Hiking in Yubeng and Leisurely Tour in Shangri-La

Number of days：6 days
Time: May
Average cost: 3700 yuan
With whom: and friends
Updated: 2021.06.25

I'm a office worker who commutes between home and the office, and I've long been lacking exercise. I love traveling. Wandering through unfamiliar streets or scenic landscapes always brings me relaxation and joy. So when a friend invited me to hike in Yubeng, my inner enthusiast was buzzing. After doing some research and reading a few travelogues, I impulsively agreed.

This is the snow-capped mountains above the Yubeng Glacier Lake. If it weren't so cloudy and the sky were blue, it would be beautiful. All the itineraries were arranged by friends; this time, I was just waiting for departure. Before setting off, I was actually quite worried about my stamina and whether I could complete the three-day hike. Reality proves: You never know your limits until you challenge yourself. I kept telling myself I could do it, and in the end, I persevered and made it through. As long as you don't give up, anything is possible. For those who want to go, let's go!

Barley fields in Yubeng

Before setting out, besides preparing a large and small backpack and hiking poles, all I needed were sunscreen and a raincoat. Because I checked the weather before departure and found that Yubeng and Shangri-La would be cloudy with light rain, I didn't even bring a hat. I ended up buying a hat after all, as cloudy weather on the plateau is not what we imagined. Besides the jacket, I wore regular clothes, just like my shoes—anything comfortable for walking and exercise. Since I'd researched ahead of time and knew this trip was essentially a training camp, I packed some soothing ointment for muscle soreness. I even brought the Japanese version of Kyusoku Time, which worked well, though it felt a bit cold when applied. Looking down from Zhongyubeng, I saw the snow-capped mountains of Yubeng and Shenpu below.

After buying my plane tickets, I was thinking of going to Yunnan. Although it wasn't in Ruili, I still got my two vaccinations beforehand just to be safe. Yunnan was fine, but Guangzhou was! We flew from Guangzhou to Shangri-La. Worried about travel disruptions, we even went to the hospital for a nucleic acid test two days before departure to avoid being quarantined or turned away.

Shangri-La Panahai Prairie

Our plan is:

Day 1: Guangzhou =》Shangri-La =》Feilai Temple

Day 2, 3, 4: Feilai Temple =》Yubeng (Divine Waterfall, Ice Lake, Ni Nong Chu)

Day 5: Shangri-La (Pudacuo International Park, Panahai Grassland)

Day 6: Songzanlin Temple, flight at noon via Chongqing/Kunming and transfer to Guangzhou

There is only one flight from Guangzhou to Shangri-La every day at 9:25 am, which goes via Shangri-La to Lhasa, Tibet. The flight was not full on the day we went, so we were free to sit by the window.

Regarding altitude sickness, I had a slight headache after arriving in Shangri-La, and I snored so loudly on my first night that it woke up my friends. The next day, I was fine; I'd completely adapted and my headaches were gone. My friend had no reaction at all, so it really depends on your individual constitution. To be safe, I recommend taking Rhodiola rosea a week beforehand.

Since there were only two of us, we didn't hire a car. Instead, we took a taxi from outside Shangri-La Airport to the bus station (not far, 10 yuan per person), and then took a regular bus to Feilai Temple (60 yuan). Other travelogues mentioned that chartered cars allow you to stop at scenic spots (Jinsha Bay) along the way for photos, but taking the regular bus doesn't offer this benefit. We arrived at Feilai Temple in the evening and checked into a hotel where we could see the snow-capped mountains from the balcony. It cost over 400 yuan a night. But it was a bit of a waste because there were too many clouds and we couldn't see the sunrise over Jinshan Mountain.

We had a delicious yak beef hotpot, the one with the highest rating on Meituan. Highly recommended, it was the most delicious meal of the entire trip. The yak beef was stewed very tender and easy to chew, even people with weak teeth could eat it.

The next morning I took the bus to Xidang. I bought the ticket in advance on the bus from Shangri-La to Feilai Temple the day before. The driver explained that the hike from Xidang to Yubeng is 8 kilometers uphill and 8 kilometers downhill, for a total of 16 kilometers. The information also indicated that the scenery along the way was average, so we bought a 200 yuan ticket in Xidang and took an off-road vehicle to Shangyubeng. The following two photos were taken at the Shangyubeng drop-off point.

Upper Yubeng

Lower Yubeng

We arrived at Upper Yubeng around 11am. We left our big bag at the inn and carried a small one instead. After we reached Lower Yubeng and had a bowl of noodles, we set off on the road to the Divine Waterfall. The road to the sacred waterfall is all cement road, which is very easy to walk on. The first two kilometers are flat roads, and then it starts to rise for about one to two kilometers, and there is another section of flat road. The last kilometer is the most physically demanding climbing stairs.

Rainfall

On the way to the sacred waterfall

On the way to the sacred waterfall src="https://dimg04.c-ctrip.com/images/01069120008r1rpl0F94E_R_800_10000_Q90.jpg?proc=autoorient" /> On the way to Shenpu Waterfall

It started to rain in the second half of our walk, and the temperature was very low when we arrived at Shenpu Waterfall. On the way to the Divine Waterfall On the way to the Divine Waterfall On the way to the Divine Waterfall Shenpu Waterfall. This handsome guy is a fellow traveler from the same inn that I met on the way to Shenpu Waterfall.

After taking two photos at Shenpu Waterfall, I hurried down. I had sweated a lot on the way up, and my clothes were soaked. Shenpu Waterfall is very cold, and the temperature dropped so suddenly that I was shivering after staying there for a while.

The return trip was much better. We kept going down and walked quickly. On the way, we met a little squirrel that came just to beg for food. It was super cute and not afraid of people at all. Its round eyes looked straight at you, as if asking: Hey, is there any food?

We set out from Xia Yubeng to Shenpu at around 12 noon, and it was already 5 pm when we returned to Xia Yubeng. We had been walking all afternoon, and by the time we got back to Xia Yubeng, we were already exhausted. The most frustrating part was the two kilometers up the mountain from Xia Yubeng to Shang Yubeng, which was the last straw that broke the camel's back.

When we got back to the inn in Shang Yubeng, my legs felt like they were worn out. A girl traveling with me at the inn heard that the road to Binghu Lake was even harder and more tiring, so she couldn't stand it and canceled her trip to Binghu Lake and headed back home instead!

The inn we stayed at in Shangyubeng was called "Butter Tea," and we heard it had the best food in Yubeng. My friend generously booked the best balcony rooms—two, one for each of us! The photos we took on the balcony were great too. We were so tired we thought—we might as well just sit on the balcony and let the sun set all day. We might not go to Binghu Lake tomorrow.

Shot on the balcony of the inn

Photographed from the inn balcony

I applied a fatigue-relieving ointment that night, and while my leg muscles were quite sore the next day, it was still bearable. In other words, I could still walk. Since we were already here, after breakfast, we set off again, our goal being the Ice Lake!

Below are photos taken on the way to the Ice Lake. The White Pagoda we passed is said to be the best place to see the stars in Yubeng. Unfortunately, it was cloudy both nights, so we missed the chance.

After passing pastures and seabuckthorn forests, we began our ascent. Compared to the cement road to the Divine Waterfall, the path to the glacial lake was truly pristine, a path trodden by foot. Along the way, there were colorful ribbons tied to trees; just follow them. We walked for a while, rested to catch our breath, and continued our ascent. Our pace was slow, and people kept passing us. But to complete the journey, we had to stay within our own pace and rhythm, and we would eventually reach the end. After a difficult climb to the fir forest, there will be a flat road where you can take a short walk. Then continue to climb and you will reach the platform with the best view.

Fir forest

Scenic spot taken from the platform src="https://dimg04.c-ctrip.com/images/0100q120008r7koa3FE85_R_800_10000_Q90.jpg?proc=autoorient" />

After getting off the platform, you'll find yourself at the stream. Just follow the stream to reach Base Camp. Base Camp is a supply point, offering hot water and instant noodles for sale. Past Base Camp, we'll walk through a flower valley before continuing our climb. Reaching the summit of one side peak reveals a glacial lake—so close, victory is in sight!

Ice Lake

Both the Ice Lake and the scenery on the way to the Ice Lake are incomparable to the Shenpu Waterfall. I feel like the girl who gave up yesterday missed out on a hundred million! Hahaha~!

After playing around the icy lake for a while, it started to rain, so we hurried back. Because of the rain, the road was muddy everywhere, and it was more difficult to walk than the way we came, although most of the time we were walking downhill. We set out at 8:30 in the morning, arrived at the base camp at noon, reached the glacier lake at 2:00 in the afternoon, and finally arrived back to Shangyubeng at around 5:00 in the afternoon. The entire journey, about 12 kilometers, climbs from 3,000 meters to 3,900 meters above sea level. It's a testament to both physical strength and willpower. But once you've set out, don't give up easily; that's the only way to reap the rewards! Especially when you see a six-year-old girl and a grandmother in her sixties at the center of the group, you feel like no obstacle is insurmountable.

Ice Lake Back to Shang Yubeng

Early in the morning of the third day, we set out from Shang Yubeng and walked out of this paradise through the Ninon Grand Canyon. Why so early in the morning? After exiting the Ni-Nong Grand Canyon, there's only one bus to Deqin Bus Station at 1:00 PM. Unless you charter a bus, you'll have to wait for the next bus tomorrow.

There are two routes to the Ni-Nong Grand Canyon: one is a small path starting from the Longmen Inn in Shangyubeng, and the other starts from the White Pagoda in Xiayubeng. I recommend taking the Xiayubeng route, as it's a cement road and easy to navigate. We took the Shangyubeng trail, and along the way, I accidentally slipped on a rock and nearly fell down into the valley. Fortunately, my 10-kilogram backpack on my back pulled me back, allowing me to escape safely. The path from Yubeng to Ninon Canyon The path from Yubeng to Ninon Canyon After walking about 8 kilometers, crossing the small wooden bridge above, and a little further, we'll meet the second cement road from Xiayubeng. However, when we set out, the cement road was still under construction, and a section wasn't finished yet, making it quite difficult to navigate. There was also a section with a steep slope, steeper than a slide—the kind you could literally roll down if you slumped down. So, we rushed along, listening to the roar of the water in the canyon!

Ninon Grand Canyon

After a long path along the cliff and coming down the Z-shaped slope in the picture above, we finally got out of the deep mountains and forests. To be honest, the path along the cliff scared me even more, as I'm afraid of heights!

17 kilometers, carrying a 10kg load, departed at 8am and arrived at the bus stop at noon. Although the road from Yubeng to Ninong was all downhill, I felt quite accomplished.

Caught the same day's bus in Deqin and returned to Shangri-La in the evening. I found a Tibetan restaurant near the hotel and tried the chicken soup and yogurt. After a night of rest, it was time for a leisurely sightseeing trip.

Our first stop: Pudacuo National Park. After passing the wonderland of Yubeng, the park seems quite ordinary. But there were still some surprises: the squirrels were quite a few, and they were so brave that they even took nuts from my hand. In fact, we saw squirrels in the Yubeng forest on both days. These adorable little creatures are very friendly and friendly. If you give them some cookies, chocolate, or nuts, they will hang upside down in the trees and eat them without restraint, allowing you to watch. They even mistook you for a tree and climbed on you, as my friend did. Pudacuo National Park Pudacuo National Park Pudacuo National Park Pudacuo National Park Pudacuo National Park Pudacuo National Park

In the afternoon, we visited the Panahai-Yila Grassland. The grasslands were covered in small yellow flowers, and if you overlooked the cattle, sheep, and horse manure scattered across the ground, it was quite beautiful. Horseback riding is a bit expensive and not recommended. Chartering a car for 150 yuan would have taken us around the grasslands, about 80 kilometers, with no time limit. This was the price the Didi driver quoted us, and it seemed like a good value, so we went with the car. We also saw people riding electric donkeys, which were also very nice, though they did require a lot of sunscreen.

Panahai-Ira Prairie

Panahai-Ira Prairie src="https://dimg04.c-ctrip.com/images/0104p120008r7znvh5F2E_R_800_10000_Q90.jpg?proc=autoorient" /> Panahai-Ira Prairie

Panahai-Ira Prairie

In the evening, we visited Dukezong Ancient Town and watched the locals dancing ethnic square dance in Sifang Square. The world's largest single prayer wheel src="https://dimg04.c-ctrip.com/images/01015120008r7zy189FD1_R_800_10000_Q90.jpg?proc=autoorient" /> Dukezong Ancient City On the last morning, we went to Songzanlin Monastery. I was almost scared to death by the stairs going up. After the Yubeng hike, I developed a fear of stairs.

I've finished talking about my six-day solo itinerary in such a long while. I haven't written for so long that my literacy level has returned to what it was before. I can't use fancy words to describe the beauty of Yubeng and Shangri-La, so you'll just have to find it in the photos. The whole process was filmed with my old three-year-old mobile phone. I am not a professional, so this is the best I can do. I hope it can serve as a reference for everyone. Thank you for reading!