Shangri-la : Part 7 - Yading Nature Reserve

25 Oct 2012 : It was 7am, and we are scheduled to leave for Yading Nature Reserve by 730am. The place I have been looking forward to go to! The place that I initially thought was the Shangri-la we are doing this trip for. There was breakfast provided by the Hotel we stayed. It was the same restaurant we had our dinner the night before. Breakfast consists of plain porridge and a hard-boiled egg. The porridge was very watery, but it was very much welcomed because the air was so cold. 

These dishes are added into the porridge. They are pickled vegetables and cheese. Well, I think it is cheese. It is sourish. But when added into the porridge, it's nice.

Then, we are on our way to the Nature Reserve.

We reached the entrance of Yading Nature Reserve at about 8am. It was very near from our hotel. There were people walking too, with their trekking sticks. It was a downhill ride, so walking is not difficult. I was wondering, why the trekking sticks? Was the walk inside difficult? I feared for my knees. We were asked if we needed a guide to walk us inside. But we saw that many people were walking by themselves, and we just followed them.

Yading Nature Reserve is listed as Man and Biosphere Nature Reserves by UNESCO.

In less than 10 minutes, we have reached the ticket booth. It's the ticket to take the tram. We bought a one-round ticket for RMB50. The signboard states a ticket up is RMB30 and the ticket down is RMB20. Well, the reason for splitting the prices (despite the total being the same) was because there are actually people who walked. The distance to the get-off point is 3.4km.

Upon purchase of tickets, we waited in line for the tram. There were locals selling face masks and gloves. One tourist commented to the local that she would have bought from them if not for her prior experience, where she gave a big note, and did not get the change for it.

For 3.4km, it was about a 7-minute ride. It was cold as we rode up. It was so cold that I thought I was going to have frostbite, worried that my fingers and toes may break off. Seriously, I thought it will happen.

At the get-off point, it was a slight ascending walk. It was tiring walking as we were at 4175m above sea level. And having flu was not making it any easier. I was breathing hard to get some air. As I inhale, the mucous blocks the pathway. So, I had, in my bag, a roll of toilet paper to blow out my mucous. Since I can't inhale through my nose, I used my mouth, which dried up my throat. So, I had flu, sore throat and a on-off fever. I was so thankful I did not have cough. 

The first scenic view we saw. Truly, Yading did not disappoint me at all at the initial start of my walk. I was in awe as I walked along the path. When the signboard wrote - Yading is chosen as one of the most beautiful places in China, there is no denying in that statement. I read online and it was stated that Yading is still a less-visited destination in China. It's true, I believe, because I only saw the Chinese in Yading. Less-visited = not commercialised.

Then, we took a ride to the next scenic stop. Well, one can walk too, but we rather ride because walking at a high altitude area and trying to breathe is not a good combination. This ride costs us RMB80, and we can take this ride to all the stops.

The next scenic stop is Luorong Pasture. Yading is famous for its 3 holy snow-capped peaks. I am not sure if the one behind us is one of the holy peaks.

Saw a stream that was turning to ice. I put my shoe on the ice and I almost slipped. And I have not even walked on it.

Then, we decided to walk on the pasture. Trying our very best to avoid the dungs, and puddles. The wind was strong in Yading. Wearing 5-layered top and 3-layered pants was not much of a help. My eyes were cold. My mucous was running without me realising. My lips were dry and cracked.

We went out from the pasture and walked on another path. There were horse rides. I got pushed down by 2 horses while walking on this path. Horses are not light and not thin.

We stopped walking at 11am. I thought it felt like forever, but it turned out to be an hour. The pasture was huge, and we wanted to go to holy lakes, but walking will take about 3 hours. Hence, people ride the horses. Yading Scenic Area is huge, and a few people I overheard spent a week in Yading.

So, we walked back to the tram stop. And continued to click click away. Red bushes, yellow and green pine trees, yellow pasture, blue skies, puffs of white clouds, dark grey rocks with white lines of snow. I am looking at a palette of colours.

I saw one yak only in that huge place. Maybe if we walked further, we could have seen more. 

It was less cold compared to this morning. The tram brought us back to our initial stop where we waited for the tram.

Back at the initial stop, the scenery was less outstanding as the clouds begin to dominate the skies. No sun, no glittery streams. Scenery pales slightly to this morning.

This is a living Buddha stupa.

Story telling time - Once upon a time, a Great Master dig the grassland and built a temple, which angered the Holy Mountains. The Holy Mountains cast a plague on the people. The Great Master chanted sutras everyday to heal the people. The people healed but unfortunately, the Great Master died from the plague. The monks in the temple chanted sutras everyday for the Great Master to rebirth early. The people built this stupa to remember the Great Master.

We stopped to have a light meal (biscuits) and coffee. There was hot water provided, and so, the tourists can have their noodle cup.

Then, we felt drops on our head. We thought it was going to rain but it turned out to be snowing! Yahoo! So, we opened our palms to get some snow, but it turn out to be very little. Before the next drop of snowflake, the first snowflake had turned to ice.

We walked back to the tram stop (this is for the ticket that costs RMB50).

While waiting for the tram, I saw a tourist behind us holding a huge oxygen bag. It costs RMB60. It is refillable. There is a tube attached to the bag, and the tube is to be inhaled through the nose (I thought it was the mouth!). This is better compared to the oxygen can, as this tourist's friend bought the oxygen can (for RMB30), and the oxygen evaporated fast.

We got back to our exit at 1.15pm, and waited for the van. He had driven somewhere else, and so we gave him a call at the information center. Then, it snowed heavier. We got really excited.

Our drive started at 1.30pm, had lunch at 2.45pm in Yading Village (where the locals call it Shangri-la), the same village but different restaurant we had lunch the day before, and was on our way to Xiangcheng. We reached Xiangcheng (3180m above sea level) at 9pm.

The room we stayed in had 3 beds. There was another room inside the room.

It had been a glorious day. Yading was truly a shangri-la. I hope it stays that way. Even if gets more visitors, I hope there will not be a commercialised outlet in the village. Well, one can only hope.