Yading Town and the surrounding areas (including Daocheng and the Nature Reserve) are what inspired the term "Shangri-La" as we know it in the West from the James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon.

And though the area formerly known as Zhongdian farther south toward Yunnan might enjoy the marketing boon of the Shangri-La name for now (plastered across a mountainside no less), the truth remains for those who make it to this remote area.

The "towns" are not much more than a collection of buildings attached to nearby monasteries, with tiny Riwa Town and Yading Town being the most substantial and the best bests for places to sleep and shop, especially Riwa.

Riwa has a clutch of good hostels and you can also pick up equipment. If you've been to Riwa recently, please let us know what is going on in the comments section, as things change fast out there these days--both are undergoing expansion as the tourism industry makes its way from Shangri-La/Zhongdian. Still, the long bumpy road in has kept things on the small side, and when you finally do "arrive," you don't see much more than low homes of stone and wood and smiling Tibetans.

Much of the population of this area is either pure or semi-nomad and the towns are really more stop-off points for visitors and a focal point for the community than proper permanent settlements.

The many monasteries and temples in the area tend to have their own small villages supporting them, giving them little need to maintain close links to the larger centers of Daocheng or Yading. This is still very much a pastoral society that holds mountains, herds, the sky and, above all Buddha, as the most important things in life.

Besides the small towns and treks out to the surrounding holy sites, the major attraction in this area is undoubtedly the reserve itself. The reserve is a short drive away from Yading (and nearby Daocheng) to the town of Riwa, which acts as the hub for backpackers.

Three great peaks tower over the Yading Nature Reserve: 

Jambeyang, comes in at 5,958m (19,547 ft) and represents Majushri, the Bhoddisatva of Wisdom;

Chanadorje, also 5958m(19,547 ft), represents Vajrapani, the Bhoddisatva of Wrath;

and Chenrezig, the undisputed local champ at 6032m (19,790 ft), represents Avalokiteshvara, the Bhoddisatva of Compassion and the patron saint of Tibet.

Tibetans view circumambulating any or all of these mountains as a sacred act that can help absolve a person of their sins and help them gain merit in this life, for use in the next.

Skirting the feet of these gorgeous snow-capped peaks are the forests and grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau, full of soul-regenerating hiking opportunities. Most treks lead to a Buddhist site of some sort, with recommended destinations in the area including the Chonggu and Yongten Gampo Monasteries and the Gonggaling Lamasery, right by the Rubu Chaka Hot Springs.

Between Daocheng and Yading there are more alpine lakes than one can dip a foot into in a lifetime, with the two best-known ones being the Five Color Sea and the Milk Sea, both of which can be found on the shoulders of the three peaks. There is also the lower-elevation Pearl Lake, surrounded by thick forest and less demanding of sweat as an entry fee. 

Another great location for alpine camping and foot-dipping is Haizi Shan (Mt. Haizi), on the road between Yading and Daocheng, where the earth lies pockmarked by glacial movements -- there are more than 2,000 water-filled depression along along the mountain's sides.

Though still tough to get to even and lacking in creature comforts, the sights and sounds of the plateau are worth it. Best times to go are in the spring or the autumn.

Sichuan guide | Shangri-La Flights | Yading Tours and Activities
Shangri-la on the China Travel Blog