The road ahead is long and arduous, but the best people are destined to find you (Lijiang and Diqing self-drive)

1640-1700 Return the car and refuel

1700-1720 Lijiang Station to Dayan Ancient Town, hotel pick-up

1720-1850 Hotel check-in, afternoon tea

1850-1910 Hotel to Mu Mansion

1915-2020 Dinner, Yunyao Stone Pot Restaurant: Wild Mushroom Chicken Soup (Stone Pot), Shiping Tofu (Grilled), Purple Heart Potatoes (Grilled), Sea Cauliflower (Stone Pot), Spirulina Buddha Cake (Ready to Eat)

2020-2230 Stroll around Dayan Ancient Town and return to the hotel

06:02 09:40-10:30 Hotel breakfast

12:00-12:30 Hotel to Lijiang Snow Mountain Canyon Performing Arts Park

12:30-16:10 Snow Mountain Canyon Performing Arts Park

Basic fare: Entrance ticket + outdoor performance + round-trip bus (one-way trip time 5-8 minutes) totaling 220 yuan, Sky Plank Road Glass Suspension Bridge 60 yuan (free trail available), Snow Mountain Mirror 20 yuan (clothing rental available at the Visitor Center)

Suggested tour duration 2.5-3 hours

16:10-16:40 Snow Mountain Canyon Performing Arts Park to Lijiang Station, drop-off /p>

1729-2047 Lijiang to Kunming, train, 220×2=440 yuan

Main text:

1. Lijiang Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: View the Jade Dragon from Yak Ping and have a panoramic view of the Thirteen Peaks

2. Lijiang Snow Mountain Canyon Performing Arts Park: Nestled amidst the snowy canyons, the glorious 500-year-old Mu Mansion shines brightly for generations to come.

Strategy and love, timeless themes in film and television, have you ever been captivated?

Kindness and tolerance, enduring virtues in the human world, have you ever possessed them?

The ever-flowing Jinsha River nourishes the people of the Lijiang Basin. Refusing to be trapped by the Dayan City Walls, the Mu Mansion continues to transform, and 500 years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Today, Lijiang, home to three World Heritage sites: the Old Town of Lijiang (a World Cultural Heritage), the Three Parallel Rivers (a World Natural Heritage), and the ancient Naxi Dongba books and documents (a Memory of the World Heritage), has long been a world-renowned tourist destination. At the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, in the Dongba Valley Scenic Area, a snowy canyon performing arts park is collaborating with renowned director and actor Yu Rongguang to create a new tourism model for scenic spots inspired by film and television dramas. The 3,000-acre Mufu Fengyun Landscape Scenic Area seamlessly integrates the TV series "Mufu Fengyun" with its performances. In the distance, the snow-capped Jade Dragon Snow Mountain shimmers, while nearby, visitors can admire the ancient buildings and recreated scenes from the show. Performers, in costume, roam the landscapes. This innovative live-action performance and interactive format offer visitors a completely new experience that can't be fully captured in a single article, photos, video, or livestream; it truly requires personal experience. In the blend of snow-capped mountains and canyons, nature and humanity, you begin to understand the history of the Mu Mansion, the customs and practices of the Naxi people, and then get to know the real Lijiang.

So, what about you? If you've been to Lijiang many times, you might need to experience a new attraction. The Snow Mountain Canyon Performing Arts Park, nestled beneath Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, features not only the indoor performance "Snow Mountain Mythology," a masterpiece of Dongba fantasy, but also the interactive outdoor landscape show "Mu Mansion Storm." Both performances are directed by renowned actor, director, and producer Yu Rongguang. Visitors can relive this classic period drama, which chronicles the turbulent times and feuds within the Mu clan during the Ming Dynasty, when the Naxi chieftains of Yunnan ruled the region. The two-hour-plus tour features a welcoming show at the entrance, a blessing show upon entering the sea of ​​flowers, and a love suicide show across the canyon. Each show lasts only about 10 minutes, yet every performance boasts exceptional artistry, including descents from the sky using open-air pressure and somersaults while wearing over ten pounds of armor. The backdrop is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and after each show, visitors are free to take photos with the performers. The route also includes popular photo spots like the flower sea, the Snow Mountain Mirror, the filming location for "Mufu Fengyun," the Yu Rongguang Works Exhibition Center, the Sky Plank Road, a via ferrata climbing experience, Bodhi Wisdom Valley, and the Mabang Inn.

Address: Inside the Dongba Valley Scenic Area, heading towards Jade Dragon Snow Mountain when leaving Lijiang City

Outdoor performance time: 10:00, 11:00, 14:00 and 15:00 daily

Director: Yu Rongguang

Basic ticket price: Entrance ticket + outdoor performance + round-trip tour bus (one-way time 5-8 minutes) for a total of 220 yuan, Sky Plank Road Glass Suspension Bridge 60 yuan (free trail available), Snow Mountain Mirror 20 yuan (clothing rental available at the visitor center)

Suggested visit duration: 2.5-3 hours

III. Banyan Tree Lijiang: As usual, what a happy thing it is

(1) Membership benefits

Banyan Tree Lijiang offers room types including Garden Suite, Mountain View Suite, Jacuzzi Villa, Duplex Villa, Pool Suite, Presidential Suite, etc. The current official website room rate starts from 1,900 yuan.

The one-bedroom massage pool villa I experienced this time has a seating area, a reception area and a washing area. Each functional area is self-contained. The bedroom faces the constant-temperature massage pool, which is equipped with a full range of SPA shampoo and treatment products produced by Banyan Tree, which is enough to relieve any fatigue from traveling. In addition, the privacy of the garden is also quite good, and the hotel even stipulates that aerial drones are not allowed to fly in the villa area.

The highlight of the guest rooms is that the themed essential oils and incense are changed every day. Soothing the body and mind is the true meaning of staying in a resort hotel. Because the vegetation in the hotel is so lush, the guest rooms are also equipped with mosquito killer lamps and electric mosquito coils for the convenience of guests with different habits.

Watching the changing light and shadow of the Jade Dragon Thirteen Peaks in the dim light of morning, and looking at the vast and deep starry sky at dusk, is this kind of life considered a win?

When I wake up from drunkenness in the afternoon, the pine windows and bamboo doors are so chic.

(3) Buffet breakfast

What urges me to get up early is not just the rich or exquisite breakfast, but also the clear view of the snow-capped mountains. Banyan Tree Lijiang has an excellent view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, but the best viewing time must be in the morning. Yes, the earlier the better. When the sun rises, the light will become less soft. As the temperature increases, the clouds that surround the snow-capped mountains all year round evaporate and condense, becoming thicker and moving extremely slowly. At that time, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was looming. Therefore, every day, many guests who are ready to check out after breakfast will linger in the hotel courtyard, wanting to take one last look at the clear snow-capped mountains and not want to leave for a long time.

Breakfast at Mingyue Restaurant, which is a landscape restaurant, is exquisite. After you sit down, not to mention regular coffee and tea, American, mocha, latte, decaf coffee, English black tea, green tea, Pu'er tea, oolong tea, chamomile, passion fruit tea, etc. are all available, and there are even Ovaltine and Horlicks specially prepared for children.

In addition to conventional single-sided and double-sided omelettes, eggs Benedict and eggs Florentine are also available.

In terms of dishes, we follow the consistent meal preparation guidelines of international chain five-star hotels and resorts. In addition, it brings together various delicacies from all over Yunnan Province. The most local characteristics of Lijiang Baba, chickpea jelly, and liver blowing have always been the most popular breakfast buffet dishes at Mingyue Restaurant.

It is recommended that you dine outdoors. The cool breeze in the morning will awaken your unawakened heart. The koi carps with conspicuous patterns are parading around the lake waiting for guests to feed. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the blue sky and white clouds are reflected in the water. You don’t have to look up.

The bright moon is bright and clear, and I am drinking in the court.

(4) Dinner

If you have to spend the day enthusiastically, it will not be wasted, so my time at Banyan Tree Lijiang was really fulfilling.

Walking through the deep courtyards, the fruit trees cover all four seasons, and you encounter the not-so-glamourous peacock. You stroll around the hotel every day, as if there is no one around, as if the Banyan Tree is your own back garden. When the sun sets over the snow-capped mountains, you know that tomorrow will be a sunny day.

We still choose Mingyue Restaurant for dinner. Currently, we can also enjoy free room service, and the meal preparation time is about an hour.

Chinese and Western-style set meals for two are relatively cost-effective, including cold yak beef, Xuanwei stir-fried pork, Yongping braised chicken, pineapple chicken risotto, Thai roasted pork neck, ham pizza, cream pumpkin soup, vegetable salad, desserts, seasonal fruits... every dish has just the right taste.

For Chinese food, we recommend the above-mentioned Yunnan dishes. In addition, matsutake mushroom soup and Jingpo cold chicken are must-haves. For Western food, Southeast Asian cuisine is preferred.

Jade liquid dripping bead plate, cold incense served with dinner.

4. Diqing Pudacuo National Park: lush grass and wild flowers

Pudacuo National Park in Diqing Prefecture is located in the central area of the Greater Shangri-La Scenic Area and is an important part of the world natural heritage "Three Parallel Rivers". The scenic spot consists of Bita Sea, Shudu Lake and Militang subalpine pasture. Starting from September 3, 2017, the core scenic spot of Bitahai and Militang Subalpine Pasture will be closed to tourists.

The two main lakes in the park: Shudu Lake and Bitahai are located on the north and south sides of the park, more than 10 kilometers apart. Between the two lakes are Luorong Village, Militang Grassland and other scenic spots. Due to the long distance, tourists generally take sightseeing buses and travel according to the driving route. Take the scenic sightseeing bus at the entrance and it will take you to Shudu Lake Scenic Area in about 20 minutes. The water of Shudu Lake is clear and blue, and beside the lake is a stretch of plateau pasture. In spring and summer, the wild flowers on the pasture are in full bloom and are very beautiful. In the winter morning, the water vapor on the lake condenses, filling the water like a layer of white mist. Only by taking the first bus in the morning can you enjoy this wonderful scene. There is a 3.3-kilometer walking plank road built along the lake in the grassland. It takes about 1-1.5 hours to complete a circle. At the end of the plank road is the bus station, and the original sightseeing route thereafter is closed. In other words, you only have 1-1.5 hours of hiking time to enjoy the endless lakes, wetlands with dead trees, lush grass, and wild flowers...

The Bita Sea, which in Tibetan means "a sea of oak trees turning into felt", is no longer visible. According to legend, the oak trees on the lakeside are as dense as green felt. There are a large number of azaleas growing in the woods. When the spring flowers bloom in May and June every year, the azalea petals fall into the water. Fish eat the slightly poisonous azaleas and float to the surface one after another. This is the azalea.

The scenery of Pudacuo Park today is lackluster. Since the overall altitude of the park is between 3,500 meters and 4,150 meters, and the climate on the plateau is unpredictable, tourists might as well not go there if they are concerned about the possibility of altitude sickness.

The ticket price is 20 yuan in off-season and 40 yuan in peak season. The round-trip sightseeing bus to the scenic spot is 60 yuan. The opening hours of the scenic spot are 0830/0900-1600. The recommended tour time is 2 hours. The parking lot is charged.

5. Diqing Gaden Songzanlin Monastery: "Little Potala Palace" in Tibetan area

Gaden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Yunnan and the center of Yellow Buddhism in Sichuan and Yunnan. It plays a decisive role in the entire Tibetan area and is known as the "Little Potala Palace". The temple is built on the mountain and looks like an ancient castle. It is a collection of Tibetan plastic arts and is also known as the "Tibetan Art Museum". Every year on November 29th of the Tibetan calendar, Tibetans hold the Gedong Festival here, featuring "tiaoshen" (mask dance), in a mysterious and warm atmosphere.

The temple, also known as Guihua Temple, is located at the foot of Foping Mountain 5 kilometers north of Shangri-La City in Diqing Prefecture. It was built in 1679 AD (the eleventh year of the Yin Sheep in the Tibetan calendar) and completed in 1681 AD (the year of the Yin Iron Rooster). The fifth Dalai Lama personally named it "Gaden Songtsen Forest" and it is one of the "Thirteen Forests" built by the fifth Dalai Lama and Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty.

Lam Yangcuo Lake, which is also part of the scenic spot, means "Lake of the Soul of the Holy Mother" in Tibetan. It is located opposite Songzanlin Temple. According to legend, it is the soul lake of the goddess Bandan Lhamo.

Special reminder: Songzanlin Temple belongs to the Gelug Sect temple, so when visiting the main hall, remember to enter from the left and exit from the right. The prayer wheel must also turn clockwise.

Transportation: Take bus No. 3 to Gulong Songzanlin Temple Station and walk 741 meters.

The ticket price is 27.5 yuan in off-season and 55 yuan in peak season. The round-trip tour to the scenic spot is 20 yuan, and the guide fee is 15 yuan. The opening hours of the scenic spot are 0800-1800. The recommended tour time is 2 hours. The parking lot is free.

6. Banyan Tree Yanan: Since childhood, I have been taking care of the stars of the past by myself

The Shidu Gang River is gurgling, the top of Nare Mountain is covered with snow, and there is your pastoral dream in Ren'an Valley...

(1) Special reminder

Except for the Tibetan chalet converted into villa guest rooms at Banyan Tree Rengan at Shangri-La, the remaining buildings are used as lobby book bar, souvenir shop, restaurant, SPA and wellness center, and room service center. In addition, I won’t spoil the surprises in the yurt for you to decipher on your own. Another warm reminder: Banyan Tree Ringan is not open year-round. The winter weather conditions in the Tibetan area of the Diqing Plateau are relatively harsh, so the hotel has a winter break for several months every year.

(2) Architectural style and guest room features

The spring of 2020 has come later than before. The Diqing Shangri-La in May and June seems to have not fully woken up from the long and bleak winter. The flowers have not yet bloomed, the grass is only slightly green, and a large number of tourists have not yet arrived...

Fifteen years have passed, but in the Ren'an Valley there are still the happiest cattle and sheep wandering along the country roads, the most devout Tibetans worshiping in temples that are no longer touristy, and the most leisurely daily life being performed every day in the secluded small village...

Banyan Tree Ringan is still a Tibetan pastoral dream. The peaceful Tibetan village embodies all urbanites’ fantasy of seclusion. It is still one of Banyan Tree’s most classic escape resort hotels.

The Banyan Tree Yanan, located at an altitude of 3,300 meters, is hidden in a remote village in the Tibetan area. It is mysterious and hidden. It took 11 years to build and was transformed from 18 Tibetan pastoral houses, 14 of which were converted into 32 villas and guest rooms. Its exquisite and solid architectural model follows the traditional Tibetan style.

The room types of Banyan Tree Ringan include: Tibetan chalet, Tibetan spring bath chalet, two-bedroom Tibetan cabin, and two-bedroom Yanan cabin. The current official website room price starts from 1,600 yuan.

Live in a traditional Tibetan pastoral house with a narrow top and a wide bottom structure. It has an independent courtyard and a duplex attic. The upstairs is the bedroom and living room, and the downstairs is the bathroom, toilet and cloakroom. A handmade wooden bathtub is placed in the center. The color tone of the entire room is dazzling red and black, showing the aesthetic concepts and living atmosphere that are very different from those in the Central Plains. There are Thangkas hanging on the wall behind the big bed, a small bar transformed from a Buddhist niche, a beautifully crafted woven carpet on the floor, and various Tibetan-style decorations in the guest room. Even the nameplate of the guest room key is engraved with the name of the original owner of the house.

There are 15 Tibetan-style chalets, with spacious living rooms and bedrooms on the second floor, and luxurious wooden bathtubs and private garden terraces on the first floor; 6 Tibetan-style spring bath chalets, the biggest feature of which is a SPA treatment room; 8 two-bedroom Tibetan chalets with two bedrooms, facing the valley and river views; and there are also three two-bedroom Ren'an chalets, all with their own fire pits. There are only two options for room size, 175 or 325 square meters.

I just want to live here with peace of mind, escape from the world, and experience a real Tibetan life. There is no time to live, but comfort.

You don’t have to get up early to go to Dabao Temple to spin the prayer wheel; you don’t have to go to Tibetan homes in the afternoon to visit the family members; there are still few tourists in the evening, and the bonfires have not been lit yet.

During the day, you can walk around in the Tibetan costumes provided by the hotel for free; at night, you can cover yourself with a thin quilt and gaze at the stars in the deck chair in the yard, facing poverty head-on, being simple and optimistic, that is enough.

(3) Buffet breakfast

There was a moment when I really thought so. I should go far away to see the world, to find something, to find something or someone.

For Shangri-La, my thoughts are to take a look at the Rizhao Jinshan Mountain in the Meili Snow Mountains, hike in Yubeng, and stay at the Banyan Tree Ren'an, China's first Banyan Tree hidden in the valley.

A four-hour drive from Banyan Tree Lijiang, passing through Lashihai, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and the ancient city of Dukezong. At the end of the road in Hongpo Village, Jiantang Town, a Tibetan village, is Banyan Tree Ren'an.

The early morning in Yan'an Valley is quiet and peaceful. The river becomes dense with water vapor under the sunlight, covering the village like fairy air, and the clouds and mist flow misty. In the morning light, the Tibetan-style pastoral houses stacked near and far, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, feel like walking into a paradise. Here you can stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city and find your inner true self.

Drink a bowl of mellow butter tea and take a bite of sweet tsampa at Zuixuan Bar Restaurant. Of course, delicacies from all over the world are also available here. The latte prepared by the Tibetan guy is also very international.

(4) Dinner

Obtaining ingredients requires a long period of hard work and patient waiting. This rule also applies to mountains. When in Shangri-La, of course you have to taste the ultimate delicacy gifted by nature - matsutake mushrooms.

At Banyan Tree Yanan, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to obtain ingredients. You only need to call the front desk and make a reservation one hour in advance, and you can enjoy a Tibetan yak hotpot set meal at Zuixuan Bar Restaurant, which brings together many natural ingredients from the Diqing Plateau.

Put silky chicken and wild mushrooms into a special black clay pot made in Nixi Village, simmer with special Tibetan spices, simmer slowly over charcoal fire, wait until the soup boils, then add yak meat, matsutake, black pork, wild river fish and other fresh ingredients, add the hotel chef's secret hot pot dipping sauce, and then eat until you lean on the wall.

Today, unprecedented abundance of food and unprecedented resource dilemma coexist. If we look for answers in the wisdom of our ancestors, they may warn us that in our short life, we have thousands of mansions, only six feet to sleep at night, and a wealth of wealth, but we can only eat three meals per day.

What I miss most is this Tibetan yak hot pot set meal.

Conclusion:

I just want to hold you and walk far away in my dreams,

The red roof of the small wooden house, the address is a secret,

You hold the kitten, your blue eyes are no longer melancholy,

Where is Shangri-La, let us find it.

More Stories in Yunnan

Fourth Trip to Yunnan (Part 7 of Dali: The Cauliflowers in Weishan Basin Are Turning Yellow)

, , Updated: 2022.05.08

Lijiang | Which ancient town is worth visiting?

Number of days: 4 days, Average cost: 3200 yuan, Updated: 2024.08.20

Elephants and Slow Loris

Number of days: 1 day, Average cost: 100 yuan, Updated: 2024.12.20

Lijiang 6-day tour, disappointment and surprise (first day, second day).

Number of days: 6 days, Average cost: 2000 yuan, Updated: 2020-09-11 16:39

Xishuangbanna, Tropical Rainforest Adventure

Number of days：6 days, , Updated: 2024.06.18

Winter is warm, the budget is about 1K, come to Yunnan to travel without pits, feel the free travel of Kunming Dali Lijiang

Number of days: 6 days, , Updated: 2022.11.13