Pudacuo is Shangri-La's plateau ecological secret place. The core gameplay is "sightseeing car series + segmented hiking", focusing on lake light, meadows and primeval forests.
I. Core information
• Tickets: Pass 138 yuan (including 68 yuan ticket + 70 yuan sightseeing fare), valid on the same day, make a reservation in advance on the official account
• Opening hours: 7:30-16:00 from April to October; 8:30-16:00 from January to March, and admission will be closed after 15:00
• Altitude: 3500-4150 meters, about 3,625 meters in Du Lake, and about 3,539 meters in Bita Sea
• Suggested duration: 1 day (4-6 hours), suitable for a 2-day tour of the ancient city of Dukezong
• The best season: 5-6 months rhododendron season, 9-10 months colorful forest season, winter rime and starry sky are beautiful
II. Traffic Guide
• Self-driving / chartered car: urban area → Pudacuo about 22 kilometers, 30-40 minutes, mainly asphalt road, many curves need to be careful; chartered car round trip 300-400 yuan, can make the driver wait.
• Special bus: Buy tickets at the ticket office of Dukezong Ancient City / passenger terminal, 30 yuan/person for the round trip, departure at 9:30, 15:30 the return trip, and extra during the peak season.
• Carpooling: Find a regular blue-licensed car in the ancient city (at the beginning of Yun RD), about 15 yuan/person, flexible and worry-free.
• Transportation in the scenic spot: take a sightseeing bus uniformly, and the stops are Zhudu Lake → Militang → Bitahai → Tourist Center, with the last bus at 16:00.
III. Must-play routes and punching points
Regular route (sightseeing bus + light hiking)
• Zhudu Lake (2 hours): Arrive at the first stop by sightseeing bus, take the 3.3-kilometer wooden plank road on the south bank, and there will be no wind and fog on the lake before 10 o'clock, and it is best to take a mirror photo; you can choose a cruise (about 50 yuan) or experience yak milk (20 yuan/cup).
• Militang Ranch (30 minutes): The sightseeing bus stops at the viewing platform and overlooks the alpine meadows and yaks from afar. It is suitable for taking a vast panoramic view. The drone is limited to 120 meters in height and needs to be reported in advance.
• Bitahai (2-3 hours): Take the 4.4-kilometer ecological plank road on the west line, see the thousand-year-old moss carpet and the wonders of "rhododendron drunken fish", and you can meet rare birds such as black-necked cranes in winter.
Simplified route (limited physical strength)
Take a battery car from Duhu Lake (about 30 yuan) → Militang Observation Deckway → Bitahai Essence Section (1-2 kilometers) → Return trip, the whole journey takes 3-4 hours.
IV. Food recommendation
• Yak hot pot: represented by the ancient city "Tibetan Family Banquet" and "Kamba Shepherd's Restaurant", wild mushroom soup base + yak beef, drink soup first and then shabu-shabu, warm up and resist high-altness.
• Butter tea + green barley cake: salty and sweet can be selected, with freshly roasted green barley cake (available at Duhu Station), relieves grease and replenishes energy, the ancient city "Ama Butter Tea" has a good reputation.
• Matsutake stewed local chicken: the best from June to September, the ancient city "Xueyu Zangjia" is freshly picked and cooked, the soup is fresh and delicious, and it is a good tonic for the plateau.
• Duhu Coffee / Snacks: Cuoqi Book Coffee and Squirrel Coffee can enjoy the lake view for coffee, and there are light meals such as grilled sausages and instant noodles at the end.
• Bitta Sea Yak Burger: Available next to the Ecological Education Library, with a plateau lake view, suitable for quickly replenishing physical strength.
• Nixi black pottery stewed chicken: black pottery is slowly stewed, the chicken is smooth and tender, and the soup is blended with the fragrance of matsutake mushroom. It can be tasted in restaurants around the ancient city.
• Butter-fried milk residue: sour and spicy, perfect with green barley wine, rich Tibetan flavor.
V. Accommodation recommendation
In the scenic spot (immersive experience)
• Youyou Manor / Camp: The hinterland of Luorong Village, Tibetan style, including breakfast, about 380 yuan/night; the tent can see the starry sky, self-driving can be entered by reporting the license plate in advance, the restaurant has yak hot pot, etc.
• Yunjie Pudacuo Homestay: panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, excellent view, about 1680 yuan/night, suitable for high-end experience.
Around the scenic spot (cost-effective choice)
• Yamashita Mountain Wildfire Oxygen Supply Homestay: Close to the scenic spot, with oxygen supply equipment, suitable for people who are sensitive to high-altness, about 200-300 yuan/night.
• Yangkou Courtyard / Zaxi Yangcang Homestay: Tibetan style, the owner is warm, you can taste authentic green barley cakes, about 150-250 yuan/night.
Urban area (Dukezong Ancient City, convenience is preferred)
• Tibetan homestay: such as "Yanyi Inn", underfloor heating + ghee tea experience, about 200-500 yuan/night, convenient for carpooling the next day.
• High-end hotel: Songzan Linka Hotel, push the window to see the temple, free Tibetan clothing travel photos, suitable for quality travel.
VI. Precautions
High altitude protection (core)
• Get used to Shangri-La 1-3 days in advance, avoid strenuous exercise, don't stay up late, don't drink alcohol, and try not to wash your hair on the first day.
• Prepare oxygen bottles (about 30 yuan/can at the entrance of the scenic spot, which is cheaper than in the park). If you have a headache or shortness of breath, take oxygen to rest immediately, and seek medical attention if it is serious.
• The elderly, children and patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases should be cautious, and they can take Rhodiodia in advance according to the doctor's instructions.
Equipment and warmth
• Clothing: windproof jacket (thin down jacket / windbreaker), quick-drying underwear, the temperature difference between morning and evening can reach 20℃.
• Protection: non-slip hiking shoes, sunglasses, SPF50 + sunscreen, sun hat, wooden plank road is slippery, and there is thin ice in winter.
• Others: power bank, high-calorie snacks (chocolate, beef jerky), hot water, replenish energy to prevent high-altity.
Safety and ecology
• Walking must take the designated plank road, and it is strictly forbidden to enter swamps and open areas to protect the plateau ecology.
• Drones are prohibited from flying in the whole area of Bitahai. Militang aerial photography needs to be reported in the scenic spot in advance, and the height is limited to 120 meters.
• Be sure to take the sightseeing bus back before 16:00 to avoid staying.
Tips for avoiding pits
• The ticket price is 138 yuan (including 68 yuan ticket + 70 yuan sightseeing fare). Make a reservation in advance on the official account. Don't trust the low-priced group.
• Pay attention to the mobile speed measurement of National Highway 214 for self-driving, and the speed limit is 40km/h to avoid violations.
• The battery car in the scenic spot (about 30 yuan) can be selected as needed. If you have physical strength, it is recommended to walk on the plank road, and the scenery is better.