Xinduqiao Plateau Grasslands

A broad plateau valley at 3,460 m nicknamed 'Photographers' Paradise', where golden poplars, meandering streams, Tibetan farmsteads, and distant snow peaks combine in a landscape celebrated by Chinese photographers.

Xinduqiao sits on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway between Kangding and Litang, at an elevation of approximately 3,460 m on a broad plateau ringed by mountains. Its reputation in Chinese photography and travel culture is outsized relative to its modest facilities: the valley has been called the most beautiful section of the Sichuan-Tibet road, a somewhat competitive accolade given the entire route's dramatic scenery.

The appeal is the combination of elements at a manageable altitude. Unlike the extreme highlands further west, Xinduqiao's plateau floor is wide enough for agriculture, and Tibetan farmers maintain fields, orchards, and stone farmhouses at the edge of extensive grasslands. In October, the poplars that line the drainage channels turn a brilliant gold, providing the dramatic foreground subjects that draw photographers from across China.

On clear days — most common in autumn — Yala Snow Mountain (5,820 m) and the more distant peaks of the Daxue range are visible from the valley floor. In summer, the grasslands support significant yak herds and nomadic Tibetan camps. Small stupas and mani stone walls punctuate the pastoral landscape at regular intervals.

Accommodation in Xinduqiao is primarily guesthouses aimed at overland travellers on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. The town is a natural stop on a self-drive or motorcycle journey between Chengdu and Lhasa and has fuelling stations for both types of vehicle.