Shangri-La to Daocheng - By Private Car, Coach or Air

The distance between Shangri-La and Daocheng County is about 308km, takes about 9 to 12 hours by car.

Traveling from Shangri-La to Daocheng by private cars with tour guide is a common way for traveling in Sichuan Province for there is no direct train or airline connecting these two places. Even it will be more expensive than taking a coach from the bus station but it will provide you a more flexible and comfortable journey. Also with the experienced drivers and English-speaking guide can highlight journey, the car will stop at the fabulous scenic spots alongside the road, making your one-day road trip more meaningful and enjoyable.

By taking the road trip you will have the chance to meet the picturesque scenery and by the end of this journey you will be amazed by the marvel of the nature.

Route 1 : There is a coach from Shangri-La to Daocheng at about 7:00 every morning from April to December. It takes about 9 to 12 hours. The bus run across snow mountains and Shangri-La Gorge. However if you want to get to Daocheng in rainy season (June, July, August), this route might cut by landslide. In this cases, the bus might detour to Derong County and take more time.

Route 2 : If you didn’t catch the direct bus, there is another way for you to take the coach to Daocheng from Shangri-La. First you can take the tour coach from Shangri-La to Xiangcheng(passing by Derong) at 7:30 in Shangri-La Bus Station. Stay overnight at Xiangcheng and catch the morning bus head to Sangdui. When you arrived at Sangdui, you can find local minibus to sent you to Daocheng for about 20 per person. The route might looks more complex and takes longer than direct bus, but the road condition is much better.

For travelers who can not bear long-distance ride, we do not suggest you take bus or taxi as the transportation, however, there is no railway or direct flight from Shangri-La to Daocheng. It’s only takes about 1.5 hours from Shangri-La Airport to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, so you can take Chengdu as a transfer city.

This is the most expensive way to travel from Shangri-La to Daocheng County, however you can spend 1-2 days on taking a short-break leisure tour at Chengdu downtown, visit China’s national treasures - Panda, try some famous local snacks and Sichuan cuisine. After fully recuperating in Chengdu, you can take the early airline at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport and fly to Daocheng Yading Airport and enjoy the breathtaking view there.

Shangri-La is about 308km away from Daocheng County. Travelling from Shangri-la to Yading is one of the most fabulous travel routes in China for nature lovers. With limited public transportation between this two places, you can take a one-day road trip to get to Daocheng from Shangri-La. The scenery alongside the road is totally worth the trip. Then spend 3 to 4 days at Daocheng to have a deep exploration in this holy area.

>> 4 Days Daocheng Yading Classic Hiking Tour from Chengdu (by Flight)

>> 4 Days Daocheng Yading In-depth Photography Tour

If you can’t stand the long-distance ride, you can travel from Shangri-La to Chengdu first, spend 1 or 2 days in Chengdu, visiting pandas, tasting local dishes and enjoying the leisure city-break time there. After restore your energy, you can take the early flight and head to Daocheng from Chengdu.

>> 1 Day Chengdu Relaxing Panda Highlights Tour

>> 2 Days Chengdu City Break