Camping in Yading Park is not allowed by the park authority but outside the official Tourist Park Area camping is ok and no one will come to tell you to leave. Normally if you ask the Yading Park people they will tell you camping is not allowed anywhere in the park but Yading is a big place and the areas of where most visitors normally go to are only part of Yading and the rest of the areas are okay to camp because no one is there and no one really comes to check.
See below a map of the usual tourist part of Yading (official Yading Park) and the rest of Yading Nature Reserve. Within the official Yading Tourist Park camping is not allowed and when the park people see you camping they will probably tell you to leave while the rest of the Yading Reserve are okay to camp.
Please note the classic highlights of Yading including Milk Lake, 5-Color Lake, Pearl Lake as well as all three holy mountains can be covered in a normal visit tour to Yading. One doesn’t necessarily have to do camping or to go outside of the “official tourist park” of Yading to see these views.
Please note most of the places with good views in Yading are with high altitude. When doing camping one must be aware of this and take precautions of camping at such altitude to avoid getting altitude sickness. You are recommended to be fully acclimated before you go camp at such altitude or use guide service to reduce the risks of getting lost. Sichuan Travel Guide offers guided and customized treks in Yading for active travelers. We have experts to answer your questions and take you on these treks.
Since inside the park of “official” Yading doesn’t allow camping, all campsites are located outside of the “official” Yading. All campsites in Yading have altitude over 4000m. Most campsites were used by former herders as their temporal locations to stay while taking care of yaks in the mountains. Some campsites have huts some don’t. The huts are not for hikers but rather for local people themselves. We have listed below some usually used campsites in Yading. Most campsites in Yading have excellent views of nature either mountains of lakes or both, making this trek one of the most beautiful treks in China.
Bayul Camp
Bayul Camp is above the valley of Lurong Ranch. It has good views of Mt. Jampayang and the valley below. There is stream running beside the camp. It is not a very big campsite but it has open views around.
Zambie Camp
Zambie Camp is located by a middle part of mountain side right by the foot of Mt. Chenardorje. There are a couple of huts used by local people. This camp is made of two flat parts where one can set up a tent. It is a big camp and more than one streams running beside, providing safe water for using. Zambie Ranch is one of the most beautiful camps in Yading with views of mountains.
Xingo Camp
Xingo Camp maybe the most beautiful camp in Yading due to its very open views of everything. Xingo is also the biggest campsite of a Yading Middle Kora Trek. It is located by the flat part by the middle range of a mountain side with direct views of Mt. Jampayang and the big wall by its north. The flat part of the camp is super big in size and one has clear views of mountains and valleys around. There are a couple of huts by the camp. In dry season using water may need to walk further for around 200m.
Leshitso Camp
Leshitso Camp is also called Snake Lake Camp. It is located by the foot of Mt. Jampayang to its west. Leshitso is the biggest lake of Yading and the camp is by the side of the lake. Leshitso camp is one of the most beautiful camp, some think it’s the most beautiful camp in Yading. You have both mountain views of glaciers and lake views nearby. There are a couple of huts by the lake used by local people. Some part of this camp is not very flat but still good to make camp.
Resongtso Camp
Resongtso Camp is also a big camp by the southwest of Mt. Chenrezig by an open meadow. Not far from the camp there is the lake Resongtso, hence the name of the camp. There is one hut by the camp and water is easy. It is also a very beautiful campsite in Yading.
Please note outside of the official park one can basically camp anywhere without any trouble as long as you can find running water.
Campsites in Yading that are often used by hikers and local herders are basically safe and with no risk of landslide, flood.
High Elevation
All campsites in Yading have very high altitude. High altitude is the biggest risk while trekking/camping in Yading. Bayul Camp is at 4500m, Tsagun Camp is at 4500m, Zambie is at 4200m, Wanhuachi Camp is at 4400m, Xingo Camp is at 4200m, Leshitso is at 4500m, Resongtso Camp is at 4500m, Kasi Camp is at 4500m, Pudeng Camp is at 4300m. We strongly recommend hikers to be fully-acclimated before doing camping/trekking at higher part of Yading to reduce the risk of mountain sickness.
Long & Complicated Evacuation
The official park of Yading is limited to the usual parts where mass tourists go to including the valley of Luorong to Milk Lake and 5-color Lake, Pearl lake, etc. The rescue within the official park of Yading is complicated and usually take a long time because it will involve using golf car, using tourist bus and even horses and in between each method of transport there are usually long walks and by now (2023) it is still not well-organized. For people who go beyond the “official” part of Yading park and do the trekking, mainly the middle kora trek or small kora trek, will go far into the mountains where access to rescue is far. The campsites beyond Chenardorje and beyond Songduo are among the far campsites where rescue and evacuation is long. These places include Tsagun Camp, Zambie Camp, Xingo Camp, Leshitso Camp, Resongtso Camp, Kasi Camp, etc. To evacuate from these camps usually involve long time walking/using a horse for 10km to 30km on mountain trails. The furthest camp is Xingo that to evacuate from either way it is at least 30km without any modern transport available. We strongly recommend hikers to have sufficient preparations before doing a camping trek in Yading. For rescues from outside of the official park of Yading, a fee is expected from people who conduct a rescue.
Animal-related Hazard
While camping if you wish to have quiet environment to sleep you can choose to go camp further from the huts where horses and yaks often go to. There are no aggressive wild animals in Yading at where you camp and trek.
There are a couple of gear shops in Yading (by Riwa/Shangrila Town) that you can find basic gears including stoves, gas canisters, lighters, raincoat, warm and down jackets, hats, gloves etc. But tents and sleeping bags are limited or even unavailable. These shops are located in Shangri-La Town by the central part where the shops and restaurants are. If you are on a ground trip to Yading you can also rent gears from us in Chengdu, please read our Gear Rental details.
Route: Chengdu - Siguniang - Tagong - Yading - Xinduqiao
Route: Daocheng - Yading - Daocheng
Route: Daocheng - Yading - Daocheng
