Yading Altitude

Traveling to Daocheng Yading one has to be aware of the high altitude to avoid any sickness because of this. It is highly recommended to take prepcautions before travel to Daocheng Yading. Listed here are the altitude information and tips for travelers going to Daocheng Yading.

The park of Yading at most places are at over 4000 meters. Daocheng Airport is at 4300 meters, Daocheng County is at 3800 meters, Riwa (Entrance of Yading Park) i at 2900 meters. Yading Village is at 4000 meters. End of Yading Tourist Bus Terminal is at 3800 meters. End of Yading Golf Car terminal at Luorong Yak Ranch is at 4100 meters. at Milk Lake is at 4400 meters, Five-color Lake is at 4500 meters.

Often one uses tourist bus from Riwa to Yading and then use golf car to Luorong Yak Ranch and then walk from there to Milk Lake and 5-color-Lake. The walking is from 4100 meters to 4500 meters. Total elevation gain is about 600 meters and elevation loss is the same as going up and going down will follow the same trail. You will need to walk from 4100 meters to 4500 meters at 5-color Lake for total 5km usually for about 3-5 hours. The sheer elevation gain is substantial considering it is done in half day.

First time travelers to this place or even experienced travelers all have the risk of getting AMS due to change of altitude/temperature and air pressure. Acclimatization is necessary and precautions are essential. Precautions for avoiding altitude sickness include the following tips.

Drink more water than you normally need every day;

Keep your warm clothes handy to avoid getting cold due to elevation/temperature/pressure change;

Eat properly (no alcohol and be careful of local street food) and have enough time to sleep;

Do not stress yourself both physically and mentally;

A little physical preparation prior to traveling to high altitude places is necessary;

If one didn't experience altitude sickness before, it means you are fit, it doesn't mean you won't get altitude sickness again. Keeping warm and keeping hydrated all the time are the two most essential things to do while traveling in Daocheng Yading. Please do keep in mind what you can normally do at home (if your home is at lower than 3000m) had better not to do here, for example, leaving your warm clothes/rainproof behind. Once you have a cold at such altitude, your holiday is basically over. People who have heart or lung problems are not recommended traveling to Yading.

Flying to Yading and Driving to Yading both will have risks of getting AMS, Read Details.

If you do get AMS and it is serious, the best way to take actions as soon as possible and to go down to Riwa immediately without any delay. In Yading Park there is no place such as an emergency clinic or decent rescue team. The best way is to go down quickly. At Riwa there is a hospital and often you recover quickly here because the altitude at Riwa is only by 2900 meters, a big drop in elevation compare to Yading Park where most of the places are at over 4000 meters.

What happens if you feel serious sick at places such as Milk Lake or 5-color Lake, places that can only be accessed by foot and it's hours of walking back to where vehicles are available? Our experiences include: 01. Do check your own and your partners' physical condition all the time while visiting, try to avoid continuing when someone is already ill; 02. The rescue at Yading Park is not reliable. They'll tell you to go back to where the vehicles are and use the vehicle like everyone else, or one can say there is no rescue at all. You are basically on your own. They wouldn't give priority for you using the vehicles, you still need to get into the line and fight for a seat.

Although there are oxygeon service at Luorong Yak Ranch but usually crowded. Due to the unreliable and basic safety measures. You are highly recommended being aware of your own physical conditions and take precautions beforehand.