Live Your Best Lives
DAY1 Lijiang Dayan Ancient Town - Mufu Mansion - Wangulou on Lion Mountain
The night before, my parents and I arrived at Kunming Changshui Airport separately. I booked a shuttle to take us from the airport to a budget hotel near Kunming Railway Station for 88 yuan.
Early in the morning, we walked from the hotel to Kunming Railway Station and took a high-speed train for about 3 hours to arrive at Lijiang Railway Station. The trip from Kunming to Lijiang actually passes through Dali, but our itinerary didn't include it. The main reason was that I looked up travel guides and found that Dali's main attraction is Erhai Lake, but the Lugu Lake we visited is probably more beautiful. For this trip, we skipped Dali and took the high-speed rail directly from Kunming to Lijiang. We had previously arranged with the car rental company, and they provided a free pick-up from Lijiang Train Station to our homestay (our charter started on Day 2, so we hadn't actually started yet). Our homestay was in a small alley across the street from the north gate of Dayan Ancient Town in Lijiang. As the car pulled up, I felt a trickle of rain. As I was getting my luggage from the trunk, the drizzle turned into a downpour. We dragged our suitcases towards our guesthouse, and in just two or three minutes, we were soaked to the skin. We hadn't expected Yunnan's rainy season to hit us hard the first time. After putting our luggage away, we went out to find food. We had a Black Mountain lamb hotpot (it was just average). By the time we were done, the rain had stopped. It took about 15 minutes to walk from the north gate of Dayan Ancient Town to the entrance of the Mufu Palace. The Mufu Palace was the residence of Yunnan's chieftains during the Ming Dynasty, and its status was roughly equivalent to that of the Forbidden City. The residence of the chieftains of Yunnan is built against Lion Mountain and is divided into two scenic areas. The first section, stretching from the foot of the mountain to the midpoint, is the Mu Mansion scenic area, with a ticket price of 40 yuan. The second section, stretching from the midpoint to the highest point, is the Wangu Tower scenic area, with a ticket price of 35 yuan. The back entrance of the Mu Mansion is connected to the front entrance of Wangu Tower. If you visit independently, it's relatively easy to walk from beginning to end. However, the Mu Mansion offers free guided tours. Periodically, a guide will lead a group of about 50 visitors from the main entrance to the rear entrance, explaining the history of the Mu Mansion as they go. A full tour takes about 40 minutes. There's no time for photos, and the tour ends at the last building of the Mu Mansion, located midway up the mountain. Afterwards, visitors are free to explore at their own pace. If you wish to take photos, you can walk slowly back to the front entrance from the back. However, if you want to visit Wangu Tower again, you'll need to walk the same route again. It is strongly recommended that friends who want to go to the Lion Mountain Wangu Tower walk from the front door inside the Mu Mansion to the back door, and then go to the entrance of the Lion Mountain Wangu Tower. If you take a detour from outside the Mu Mansion, you will have to take a very long detour.
The Wangu Tower scenic area is located at the top of Lion Mountain.
Actually, think about it: Jingshan Mountain is at the back door of the Forbidden City in Beijing, and Lion Mountain is at the back door of the Mu Mansion in Yunnan. It seems that the layouts of ancient palaces all share similarities.
The entrance fee to the Wangu Tower scenic area at Lion Mountain is 35 yuan. The area is relatively small, with only one main building—Wangu Tower, which is the tallest building in Dayan Ancient Town. The highlight of the Wangu Tower Scenic Area on Lion Mountain is that you can overlook the scenery of Lijiang from the viewing platform and the Wangu Tower.
Just after entering the scenic area, there is a viewing platform. Looking down, you can overlook the scenery of Dayan Ancient Town as shown in the picture↓
I personally think that the Wangu Tower at Lion Mountain is average value for money and is an optional attraction.
Also, when we left the scenic area around 6:30, we found that the ticket inspectors at the gate had already gone off duty, and it seemed that all tourists could enter for free.
Afterwards, we went to check in near Lijiang’s most iconic waterwheel↓
DAY 2: Lugu Lake Observation Deck - Pig Trough Boat Ride - Caohai
That day, we set off from our homestay in Dayan Ancient Town, Lijiang, at 8:00 AM. It was drizzling again.
From that day on, we chartered a car for the next six days. Our driver's surname was He. I didn't realize it at first, but when he mentioned he was Naxi, I suddenly remembered what the tour guide had said during our visit to the Mu Mansion the other day: "People with the surnames Mu or He in Yunnan are all authentic Naxi."
The drive from Lijiang to Lugu Lake takes about four hours.
In short, the journey involves climbing a winding mountain road to the top of a mountain (over 3,000 meters above sea level), then descending along the winding road to the base of the mountain (over 1,000 meters above sea level), then climbing and descending again, repeating this process three or four times.
My colleague told me that when she visited Lugu Lake, the road from Lijiang to the lake hadn't been repaired yet. She spent seven hours on the bumpy mountain road, and she actually said, "My butt was almost broken."
But now, with the road repaired, the journey has been shortened, and the road conditions are much better—very smooth. As I mentioned before, the journey from Lijiang to Lugu Lake involves repeatedly descending from one mountaintop to the foot of the mountain and then climbing back up again. That's why there are many small viewing platforms along the way, offering panoramic views of the canyon.
The first viewing platform we arrived at was the "Eighteen Bends Viewing Platform," a site built by local villagers. It costs 5 yuan per person to enter.
On a clear day, from this viewing platform, you can see the five or six sharp turns in the road from the top to the foot of the mountain, as well as the canyon in the distance.
When we reached the observation deck, my mom and I went to the bathroom first, and my dad went down to the observation deck alone. Later, when my mom and I arrived at the observation deck five minutes late, we were stunned to see a white fog below the observation deck, and we couldn't see any of the "Eighteen Bends of the Mountain Road". My dad said that when he first arrived at the observation deck, he could still see all the bends at the bottom of the mountain, but in the rainy weather, the white fog instantly covered the scenery below the mountain in just five minutes.
However, even if you can't see the "Eighteen Bends of the Mountain Road", at least you can still see the scenery in the distant canyon. On rainy days, the clouds and mist in the distant canyon are in strips, sandwiched between the crevices of each mountain, which is still quite fairy-like.
After a satisfying meal and drinks, we headed towards Lugu Lake.
At the entrance to the Lugu Lake Scenic Area, visitors need to get off the bus and purchase tickets. Adult tickets are 70 yuan, available at the entrance. After purchasing tickets, you can walk to the Lugu Lake Observation Deck, not far from the entrance. This observation deck offers a panoramic view of Lugu Lake, but because it is close to the entrance, it is very crowded with tourists.
The passengers on the boat started chatting, and the boatman told everyone that the boat would pass by Princess Island, but Princess Island is now protected and people cannot go to the island. The boat will then arrive at "Dear Inn" and let everyone check in at this popular place. The passengers on the boat started whispering, "Faye Wong is so rich, she bought an island here." Another tourist said, "I remember Yang Liping also bought a house here."
Please, it's the princess, not the singer Faye Wong. Yang Liping's house is in Dali.
Princess Island↓
Actually, when I was making my travel plans, I was more interested in going to Liwubi Island or Locke Island.
Later, I asked the driver, and he said that to get to Liwubi Island, you usually have to depart from Daluoshui, but Daluoshui is the area with the most group tourists, so there are many people and long queues, and the boat ride costs 60 yuan. After arriving at Liwubi Island by boat, the boatman gives tourists 20 minutes to make their own way to the island, which houses a Lama temple. However, due to the large number of tourists, queues often last one or two hours during peak season. Moreover, the boatman often forces tourists to "circumnavigate Liwubi Island" halfway through the boat trip, charging an additional 50 yuan per person. Whether this information is accurate requires personal verification by tourists who have visited Liwubi Island.
As for Rock Island, the driver said that Rock Island is too far away and too few tourists visit it, so a chartered boat may be necessary, and the price is relatively high.
In my opinion, the purpose of a pig trough boat ride is to enjoy the journey; upon arrival, there's usually nothing particularly special to see.
DAY 3: Big Falls Water + Lover's Beach + Lige Viewing Platform + Shuhe Ancient Town
Our itinerary was relatively relaxed that day, so we arranged to meet the driver at 9:00 AM and explore Daluoshui early in the morning.
Actually, there wasn't much to see in Daluoshui, just a stroll along the lake. There were a lot of pig trough boats along the shore, so it was a great place for photos. (The license plate on the bow is just too much of an eyesore)
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That day, we stayed in Shuhe Ancient Town in Lijiang (after previously staying in Dayan Ancient Town).
The next day, we were heading to Shangri-La, which has an average altitude of around 3,400 meters and is considered a plateau. Our driver explained that some of his previous travelers had experienced altitude sickness in Shangri-La, so he suggested we buy some oxygen as a backup. We bought two large oxygen canisters for 60 yuan each (though we didn't experience any sickness, so we didn't need them). Shuhe Ancient Town is smaller than Dayan Ancient Town, but it has fewer tourists and is a bit quieter. When we visited Dayan Ancient Town before, the streams there seemed extremely muddy, perhaps because of the heavy rain or something else. But the streams in Shuhe Ancient Town are incredibly clear.
Speaking of Lijiang in Yunnan, it's a place many people yearn to visit and check in. It boasts delicious food, the stunning Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and breathtaking blue skies and white clouds. It offers a relaxing, relaxed, and relaxed lifestyle!
Although Lijiang is a beautiful place, it's packed with tourists, so sometimes the experience isn't always great. However, the scenery is truly stunning! Don't miss out if you want to see Lijiang!
However, the most comfortable and soothing thing about this trip to Lijiang was the garden restaurant in Shuhe Ancient Town, Lijiang. It was really comfortable, with a courtyard full of flowers. The restaurant has two floors, with singers on the first floor and a viewing area on the second floor. You can see the blue sky and white clouds of Lijiang. The restaurant's decoration is very European, clean and comfortable, which makes people feel very comfortable. Eating delicious food here is not only an enjoyment for the taste buds, but also a good edification for the body and mind. Just think about this mood, sitting in the garden, eating delicious food, listening to music, drinking wine and looking at flowers. This feeling is really comfortable!
It can be said that this garden restaurant is really a very satisfying check-in point in my trip to Lijiang. If I have the opportunity to come to Lijiang next time, I will definitely bring my beloved to check in here!
DAY4 Tiger Leaping Gorge - Songzanlin Temple - Shangri-La
By the way, when we chartered a car for the previous two days, the driver emphasized to me several times that we might not be able to go to Tiger Leaping Gorge because it rained too much during the rainy season. A few days ago, a rockfall on the mountain hit a private car, and Tiger Leaping Gorge had been closed for four days.
Luckily, the scenic area had reopened on the day we went.
The Tiger Leaping Gorge scenic area we generally refer to is actually Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, a developed scenic spot with a relatively easy-to-walk plank path.
However, the entire Tiger Leaping Gorge is actually divided into Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge. Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge is the most treacherous and generally considered the most scenic. However, the road to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge is more prone to rockfall during the rainy season. Furthermore, Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge is privately developed and lacks a plank path, consisting of dirt roads and wire fences, which can also be somewhat dangerous. The hike from Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge is actually one of the world's most famous hiking trails, popular with foreigners.
If you're physically fit, enjoy hiking, and crave the beautiful scenery, you can actually drive directly to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge and hike to the Jinsha River and back again, which is a full day's worth. However, for safety reasons, it's best not to visit Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge during the rainy season.
I was traveling with my parents this time, and to help them with their energy, we chose Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, a relatively easy hike. The driver said it was peak season, so it was best to arrive early to avoid conflicts with tour groups. So we woke up early that day and departed Lijiang at 7:00 AM. But when we arrived at Tiger Leaping Gorge, we found a long line of tour buses already waiting inside. However, there were two lines at the entrance to Tiger Leaping Gorge: one for private cars and one for tour buses. Since we arrived early, there were fewer private cars, so we were quickly let into the scenic area and parked in the parking lot. We then got off the bus, bought our tickets for 45 yuan each, and followed the staff's instructions to board the scenic area shuttle bus. The ride took about 20 minutes to the Tiger Leaping Gorge observation deck. This 20-minute journey was quite daunting. The road was narrow, with a high mountain on one side, the rocks seemingly unstable, and a cliff on the other, with the Jinsha River at its base, a drop of over 50 meters. I happened to be sitting near the right window of the bus, watching the bus drive along the cliff face, feeling incredibly nervous and terrified.
P.S. By the way, I wonder if anyone has heard of Baishui Terrace (a scenic spot near Shangri-La). It's a bit like Pamukkale in Turkey. There's a road from Tiger Leaping Gorge to Baishui Terrace, which takes about two and a half hours, over an hour of which is spent on this cliff-edge road. I once wanted to take this route to Baishui Terrace, but the charter bus driver refused, saying no driver dared to go that way during the rainy season. After experiencing this short section of the Tiger Leaping Gorge shuttle bus, I'm a little glad I didn't take that route; otherwise, I'd have been terrified for over an hour and a half.
By the way, didn't I mention earlier that private cars and tour buses have separate lines to enter Tiger Leaping Gorge? Here, I noticed that the tour buses seem to drive directly up, without having to transfer to the scenic area shuttle bus. Private cars need to transfer to the shuttle bus in a group.
After arriving at the shuttle bus stop, walk down the scenic area's plank road until you're very close to the Jinsha River. After about 15 minutes of walking along the Jinsha River plank road, there's another plank road that leads back up, returning to the starting point. Both the upward and downward plank roads are quite long, and we spent a little over two hours exploring the entire route, climbing slowly and taking lots of photos.
The scenery you see when walking down↓
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DAY5 Balagzong Grand Canyon - Napahai - Dukezong Ancient Town
When I was making the travel guide, I thought the most distinctive attraction around Shangri-La was Baishuitai. However, driving from Shangri-La to Baishuitai takes about three hours one way, and visiting Baishuitai only takes about an hour. When I heard that spending six hours round trip just to see Baishuitai for an hour seemed a bit too much, I rejected this option. (A more convenient way to visit during the dry season is from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge, then to Baishui Terrace, and finally to Shangri-La. However, the road from Tiger Leaping Gorge to Baishui Terrace is quite steep, so drivers are reluctant to go during the rainy season. The road from Shangri-La to Tiger Leaping Gorge, while not too dangerous during the rainy season, is quite long.) My second option was to go to Shika Snow Mountain, but the car rental driver said that there would be no snow on Shika Snow Mountain in July, and it would just be an ordinary rocky mountain, uninteresting. I asked the driver for recommendations, and he suggested the Bala Gezong Grand Canyon. As for this attraction, personal preference is probably a matter of opinion, but my parents and I both felt that the scenery wasn't special enough to warrant the long trip.
The drive from Shangri-La to Bala Gezong Grand Canyon takes about one hour and 40 minutes. I think the scenery along the way is very beautiful, almost all of which are high mountain canyons.
P.S. This section of the road should be accompanied by Pu Shu's "Ordinary Road": "I have crossed mountains and seas, and also walked through crowds of people..."
DAY 6 Pudacuo National Park - Lijiang (Shuhe Ancient Town)
The only attraction we visited that day was Pudacuo National Park, which I had been looking forward to from the beginning, so I made sure to schedule plenty of time for it.
Pudacuo National Park originally had three main attractions—Shudu Lake, Bita Lake, and Militang. However, to protect a rare fish, two of these attractions are currently closed, leaving only Shudu Lake open. Accordingly, the ticket price has been reduced to 100 yuan.
To enrich the visitor experience, Pudacuo has opened two additional hiking trails. Currently, visitors can explore the following three routes (there are staff members at the entrance to Pudacuo Park, and staff are standing by the scenic map to explain the characteristics and distances of the three routes. If you're confused about the hiking routes, please ask the staff at the entrance):
1. Rongluo Village
2. Shudu Lake Plank Road (Must-See Attraction)
3. Tibetan Cultural Experience Hiking Route
The picture below is the entire map of Pudacuo.
DAY 7 Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yunshanping + Blue Moon Valley + Ganhaizi)
Today is the last day of our Yunnan trip, and our itinerary includes a visit to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The required tickets for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain are divided into three parts: a 100 yuan entrance fee, a Blue Moon Valley sightseeing bus ticket, and a cable car ticket.
The 100 yuan entrance fee is payable at the scenic area entrance.
The cable car ticket and the Blue Moon Valley sightseeing bus ticket are purchased as a package. The ticket price varies depending on which cable car you go↓
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Postscript
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