Live Your Best Lives
My husband and I and our good friends Feixue and Muzi invited each other to drive along the Sichuan-Yunnan Ring Road from May 5 to 12, 2021, passing through Qionghai, Lugu Lake, Lijiang Shuhe Ancient Town, Shuanglang Ancient Town, Dali Ancient Town, and the health and wellness holy land Miyi. We drove more than 2,730 kilometers and it took eight days. The scenes and feelings occasionally emerge before our eyes.
On the first day, sunny and cloudy, Mianyang - 586 km - Xichang Moonlight Style Town.
At 8 o'clock, we took the Chengwan Expressway to the second bypass section of Chengdu, and the road was smooth all the way. On the road to Yingjing, the number of vehicles returning to the city gradually increased. Although we encountered two traffic jams along the way, the journey only took a little over 30 minutes, with some stops and starts. Overall, the roads were smooth all day. Besides lunch at the Yingjing Expressway exit and a break at a service area, we arrived in Xichang around 5:00 PM.
The drive from Mianyang took 3 hours and approximately 308 km, exiting the G5 Yingjing Expressway exit at 11:46 AM, where we dined at restaurants along the way. The dishes served in Sichuan restaurants are generally delicious and colorful.
There is still a constant stream of vehicles heading towards Xichang at the end of the May Day holiday.
Soon after setting out from the Yingjing Service Area, we began to climb a hill and drove for nearly 20 kilometers until we entered the Nibashan Tunnel, which is over 3,000 meters above sea level and 10 kilometers long. I felt a momentary ear plug reaction and left the Nibashan Tunnel after nearly ten minutes. The Ya'an-Xichang Expressway connects the cities of Ya'an and Xichang. With a total length of 240 kilometers, construction began in 2007 at a cost of 20.6 billion yuan and took five years to complete. It's nicknamed the "Highway in the Clouds" because it climbs from the edge of the Sichuan Basin to the highlands of the Hengduan Mountains, with an average elevation gain of 7.5 meters for every kilometer it extends, rising continuously into the clouds. The Ya'an-Xichang Highway crosses the Qingyi River, Dadu River, and Anning River systems, as well as 12 earthquake fault zones. Many experts around the world believe that the Ya'an-Xichang Highway is one of the most technologically advanced mountain highways in the world, with the harshest natural environment. Therefore, it is also known as the "Heavenly Ladder Highway".
After exiting the Nibashan Tunnel, the road continues uphill until reaching the Guodang Service Area. You'll then enter the first circular tunnel of Ganhaizi, which curves left and continues uphill. Shortly after exiting the tunnel, you'll enter the second circular tunnel, which also curves left and continues uphill. After exiting the second circular tunnel, you'll reach the mountain pass, followed by a nearly 30-kilometer long downhill descent. The entrance to Ganhaizi Tunnel is 1,889 meters above sea level, and the exit of Tiezhaizi Tunnel No. 1 is 2,215.79 meters above sea level. The 10-kilometer run takes only about 10 minutes, and you'll gain over 300 meters without feeling any sense of climbing. The Ya'an-Xichang Highway has a "devil's section," a long downhill stretch that's rare even in Asia. Due to its high altitude, proximity to cliffs, and numerous sharp turns, this section is prone to accidents. The G5 Expressway, a four-lane, two-way highway entering the suburbs of Xichang, is comparable to the G7 Beijing-Xinjiang Expressway, boasting fewer vehicles, excellent road conditions, and excellent visibility. Just 1 kilometer past the Xichang Interchange, you'll exit the Xichang Expressway and enter the nearby city of Xichang. 
The entrance and exit of Xichang Expressway Toll Station is adjacent to the urban area, which makes it very convenient to enter and exit the urban area and it is quite distinctive. We arrived at Yuese Fengqing Town around 5 p.m., where inns and hotels abounded. On the last day of the May Day holiday, many tourists had returned, and accommodations at Qionghai Seaside Inns had dropped from their original lows of 300-600 RMB.
The standard room at the inn where we stayed was clean, quiet, and spacious. It was only 50 meters away from Qionghai Lake, and you could overlook Qionghai Lake from the balcony of the room. Here, with blue sky and clear clouds, abundant sunshine, fresh air, pleasant temperature, excellent visibility, and a quiet environment, it was a pleasure to be here.
After checking in at the inn, we headed to Qionghai Wetland Park for a visit. Bougainvillea abounds near Qionghai Wetland Park.
In front of the Gurong Yueyun Archway in Qionghai Yuese Town is Qionghai Moon Bay. The Moon Goddess statue in Moon Bay is a symbol of Qionghai and a popular online check-in spot. The words "This place is blessed with unique natural advantages" are engraved on the statue's base, a phrase attributed to Deng Xiaoping.
The tranquil Qionghai Lake under the afterglow of the setting sun is like a harbor that purifies the human soul, with a lone sail in the distance, as tranquil as an ink painting.
As the night deepens and the temperature drops, the Qionghai Sea Scenic Road is deserted.
On the second day, we visited Qionghai Lake and Yuese Fengqing Town. There are four ways to visit Qionghai: hiking, renting a bicycle, taking a sightseeing bus, and self-driving. The best way to visit Qionghai is to combine hiking with renting a bicycle, hiking with a sightseeing bus, or renting a bicycle with a sightseeing bus. While a self-driving tour is only about 30 kilometers, it's far from the scenic plank road or the lakeside scenery. Overlooking Qionghai Lake from the gate of Yuese Fengqing Town
Overlooking Qionghai Lake from the gate of Yuese Fengqing Town
The jacaranda flowers on both sides of the Moon Bay steps complement the blue sky, which is intoxicating.
Under the blue sky and clear clouds, in a pleasant season, when the breeze from Qionghai touches your face, the fresh air is refreshing and invigorating, and extremely warm. While resting, leaning against Lushan Mountain and gazing at Qionghai, you can enjoy a unique leisure and leisurely mood by this uniquely endowed Qionghai shore, which is refreshing and delightful.
The shape of the plank road resembles a crescent moon, which is quite creative.
Qiong Seaside Park has leisure and entertainment venues
The sightseeing plank road is more than 1 kilometer long.
When the wind is about to calm, the surface of Qionghai Lake is like a mirror, with the scenery of lakes and mountains reflected in it, which makes people calm, wandering and full of reverie. Qionghai Lake is 11.5 kilometers long from north to south, 5.5 kilometers wide from east to west, and has a circumference of 35 kilometers. The lakeside currently houses Qionghai Park, Qionghai Hotel, Moonlight Town, Guanhai Bay - the No. 1 Tank in the World, Qinglong Temple, Moon Bay and New Beach Landscape, Lotus Pond, Sunshine Resort, Rosa Rose Garden, and the Ruins of Laohai Pavilion.
Day 3: Sunny and partly cloudy, Xichang – 271km – Lugu Lake.
Before leaving Yuese Fengqing Town, the female shopkeeper told us that the 270km to Lugu Lake would take seven hours, and if there was a convoy of windmills, the traffic jam could last for over two hours. G348 is the only road from Xichang to Lugu Lake, and although it's paved, it has steep slopes and sharp turns through high mountains.
After passing Pingchuan Town, the mountains gradually become higher, especially when entering Zuantianpo, Xiaogaoshan and other sections. The road is winding, steep and sharp. After climbing for dozens of kilometers, it continues to go downhill for dozens of kilometers. At noon, we arrived at Yanyuan County, with an actual altitude of 2430 meters. There are many U-shaped or Z-shaped sharp turns in Zuantianpo, Xiaogaoshan, Erwushan and Mopanshan, and there are cliffs and abysses outside the turns, which are dangerous sections where accidents often occur. On this kind of road, when encountering oncoming vehicles, most large trucks have to occupy the lane to turn, and some small cars also have to occupy the lane to turn.
After lunch, the mountain altitude gradually descended from Yanyuan to Lugu Lake, but some sections of the road are steep and some fallen rocks can be seen on the road. It seems that during the rainy season, you must be careful of landslides or falling rocks when driving. Arriving at the Lugu Lake Scenic Area ticket gate at around 4:00 PM, visitors must purchase a ticket (free for those over 60) and present their health code. After a temperature check, they can enter the scenic area. They then drive along the Ring Road around the lake, arriving at their Lugu Lake Hotel around 5:00 PM. 
Lugu Lake South Gate Ticket Gate. Lugu Lake is jointly governed by Sichuan and Yunnan. The entrance fee to the Lugu Lake Scenic Area is 70 RMB per person, with those over 60 free. A counterclockwise tour around the lake from the scenic area passes through the Sichuan section of Lugu Lake. Lover's Beach, a gentle, pebble-paved slope at the lakeside, is popular with young people taking photos. After passing the Sichuan section, you enter the Yunnan section. Along the lakeside road, there are numerous inns and scenic spots where you can stop to admire the lake or take photos.
Lugu Lake is a plateau fault karst sinkhole lake. It belongs to the Litang River system, a tributary of the Yalong River, a tributary of the Jinsha River, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. It is the highest lake in Yunnan Province and the third largest deep-water lake in China. The surrounding area is primarily inhabited by the Mosuo, Yi, and Pumi peoples. Along the shores, seven ethnic groups, including the Mongolian ethnic group, live, totaling approximately 13,000 people. Its beautiful natural environment and unique ethnic customs make it a famous tourist destination. Lugu Lake is located at the border of Yanyuan County, Sichuan Province, and Ninglang County, Yunnan Province. It is jointly administered by these two regions, with Lugu Lake Town (formerly Zuosuo District) in Yanyuan County to the east and Yongning Township in Ninglang County to the west. The lake runs slightly northwest-southeast, covers an area of 50.1 square kilometers, and has a reservoir capacity of 2.252 billion cubic meters. The road around the lake is nestled between mountains and water, with numerous inns and scenic views dotted along the lakeside villages. While the scenery may pass by the window, it remains etched in your mind. Stop and admire or take photos at any scenic spot you like.
On the way, we encountered a taxi that had driven onto the shoulder of the road next to a ditch. The driver and passengers were unharmed and awaiting help. The SUV overtook a large truck in the opposite direction by taking advantage of the lane in a blind spot on a curve, but was unable to avoid it and had a collision with it. Fortunately, no one was injured and the police are waiting to deal with the matter. Rooms at the Mosuo Garden Hotel are 320 RMB. Along the lakeside and along the streets of Daluoshui, numerous inns and hotels are located, ranging from 100 RMB to over a thousand RMB per room. These rates are only during non-holiday periods; prices fluctuate during holidays. While prices vary significantly between those near the lake and those not, many tourists still choose to stay near the lake. After all, the view of the lake and mountains is just outside the window, and the tranquility of the restroom is stunning.
Take a look at the scenery of Lugu Lake at dusk. When clouds obscure the sun, the clouds and mountains of Lugu Lake are reflected on the lake surface. The water is clear, and the breeze brings a slight chill. At an altitude of 2,690 meters, the temperature difference between morning and evening can reach 13 degrees Celsius. At night, you either use an electric blanket or turn on the air conditioner for warmth.
The next day, we strolled along the lakeside. There were many B&Bs here, and the prices were relatively affordable in the off-season.
Da Luoshui Street has a full range of restaurants and shops, but the prices are not low. Lugu Lake is located between Yanyuan County, Sichuan Province and Ninglang Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province. It is a boundary lake between Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and is shared by the two provinces. Sichuan accounts for about 2/3 of the total area, and Yunnan accounts for 1/3. However, the lakeshore on the Yunnan side is longer than that on the Sichuan side, so many tourists choose to stay in inns or hotels along the Lugu Lake on the Yunnan side. Lugu Lake covers an area of over 50 square kilometers and sits at an altitude of 2,690 meters. Its average depth is 45 meters, with a maximum depth of 93 meters. Its waters boast a transparency of 11 meters and a maximum visibility of 12 meters. Its crystal-clear waters are azure blue, making it the highest lake in Yunnan and one of China's deepest freshwater lakes. The lake encompasses five islands, three peninsulas, and one island connected by a seawall, each of varying shapes and emerald green. The lakeside residents are primarily the Mosuo people, with some Naxi and Pumi people also living there.
As the clouds dispersed, the Lugu Lake, illuminated by the setting sun, instantly shimmered with silver light and rippling with blue waves. The Daluoshui Lakeside Scenic Trail is approximately 2 kilometers long. From your accommodation, it's 2 kilometers from the Lijiang Lugu Lake Scenic Area and 3.4 kilometers from Lover's Beach. Whether the scenic spots or Lover's Beach are worth visiting depends on your preference.
The water of Lugu Lake is crystal clear, transparent to the bottom, more than ten meters deep, and the water quality is excellent.
Wooden boats at Daluoshui Wharf are available for tourists to take a tour of the lake for a fee.
When the sun shines on the earth, the body immediately feels warm. As the sun gradually rises, the temperature at noon can reach 25 degrees Celsius. It really feels like winter and summer, and the difference between cold and hot is as clear as two different worlds.
Most of the plateau lakes have blue sky and clear water. The sky and water are one color, and the lake water is surprisingly pure and azure. The mirror-like water reflects the scenery of the lake, mountains and blue clouds. The mountains seem to jut out from the bottom of the lake, or hang in the blue sky, making you feel like you are in a dreamland.
Overlook Lugu Lake from the observation deck
Overlooking Lugu Lake from the Gemu Bridge, against the backdrop of the blue sky, Lugu Lake looks like a crystal clear sapphire inlaid on the plateau.
Day 4, sunny, Lugu Lake - 196 km - Shuhe Ancient Town, Lijiang.
After seeing various lakes and ponds, although they each have their own unique shapes and present different scenery in different seasons, psychologically, the novelty has gradually faded. Despite this, Lugu Lake is still very charming. Taking advantage of the scorching midday sun and feeling that we have exhausted our sightseeing, we drove to Shuhe Ancient Town in Lijiang.
From Lugu Lake, along the S307 Ninglu Highway and the G348 Lining Highway to Shuhe Ancient Town is 198 kilometers. The Ninglu Road winds up the mountain to a pass, then winds down again, reaching the county seat of Ninglang Yi Autonomous County after just over an hour. It was almost noon, but the streets of Ninglang County were clean, with few cars or pedestrians. Most of the street walls were painted red, a characteristic of the Yi ethnic group. 
Lunch included braised chicken and luncheon meat with braised tofu. The portions were generous, the prices were reasonable, and the food was delicious, demonstrating the affordability of Ninglang County.
Drive 40 kilometers from Ninglang County to the Yulong Mountain Thirteen Peaks (Sky Realm) Observation Deck, over 2,900 meters above sea level. Many cars are parked along the roadside, and many tourists check in or look at Yulong Mountain across the way.
Stand on the viewing platform and look at the Thirteen Peaks of Yulong Mountain in the distance
From the Thirteen Peaks Viewing Platform of Yulong Mountain, continue driving 58 kilometers to cross the 18 bends of the Lining Panshan Road, a winding road. The Lining Eighteen Bends is a dangerous section of the road from Lugu Lake to Lijiang. From the Jinsha River Gorge to the mountain pass, the altitude difference of more than 1,000 meters in just over 20 kilometers is as great as the eighteen bends, forming a breathtaking wonder.
When passing through Lijiang city, we had no interest in visiting the increasingly commercialized Lijiang Old Town. Besides, we had visited the town before, so we crossed the crowded Lijiang city roads and headed directly to Shuhe Ancient Town, 7 kilometers away. The neat and quiet streets, without the hustle and bustle of the city, everything seems so peaceful, tranquil and simple, giving people a sense of time travel, as if living in a paradise on earth. No wonder so many tourists come here for leisure and vacation. Indeed, compared to the increasingly commercialized Lijiang Ancient Town, Shuhe Ancient Town is more peaceful and more suitable for leisure and entertainment.
The stone-paved ground in Shuhe Ancient Town is uneven but clean. Most of the streets are lined with bungalows or two-story buildings. Various shops are lined up one after another, with flowers blooming in front of the shops. The former prosperity is hard to be erased by the current sparse pedestrian situation and deserted shop fronts. Shuhe Ancient Town is located in the heart of all Lijiang's scenic spots. It is a hub for visiting Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lashi Lake, Lugu Lake, the First Bend of the Yangtze River, and the Three Parallel Rivers Scenic Area.
The ancient town's winding roads lead to every corner of the street. A stroll along the streets will lead you to secluded places.
Under the sunset, there are few tourists in Shuhe Ancient Town, and the shops on the street are deserted.
Many shops closed early.
Arriving at Sifang Street Music Square, the lingering sound of music still echoes in my ears. From Shuhe Ancient Town, drive 150 kilometers along the Dali Expressway to Shuanglang Ancient Town. After visiting Shuanglang Ancient Town, we will continue along the Erhai Lake East Ring Road around Erhai Lake for 68 kilometers to reach Dali Ancient Town.
The Dali Expressway section from Lijiang to Dali has few vehicles and excellent road conditions. The speed limit for small cars in tunnels is 110 kilometers per hour, while the speed limit for other vehicles is 90 kilometers per hour, with a very high pass rate. Shuanglang Ancient Town, nestled on the eastern shore of Erhai Lake, is more tranquil than Lijiang and more inviting than Dali. Between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake, time seems to have stood still, and the 7-kilometer Lotus Curve coastline is breathtakingly beautiful. The charming streets and alleyways of the Bai ethnic group and the artists' gathering place embody the unique charm of this secluded paradise.
There are not many tourists in Shuanglang Ancient Town in May.
Lunch at Shuanglang includes dishes such as braised chicken, braised beef with bamboo shoots, and water lily.
The rare aquatic plant - water lily, can be used for viewing and eating, and it is tender, smooth and refreshing.
Yang Liping's art space has attracted many tourists to check in. Erhai Lake is long and narrow, stretching from the southern end of Eryuan County in the north to Xiaguan in Dali City in the south, with a length of 40 kilometers from north to south. It is the second largest lake in Yunnan after Dianchi Lake. It is a plateau tectonic fault lake with an altitude of 1,972 meters.
After visiting Shuanglang Ancient Town, we started driving around Erhai Lake.
Dali Erhai Huanhai East Road, two lanes in both directions. The journey around Erhai Lake from Shuanglang Ancient Town along Huanhu East Road is only about 70 kilometers. On the way, many young people rent convertible cars, take couples or friends for a ride or take photos along the way, which becomes a beautiful scenery of Erhai Lake.
After the traffic police arrived and took photos of the scene and two certificates from both parties, they allowed their vehicle to drive away from the scene and go to the accident rapid processing center 2 kilometers away to handle the accident.
The right front fender and other parts were scratched. According to the local accident rapid processing center, the other party shall not affect the normal driving of vehicles in other lanes when changing lanes. The other party shall be fully responsible for the traffic accident that occurs. After negotiation, we drove the vehicle back to Mianyang City for repairs.
After handling the traffic accident, we passed through the congested Dali city and stayed at a quiet courtyard inn in the south gate of Dali Ancient City, a ten-minute walk from the center of the ancient city.
The inn was renovated last year and put into operation this year. The room decoration, room type, area, and facilities meet three-star standards. There is no decoration smell in the room. The standard room is spacious and clean, and the bed sheets and quilts are all brand new. Simmons is soft and moderate, making it quite warm and comfortable to rest.
On the sixth day, it was sunny, Dali Ancient City - 558 kilometers away - Panzhihua.
We have been to the ancient city of Dali many times, and we visited the ancient city again last night, so we chose Dali as a resting place this time. After a half-day break in the morning, after lunch, we drove from west to east along the G56 Hangrui Expressway, Wujin Expressway, and G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway, then turned north, passing through Xiangyun County, Nanhua County, Chuxiong City, Wuding County, Yuanmou County, and Yongren County to Panzhihua City. The journey was 558 kilometers, and we arrived in Panzhihua City in the evening.
When driving to the hub of Hangrui Expressway and Wujin Expressway, you will see the guide sign indicating that it is only 70 kilometers away from Kunming.
Driving to the service area of Yuanmou County in Yunnan to rest, not far from Panzhihua, the temperature was 29 degrees and the ultraviolet rays were very strong.
Stay at this hotel in Panzhihua City that night.
The urban area of Panzhihua is a narrow strip, with the Jinsha River passing through the city, dividing the urban area into two parts, Jiangbei and Jiangnan, with the main urban area located in the south. The outdoor temperature reached 35 degrees in the evening, and the indoor heat was unbearable. It felt like entering a steamer. I had to turn on the air conditioner to rest all night long. It was a veritable city of fire.
On the seventh day, it was sunny, Panzhihua - 208 kilometers - Xichang Yuese Fengqing Town.
Arrive at Xichang City at 2 pm and visit the Moon City - Xichang City.
More than 20 kilometers from Panzhihua city, passing by the 1,390-meter-long Panzhihua Jinsha River Bridge located in the upper reaches of the Jinsha River, you can have a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains.
The lowest temperature in winter is 8 degrees Celsius. It costs 2,400 yuan per person per month for food and accommodation to escape the cold.
Lunch at Kangyang Residence includes marinated pork thighs, crispy pork, sausages, three meat dishes and five vegetarian dishes, priced at 20RMB per person.
On the eighth day, it was sunny, Xichang City - 586 kilometers - Mianyang City.
On the way back to Mianyang from Xichang City along the G5 Beijing-Kunming Expressway, we encountered a traffic jam on the 5-kilometer section leaving the Yingjing service area. Fortunately, the traffic jam only lasted about 40 minutes. God blessed us with a smooth journey!
The cherries sold by merchants in the service area are 35-45RMB/jin.
The traffic jam makes people sigh but helpless. There is no choice but to wait for the traffic to open.
After it opened to traffic, we overtook all the way and arrived at Ya'an City at nearly 12 o'clock. Then we got off the highway to Xicheng District. Feixue searched for an Internet celebrity restaurant on her mobile phone. After the meal, everyone said it was delicious.
The journey back was smooth, and we arrived back at our place of residence at around 16:00, ending our eight-day self-driving tour. < p >
Sail towards the longed-for sonata on the other side; when you see the beautiful mountains, rivers, fields and villages along the way, and the unique customs and customs, it is like unfolding beautiful pictures that make people dizzy; when you are exposed to the charming scenery, it is like a dream, as if you are inhabiting a fairy tale world. & nbsp;
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