzags in the awesome Shangri-La Gorge. However this route is often cut by landslides.
   - If the direct bus service between Zhongdian and Daocheng is suspended, take an alternative route although it looks more complicated: Zhongdian - Derong - Xiangcheng - Sangdui - Daocheng

First take a bus from Zhongdian to Derong(5 hours), and then find a collective taxi to Xiangcheng (4 to 5 hours). Stay overnight in Xiangcheng and catch the morning bus for Sangdui (3.5 hours). From Sangdui, look for some minivan or car to Daocheng (28km).

Related places you may pass by:
Sangdui is a quite, charming Tibetan village. Modern buildings haven't come up in Sangdui yet. Don't miss Bangpu monastery, 1km north of Sangdui, along the enchanting Daocheng River.

Xiangcheng: Nestles in a beautiful valley of terrace fields, dotted with traditional Tibetan farm houses and splendid monasteries. The surrounding landscape is flagrant and peaceful. Xiangcheng is worth a visit, a day tour proposed includes visiting a Tibetan farm house in a nearby Tibetan village, hot springs, and the fabulous monastery outside the town.  From Xiangcheng to Sangdui it usually takes about 3.5hours. The public bus doesn't run often there, you need to check it in advance.

Derong: It is located in a sheer gorge, 144km north of Zhongdian. Surrounded by sacred mountains, awesome gorges, high meadows, Derong is a nice place to discover a wild and pristine landscape. A daily bus leaves Zhongdian for Derong at 9:00am ( 5 hours). One bus every two days leaves Derong for Kangding, passing through Xiangcheng, Sangdui, and Litang.