Live Your Best Lives
It takes about 2 hours to reach Lijiang from Shuanglang.
I'm back on Lion Rock in Lijiang Old Town, 9 months after my last visit.
It's September, the height of autumn in Lijiang. This should be a season of clear skies and crisp air, but it's damp and damp due to the rainy season.
Although the rainy season is drawing to a close, the gloomy sky and the gentle drizzle still hint at its continued existence.
The stay at Xinsu last year left me with wonderful memories, so when I revisited this time, Xinsu was still the only choice for me.
Walking into the inn, when all this came into view again, the familiar feeling came back.
The decoration of the inn lobby is a good combination of retro and fashion.
This honor is also the result of the inn's meticulous management.
Long live the nostalgia! The innkeeper specially reserved this room for me, exactly the same as last year. Thank you for his thoughtfulness.
Now I am standing at the door of this room I once stayed in. From its location to the interior decoration, nothing has changed.
The names of the rooms in the inn are all very charming.
Arrive at the large terrace on the third floor of the inn.
The various plants on the terrace add a lot of vitality to the quaint inn.
The succulents after the rain are very beautiful and juicy.
The biggest reason to choose Xinsu is this excellent view:
The inn is located on Lion Mountain in Lijiang Ancient Town, so you can have a panoramic view of Lijiang Ancient Town from the terrace.
These brick and tile roofs are the most representative postcards of Lijiang Ancient Town.
The high-rise buildings under construction in the distance formed a sharp contrast with the quaint ancient city.
The last time I came to the inn, I didn't see the big golden retriever, one of the inn's mascots, which was a great regret. This time I finally saw its true face.
During the rainy season in Lijiang, the weather changes suddenly. It was cloudy and rainy one second ago, and then a touch of blue appeared in the sky.
Walking out of the inn, due to the combined effect of the off-season and Y&Q, there are not many tourists in Lijiang Ancient Town.
The sky gradually darkened, and the Lijiang Ancient Town gradually became lively~
Sifang Street is already bustling with people.
Walk through this beautiful oil-paper umbrella street and savor the romance of Lijiang.
The popular Dianxi Prince is still crowded even after dinner time. This signature hand-shredded chicken is a must-try.
The restaurant's interior is as exquisite as the dishes.
Since this was my second visit to Lijiang Old Town, I naturally wanted to visit some places I hadn't been to before, and Dayan Flower Alley was my first choice:
Colorful wishing boards are hung in every corner of Flower Alley.
From here, you can see the night view of Lijiang Old Town from another angle. The green lights in the distance are the Lion Rock, which is far away from here.
Inside Lijiang Old Town, there are naturally many young ladies taking photos in ethnic costumes.
Returning to Xinsu Inn, the Lijiang Ancient Town below was brightly lit. Looking out from the terrace, the Lijiang Ancient Town with the landscape lights turned on was very beautiful.
During the rainy season in Lijiang, overcast skies dominate, and the sun shining brightly on the Golden Mountain is naturally impossible to see.
Although the weather was poor, the streaks of light, known as the Tyndall phenomenon, emerging from the eastern clouds were a rare sight. Arriving at the inn lobby, a new day begins with a delicious breakfast~
Arriving at the inn lobby, a new day begins with a delicious breakfast~
Leaving the inn, without the hustle and bustle of pedestrians, the streets of the ancient city also have a quiet side.
At this moment, the sky in the distance has turned a blue. Will it be a good day today?
If I were to name a place I'd like to visit again in Lijiang, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain would probably be at the top of the list.
Although we reached the 4,680-meter summit last year, the heavy snow had transformed the entire Glacier Park into a blanket of white, leaving virtually no scenery to speak of. This was a major regret from our previous trip.
However, in September, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was still snow-free, so this time we chose to take a different cable car to the Yakping area of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
However, wishes are beautiful, but reality is cruel.
When we arrived at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Visitor Center, the sun was shining one moment, and the next it was drizzling, and the blue sky had long since vanished without a trace. On the way to the bus parking lot, the sky became so gloomy that it looked like a downpour was about to begin.
Of course, the rain was indeed getting heavier, and I even had the urge to turn back the way I came.
We took the bus from the parking lot and arrived at the Yaoniuping parking lot about 40 minutes later.
However, at this time, the scenery outside looked like this:
Just like last year, it was a vast expanse of white, except this time the heavy snow had been replaced by heavy rain.
In the heavy rain, the two cute calves could only hide under the narrow eaves to avoid the rain. How pitiful.
Arriving at the cable car station, the rain was so heavy that we had to temporarily take shelter in the lounge with other tourists.
The rain had eased a bit, and after getting on the cable car, I suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. Could Cangshan Adventure 2.0 be happening again on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain?
Unlike the cable cars of the large cableway, each cable car of the medium cableway can only accommodate a maximum of two people.
As the altitude continued to rise, the visibility around us became increasingly worse.
Although we arrived at Yaoniuping smoothly, after getting off the cable car, we could hardly see anything except the tourists around us. The plank road at Yaoniuping is very short, with only a few dozen steps. After walking down the plank road, you will come to a lawn.
And this lawn is the Yak Terrace we are going to this time.
Although it is called Yak Terrace, there is not a single yak to be seen.
How beautiful this lawn would be on a sunny day~
A gust of wind blew, and after the fog briefly dispersed, I finally saw cattle and sheep on the grass in the distance.
In front of Yaoniuping is the Xuehua Temple, and Tibetan prayer flags are tied at the top of the hillside. On the way back, I wanted to go to Yunshanping again, but due to time and weather factors, I can only leave the opportunity for the next time I come to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, because this time there is another attraction I want to visit first, that is Blue Moon Valley.
Coming to Blue Moon Valley again, I didn’t expect there to be so many tourists.
The blue-green lake below the entrance to Blue Moon Valley is Blue Moon Lake, one of the four lakes.
Walking down the plank road, the first thing you see is the large stone tablet with the inscription "A drop of water flows through Lijiang."
Perhaps because this is a valley, the fog did not affect this place, so the visibility all around is relatively high.
Blue Moon Valley Scenic Area Guide
In the Blue Moon Valley, due to the height difference between the lakes, waterfalls of varying sizes are formed.
As you walk along the plank road, you can see that the lake becomes shallower and shallower in the direction of the plank road, and the color gradually transitions from green to transparent.
However, the heavy rain that had just stopped started again, forcing me to open my umbrella once again.
Although the rain was heavy, it did not affect the beauty of Blue Moon Lake at all.
When you walk along the plank road to the front, you will arrive at Tingtao Lake, the smallest lake in Blue Moon Valley.
The lake behind Tingtao Lake gradually narrows in width and finally becomes a small river.
I also met a cute puppy Gou on the plank road. He was so cute~
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Last year, I visited Jade Dragon Snow Mountain as an individual traveler, so my time to explore Blue Moon Valley was limited. Plus, the roads were slippery after the snow, so I wasn't able to visit the other side of the valley.
This time, I was traveling independently, so I naturally had ample time to experience an in-depth tour of Blue Moon Valley.
The scenery on the other side of the valley was even more pristine.
After walking up one stone step after another, we arrived at the other side of Blue Moon Lake.
Arrived at the shore of Mirror Lake.
Next to Mirror Lake, there is a small cabin called Hongxian Inn.
There is a yak under the pink tree next to the wooden house. You can take a photo with it.
Walk onto the plank road next to Mirror Lake, and next to it is the largest waterfall in Blue Moon Valley. The lake that forms this waterfall is the largest lake in Blue Moon Valley: Yuye Lake.
Compared to Blue Moon Lake, the surface of Yuye Lake is more emerald green.
After our trip to Blue Moon Valley, it was time to return.
On the way back, the driver told me that it had been raining heavily all day in downtown Lijiang. I had finally witnessed the legendary rainy season in Lijiang. It was almost the end of the rainy season, but I hadn't expected the downpour to be so heavy.
By the time we arrived back in Lijiang Old Town, the day's downpour had finally stopped.
It was dinnertime, and as Yunxue-Li, another popular restaurant in Lijiang Old Town, was a natural place to check in and try some of the food. After dinner, we arrived at Sifang Street in Lijiang Ancient Town, where the bar street in the ancient town also starts.
Lijiang Old Town is home to numerous bars with diverse themes and styles, but on Lijiang Bar Street, the most famous is undoubtedly Yinghuawu-Jin.
As the birthplace of the bar scene, Yinghuawu-Jin began in Lijiang Old Town and gradually expanded to Dali Old Town and throughout Yunnan.
According to the recommendation of the young man at the inn, I came to this hand drum experience bar to experience the bar culture of Lijiang Ancient Town.
The environment inside the bar
Order a fruit beer combo and start enjoying the bar's nightlife~
Since this is a hand-drum experience, the hand-drum accompaniment is naturally the main feature.
Romantic cherry blossoms, encountering beauty, the big brother on the stage sang very hard.
Walking along the bar street, you can also see performances in other bars through the windows. Day 9, September 25, Lijiang Ancient Town → Lugu Lake
Not far east of Lijiang Old Town is another famous attraction: Black Dragon Pond Park.
You could have taken photos of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the surrounding ancient buildings reflected in the pond's waters, but don't expect too much during the rainy season. Just a little rain is enough.
If the weather cooperates, the park's scenery will be a breathtaking landscape painting.
In Lijiang, there's another highly recommended spot with stunning scenery: Lugu Lake, known as the Pearl of the Plateau.
Besides Xishuangbanna, Lugu Lake was another place we hadn't visited on this trip, so we were really looking forward to this trip. So, without further ado, let's head towards Lugu Lake!
On the way to Lugu Lake, we'll pass by Lijiang's Eighteen Bends of the Jinsha River. Our driver was kind enough to let us take photos from the observation deck. Isn't the view breathtaking?
After more than three hours, the entrance to the Lugu Lake Scenic Area was within sight.
The rainy season in Lijiang hadn't ended yet, and the entire road was covered in dark clouds. But after climbing over a hill, the sky suddenly cleared, and the long-lost blue sky and white clouds finally appeared again. Before moving on, we first came to the Lugu Lake Viewing Platform not far from the entrance of the scenic area, where we can overlook the entire Lugu Lake. The Lugu Lake that I had always longed for finally appeared before my eyes, and it matched the beautiful scenery of blue sky and white clouds so well.
The protruding sharp corner on the left is the Daluoshui Village we are going to next.
The trapezoidal peak directly in front is the Goddess Gemu Mountain, the highest peak around Lugu Lake.
In front of Goddess Mountain, the small island in the center of the lake is Liwubi Island.
The 20 minutes of viewing time soon ended, and the next stop was to head to Daluoshui Village.
It takes about 20 minutes to drive from the observation deck to Daluoshui Village, so the 4-hour journey from Lijiang Old Town to Lugu Lake is indeed a real deal.
Arrived at Daluoshui Village, a simple village scenery.
When you come to a high ground, you can overlook the entire Daluoshui Village.
Getting on the hotel's dedicated shuttle bus, we quickly arrived at the Impression Legend Hotel where we were staying.
When we walked into the hotel, the sunshine was just right.
Why didn't you stay in an Erhai sea view room when you were in Shuanglang, Dali? Now the answer can finally be revealed~
The hotel's lakeside double bed room has a better lake viewing experience. Standing on the large balcony of the room, you can overlook the beautiful lake and mountains.
When I checked in, I also chatted with the lady at the front desk of the hotel. I have booked three times since last year. The first two times I had to cancel the trip due to Y&Q, but this time I finally managed to come.
When we come to the restaurant on the first floor of the hotel, after all, it is the off-season in Lugu Lake, and it is a little deserted when there is no one around.
Every corner of the restaurant
Sit down at the side of the restaurant and you can see the beautiful Lugu Lake outside the window.
A corner behind the hotel
Out of the hotel, Lugu Lake is only a few meters away from the hotel door.
Back in the room, the sky was getting darker.
At this moment, the sky above Lugu Lake is experiencing turbulence.
Go for food nearby~
When it comes to Lugu Lake's special delicacies, mushroom-hot pot must have a name.
This Ah-Ma_home-local_chicken-hot-pot is worth a try.
Returning to the hotel after dinner, the hotel lights have been turned on.
Different from the ethnic style during the day, the hotel at night has more of a bar feel.
The small patio in the middle of the hotel is the public space on the first floor.
The first thing I do when I wake up in the morning is go to the bank of Lugu Lake to watch the sunrise.
As time passes, the eastern sky has shown a gradient from purple to orange.
The only drawback is that there is a dark cloud floating in the sky, but at this moment, there is an orange reflection on the lake.
At this time, a bright spot appeared in the clouds in the east, indicating that the sun was about to rise.
The sky gradually brightened, and the dark clouds that slowly dispersed turned into beautiful morning glow.
Lugu Lake in the morning under the morning glow~
The camera turned to the other side, the sky in the west was still bright, and the Gesang flowers in front of the hotel were ready to welcome the sunshine.
The golden sunrise illuminates Gesang by the lake, forming a beautiful scenery.
When the sun shines on the earth, Gesang on the lakeside becomes the most charming scenery on the Lugu Lake.
The sun has fully risen, and the sky is a beautiful blue.
Gelsang bathed in the sun makes people not want to move. At this moment, I just want to stay here for a while and quietly appreciate the beautiful scenery in front of me.
Panorama of Lugu Lake and Gesang Flower
Facing such beautiful scenery, having breakfast here is of course a very happy thing~
The hotel's Western-style breakfast is exquisite and delicious.
Looking at the beautiful scenery and drinking coffee, if the time was not limited, I think I should be able to sit here for a long time.
Lugu Lake in the early morning is still like this.
But during the day, when there is no wind, the beautiful view of the Sky Mirror will appear.
When we came to the lake, the water was also clear to the naked eye.
On the banks of Lugu Lake, there are seats, flowers, mountains, water and scenery.
Hubin Road by the lake is the landscape avenue of Daluoshui Village and the most beautiful place in the entire Daluoshui Village.
Scenery along Hubin Road.
At lunch time, come to this restaurant to taste authentic Lugu Lake cuisine~
The restaurant decoration is relatively modern.
Sitting in front of the window, you can see the scenery of Daluoshui Village outside the window.
Serving~
Continue walking along Hubin Road, and the place where the boats are parked in front is the Luoshui Pier in Daluoshui Village.
The row of motorcycles on the road is very cool.
When arriving at Luoshui Pier, many tourists were bathing in the sunshine.
The Lugu Lake Stone Monument is also the first choice place for tourists to take photos.
The small boat docked at the dock is called a pig trough boat.
So now that you have come to Lugu Lake, how can you not take a pig trough boat to experience the fun of visiting the lake?
So, hurry up and get on board~
We were steered by a Mosuo uncle. Different from the impression of boating, the boating on Lugu Lake is operated on one side.
On the cruise ship
When we arrived in the middle of the lake, tourists on other boats also greeted us warmly.
When we arrived near Liwubi Island, the surrounding lake gradually turned turquoise, which was very beautiful.
Due to Sichuan Y&Q, currently only half of the Yunnan side of Lugu Lake can be visited, and Liwubi Island in the middle of the lake has become the farthest end that can be reached.
Arrived at Liwubi Island Pier, the place suddenly became lively.
Beside the pier, you can see that the lake water is very clear.
On the other side of the pier, another small boat is setting off.
When you board the Liwubi Island, you can overlook the green mountains on the opposite side.
Our boat returned to the lake again and looked along the direction of the waves. The scenery here is unique.
The cruise ship has approached Daluoshui Village. The white dots on the water in front are water-based poplar flowers. The part of the watery poplar before it blooms is one of the special dishes on the table in Yunnan.
In order to let us see clearly what the poplar flowers look like, the boating master also specially took us to the place where the flowers bloom the most, so that we can watch them up close.
Since the flowering season has passed, there are relatively few water-based poplars on the lake at this time.
After the cruise experience on Lugu Lake, we strolled in Daluoshui Village in the afternoon, surrounded by beautiful Gesang flowers.
On the other side of the pier, a large group of beautiful Gesang flowers became my new shooting target.
Under the blue sky and white clouds, the Gesang flowers by the lake are really beautiful~
Behind the lakeside is a newly built asphalt road.
Glassang flowers of various colors are also blooming on both sides of this most beautiful road.
On the back side of the highway, there is another sea of Kelsang.
The Gesang flowers in front of the inns in this area are also in bloom~
Unknowingly, it’s dinner time again, so come and try another special dish here, stone-pot_fish-hot-pot.
The fish and ingredients are very fresh at first glance, and the texture and taste are guaranteed to be natural.
After finishing a satisfying meal, when I walked out of the restaurant, a wonderful blockbuster was being staged in the sky.
Although you cannot see the sunset and sunset from here, and the sky is not that beautiful, it is still worth following all the way from the pier.
Back on the hotel balcony, watching Lugu Lake gradually fall into the night.
The last stop of the day's trip is to watch the bonfire party at Lugu Lake.
The first was the warm-up session of the party, where dozens of women in traditional ethnic costumes began to dance.
After the warm-up session, one lucky person will be selected from the audience to serve as the lighting guest for the party.
In the end, the uncle in blue and gray clothes became the lucky guy today.
After the lighting ceremony was completed, with the fire slowly burning, the bonfire party officially began.
In the cheerful music, the girls at the scene also danced around the fire~
As the party progressed, the surrounding audience also joined in one after another, and the atmosphere of the party reached its climax.
At the end of the party, there was a photo session between the audience and the actors.
After watching the bonfire party, I walked on the wooden plank road by the lake while admiring the beautiful night view of the lake. The beautiful day came to an end~
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