| Yunnan Adventure |
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Yunnan Adventure: 14-day
Yunnan Lugu Lake-Shangri-la Meili Snow Mountain Tour
Highlights:
• This tour takes you to the best of southwestern China,
from the capital of Yunnan province, Kunming, the ethnic
minority enclaves of Dali and Lijiang, and to the wondrous city
of Shangri-la, the inspiration for the classic novel
• You’ll get to see some of the most amazing natural wonders
China has to offer, like Tiger Leaping gorge, one of the world’s
longest and deepest gorges, the Mingyong Glaciers, and Jade
Dragon Snow Mountain, China’s best ski resort
• On your 13 day tour you’ll be led by a local English-speaking
guide, who will give you the insider’s scoop on all that you
will see, which will greatly enhance your tour experience
B=(Breakfast) L=(lunch) D=(dinner) DEPARTURE: Daily |
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TOUR ITINERARY |
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Tour
code:
AYN-04 |
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Day 1: arrive in
Kunming
You will fly to Kunming, the capital
of Yunnan province in southwest China, and upon
arrival at Kunming International airport you’ll be
met by your English-speaking guide. From the airport
you’ll be taken to your hotel, and you will be able
to unpack and relax after your flight. |
Day 2: Kunming (B, L)
Today you will be seeing the sights
and attractions of Kunming. Following breakfast in
the hotel, you’ll get started on the day’s
activities with a trip to the Stone Forest. It will
take between 1-2 hours to drive there because it is
86km from the city. Being one of the National Scenic
Resorts in China, the Stone Forest Scenic Resort has
a complete range of karst formations. Among the most
wonderful attractions in this area are the following
eight scenic spots: Large & Small Stone Forests,
Naigu Stone Forests, Large & Small Zhiyun Caves,
Qingfeng Cave, Long Lake, Moon Lake, Fairy Lake,
Feilong Falls. Standing upright in the Stone Forest
are innumerable cliffs and peaks, lofty and
majestic, steep and precipitous, charming and
enchanting.
From afar, it really looks like a dense forest but
as you walk closer, you will find "trees" are all
slender stone pinnacles. The sight is vast covering
some 350 kilometers. The Yi and Sani ethnic group
who live there are hardworking and good at singing
and dancing. Their folklore and culture are colorful
and multifarious, backed up by a long history.
Following a lunch of traditional Yunnan food we’ll
drive back into Kunming to visit the Golden Temple.
The Golden Temple is surprisingly small, but
exquisite. Built in 1602 and then moved to this hill
in 1637. Its present form was cast in 1671. Weighing
250 tons, it is the largest bronze work of
architecture in China. Double-tiered, 25 feet wide,
21 feet high, ensconced on two platforms of marble,
the Golden Temple has a dark patina and looks its
age. Inside, the statue of the Zhengwu Emperor, with
a Gold Boy and a Gold Girl on either side, dominates
the altar. An image of a fierce tortoise and a snake
guard the altar. The park, sprawling for more than
133.3 hectares on the Mingfeng Mountain seven
kilometers northeast of Kunming, is a national
forest reserve. With a natural scenery mingled with
sites of historical interest and man-made gardens,
it is also a large scenic resort in Kunming. The '
99 International Horticultural Exposition will take
place there. It covers a total area of 218 hectares,
and 76.7% of the site is vegetated.
Then we’ll relax a bit by taking a walk through
Green Lake. Green Lake (Cuihu) is Kunming's answer
to Central Park in New York. Lined with willows, the
lake is gorgeous, crisscrossed by small arched
bridges in imitation of Hangzhou's more famous West
Lake. The best season is winter, when days are warm
and sunny and the large flocks of "Laughing Gulls"
with their cackling cries as they arrive from their
breeding grounds in Siberia. The gulls enjoy the
legendary "eternal spring" weather in Kunming.
For the night, you’ll try your hand at local
shopping at the city market. The flower markets in
Shangyi Street are quite famous. The florists there
sell their wares by weight, so one can buy as little
as a single rose. There is a flower & bird market in
Jingxing Street, with numerous market stalls and
shops run by ethnic minorities where one can buy all
manner of ethnic handicrafts, including flowers and
even live birds. Kunming is renowned for its
handicrafts such as ivory carvings, wood carvings,
Burmese jade and other stone items. The food
specialty shops of Kunming also offer many unique
food and health-food items (aka Medicinal
Foodstuffs) that are not available elsewhere in
China, including tropical fruits.
It is not unheard of to get something on less than
50% of the original asking price by bargaining. If
you need some help your guide will be happy to help
you out! |
Day 3: Kunming-Dali (B)
Today we’ll be driving to Dali via Chuxiong Yi
Autonomous Prefecture. When we arrive in the
afternoon we’ll first visit the Three Pagodas, one
of Dali’s signature landmarks. The Three Pagodas of
Dali are famous in China for their size, beauty, and
antiquity, and for their preservation. The central
one is more than 1,100 years old and is one of the
tallest pagodas ever built in China. These pagodas
are situated between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai
Lake, about 1.5 kilometers (.9 of a mile) northwest
from the ancient city of Dali. The Three Pagodas are
cream-colored, delicate-looking pagodas. They are
situated in the shape of a triangle. The tallest and
oldest of the three was built during the reign of a
king of the Nanzhao Kingdom about 1,150 years ago.
The other two were built about 100 years later,
probably by the Kingdom of Dali. They are made of
brick. They stand at the foot of one of the high
peaks of nearby Cangshan Mountain named Yinglo Peak.
The tallest pagoda is one of China's best preserved
buildings from the time of the Tang Dynasty, and the
smaller two pagodas differ in style.
Then we’ll take a stroll through time in the Dali
ancient town. The ancient city of Dali is one of
Yunnan's most popular tourist destinations. When
visiting the area you can see temples and
architecture 1000 years old, buy beautiful souvenirs
and objects of art, and learn about the history of
the area and of the native peoples. The local
customs and architecture is distinctive. A stroll
through the ancient city with its stone paved
streets, traditional style houses, and numerous
gardens is an interesting excursion.
You’ll also get the chance to walk down Foreigner
Street, which contains Western-style restaurants and
bars and English-speaking business owners. The
street is popular with both foreigners and Chinese,
and is known as a backpackers’ haven. |
Day 4: Dali-Lijiang (B, L)
Today we will be seeing and learning
a lot about the Bai ethnic minority group, which is
largely populated in and around Dali. After
breakfast in the hotel we’ll drive to Erhai Lake,
which lies next to the amazing historic sites in the
Dali valley and the natural scenery and good hiking
trails on Cangshan Mountain. The whole region is
full of interesting and beautiful sites. Today,
we’ll be visiting Jinsuo Island, and on this little
Island you will find a Temple of the local Benzhu,
which means Local Host (that is the Bai people's
religion, to build a temple for the person which is
the first man or woman who made this village in long
time ago ).
After returning from the island we’ll head to Xizhou
Old Town, which will give you a chance to experience
the Bai minority's life. Xizhou is a now a quiet
town with a population of about 32,000 people.
Though now it is surrounded by rice paddies and is
mainly known for the well preserved Bai traditional
houses, many times it has been important in Chinese
history. During this century, it was a haven for
Chinese intellectuals and a leading university was
located here, fleeing the Japanese invasion. Before
1949, Xizhou was the main center for Bai commerce,
and many families were extremely rich. The best
examples of Qing Dynasty era Bai architecture can be
found here. Xizhou has about 200 national heritage
listed private houses dating from the Qing Dynasty.
The houses are among the best examples of
traditional Qing architecture in China and are
exquisitely detailed. By visiting this small town,
you gain a better understanding of the history of
this ingenious people and an appreciation of a
culture that has been important in Chinese history.
For the evening we’ll return to relax and stroll
along through Dali Ancient Town. |
Day 5: Dali-Lijiang (B, L)
After breakfast we’ll make the 180km
drive to Lijiang, and this will take us about 3 to 4
hours. On the way to Lijiang we’ll stop to visit the
Xinhuai Bai ethnic minority village, another Bai
village where you will see how daily life
progresses. You’ll meet some Bai farmers, and maybe
you can help in planting the harvest!
When we arrive in Lijiang we’ll stop for a lunch of
authentic Yunnan cuisine at the No.8 Restaurant,
located at the back of Black Dragon Pool. Somewhat
idiosyncratically known as Black Dragon Pool, the
Jade Spring Park to the north of Lijiang derives its
name from the waters which sparkle like jade and are
as clear as spring water. The entire park is green
with grass and shaded by swaying willow trees. Under
the Shuocui Bridge, a waterfall creates a constant
roar as it cascades downstream. At the far side of
the pool, there are renovated buildings used for art
exhibitions, the Moon-Embracing Pavilion with its
own white marble bridge across the water, and the
Five-Phoenix Temple built during the Ming Dynasty.
After taking in the wonderful vistas of Black Dragon
Pool we’ll head to the Dongba Museum. The museum is
built completely according to the traditional life
style of the Naxi Minority. You can feel the
traditional atmosphere of national culture from the
layout of its yard, building facilities, tools and
details of life. The daily life in Dongba Village
truly represents the life of Dongba, Naxi Minority.
There are three Dongba Masters in the village,
namely, Yangjiwen, Heliming and Hezhenwei. Now,
several Dongba students are learning Dongba culture
from the old Dongbas. On March 5th of the lunar
calendar, Dongbas from the whole Naxi district
gather, holding the annual Dongba Shenluo Fair at
the Dongba Shenluo Temple.
You will have the rest of the night to walk around
the old town of Lijiang. The old town is made up of
three old districts that retain a special character
of Naxi and Han construction and Naxi customs, arts
and culture. It was a former trading town and a stop
for traders carrying goods on the “Chama Road”
trails. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage
Site in 1997 following an earthquake and
reconstruction in 1996 that returned the city to a
more ancient look. The UNESCO description says: “The
Old Town of Lijiang, which is perfectly adapted to
the uneven topography of this key commercial and
strategic site, has retained a historic townscape of
high quality and authenticity. |
Day 6: Lijiang-Jade
Dragon Snow Mountain (B, L)
Today we will be exploring Jade Dragon Snow
Mountain, which dominates the landscape of Lijiang.
The Jade Dragon Snow Mountains are a small group of
peaks close to the city of Lijiang. The nearest
slope is only about 30 kilometers north of the Dayan
Ancient City District, and the mountain can be
clearly seen from the Black Dragon Pool next to the
ancient district. The group of mountains is notable
because they contain a small ski area, good hiking
along Tiger Leaping Gorge, great scenic views, and a
15,000 foot mountain with a specially built stairway
and path to make climbing to the summit easy. If
you’d like to climb to the top of a high mountain,
that might be one to try. There is no sliding on
steep paths or climbing with your hands, the
distance from the tram is short, and oxygen tanks
can be rented for a little more than 4 dollars USD.
But the view is excellent! The tallest peak called
Shanzidou has only been climbed once by two
Americans who say it is extremely dangerous. The
Yangtze River runs through Tiger Leaping Gorge in
the valley below. The mountains are a place to go to
in Yunnan for skiing or fun in the snow in the
winter and for hiking and enjoying the natural
scenery the rest of the year.
By cable car and by foot we’ll visit all the scenic
spots of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, including the
Yak Meadow and the Ganhaizi Meadow.
In the afternoon ou’ll have the opportunity to get
better acquainted with the Naxi people at the
village of Baisha. Baisha Old Town is one of the
oldest towns in Lijiang. It is the earliest
settlement of the Naxi people and is the birthplace
of "Tusi", chief of the Mu clan. In the town there
are many ancient buildings built during the Ming
Dynasty, including Dabaoji Palace, Liuli Temple, and
Wenchang Palace. The well-known Baisha Frescoes are
located in Dabaoji Palace. Because of the white sand
on the ground, the town was named "Baisha", which
means "white sand". In the Naxi language, it is
called "bengshi". The architectural complex is made
up of two parts, folk residence and cultural sites.
The folk residence is called "pengshizhi" which in
the local language means "Baisha Streets". The
streets all go from south to north. In the center of
the old town there is a square where three
thoroughfares intersect. Houses and small stores
stand on the both sides of these streets. A crystal
clear stream winds around all the houses flowing
through the small town from north to south.
The center of town features a beautiful rendering of
frescoes religious frescoes. The 44 pieces of Baisha
frescos were drawn in the early Ming Dynasty. Most
of the paintings are about religious stories of
Taoism, Buddhism, and Tibetan Buddhism. The murals
embody the artistic characteristics of the Naxi,
Tibetan, Han and Bai ethnic groups. Among them the
paintings about Kwan-yin and Sakyamuni are the most
famous ones. Now Baisha Frescos, also known as
Lijing Frescos have become precious data for the
study of China's history of arts and religions. |
Day 7:
Lijiang-Luguhu Lake (B, L)
Following breakfast we’ll make the 6
hour drive along the hilly and mountainous terrain
in order to reach Lugu Lake. On the way, you will
enjoy the beautiful view among the huge mountains
and rivers. Lugu Lake is a deep lake dotted with
some islets and surrounded by high mountains. It is
at a high elevation of 2,685 meters or 8,809 feet in
the high mountains that are on the borders of
Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet. The Mosuo people have
been isolated in the valley and retain more ancient
traditions and customs than the other people around
them. Travel up to their valley was difficult, and
it still is comparatively difficult. There are not
yet paved roads to their territory. The 30,000 or so
Mosuo people are ethnically distinct from the Naxi
who live around Lijiang, but are similar to the Naxi
in some ways.
Our plan will be to start your walking from
Jin’anqiao Bridge to Shudi along the road at the
bank of Yangtze River.you will see the beautiful
canon and Yi ethnic people’s villages in the steep
mountains. After 1 hour walking in the canon, you
will continue the driving and you can stop in and
look around the many ethnic minority villages. In
the late afternoon you’ll go by canoe to visit the
gorgeous Liwubi Island and Snake Islet in the Lugu
Lake. In the evening, you can take part in the night
party and performance which is named the Soul of
Mosuo. There are a lot of Mosuo young people dancing
and singing around the fire in the outdoors theatre. |
Day 8 Lugu Lake-Lijiang (B, L)
In the morning, we’ll make the short 20km drive to
visit the Zhamei Lamaist Monastery, a local Tibetan
monastery that has at least 20 lamas in residence.
Then we’ll drive to the little town of Yonging,
where you can shop and stroll through a Mosuo
Market, which will have on display crafts, clothes,
and other knick-knacks of interest.
We’ll then make the drive back to Lijiang, and you
are free to spend your evening back in the Lijiang
Old Town. |
Day 9 Lijiang-Tiger
Leaping Gorge (B, L, D)
Today you will get to see Tiger Leaping Gorge, one
of the deepest and longest gorges in the world. From
Lijiang we will drive about 60km to the First Bend
on the Yangtze River. It is called the “first bend”
because the river makes a 90 degree turn from south
to east within a distance of 1 kilometer. The place
was important militarily because big armies crossed
the river at that point, and it was a place where
Tibetans came down to trade with the people living
in the area. It is an interesting scenic area, and
there is hiking and other outdoor activities in the
area.
Then we’ll visit the Stone Drum Town. This town
derives its name from a white marble carved monument
in the shape of a drum, (diameter 15 m, thickness
0.7 m). This monument memorializes the victory and
subsequent spread of power of Baizhuang, the Tusi of
Mu Family of Lijiang, during the Jiajin years of the
Ming Dynasty. This historically relevant stone
monument was erected during one of the earliest
periods in Lijiang. To the right of the monument is
a lovely willow forest at its bank; while on the
left flows the Chongjiang River. Spanning this river
is the 17m long Tiehong Bridge, constructed of
boards paved over iron chains, and with similar iron
chains serving as fences on both sides. Stone Drum
Town is a historically important town on the ancient
trade route for tea and horses between inland
provinces and Tibet. The town still features a
flourishing trade fair, currently held every three
days.
Then we’ll reach Tiger Leaping Gorge. Tiger Leaping
Gorge is one of the world’s deepest gorges, and is
tucked in between Jade Dragon now Mountain and Haha
Mountain. At a length of 17km, Tiger Leaping Gorge
is the birthplace of the ancient Lijiang culture,
whose people lived in the many caves, big and small,
in the side of Yulong Xueshan (Jade Dragon Snow
Mountain). These caves were naturally formed houses.
In some caves, rock paintings and artifacts shedding
light on the life of these primitive peoples were
found. The rock paintings have now become another
attraction of Tiger Leaping Gorge. The gorge is
regarded as one of the top ten hiking trails in
China. At the mouth of the upper gorge, squeezed by
the two snow-capped mountains and further blocked by
the huge Tiger Leaping Boulder, the Golden Sand
River is only 25 meters in width. The water there
makes violent whirlpools and hits the banks so
powerfully that soaring breakers are created. This
really makes boating treacherous. However the high
waves, soaring water, and the mountains shrouded
with clouds and mist constitute the most magnificent
scenes of the gorge and attract numerous brave
explorers.
After taking time to hike and explore for a few
hours, we’ll drive on Shangri-la (formally known as
Zhongdian). The mythical, yet real, Shangri-la, is
the basis of much legend. The English writer, James
Hilton’s legendary novel “Last Horizon” wowed
readers with a paradise, characterized by
snow-capped mountains, vast grasslands, lush
vegetation, gorgeous gorges and idyllic lakes. |
Day 10 Shangri-la (B, L)
Today you will have a day of sightseeing and touring
in Shangri-la, and we’ll get started following
breakfast. Our first stop will be the Ganden
Sumtseling Monastery. Being the largest Tibetan
Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, Songzanlin Monastery,
also known as Guihua Monastery, is one of the famous
monasteries in the Kang region. The monastery is
located near Shangri -La County, at the foot of
Foping Mountain.
Construction of the monastery began in 1679 and was
completed two years later. The monastery seems like
a group of ancient castles and is composed of two
lamaseries, Zhacang and Jikang. The gilded copper
roof endows the monastery with strong Tibetan
features and the 108 (an auspicious number in
Buddhism) columns downstairs also feature the
monastery with characteristics of Han nationality.
The main halls in the monastery are magnificent, and
on both the left and the right sides are wonderful
frescos, depicting Buddhist tales and legends. The
inside-halls are exquisite with cloisters running
through. The cloisters are all decorated with
beautiful sculptures and consummate frescos.
Then it is off for some relaxation at the Pudacuo
Nature Reserve. This is a protected wetlands area
that has a primitive forest of coniferous trees
lakes, and lies 3,539 meters above sea level. Two
lakes that accentuate the beauty of this park are
the Shuda Lake and the Bita Lake. We will then
follow this up with a visit to the Summer Pastures
at Napa Lake, right outside Shangri-La.Several
rivers flow into the lake, including the Naizi and
Naqu Rivers. The lake is seasonal in that it is dry
in the fall and winter seasons, naturally becoming
part of the Yila Prairie. During this time, visitors
can see many sheep and cows grazing in the lakebed.
Afterwards we’ll head to the old town of Shangri-la,
which contain bazaars and markets. The Old Town,
including hefty Tibetan wooden buildings (some old,
and many that look rather older than they are), and
several temples built onto a hill in the centre of
town. Next we’ll go over to Guishan Park, a lovely
preserve with a temple one top that gives you a
sweeping panoramic view of the entire city. |
Day 11 Shangri-la-Deqin
(B, L)
In the morning we will make the 6-7 hour drive to
Deqin County (3400m altitude), which is 187km away
from Shangri-la,and we will be driving through the
Baimang Snow Nature Reserve. If the weather is
clear, you will be able to view Baimang Snow
Mountain.
After traversing mountain ranges, you will make a
short stop and have lunch at the town of Benzilan,
you can take some photos on the first bend of Jinsha(Yangtze)
River, Dongzhulin monastery and Baima (white horse)
Snow Mountain. The view along the way is fantastic
with different kinds of trees, streams down the
valley, prayer flags and stupas, and Tibetan
villages. |
Day 12 Deqin (B, L)
Be sure to wake up early today, as we will make the
10km drive to the Feilai monastery in order to view
the glorious sunrise over the Meili Snow Mountain.
Then we’ll make the 1.5 hour drive to the village of
Mingyong, where we’ll make the 4km walk to the
Mingyong Glaciers. The glacier is sacred to the
local peoples, and is fed by snows which fall on
Mount Meili, also known as the Meili Snow Mountain.
At 28.5 degrees north and an elevation of 2,700
meters (8,858 ft), the glacier is located at the
lowest latitude and elevation of any glacier in
China.
After walking for about another hour, you’ll come
upon the Taizi Monastery, which will give you
another great angle from which to view the glaciers
(You can choose to hire a horse to go up to the
glacier on your own expense in order to save your
energy.) After the tour, we’ll drive back to Deqin
County. |
Day 13 Deqin-Shangri-la (B, L)
After breakfast, we’ll make the 6-7 hour drive back
to Shangri-la, and when we arrive you can relax in
the Shangri-al Old Town. |
Day 14 Shangri-la-Kunming-depart Kunming (B)
You will be driven back to Kunming, and from there
you’ll be taken to Kunming International airport,
and you will fly on to your next destination. |
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Stuff to bring:
• Sturdy shoes or boots, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Bug spray and any other items needed in dealing with the tropical heat
• Tips for a job well done by your guides and drivers, money for any
personal expenses not mentioned
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