My Past Trip to Yunnan

Number of days：9 days
Time: November
Average cost: 5,000 yuan
With whom: and friends
Updated: 2020.09.06

Colorful Yunnan lives up to its reputation. Picturesque Kunming, the idyllic Dali, the ancient Lijiang, the mysterious and beautiful Xishuangbanna...it's a place worth visiting.

I've been to Yunnan many times, either by car or by charter, and visited many scenic spots. Looking through my old photos, the beautiful scenes from those days often come back to me, and the process of sorting through them is a kind of reminiscence and enjoyment. I've written about my trip to Kunming city in a previous travelogue.

The following is a description of my previous trip to Yunnan.

Itinerary: Shanghai -- Kunming -- Lijiang -- Shangri-La -- Dali -- Kunming -- Shanghai

Fly to Kunming, then drive from Kunming to Lijiang.

Lijiang Ancient Town

Also known as Dayan Town, the streets in the ancient town are built along the mountains and rivers and paved with red breccia. Scenic spots include Sifang Street, Mu Mansion, Wufeng Tower, Lijiang Ancient Town Waterwheel, Baisha Residential Complex, and Shuhe Residential Complex.

Black Dragon Pond

Located at the foot of Elephant Mountain in the north of the city, about one kilometer upstream from Sifang Street in Lijiang Old Town along the crisscrossing Yuhe River lies a crystal clear spring pool, the world-famous Black Dragon Pond. Baishui River is located next to Yunshanping in the mountain stream at the eastern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan.

Baishui River is located next to Yunshanping in the mountain stream at the eastern foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan.

Yulong Snow Mountain

Known as "Oulu" in the Naxi language, which means "Heavenly Mountains," the mountain is named "Yulong" because its thirteen snow-capped peaks stretch out in a row, resembling a giant dragon soaring and dancing. Climbed to an altitude of 4680M in one breath.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

It is a world-famous canyon, famous for its strangeness, danger and grandeur. It is the canyon with the largest drop in the world.

Shangri-La

Pudacuo National Park

It is mainly composed of Bitahai, Shudu Lake and Militang subalpine pasture.

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Dukezong Ancient City

Built on the mountain, the road surface is paved with stone slabs according to the terrain, with natural undulations.

Shika Snow Mountain

Meaning "mountain with red deer," despite being called a snow mountain, snow only accumulates from November to April or May; the rest of the year, the rock is exposed.

Climb to the main peak of Shika Snow Mountain, which is 4,449.5 meters above sea level.

Dali

It is one of the first batch of national historical and cultural cities in China, located between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake.

Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple

Facing Yingle Peak of Cangshan Mountain in the west and Erhai Lake in the east, the three pagodas stand in a tripod-like pattern, with Qianxun Pagoda in the middle and two small pagodas guarding it in the north and south.

Erhai Lake

Known as the "Pearl of the Plateau", Fengqing Island is one of the three islands of Erhai Lake. It is known as "The best scenery of Dali lies in Cang'er Lake, and the best scenery of Cang'er Lake lies in Shuanglang".

Xizhou Town

It is one of the birthplaces of Dali culture. Xizhou Bai ethnic group has 88 residential buildings, with famous residential buildings from various historical periods. It is backed by Cangshan Mountain in the west and faces Erhai Lake in the east. It is the hometown of the movie "Five Golden Flowers".

Butterfly Spring

It got its name from the unique sight of butterflies fluttering in flocks here, but it gained fame thanks to the 1950s film "Five Golden Flowers."

Dali Ancient Town

The town boasts a relatively well-preserved residential complex, primarily in Bai style. It is one of the first nationally recognized historical and cultural cities. The ancient town is nestled against Cangshan Mountain and faces Erhai Lake.

Back to Kunming

Jiuxiang

There’s a saying in Yunnan that goes, “Look at the Stone Forest on the ground, and Jiuxiang underground.” Jiuxiang, like the famous Stone Forest, is a karst three-dimensional landscape, but its beauty lies not in the peaks but in the caves.

Stone Forest Scenic Area

Known as "the world's greatest wonder," the Stone Forest is a typical karst landform, dotted with stone peaks, rock buds, sinkholes, and underground rivers. The peaks and forests are shaped like swords, towers, mushrooms, and other shapes, creating a myriad of bizarre and magnificent sights.

Xishan Longmen (Dragon Gate)

Xishan is located west of Kunming, adjacent to Dianchi Lake. Densely forested, the area offers a refreshing and elegant environment, overlooking the vast Dianchi Lake. The Longmen Grottoes atop the mountain are also ancient and precious. Standing atop Longmen, you can take in the breathtaking views of the 500-mile-long Dianchi Lake.

The Golden Hall of the Palace of Supreme Harmony

A national key cultural relic protection unit, the main hall is cast in bronze, gleaming and dazzling, hence the name "Golden Hall".

In just nine days, I experienced the charm of colorful Yunnan.

There are still many attractions in Yunnan that I haven't visited yet. Ruili, Tengchong, the Red River Hani Rice Terraces, and the Three Parallel Rivers are all places I plan to visit next time.