China’s ‘Regret if You Don’t Go, Regret if You Do’ Destinations: Potala Palace, Great Wall, Daocheng Yading
There are always some scenic spots so famous and alluring that you dream of visiting them; a lifetime without seeing them feels like a regret. Yet, once you’ve journeyed all that way and stand there in person, you’re filled with regret.
1. Potala Palace: All Emptiness
Introduction: The Potala Palace, an ancient structure located in Lhasa, Tibet, is built on a hillside and boasts a majestic exterior. It is not only the pinnacle of Tibetan architectural art but also the world’s highest palace complex. According to external lore, inside there are countless treasures like gold, murals, religious instruments, diamonds, jade, and śarīra—priceless and immeasurable.
Visitor tips: During peak season (April–October), tickets cost 200 CNY; in the off-season (November–March), it’s free, but you must book online in advance. Upon entry, you’ll face extremely strict security checks—no lighters or water allowed, and photography is prohibited inside.
Real experience: 'Potala Palace: all is emptiness—spent 200 yuan just to stare at loneliness.' For the average visitor, the Potala Palace is a cultural peak far too high to reach. The cultural relics and Buddha statues inside are simply 'incomprehensible' to most. The entire visit consists of being pushed along by the crowd, climbing uphill the whole way. When it’s finally over, you breathe a sigh of relief, thinking you can finally find a place to rest.
Interpretation: To truly visit the Potala Palace, you need a deep understanding of Tibetan Buddhist culture and history. Without that foundation, stepping inside is like an illiterate person wandering through the world’s most profound library. Nowadays, whenever I travel to Tibet, I no longer enter the Potala Palace; instead, I admire its exterior from the square. As a worldly person without enough cultural refinement, I can’t comprehend the historical relics inside—I can only marvel at its sacred, magnificent facade.
2. The Great Wall: 'He who has never been to the Great Wall is no true man,' but once you get there, it’s a regret.
Introduction: The Great Wall is the greatest ancient military defense project and one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Stretching from Hebei to Xinjiang across 15 provinces and regions, it spans 21,000 kilometers—that’s ten times the length of the Sichuan–Tibet Highway.
Visitor tips: Peak season (April–October) tickets are 40 CNY, off-season (November–March) 35 CNY. The main way to explore is on foot.
Real experience: 'He who has never been to the Great Wall is no true man, but once you get there, it’s a regret.' From the moment you step onto the wall, the view you see is the same all the way. Traffic jams, crowds, strong UV rays, and monotonous scenery make the Great Wall a regret for many.
Interpretation: Climbing the Great Wall is exhausting in itself, and combined with the sea of people and no shade under the summer sun, it’s hard to enjoy a visit to one of the Seven Wonders. But when you’re in Beijing, can you really not take a peek at the Great Wall?
3. Daocheng Yading: Regret if you don’t go, regret even more if you do.
Introduction: Daocheng Yading is located in Daocheng County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan—just next door to Ding Zhen’s hometown. (Ding Zhen’s hometown is Litang County, which borders Daocheng County; when driving from Chengdu to Daocheng, you pass through Litang.) Daocheng Yading has a string of dreamy titles: 'the last pure land on the blue planet,' 'the last Shangri-La,' 'the soul of Shangri-La'...
Visitor tips: Entrance ticket is 150 CNY, the sightseeing bus ticket 120 CNY, plus an electric cart inside the area 80 CNY, making the total actual cost 350 CNY. Daocheng Yading is about 800 kilometers from Chengdu, a roughly 2‑day drive.
Real experience: 'Regret if you don’t go, regret even more if you do.' Hiking for 7 hours at an altitude of 4,700 meters is truly tough. Inside the area, there are few public toilets and no high-altitude emergency aid stations. While the scenery does look like a 'last pure land,' it’s a far cry from the photos you see online. If it rains, what you see is even harder to describe: a gray, murky mess of color and light.
Interpretation: Daocheng Yading features three sacred snow mountains, three sacred lakes, plus highland meadows, river valleys, and pristine natural landscapes. All around, spruce and cypress forests flourish, and the water is so clear it seems to flow with light—but the journey is a true test of your stamina. 'Eyes in heaven, body in hell' perfectly captures the bittersweet experience of visiting Daocheng Yading.
There are many other spots across China that fall into this 'regret if you don’t go, regret if you do' category—like West Lake, Yangshuo, Fenghuang Ancient Town, and Zhangjiajie. Perhaps the expectations are simply too high, and when you finally get there, the crowds and the physical exertion make you realize this sacred place is nothing like what you imagined. What you thought would be a blissful vacation turns into a self-inflicted ordeal where you pay to suffer. Have you ever had such an experience?
