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Question

Hi all,

We now have our international flight tickets in China. 30 days in November.

We'll have a total of 13 days in Yunnan and your advice is more than welcome for the northern part of the province. We'll have a car for the whole trip:

D1: Arrival Lijiang

D2: Jade Dragon Mountain. Blue moon valley tour

D3: Drive to TLG tll Tea Horse. Trek to Tina's GH and further down. Night in the area

D4: Bashuihai / Shangri La

D5: Shangri La area

Then Shaxi, Dali, Kunming, Jianshui, and Yuanyuang ....

OR:

D1: Lijiang

D2 Drive to Jade Dragon Mountain. Blue moon valley tour Then drive to Wumu

D3: Wumu Baoshan Wumu

D4: Daju TLG

D5 TLG

Then Shaxi, Dali, Kunming, Jianshui, and Yuanyuang .... ...

Looks like option 2 is maybe a little less touristy than Shangri La Dukezong. But we would miss Songzanlin...

We'll see Labrang monastery at the beginning of our trip but maybe Songzanlin is really outstanding ?

We've also been to Tibet before and we see lots of Tibetan temples in Nepal almost every year.

Answer

Hello! Both options for your Yunnan itinerary have their merits, and the choice really depends on your preference for either cultural depth or less-touristy experiences.

Option 1: Lijiang – Jade Dragon Mountain – Tea Horse Trek – Bashuihai – Shangri La

This option includes the classic highlights and gives you the chance to experience the Dukezong Old Town in Shangri La as well as Songzanlin Monastery.

Pros: You get to see Songzanlin Monastery, which is impressive architecturally and historically, and Dukezong Old Town, which has a charming Tibetan feel. The Jade Dragon Mountain and Blue Moon Valley tours are well-established tourist routes with stunning scenery.
Cons: More touristy, especially in Shangri La town itself. You may feel more “on the beaten path.”
Travel distances are moderate, and driving is manageable. Staying overnight in the area allows a relaxed pace.

Option 2: Lijiang – Jade Dragon Mountain – Wumu – Baoshan – Daju – TLG

This option avoids the busiest tourist spots and focuses more on scenic drives and less-visited villages.

Pros: Less crowded, more off-the-beaten-path experience. Great if you have already visited Tibet and Tibetan temples elsewhere, as it offers a quieter and more natural setting.
Cons: You miss Songzanlin Monastery, which is one of the largest Tibetan monasteries in Yunnan and architecturally impressive. Dukezong Old Town will also be skipped, so less exposure to local Tibetan town life.
Driving to Wumu and surrounding areas provides authentic landscapes and local experiences, but some roads may be slower or less well-maintained than the main tourist routes.

Additional considerations:

If you are particularly interested in Tibetan monasteries and architecture, Songzanlin is a highlight even compared to Labrang or Nepal temples. It is more visually striking and photogenic, with golden roofs and a large monastic complex.
If your focus is on trekking, scenic landscapes, and avoiding crowds, option 2 is preferable.
Since you have a car, flexibility is higher. You could consider a hybrid approach: do the morning at Jade Dragon Mountain, then drive towards Wumu but still stop at Songzanlin briefly if it appeals.
Weather in November can be cold, especially in Shangri La and at higher elevations. Roads may be icy in mountainous areas, so plan driving times carefully.

Recommendation: If you have already experienced Tibetan temples extensively and prefer a less-touristy, more natural route, option 2 is ideal. However, if this is your first time in this region and you want to capture a full “Shangri La experience” including Songzanlin, option 1 is the better choice.

Overall, both itineraries are feasible with your 13-day plan, and the choice mainly comes down to your preference for cultural landmarks versus quieter scenic travel.

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