Live Your Best Lives
Our journey has reached Day 11. If it weren't for the subsequent itinerary, I would have loved to stay a few more days by the Lugu Lake and not say goodbye to this stunning scenery.
As we leave, I take one more look at the beautiful Lugu Lake. I believe the day I'll be here again isn't far away.
We took the bus back to Lijiang, passing another Jinsha River viewing platform on the way.
Just like the outbound trip, the journey took exactly four hours, arriving in Lijiang at 1:30 pm.
Since it was a full day of continuous bus travel, we quickly headed to Yun-Xue-Li, just outside the ancient city, for lunch.
The restaurants outside the ancient city were obviously not as popular as those inside. Perhaps because it was past dinner time, there were only a handful of customers inside.
The day before, while boating on Lugu Lake, the rower of the pig trough boat told us that this water lily was used to feed pigs in the past. As soon as the rower finished speaking, the smile on the face of a young woman next to him disappeared at a visible speed.
That being said, blanched water lily is indeed delicious~
After lunch, our next destination was Shangri-La, the final stop on our Yunnan trip.
Since there's no direct transportation from Lugu Lake to Shangri-La, Lijiang naturally served as the perfect stopover.
At 3:00 PM, the bus to Shangri-La departed promptly from Lijiang Bus Station, arriving in about two and a half hours on the highway.
The highway passes another famous attraction, Tiger Leaping Gorge, which also serves as the dividing line between Lijiang and Shangri-La.
This is my second time in Shangri-La. Last winter, I visited here, and the snowy scenery of Dukezong Ancient Town is still fresh in my mind.
Although it's not yet snowy season, as the last stop on this Yunnan trip, Shangri-La is the perfect place to embody winter.
It was already evening when we arrived at Dukezong Ancient Town. Although I was only staying for one night, the host was very considerate and drove me to the door.
The B&B we stayed in this time was called Yunguan Yage, a new B&B that opened not long ago this year. The thing that attracted me most was the small courtyard in the sun room.
The guest rooms at the B&B are decorated in a simple wood-colored style, fresh, comfortable, clean and tidy.
As we walked out of the B&B, the lights in the ancient city began to light up.
Once again, we arrived at Sifang Street in Dukezong Ancient City, where people were still dancing cheerful square dances.
The young lady in Tibetan clothing on the square has an especially bright smile.
Five-star red flags have been hung on both sides of the street to welcome the upcoming National Day.
Just like my previous visit to Lijiang Old Town, this time I was back in Dukezong Ancient Town, so naturally I wanted to visit some places I hadn't visited last year. The first place the B&B owner recommended was Dukezong Flower Alley.
Located at the north gate of Dukezong Ancient Town, Dukezong Flower Alley is a unique town that embodies the essence of Tibetan culture.
Although many shops are not open yet and there are not many tourists, it is a very suitable place to take photos and check in.
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Like Dayan Flower Alley, Dukuzong Flower Alley is imbued with a rich Tibetan atmosphere, adorned with colorful paintings, Tibetan wood carvings, and other elements.
Walking around the flower alley, the night gradually deepened.
The streets of Dukezong Ancient Town are very lively at night, and the night view of the ancient town seems to be much more beautiful than last year.
Passing Sifang Street again, more tourists joined the square dancing:
It was dinner time. Last year, I visited many Tibetan restaurants in the ancient city, but the only one that made me want to visit it again was Jingjing.
This restaurant is very popular and it was still almost full at 8 o'clock in the evening.
Perhaps it is because his dishes are more home-cooked, which makes them easier for tourists to accept.
After dinner, we came to Moonlight Plaza again.
Opposite Moonlight Plaza is Guishan Park.
Naturally, there are many tourists under the prayer wheel in Guishan Park.
As the world's largest prayer wheel, everyone is eager to try it out.
The lively atmosphere on site:
Standing on the observation deck of Guishan Park, quietly overlooking the charming night view of this moonlight city.
The brightly lit buildings opposite are the newly opened Hotel Indigo in Dukezong Ancient Town.
On the way back to the B&B, I stopped by the Zun Shang Zang Yun Manor Hotel, where I stayed last year, to check in. It was a kind of nostalgia.
Back at Yunguan Yage B&B, the orange lights in the lobby were very warm. Walking into the courtyard at night, there seems to be a little bit of surprise.
Although there were not many guests during this period, the B&B still prepared a hot breakfast, which is another thing that made me very satisfied. After all, when I stayed at the Zun Shang Hotel last year, the outsourced breakfast experience was not good. After breakfast, I finally had a good look at the B&B.
The B&B adopts a LOFT-style design and is very bright when the sunlight shines in.
The magnificent building next to the B&B is the Hotel Indigo.
Wander in the ancient city and spend a leisurely morning quietly.
A corner of the street in the ancient city.
While walking, we arrived at Guishan Park again.
In this relatively comfortable season, there are quite a few tourists coming to Shangri-La.
The tallest building in the park in front is called Chaoyang Tower.
Outside the Big Buddha Temple in Guishan Park, the newly replaced prayer flags are particularly bright. There is an observation deck under the Big Buddha Temple, from which you can overlook the entire Dukezong Ancient City.
There is a viewing platform under the Big Buddha Temple, from which you can overlook the entire Dukezong Ancient City. The prayer wheels in Guishan Park are naturally the most popular spot in the entire Dukezong Ancient Town.
The prayer wheels in Guishan Park are naturally the most popular spot in the entire Dukezong Ancient Town. The viewing platform in front of the prayer wheel offers a better view of the ancient city.
In the distance, there are blue sky, white clouds, and green mountains.
Walking down from Guishan Park, you will reach Moonlight Square.
This is also an important town on the Ancient Tea-Horse Road.
Arriving at the center of Moonlight Square
The flocks of pigeons on Moonlight Square are also a very representative feature of the ancient city.
Luckily, I captured the moment when a peace dove flew to a tourist's hand and ate.
There are also many pigeons resting by the pond nearby. There is also a yak raised in Moonlight Square, where you can take photos with it. As Shangri-La is a Tibetan area, Tibetan Mastiffs are a natural addition to the area. There is a very popular coffee shop in Dukezong Ancient Town called Ancient Town Corner.
There is a very popular coffee shop in Dukezong Ancient Town called Ancient Town Corner.
Although the main entrance on the street is a bit unremarkable, once you go up to the second floor, you will find a different world.
A hand-drawn map of various attractions in Shangri-La hangs on the wall.
The decoration inside the cafe is also full of Tibetan style and very beautiful.
I went to sit down at the window seat.
Outside the window, I could see the White Pagoda, the landmark building in the ancient city.
Tibetan coffee, tiramisu, plateau fries. It is truly a pleasure to dine in such an atmospheric restaurant.
My original motivation for this trip to Shangri-La was simply to revisit that serene paradise hidden deep in the mountains, that last secret place tucked away in Shangri-La: Balagzong.
In Balagzong, there's a legendary story about the Tibetan Foolish Old Man. The current chairman of Balagzong, Sina Dingzhu, risked everything to build a road to the outside world for his hometown, a story that has moved many.
To make up for last year's one-day trip, I planned a two-day, two-night immersive itinerary. After lunch, we boarded the scenic hotel's business car and set off for Balagzong.
The blue sky and white clouds on both sides of the road were as beautiful as a painting. This time we stayed at the Snow Mountain Cliff Miracle Hotel in the scenic area, which is also one of the official hotels of Balagzong.
Since we booked a self-guided tour package, in addition to tickets to the Balagzong scenic spot, the hotel also provided shuttle service within Shangri-La city, which was quite convenient.
From Dukezong Ancient Town, it takes about two and a half hours to reach the hotel entrance.
The hotel lobby is simple and elegant, without any overly ornate decorations, just like your own living room.
In addition, the hotel will arrange a dedicated butler to provide one-on-one planning and arrangements for the two-day itinerary, naturally saving you the trouble of having to think about it yourself.
The hotel is located on the hillside in the upper part of Bala Village and consists of several independent small buildings.
Walking between the buildings is like strolling through a miniature village.
This long staircase is a direct access from Bala Village to the hotel buildings.
In front of the first row of hotel buildings, there is a row of tall sunflowers.
Each building in the hotel has its own unique number. Arriving at the top of Bala Village, the building in front of you is Tusi Manor 7, where we are staying this time. The exterior of the hotel building may be a bit plain, but the interior environment far exceeds expectations.
After opening the door to the room, the first thing you see is this very spacious foyer.
The foyer is so spacious, so needless to say, the room is also very spacious. This is the first time in my life that I have stayed in such a spacious hotel room!
Our room was a panoramic twin room with a snow mountain pilgrimage view. Even for two people, it was spacious enough, and even a bit of a luxury for one.
I had previously chosen no Tibetan homestay in Dukezong Ancient Town, hoping to experience the authentic Tibetan customs of Balagzong later. Now that I'm here, I can't help but marvel at the sheer quality of a hotel in the mountains.
The guest room bathroom is also very spacious.
Outside the room window, you can see Bala Village and the mountains in the distance.
After a short rest in the room, the hotel housekeeper led us to the village to taste the local specialty butter tea, which is also a token of the hotel's kindness to the tourists staying there.
Setting foot on the land of Bala Village again, this once isolated place has now become a gathering place for experiencing Tibetan customs and culture within the Balagezong Scenic Area. Today, Bala Village has been demolished and rebuilt. Wandering around this new village, you can still feel the charm of the thousand-year-old village.
The building complex at the top of Bala Village is the Snow Mountain Cliff Miracle Hotel.
At the forefront of Bala Village is the sacred Tibetan White Pagoda.
Walking towards the White Pagoda
Arriving next to the White Pagoda, the prayer flags around it fluttered in the wind.
Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets – that’s absolutely true.
Not far from the White Pagoda stand three Mani Pagodas, representing auspiciousness and peace.
Last year, due to time constraints, I was unable to fully explore Bala Village. Now, upon returning to this land, the touching story of Sina Dingzhu has once again lingered in my mind.
As night gradually falls, the beautiful Balagezong is about to usher in a beautiful night.
The first thing I did when I got up in the morning was to rush outside to watch the sunrise over Balagzong.
Just after seven o'clock, the eastern sky had already brightened. As time slowly passed, the clouds in the sky also took on a variety of different colors.
Golden sunrise scene:
In the morning, the melodious chirping of birds is refreshing.
Bala Village is a place where people and nature live in harmony. Here, you can encounter various cute animals.
After breakfast, we arrived at the first stop of the trip, the Shangri-La Grand Canyon.
Due to time constraints, we didn’t have time to visit here last year, so the Shangri-La Grand Canyon became the first attraction to visit this year.
Go onto the boardwalk and head towards the depths of the canyon.
Walking 1000 meters along the plank road
Looking up, the almost vertical cliffs on both sides are very spectacular.
Shuttle under the cliff
After constantly moving forward, we finally reached the 2500-meter end of the plank road.
The house in front of you is the starting station for Grand Canyon rafting.
Go down the stairs of the plank road, and not far ahead is the entrance to the rafting boat.
Since I had to wait for other tourists to take the boat together, I first came to the white rock field next to the plank road.
I thought I was the only one walking on the plank road in the canyon, but I didn't expect to encounter a family of three here.
Walking into the rock field, the stone formations stacked on top of the rocks are called Manidui, which is one of many Tibetan arts.
Below the cliffs on both sides is the starting point of the Grand Canyon rafting.
After the two scenic area staff inflated the kayak for us, they put it on the river.
Before I got on the inflatable kayak, I was still doubting whether I would row the boat myself. I was relieved when I saw the staff picking up the paddle. After all, the river was very wide and the water flow was fast. This was not a small stream rafting in the Changbai Mountain Demon World Scenic Area.
After getting on the kayak, there will be a staff member paddling in front and escorting you in the back. Naturally, you don’t have to worry about the safety of the entire rafting.
This emerald green river in the middle of the Grand Canyon is called Gangqu River. Sitting on a kayak, you can have a panoramic view of the water and mountains on both sides.
It took nearly an hour to walk from the entrance to the Grand Canyon to the end, and it only took a few minutes to float back from the end. Not long after, you could already see the stone monument at the entrance.
Back on the shore, the Shangri-La Grand Canyon in front has become more beautiful against the backdrop of green water and green mountains. Balagezong is worthy of being the little Jiangnan of Shangri-La.
The flowing Gangqu River continues along the mountains, and after flowing out of Balagezong, it will eventually merge into the Jinsha River.
It is noon, the sky has gradually cleared up, and the Shangri-La Grand Canyon under the blue sky and white clouds is even more magnificent.
The second stop of the trip was the Shambhala Pagoda.
Shambhala Pagoda, as an unconventional route in the scenic area, is not included in the regular one-day tour itinerary by default. Last year, I came to this paradise on earth based on the recommendation of the tour guide Ms. Zhuoma. The shocking snow scene at that time is still unforgettable.
So, where is the Shambhala Pagoda? In fact, it is the naturally formed pyramid-shaped mountain peak under the sky in the distance.
When you get off the scenic bus, the first thing you see is this row of spectacular Mani piles.
Under the blue sky gradually revealed in front, is the end of this road.
Due to the snow on the road last year, the farthest the bus could reach was a viewing platform on the mountain; but this time it arrived at Gezongtang Ranch, which is located further in front of the viewing platform, and is also the real end point of the Shambhala Pagoda route.
When you walk on the wooden plank road behind the stele of the pagoda, there is an open grassland in front of you.
When I went to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain last year, although I finally succeeded in climbing to the Glacier Park at an altitude of 4,680 meters, it was snowing heavily at the time and the surroundings were completely white. I couldn't see anything. It wasn't until I came to Balage Dzong that I was able to see the beautiful snow scenery under the blue sky from the viewing platform of Shambhala Pagoda, which made up for the regret I had at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
This year I went to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for the second time. This time I went to Maoniuping, which is 3,800 meters above sea level. However, it was raining heavily and the surroundings were completely white. Again, I couldn't see anything. And this time we came to Balage Dzong again, and came to the Gezongtang Ranch under the Shambhala Pagoda. This time we were able to successfully see the beautiful scenery of the plateau lawn here. This place is equivalent to the Yak Ping of Balage Dzong.
Although the lawn has gradually turned yellow and the green is no longer there, Balage Zong can always make up for my regrets when I was at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang. Perhaps this is the fate between me and Balage Zong.
The dark clouds gradually dispersed, the sky gradually opened, and everyone took out their cameras to record the magnificent scenery in front of them.
360-degree panorama of the scene:
After leaving Gezongtang Ranch, the bus took me to this viewing platform again.
When I came here last year, the stunning snow scene in front of me is still fresh in my memory. Although there is no snow in this season, and the surrounding area is bare and gray, which is a bit monotonous, the broad field of vision has not changed.
When you climb this hillside that you were unable to climb last year, you can see a broader scenery.
On the way to the next stop, we also passed right above Bala Village.
The winding road in front of me is also quite spectacular, and I have to lament again the hardships of building the road in Dingzhu.
On the third stop of the trip, we came to another emotional attraction of Balagezong, the Echo Wall.
The two straight lines on the left and right in front are the wooden plank road in the mountains and the zipline on the return journey.
Walking onto the boardwalk, you will have a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery on both sides of the canyon.
Below the echo wall is the Shangri-La Grand Canyon.
Beside the flowing Gangqu River, you can clearly see the entrance to the Grand Canyon.
On both sides of the canyon, there are criss-crossing canyons, with canyons within canyons.
Continuing along the wooden plank road, the large platform erected in front is the highest glass plank road in China.
The mountains in the distance have been illuminated by the sun, which also indicates that the most beautiful scenery behind is about to come...
Coming to the glass plank road again, this is also one of the best places to enjoy the scenery of Balagezong.
This time, I was no longer afraid of heights and took this step bravely.
Only by walking on the glass plank road can you see more magnificent scenery.
The sky has basically cleared up, and under the blue sky and white clouds, the sky realm of Balagezong was born.
When the sun illuminates the mountains in the distance, it forms a beautiful picture with the white clouds under the blue sky.
The time has come to five o'clock in the evening, and it is time to embark on the return journey.
There is a more thrilling hollow plank road next to the wooden plank road. A young lady next to it bravely walked up without saying anything.
After returning to Bala Village, the sky gradually darkened.
It’s dinner time, and this specialty restaurant should be considered a more cost-effective option in Bala Village.
Sit down at the best viewing seat in the restaurant and you can see the magnificent mountain scenery outside the window.
The restaurant has many home-cooked dishes to choose from, which is very friendly to tourists who are not used to Tibetan food.
After dinner, the sky darkened further, and night was about to fall.
Standing in front of the mountain, looking into the distance, the surroundings slowly transitioned from evening to night.
The lights on the roadside have been lit, and cars approaching from a distance have drawn a bright light trail on the road.
Bala Village is quiet and beautiful at night.
After a full day of travel, unknowingly, it was the last night of the entire journey.
The last morning of the entire journey.
I successfully witnessed the morning glow and the color change of the mountain peaks in the distance, and I was very satisfied.
The dazzling morning glow illuminated the eastern sky, and the entire Balage Sect slowly woke up from the dark night.
As the sun gradually rises, you can also see the beautiful scenery of the Rizhao Jinshan Mountain in Balagezong.
In Bala Village, beautiful Gesang flowers are also blooming, adding a touch of spring to this late autumn Shangri-La.
In the rebuilt Bala Village, only one old building has been preserved, and that is Sina Dingzhu's hometown.
When you walk into the gate of the house, the three-story building in front of you is where Sina Dingzhu lived since she was a child.
When you come to the first floor of the house, the display cabinets placed around it should be items that the Sina Dingzhu family once used.
Go up the stairs to the second floor
The second floor is mainly filled with various Tibetan cultural relics and decorations, so today's Sina Dingzhu's hometown has become a small museum that allows visitors to understand Sina Dingzhu's past life.
Through this small window, you can imagine that the world that Sna Dingzhu could see when he was a child should only be the mountains in the distance and the white tower at the foot of the mountain.
Coming to the third floor, there are more traces of life here, and the former living room has been preserved intact.
This room should be Sna Dingzhu's childhood bedroom.
The two photos hanging on the wall should be Sina Dingzhu's father.
Looking at my father’s bright smile, I felt a little heavy. If Sina Dingzhu’s father was still alive today, I don’t know how happy I would be to see that the face of my hometown has completely changed.
Out of Sna Dingzhu's hometown, the sun once again shines into the entire Bala Village.
It is already ten o'clock in the morning, and it is finally time to say goodbye. See you again next time in the beautiful Balagezong.
On the way back to Shangri-La, the sky on both sides of the highway was once again filled with white clouds like cotton candy.
Back in the urban area of Shangri-La, this is also the Shangri-La New City corresponding to the ancient city of Dukezong.
Shangri-La urban street scene, the neat and uniform buildings are full of strong Tibetan style.
It was already evening when I returned to Lijiang. I saw a beautiful rainbow in front of Lijiang Sanyi Airport. I think this is also my little luck, allowing my trip to go smoothly to the last day.
As the sun sets, I stand in the terminal and look at the sunset in the distance. The 14-day trip to Yunnan has finally come to a successful conclusion.
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