28 Zigzag Turns of Tiger Leaping Gorge

Walk half an hour after having lunch in Naxi GH, then get to 28 Zigzag Turns of Tiger Leaping Gorge. the name derives from geographic feature that is 28 turns, at a altitude of 2680m. As you can imagine from its name, this section goes up with large gradient. It requires good physical condition to trek 700m up the gorge via 28 turns in comparison to 100m vertical height. You’d better taking a frequent rest. Travellers can enjoy the great view of Yulong Snow Mountain and overlook the Jinsha (Golden Sands) River Valley from here. It was vital to Tea-Horse Ancient Road in the past. Offical name of 28 Zigzag Turns is marked on the road sign as “ Tea-Horse Ancient Road 24 Zigzag Turns”.

Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tips

1. It usually hot in day time, you can bring shorts and T-shirt. As hiking will consume lots of physical strength, you could take some high calorie food such as chocolate, malted milk, sliced dried beef and so on.
2. When you hiking to the Shenzhou Waterfall located between Walnut Garden and Zhongxia Hotel, you must be very carefull, as it may fall stone with the waterfall which is very dangerous.
3. Each year from June to September is the rainy season of the Diqing Plateau. You’d better avoid this period as it may occurs debris flow and mountain rock fall.
4. Located at the high altitude area, surrounded by Hengduan Montains, the climmate in Tiger Leaping Gorge is complicate and changable. The temperature difference between day and night is big. Take think coat, down jacket, gloves, anti-skidding boots with you.

Nearby Attractions

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Haba Snow Mountain
The First Bend of Yangtze River, Lijiang
The Upper Section of Tiger Leaping Gorge (Lijiang Side)
Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan

Brief Introduction

Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport(IATA：JHG，ICAO：ZPJH) is located in Gasa Town(嘎洒镇), southwest of Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Prefecture. Construction began on December 1, 1987, and it was officially operated on April 7, 1990. On January 1, 1997, it was approved by the State Council as the first class port airport. It is also the “civilized airport” in southwest region, the second international airport in Yunnan Province. The airfield grade is 4D and the runway is 2400 meters long. It can provide Boeing 767, Airbus 330 and other planes for takeoffs and landings. There are 24 domestic routes in operation, among which 3 are international / regional routes.

Operation Services

Domestic Services

Airlines	Destinations
China Eastern Airlines(MU)	Beijing, Shanghai-Hongqiao, Guangzhou, Xi’an, Lanzhou, Nanjing, Tianjin, Kunming, Taiyuan, Lincang(临沧)
China Southern Airlines(CZ)	Chongqing, Kunming, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Guiyang
Capital Airlines(JD)	Hangzhou, Lijiang, Beijing, Kunming
Lucky Air(8L)	Lijiang, Dali, Kunming, Chengdu, Zhaotong(昭通), Mianyang(绵阳)
Shanghai Airlines(FM)	Kunming, Shanghai
Spring Airlines(9C)	Changsha, Shanghai
Loong Air(GJ)	Hangzhou, Anshun(安顺), Bijie(毕节), Guilin(桂林)
Sichuan Airlines(3U)	Beijing, Chongqing, Chengdu, Kunming
West Air(PN)	Kunming, Chongqing
Kunming Airlines(KY)	Changsha. Kunming, Lijiang
Chengdu Airlines(EU)	Chengdu, Kunming, Guiyang, Yinchuan(银川), Xining(西宁), Lijiang
Okay Airlines(BK)	Kunming
Ruili Airlines(DR)	Kunming. Lijiang
Chongqing Airlines(OQ)	Chongqing
Joy Air(JR)	Xi’an, Kunming
Air China(CA)	Changsha, Kunming, Lijiang
Shenzhen Airlines(ZH)	Changsha, Kunming, Lijiang
Xiamen Airlines(MF)	Wuhan, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Kunming
China Express Airlines(G5)	Tianjin, Zunyi(遵义), Lijiang, Kunming

International Services

Airlines	Destinations	Frequency
Ruili Airlines(DR)	Chiang Mai of Thailand	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sunday
Ruili Airlines(DR)	Chiang Rai of Thailand	Tue, Thu, Sat
Lao Airlines(QV)	LangPrabang of Laos	Thu, Sunday

Airport Transportation

Airport Shuttle Bus

Service Time: 6:30-22:15(every 15 minutes)

Line 1:

To: Gaozhuangxi Shuangjing告庄西双景(Point of Departure)-Hongta Cement Plant-Mandou Village(曼斗村)-Ethnic Hotel(民族风情园)-South Bus Station-Airport

Fro: Airport(Point of Departure)-Local Taxi Bureau-Bingang International(滨港国际)-Da Run Fa Supermarket(大润发)-Mandou Village-Gaozhuangxi Shuangjing(告庄西双景)

Line 2:

To: Hydrological station(Point of Departure)-Zongduan(总段)-Traffic Police Group-Farmer’s market-Xishuangbanna Bus Station-Technical College-Flower Garden-Xiao Man Me Crossing(小曼么路口)-Ri Yue Kang City(日月康城)-Sheng Shi Hua Fu(盛世华府)-Fire Brigade-Airport

Fro: Airport(point of departure)-Tianshun Supermarket(天顺超市)-Jin Feng Hotel(金凤酒店)-Haicheng Jiayuan(海城嘉园)-Sing and Dance City(歌舞倾城)-Peacock Lake-Tiancheng Marketplace(天城大卖场)-Man Bang Nan(曼蚌囡)-Hydrological station

Transportation in Yunnan:

Yunnan Travel by Air

• Airlines in Yunnan
• Flights to Yunnan
• Airport Transfer
• International Flights to Yunnan
• Airports in Yunnan

Rail Transport in Yunnan

• High-speed Rail in Yunnan
• Railway Stations in Yunnan
• Railways in Yunnan
• Trains to Yunnan
• Trans Asia Railway
• Metro in Yunnan

Roads in Yunnan

• Bridges in Yunnan
• Freeways in Yunnan
• Highways in Yunnan
• Roads to Yunnan
• Trans-Asia Roads
• National Roads in Yunnan

Qingxi Reservior in Lijiang

Qingxi Reservoir is located in the northern suburb of Lijiang City, near the College of Tourism and Culture of Yunnan University in Lijiang City and the No. 1 Middle School of Gucheng District in Lijiang City. It is one of the drinking water sources in Lijiang. In winter, it is a good place to relax in the sun. In summer, it is a place to enjoy the cold. It’s great to take your family to relax on weekends. In the evening, you can also count the stars and see the moon with your friends.

 

Liwubi Island

In Luguhu Lake(泸沽湖), there are 5 islands, 3 peninsulas and 1 seawall island, with an average surface height of 15 to 30 meters. On the Ninglang side of Yunnan, Heiwawu Island(黑瓦吾岛), Liwubi Island(里无比岛) and Lige Island(里格岛), which are the three islands with the most ornamental and tourist value. It is also called “Penglai Three Islands”(蓬莱三岛).

What to see in Liwubi Island

Liwubi Island(里无比岛) is located in the south-central part of Luguhu Lake(泸沽湖). It divides Luguhu Lake(泸沽湖) into two parts with the Tubu Peninsula(吐布半岛) and faces the Snake Island in the northwest. You can take a boat from Luoshui Village(落水村) to Liwubi Island(里无比岛), which takes about half an hour. One side of the island is a stalagmite that becomes a natural pier. A meandering path leads directly to the top of the island, with many azaleas and wild cherry trees next to the road. At the end of the flower is the Buddhist temple or the Tibetan Buddhism Temple, and there is a white pagoda at the top of the island.

The main building of the island is the Liwubi Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Although the ethnologists have designated the Mosuo people as one of the Naxi people, the Mosuo people do not agree with them. They said that they are a single nation and a descendant of the ancient Yi people. Therefore, their religion believes in Tibetan Buddhism. There is a white tower at the highest point of the temple. The tower of the vicissitudes indicates the sacredness of the temple. And under the blue sky, this is a beautiful picture.

Because of the abundant water and sunshine, the Liwubi Island(里无比岛) is a dense virgin forest. In addition, the Mosuo people have no custom of playing birds and eating birds. It has become a paradise for birds.

How to get to Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is located on the border of Yunnan and Sichuan, so travelers can visit Lugu Lake from Yunnan or from Sichuan. At present, there are three highway leading to Lugu Lake, one is from Xichang (Sichuan) to Lugu Lake for 258 kilometers, one is from Panzhihua to Lugu Lake for 220 kilometers and the third is from Lijiang to Lugu Lake for 230 kilometers.

Luguhu Airport, opended in October 2015, has limited flights from/to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. The airport is about 25 kilometers from Lugu Lake with airport shuttle linked each other.

1. From Lijiang:
1) Transport Service Center Bus Station to Daluoshui Village:
Departure Time: 09:00, 10:00.
Ticket Price: CNY 65
Duration: around 7 hours
2) Take tourist bus arranged by local travel agencies:
Departure Time: unfixed
Ticket Price: CNY 140 to 200 for a round-trip
Duration: around 7 hours
Notice:
1). Departure time is changeable. Usually, the bus driver informs the tourists of departure time and pick-up location in advance.  
2). Most hostels help their guests to book the bus tickets. Visitors can ask the hostel owners if they provide this service. The reservation should be made one day in advance.
3). Visitors who take tourist bus might be arranged to go shopping, visit a Mosuo family, go boating or take part in a bonfire party. Undoubtedly, they need to pay extra money for these activities.

2. From Xichang, Sichuan Province: 
1). Take regular bus from Xichang Tourist Transport Center Bus Station to Lugu LakeTown (also called Zuosuo Town).
Departure Time: 08:10, 09:30
Ticket Price: CNY 95
Duration: 7 to 8 hours
2). Take regular bus from Xichang to Yanyuan, change bus to Zuosuo Town.
 

Notice:
1). Lugu lake is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Lugu Lake Town. After arriving in the town, visitors need to charter a car to reach the village where they plan to stay. The fare is around CNY 20 to 40.  
2). Bus schedules and ticket prices might be adjusted without prior notice.
3). Extra buses from Xichang to Lugu Lake Town will be provided during the high season (May to October).
4). Visitors are suggested to buy return bus tickets upon arrival in case the tickets are sold out quickly.

Recommended Tour with Lugu Lake

2 Days Lijiang Lugu Lake Tour and Matriarchal Society Discovery

Best Time to Visit Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is surprising beautiful place which can be visited all year round. Flowers are blossom in different season, presenting you a charming painting scenery. The best time to visit Lugu Lake is from March to November and as for photographers, come from March to May and September to October that you will shoot brilliant pictures.

Spring: it is a land of idyllic beauty – emerald lake like a clear mirror with the surrounding peach flowers and pear flowers blossom happily, mountains reflecting in water, boats sailing quietly on the tranquil lake…
Summer: it is a summer resort – pleasant and cool weather with gentle breezes blowing, mist floating in the midair after rainy, azalea in pink and white blossom in the mountain…
Autumn: it is a fairyland as beautiful as Jiuzhaigou – the surrounded mountains turn into a red and golden world with leaves changing, the glittering lake, the gorgeous sunglow, geese chirping in the sky that you can image how beautiful the scene is.
Winter: it is a world of waterfowl – different kinds of wild ducks playing on the water.

If you interested in the grandest festival of Mosuo people, come to the lunar July 25 that you can see Mosuo people dressed in traditional festival to pay a worship to Gemu Goddess Mountain.

Luguhu Lake Accommodation

In the Lugu Lake tourist area, there are more than 400 hotels and rooms ranging from inns and guesthouses to five-star hotels. The accommodations are mainly located in Caohai village, Dazshui village, Sanjia village, Lige village and Dazui village. If you have a fixed budget, it is recommended to live in local dwellings and experience local Mosuo’s customs. Here we list some of the accommodations for your reference.

Hotel Name	Rating	Add.	Tel.
Lijiang Lugu Lake Daughter States Hotel(丽江泸沽湖女儿国大酒店)	3 star	Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888 – 5881266
Lijiang Lugu Lake Nagu Hotel(丽江泸沽湖纳古大酒店)	3 star	Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888 – 5881076
Valley Inn(宁蒗阿夏谷梦家园客栈)	3 star	Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	15108864818
Lugu Lake Bishuiyuntian Inn(泸沽湖碧水云天客栈)	3 star	200 meters to the entrance of Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, LIjiang	1309997618
Lige Holiday lnn(泸沽湖里格假日酒店)	3 star	Lige Bay, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, LIjiang	15708898820
Lugu Lakeside Apu Guest House(泸沽湖阿普驿馆)	3 star	In the middle of Lige village, Ninglang County, LIjiang	0888-5881366
Lugu Lake Mosuo Hotel(泸沽湖摩梭大酒店)	4 star	Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	13988821439
Bai Ge Lian Diao Hotel(安驿客栈)	4 star	Crossroad of Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1810888712
Lugu Lake Biyunju Inn(泸沽湖碧云居客栈 )	4 star	Near Ninglu Road, Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-3011555
Qingfeng Yard(宁蒗彝族自治县泸沽湖清枫别院)	4 star	Near Ninglu Road, Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1886908708
Lige Half Insland, No.7 Inn(泸沽湖里格半岛7号客栈)	4 star	Near Lige Pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1889599110
Traveller＇s house(泸沽湖旅行者之家)	4 star	Near intersection of Lige Half Island	0888-5881196
Comfort Home Hotel(良宿观景客栈)	5 star	No.5, Daluoshui New Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	13980836403
Manidui Hotel(泸沽湖玛尼堆精品酒店 )	5 star	Daluoshui pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-5881234
Ting Yuan Ge(泸沽湖庭缘阁店)	5 star	Daluoshui pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	18869083251
Yi cloud unadorned Hotel Lugu Lake(泸沽湖逸水云缦酒店)	5 star	Near S307, between Daluoshui village and Sanjia village	18288891866
Yonsamity Inn Lugu Lake()	5 star	No.4 Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1318775972
Lu Gu Lake Qian Wang Hotel(泸沽湖里格半岛浅忘小筑  )	5 star	Lige Half Island, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-5822400
Island Sunsine Holiday(泸沽湖里格半岛阳光会所)	5 star	Near Lige Pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-5881677, 15368608177

Useful Travel Tips

1. What to Pack

Lugu Lake is situated at 2690 meters high and ultraviolet ray is strong. The lowest temperature is 4 ℃ and the highest temperature is around 19 ℃ and the rainy months are from June to August. Sun-blocking scream and sunglasses are needed in four seasons. When visit in Summer, bring a light jacket and umbrella.

2. Accommodation

You are guaranteed to enjoy comfortable stay when visiting Lugu Lake. You can choose your accommodation from luxury hotels to budget but featured hostels. All the hotels and hostels are facing with Lugu Lake which means you can enjoy the lake scenery on the deck or in your room.

3. Food & Dining

Muosuo people offers you good meal and fine wine. You can try Preserved Pork, Roast Fish and Suluma Wine (low alcohol, taste sour and sweet with faint scent).

4.Be cautious about the “visiting marriage”

Know the rules and customs about “visiting marriage” and think again when someone shows his affection to you.

Brief Introduction

Baoshan Yunrui Airport(ICAO：ZPBS；IATA：BSD), located in the southern suburb of Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, was built in 1929. It is one of the earliest airports built by China Civil Aviation and the “civilized airport” in southwest China. The airport covers an area of 1820 mu(about 121 hectares), airfield area grade is of 4C, runway 2400 meters long, it can provide Boeing 737, Airbus 320 and other planes for takeoffs and landings. Airport apron area is of 7200 square meters, aircraft stands of 5, and terminal area of 3897 square meters.

Baoshan Yunrui Airport保山云瑞机场
Address: Yunrui Street, Longyang District, Baoshan City保山市隆阳区云瑞街
Tel: 0875-2232266

History

Airlines and Destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Air Travel	Hohhot, Nanchang, Nanjing
China Eastern Airlines	Beijing–Capital, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Tianjin
Kunming Airlines	Chongqing, Guiyang, Kunming, Nanjing, Nanning, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Zhuhai
Lucky Air	Kunming, Xi’an

Airport Transportation

1. Airport Shuttle Bus

You can take the shuttle bus at Baoshan Bus Station.

2. Taxi

It takes about 50 yuan from Longyang district of Baoshan city to the airport in Yunrui village of Hanzhuang Town and from airport to urban area. If you do not take the 320 national highway and take the high-grade highway, you will pay your own road toll.

3. Bus

Departing from public transport north station in Longyang District of Baoshan City, you can take No.6, No.7 or No.8 bus to Zhongzhan Stop, and transfer to No.16 bus there, getting off at Jichang(airport) fork road. If you depart from Zhongzhan Stop(中站公交站), you can take No.16 bus directly.

Baoshan Yunrui Airport Flight Schedule

Flight No.	Destinations	Departs	Arrival	Airlines	Frequency	Full Prices
CA5727	Xi’an Xianyang International Airport	10:00	12:20	Air China	Tue, Thu, Sat	2230 ￥ Economy Class
KY8227	Xi’an Xianyang International Airport	10:00	12:20	Kunming Airlines	Tue, Thu, Sat	1590 ￥ Economy Class
ZH3127	Xi’an Xianyang International Airport	10:00	12:20	Shenzhen Airlines	Tue, Thu, Sat	1590 ￥ Economy Class
8L9878	Xi’an Xianyang International Airport	14:50	17:05	Lucky Air	Mon, Wed, Fri, Sunday	1590 ￥ Economy Class
MU5982	Xi’an Xianyang International Airport	18:55	00:55	China Eastern Airlines	Friday	2230 ￥ Economy Class
MU5982	Xi’an Xianyang International Airport	19:00	00:55	China Eastern Airlines	Except Friday	2230 ￥ Economy Class
MU9705	Beijing Capital International Airport	12:20	15:50	China Eastern Airlines	Tue. Thu, Fri	2450 ￥ Economy Class
CA5721	Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport	10:15	12:00	Air China	Every Day	1150 ￥ Economy Class
KY8221	Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport	10:15	12:00	Kunming Airlines	Every Day	1150 ￥ Economy Class
ZH3121	Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport	10:15	12:00	Shenzhen Airlines	Every Day	1150 ￥ Economy Class

Tips: 

1. The above information is for reference, if any change is based on actual information.

2. The above list is just a part of Baoshan Yunrui Airport flight schedule, for more flights and details you can search online, or contact us. Email: contact@YunnanExploration.com; Tel: +86-871-63511469.

Transportation in Yunnan:

Yunnan Travel by Air

• Airlines in Yunnan
• Flights to Yunnan
• Airport Transfer
• International Flights to Yunnan
• Airports in Yunnan

Rail Transport in Yunnan

• High-speed Rail in Yunnan
• Railway Stations in Yunnan
• Railways in Yunnan
• Trains to Yunnan
• Trans Asia Railway
• Metro in Yunnan

Roads in Yunnan

• Bridges in Yunnan
• Freeways in Yunnan
• Highways in Yunnan
• Roads to Yunnan
• Trans-Asia Roads
• National Roads in Yunnan

Heiwawu Island

Heiwawu Island(黑瓦吾岛) is a place where migratory birds and wild ducks come from the south to the north. At that time, the Chieftain built a hall-style building on the island in the late Qing Dynasty. In 1930, another beautiful villa was built on the island, which can see the water and mountains on the lake. So the locals call this island Yongning Tusi(Chieftain) Island. At that time, American botanist Rock was also invited to live on the island. He praised Luguhu Lake as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. So this island is also known as the Rock Island.

How to get to Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is located on the border of Yunnan and Sichuan, so travelers can visit Lugu Lake from Yunnan or from Sichuan. At present, there are three highway leading to Lugu Lake, one is from Xichang (Sichuan) to Lugu Lake for 258 kilometers, one is from Panzhihua to Lugu Lake for 220 kilometers and the third is from Lijiang to Lugu Lake for 230 kilometers.

Luguhu Airport, opended in October 2015, has limited flights from/to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. The airport is about 25 kilometers from Lugu Lake with airport shuttle linked each other.

1. From Lijiang:
1) Transport Service Center Bus Station to Daluoshui Village:
Departure Time: 09:00, 10:00.
Ticket Price: CNY 65
Duration: around 7 hours
2) Take tourist bus arranged by local travel agencies:
Departure Time: unfixed
Ticket Price: CNY 140 to 200 for a round-trip
Duration: around 7 hours
Notice:
1). Departure time is changeable. Usually, the bus driver informs the tourists of departure time and pick-up location in advance.  
2). Most hostels help their guests to book the bus tickets. Visitors can ask the hostel owners if they provide this service. The reservation should be made one day in advance.
3). Visitors who take tourist bus might be arranged to go shopping, visit a Mosuo family, go boating or take part in a bonfire party. Undoubtedly, they need to pay extra money for these activities.

2. From Xichang, Sichuan Province: 
1). Take regular bus from Xichang Tourist Transport Center Bus Station to Lugu LakeTown (also called Zuosuo Town).
Departure Time: 08:10, 09:30
Ticket Price: CNY 95
Duration: 7 to 8 hours
2). Take regular bus from Xichang to Yanyuan, change bus to Zuosuo Town.
 

Notice:
1). Lugu lake is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Lugu Lake Town. After arriving in the town, visitors need to charter a car to reach the village where they plan to stay. The fare is around CNY 20 to 40.  
2). Bus schedules and ticket prices might be adjusted without prior notice.
3). Extra buses from Xichang to Lugu Lake Town will be provided during the high season (May to October).
4). Visitors are suggested to buy return bus tickets upon arrival in case the tickets are sold out quickly.

Recommended Tour with Lugu Lake

2 Days Lijiang Lugu Lake Tour and Matriarchal Society Discovery

Best Time to Visit Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is surprising beautiful place which can be visited all year round. Flowers are blossom in different season, presenting you a charming painting scenery. The best time to visit Lugu Lake is from March to November and as for photographers, come from March to May and September to October that you will shoot brilliant pictures.

Spring: it is a land of idyllic beauty – emerald lake like a clear mirror with the surrounding peach flowers and pear flowers blossom happily, mountains reflecting in water, boats sailing quietly on the tranquil lake…
Summer: it is a summer resort – pleasant and cool weather with gentle breezes blowing, mist floating in the midair after rainy, azalea in pink and white blossom in the mountain…
Autumn: it is a fairyland as beautiful as Jiuzhaigou – the surrounded mountains turn into a red and golden world with leaves changing, the glittering lake, the gorgeous sunglow, geese chirping in the sky that you can image how beautiful the scene is.
Winter: it is a world of waterfowl – different kinds of wild ducks playing on the water.

If you interested in the grandest festival of Mosuo people, come to the lunar July 25 that you can see Mosuo people dressed in traditional festival to pay a worship to Gemu Goddess Mountain.

Luguhu Lake Accommodation

In the Lugu Lake tourist area, there are more than 400 hotels and rooms ranging from inns and guesthouses to five-star hotels. The accommodations are mainly located in Caohai village, Dazshui village, Sanjia village, Lige village and Dazui village. If you have a fixed budget, it is recommended to live in local dwellings and experience local Mosuo’s customs. Here we list some of the accommodations for your reference.

Hotel Name	Rating	Add.	Tel.
Lijiang Lugu Lake Daughter States Hotel(丽江泸沽湖女儿国大酒店)	3 star	Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888 – 5881266
Lijiang Lugu Lake Nagu Hotel(丽江泸沽湖纳古大酒店)	3 star	Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888 – 5881076
Valley Inn(宁蒗阿夏谷梦家园客栈)	3 star	Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	15108864818
Lugu Lake Bishuiyuntian Inn(泸沽湖碧水云天客栈)	3 star	200 meters to the entrance of Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, LIjiang	1309997618
Lige Holiday lnn(泸沽湖里格假日酒店)	3 star	Lige Bay, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, LIjiang	15708898820
Lugu Lakeside Apu Guest House(泸沽湖阿普驿馆)	3 star	In the middle of Lige village, Ninglang County, LIjiang	0888-5881366
Lugu Lake Mosuo Hotel(泸沽湖摩梭大酒店)	4 star	Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	13988821439
Bai Ge Lian Diao Hotel(安驿客栈)	4 star	Crossroad of Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1810888712
Lugu Lake Biyunju Inn(泸沽湖碧云居客栈 )	4 star	Near Ninglu Road, Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-3011555
Qingfeng Yard(宁蒗彝族自治县泸沽湖清枫别院)	4 star	Near Ninglu Road, Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1886908708
Lige Half Insland, No.7 Inn(泸沽湖里格半岛7号客栈)	4 star	Near Lige Pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1889599110
Traveller＇s house(泸沽湖旅行者之家)	4 star	Near intersection of Lige Half Island	0888-5881196
Comfort Home Hotel(良宿观景客栈)	5 star	No.5, Daluoshui New Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	13980836403
Manidui Hotel(泸沽湖玛尼堆精品酒店 )	5 star	Daluoshui pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-5881234
Ting Yuan Ge(泸沽湖庭缘阁店)	5 star	Daluoshui pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	18869083251
Yi cloud unadorned Hotel Lugu Lake(泸沽湖逸水云缦酒店)	5 star	Near S307, between Daluoshui village and Sanjia village	18288891866
Yonsamity Inn Lugu Lake()	5 star	No.4 Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1318775972
Lu Gu Lake Qian Wang Hotel(泸沽湖里格半岛浅忘小筑  )	5 star	Lige Half Island, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-5822400
Island Sunsine Holiday(泸沽湖里格半岛阳光会所)	5 star	Near Lige Pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-5881677, 15368608177

Useful Travel Tips

1. What to Pack

Lugu Lake is situated at 2690 meters high and ultraviolet ray is strong. The lowest temperature is 4 ℃ and the highest temperature is around 19 ℃ and the rainy months are from June to August. Sun-blocking scream and sunglasses are needed in four seasons. When visit in Summer, bring a light jacket and umbrella.

2. Accommodation

You are guaranteed to enjoy comfortable stay when visiting Lugu Lake. You can choose your accommodation from luxury hotels to budget but featured hostels. All the hotels and hostels are facing with Lugu Lake which means you can enjoy the lake scenery on the deck or in your room.

3. Food & Dining

Muosuo people offers you good meal and fine wine. You can try Preserved Pork, Roast Fish and Suluma Wine (low alcohol, taste sour and sweet with faint scent).

4.Be cautious about the “visiting marriage”

Know the rules and customs about “visiting marriage” and think again when someone shows his affection to you.

Mosuo Folk Museum

The Mosuo Folk Museum is located in Luoshui Village, Ninglang Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan. It was founded by the village’s villager Wengjici Erqing and his friend Ruheng Ciren Duojie, the only museum in China that reflects the folklore of the matriarchal clan. Mosuo Folk Museum has a large-scale exhibition hall with the theme of flower garden, grandmother’s house, classic hall, cultural relics, photo materials and world intangible cultural heritage. Folklore show of “walking wedding and climbing flower building” that millions of tourists love.

In order to show the authentic Mosuo culture and its development history to the outside world, let everyone know about a real Mosuo and let the Mosuo traditional culture pass on. Since 1998, Erqing and Ciren Duojie collected the Mosuo people’ living production, the items used in life, photographing photos of everyday life,which founded the Mosuo Folk Museum on the basis of a simple showroom. On the basis of the flower house, grandmother’s room, Daba Pavilion, clothing hall, lama hall, folk exhibition hall, photo exhibition hall, and tea-horse ancient pavilion, food halls, Mosuo celebrities, film exhibition halls, real people show labor workshops, etc. 

Visiting marriage is a unique type of marriage of Mosuo people, which is also called ‘Axia’ or ‘Azhu’ conjugal relations. It is quite special in which a man does not take a woman as his wife and a woman does not marry off. When a man and a woman fall in love with each other, they become ‘Axia’. The man will go to the woman’s house at night and return home next morning and work, live in mother’ house. They do not establish a common family and has no common economic relationship. Children are taken care of by the maternal family and follow the kinship of mother.

The most proud of the Mosuo people is not how many people have gone, but there is no property dispute between them except for feelings. The Mosuo people usually live in old houses, not separated, so they don’t bother to build new houses. Because the man only lives in his own home, the child is raised by the woman, the man raises his sister’s child as a sly, and the money is distributed to the grandmother, and everyone works together to maintain a big family. There are no third parties, lovers, or illegitimate children in their dictionary.

It was a black-and-white house on the first floor with no windows at all. It was indeed the center of the whole family. There are three things: the big bed where the old grandmother sleeps, the fire pot that does not die, and the life and death door. Under the grandmother’s big bed is the place where the treasures of the whole family are placed， the fire pit is not extinguished 365 days a year, respecting the gods, boiling water, cooking rice, and heating. On the left and right sides are the seats of the old grandmother and the big sister, and the family is seated， the life and death gate, the women are produced in the door, and the family died in the dead.

How to get to Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is located on the border of Yunnan and Sichuan, so travelers can visit Lugu Lake from Yunnan or from Sichuan. At present, there are three highway leading to Lugu Lake, one is from Xichang (Sichuan) to Lugu Lake for 258 kilometers, one is from Panzhihua to Lugu Lake for 220 kilometers and the third is from Lijiang to Lugu Lake for 230 kilometers.

Luguhu Airport, opended in October 2015, has limited flights from/to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. The airport is about 25 kilometers from Lugu Lake with airport shuttle linked each other.

1. From Lijiang:
1) Transport Service Center Bus Station to Daluoshui Village:
Departure Time: 09:00, 10:00.
Ticket Price: CNY 65
Duration: around 7 hours
2) Take tourist bus arranged by local travel agencies:
Departure Time: unfixed
Ticket Price: CNY 140 to 200 for a round-trip
Duration: around 7 hours
Notice:
1). Departure time is changeable. Usually, the bus driver informs the tourists of departure time and pick-up location in advance.  
2). Most hostels help their guests to book the bus tickets. Visitors can ask the hostel owners if they provide this service. The reservation should be made one day in advance.
3). Visitors who take tourist bus might be arranged to go shopping, visit a Mosuo family, go boating or take part in a bonfire party. Undoubtedly, they need to pay extra money for these activities.

2. From Xichang, Sichuan Province: 
1). Take regular bus from Xichang Tourist Transport Center Bus Station to Lugu LakeTown (also called Zuosuo Town).
Departure Time: 08:10, 09:30
Ticket Price: CNY 95
Duration: 7 to 8 hours
2). Take regular bus from Xichang to Yanyuan, change bus to Zuosuo Town.
 

Notice:
1). Lugu lake is about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Lugu Lake Town. After arriving in the town, visitors need to charter a car to reach the village where they plan to stay. The fare is around CNY 20 to 40.  
2). Bus schedules and ticket prices might be adjusted without prior notice.
3). Extra buses from Xichang to Lugu Lake Town will be provided during the high season (May to October).
4). Visitors are suggested to buy return bus tickets upon arrival in case the tickets are sold out quickly.

Recommended Tour with Lugu Lake

2 Days Lijiang Lugu Lake Tour and Matriarchal Society Discovery

Best Time to Visit Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake is surprising beautiful place which can be visited all year round. Flowers are blossom in different season, presenting you a charming painting scenery. The best time to visit Lugu Lake is from March to November and as for photographers, come from March to May and September to October that you will shoot brilliant pictures.

Spring: it is a land of idyllic beauty – emerald lake like a clear mirror with the surrounding peach flowers and pear flowers blossom happily, mountains reflecting in water, boats sailing quietly on the tranquil lake…
Summer: it is a summer resort – pleasant and cool weather with gentle breezes blowing, mist floating in the midair after rainy, azalea in pink and white blossom in the mountain…
Autumn: it is a fairyland as beautiful as Jiuzhaigou – the surrounded mountains turn into a red and golden world with leaves changing, the glittering lake, the gorgeous sunglow, geese chirping in the sky that you can image how beautiful the scene is.
Winter: it is a world of waterfowl – different kinds of wild ducks playing on the water.

If you interested in the grandest festival of Mosuo people, come to the lunar July 25 that you can see Mosuo people dressed in traditional festival to pay a worship to Gemu Goddess Mountain.

Luguhu Lake Accommodation

In the Lugu Lake tourist area, there are more than 400 hotels and rooms ranging from inns and guesthouses to five-star hotels. The accommodations are mainly located in Caohai village, Dazshui village, Sanjia village, Lige village and Dazui village. If you have a fixed budget, it is recommended to live in local dwellings and experience local Mosuo’s customs. Here we list some of the accommodations for your reference.

Hotel Name	Rating	Add.	Tel.
Lijiang Lugu Lake Daughter States Hotel(丽江泸沽湖女儿国大酒店)	3 star	Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888 – 5881266
Lijiang Lugu Lake Nagu Hotel(丽江泸沽湖纳古大酒店)	3 star	Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888 – 5881076
Valley Inn(宁蒗阿夏谷梦家园客栈)	3 star	Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	15108864818
Lugu Lake Bishuiyuntian Inn(泸沽湖碧水云天客栈)	3 star	200 meters to the entrance of Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, LIjiang	1309997618
Lige Holiday lnn(泸沽湖里格假日酒店)	3 star	Lige Bay, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, LIjiang	15708898820
Lugu Lakeside Apu Guest House(泸沽湖阿普驿馆)	3 star	In the middle of Lige village, Ninglang County, LIjiang	0888-5881366
Lugu Lake Mosuo Hotel(泸沽湖摩梭大酒店)	4 star	Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	13988821439
Bai Ge Lian Diao Hotel(安驿客栈)	4 star	Crossroad of Daluoshui Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1810888712
Lugu Lake Biyunju Inn(泸沽湖碧云居客栈 )	4 star	Near Ninglu Road, Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-3011555
Qingfeng Yard(宁蒗彝族自治县泸沽湖清枫别院)	4 star	Near Ninglu Road, Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1886908708
Lige Half Insland, No.7 Inn(泸沽湖里格半岛7号客栈)	4 star	Near Lige Pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1889599110
Traveller＇s house(泸沽湖旅行者之家)	4 star	Near intersection of Lige Half Island	0888-5881196
Comfort Home Hotel(良宿观景客栈)	5 star	No.5, Daluoshui New Village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	13980836403
Manidui Hotel(泸沽湖玛尼堆精品酒店 )	5 star	Daluoshui pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-5881234
Ting Yuan Ge(泸沽湖庭缘阁店)	5 star	Daluoshui pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	18869083251
Yi cloud unadorned Hotel Lugu Lake(泸沽湖逸水云缦酒店)	5 star	Near S307, between Daluoshui village and Sanjia village	18288891866
Yonsamity Inn Lugu Lake()	5 star	No.4 Sanjia village, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	1318775972
Lu Gu Lake Qian Wang Hotel(泸沽湖里格半岛浅忘小筑  )	5 star	Lige Half Island, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-5822400
Island Sunsine Holiday(泸沽湖里格半岛阳光会所)	5 star	Near Lige Pier, Lugu Lake, Ninglang County, Lijiang	0888-5881677, 15368608177

Useful Travel Tips

1. What to Pack

Lugu Lake is situated at 2690 meters high and ultraviolet ray is strong. The lowest temperature is 4 ℃ and the highest temperature is around 19 ℃ and the rainy months are from June to August. Sun-blocking scream and sunglasses are needed in four seasons. When visit in Summer, bring a light jacket and umbrella.

2. Accommodation

You are guaranteed to enjoy comfortable stay when visiting Lugu Lake. You can choose your accommodation from luxury hotels to budget but featured hostels. All the hotels and hostels are facing with Lugu Lake which means you can enjoy the lake scenery on the deck or in your room.

3. Food & Dining

Muosuo people offers you good meal and fine wine. You can try Preserved Pork, Roast Fish and Suluma Wine (low alcohol, taste sour and sweet with faint scent).

4.Be cautious about the “visiting marriage”

Know the rules and customs about “visiting marriage” and think again when someone shows his affection to you.

About Chengzhai Village and Bailuo Ethnic People

Located in the Donggan Town of Malipo County in Wenshan, 134 kilometers from the county seat of Malipo County, Chengzhai Village城寨村 is an ancient village hidden in the mountains. Chengzhai Village is an ancient village of Bailuo People, compared with Yi Minority in other areas, Bailuo People at Chengzhai Village exist a big difference. Bailuo people remain their primitive costumes, strange folk custom and unique stilt style architecture. Chengzhai Village was listed as the intangible cultural heritage list of Yunnan Province, and was appointed as the most traditional village in China. The bronze-drum dance was also listed into national intangible cultural heritage protection.

Chengzhai城寨 is a comprehensive expression of Bailuo culture白倮文化. The culture remains in the village is authentic and complete, and the connotation of traditional culture is very rich. That is to say, language, oral literature, music, dance, art, architecture art, sacrifice, etiquette, traditional festivals, customs and habits, etc. are organically combined with the natural environment.

Bailuo白倮, a branch of the Yi ethnic group, have lived at Chengzhai village for several hundred years. Comparing to other Yi ethnic branches, the Bailuo people differ a lot as far as their clothing, dietary habits and dwellings. Due to their quaint costumes, exotic culture and distinctive Ganlan(stilt style houses) architectures, Bailuo people have aroused great attention.

However, the living habits inside the Bailuo tribe vary, and its profound history and profound ethnic culture have further veiled the Bailuo society. Most Bailuo people here seldom conduct intermarriages with other nationalities, and barely have communications with the outside world.

The History of Bailuo Ethnic People

The Stories of Yunnan(Dian Zhi滇志), which was compiled in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), once had some records about the Bailuo people白倮人. However, it still remains unknown exactly when the Bailuo people’s ancestors began to move to the southeast of Yunnan.

In 2009, Chengzhai Village城寨村 was listed into the second batch of the intangible cultural heritage list of Yunnan Province.

The Features of Bailuo Ethnic Group

1. The Ganlan Architecture(stilt style architecture)

It is the traditional architectural style of the Bailuo people, using 52 (56 or 66) columns in eight rows to support the whole building. Such a house normally has two storeys, coupled with a stable. The first floor is for people to live at, and the second is used for storage; and the roof is paved with tiles.

As the typical representative of the Bailuo ethnic culture, Chengzhai Village exhibits the historical and cultural remaining on a real and integral basis. The rich cultural connotations here have included the Bailuo ethnic language, (oral) literature, music, dance, fine arts, architecture, sacrificial ceremonies, etiquette, traditional festivals, and many other ethnic customs.

2. Buckwheat Festival荞菜节

The buckwheat festival is the grandest festival of the Bailuo people of Chengzhai Village.

A local legend goes that, in the ancient times, a big fire broke out in the Bailuo ethnic village, torching down all the houses and grains. The villagers were in deep sorrow. All of a sudden, a villager found some grains of buckwheat under a reversed bowl, and grew them in the fields. Several months later, the buckwheat plants brought a harvest, saving the starving village.

In order to express thanks to the buckwheat, the Bailuo ethnic villagers determined to spend the three-day Buckwheat Festival on the first Dragon Day of he lunar calendar. People always carry out religious ceremonies during the festival to pray for abundant rainfall.

3. The Batik Craft

Enriched by the ethnic culture, the batik craft highlights the culture of the Bailuo people who are traditionally adept at making quaint, elegant costumes on their own. Carrying modern aesthetic elements, and with delicate workmanship, it has brought great visual impacts one can’t help marveling at. Bailuo people have inherited the ancient weaving skills from their ancestors.

4. The Bronze-drum Dance铜鼓舞

Bronze-drum dance is one of the traditional dances of the Bailuo people白倮人. As a kind of dance performed when Bailuo people hold sacrificial ceremonies for their ancestors, it reflects the Bailuo people’s worship for nature and ancestors. Usually, only one person beats the drum, and dancers perform to the beats in a counterclockwise way, singing some solemn tones. The drum dance, which includes more than 30 routines, is a massive entertaining activity of the Bailuo people. It is performed on the fairground of the village and can be joined by at least 100 villagers.

In 2007, the bronze-drum dance of Bailuo people was listed as one of China’s intangible cultural heritages. Lu Xiaozhong陆孝忠 was nominated as one of the drum dance inheritors.

5. Recall The Soul

In the old times, the Bailuo people seldom washed clothes because they believed that people’s souls are attached to the clothes they worn. Therefore, every time they washed clothes, they had to slaughter a rooster for recalling the soul. Today, assimilated by other cultures, the Bailuos have barely kept the tradition.

How to Get there 

1. By Long-distance Bus

The route is Kunming-Malipo County-Donggan Town-Chengzhai. There are long-distance buses from Malipo County to Donggan Town. Then another 1 hour is needed from Donggan Town to Chengzhai.

Kunming East Bus Station-Malipo Bus Terminal

Departure Time: 11:00, 18:30

Price: 137 CNY

Distance: 394 kilometers

Consume Time: 6 hours

2. By Train

If you want to take train, you should go to Zhulin Station珠琳站 in Guangnan county first. Then another 2 hours is needed from Zhulin Railway Station to Malipo County.

Kunming Railway Station-Zhulin Railway Station

Departure Time: 17:12

Price: 103 CNY

Distance: 413 kilometers

Consume Time: 2 hours

Kunming South Railway Station-Zhulin Railway Station

Departure Time: 7:30

Price: 92 CNY

Distance: 407 kilometers

Consume Time: 1.5 hours

Best Time to Visit

No matter when you go to Chengzhai Village, you can feel the profound history and strong ethnic culture there. Therefore, Chengzhai Village visit is available all the year round.

Accommodation Around Chengzhai Village

You are suggested to return to Malipo County for overnight, accommodation conditions in Malipo County is better.

1. Jingda Hotel麻栗坡靖达酒店

Address: Laixi Development Zone, Malipo County, Weshan文山州麻栗坡县莱溪开发区

Tel: 0876-6622888

Starting Price:130 CNY

2. Guohao Hotel麻栗坡国豪大酒店

Address: No.190, Yuerbei Road, Malipo County, Wenshan文山州麻栗坡县玉尔贝路190号

Tel: 0876-6629888

Starting Price: 149 CNY

3. Yajing Theme Hotel麻栗坡雅景主题酒店

Address: No.260, Yuerbei Road, Mali Town, Malipo County, Wenshan文山州麻栗坡县麻栗镇玉尔贝路260号

Tel: 0876-6621777

Starting Price: 94 CNY

Useful Travel Tips

1. Learn something about Bailuo culture and Buckwheat Festival荞菜节 in advance.

2. Chengzhai Village is relatively remote, you will spend a long time on the long-distance bus.

This education tour provides many chances for international students to interact with local people, stay with local people, learn local culture and do voluntary work. And after some days interaction with local people, we take the students to do some exciting and interesting programs, such as hiking, cycling, and sightseeing.  The last night of the tour, we arrange an unforgettable bonfire party and barbecue dinner for the students. The students dance, sing and enjoy the last relaxed time in Lijiang. 

• Learn local ethnic culture and experience local life in local village.
• Do voluntary work and farm work in the village.
• Enjoy the fabulous views and attractions of Lijiang.
• Have exciting experience of hiking and cycling in Lijiang.

Inquiry

Brief Itinerary

• Day 1: Lijiang Arrival
• Day 2: Lijiang
• Day 3: Lijiang
• Day 4: Lijiang
• Day 5: Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Lijiang
• Day 6: Lijiang-Jianchuan-Lijiang
• Day 7: Lijiang Departure

Google Map

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1：Arrive in Kunming-Lijiang

Arrive at Kunming airport. Transfer to Kunming railway station for dinner. Take overnight train to Lijiang

Day 2:Lijiang

Our driver and guide pick you up at Lijiang railway station in the morning. Then have your breakfast. Drive to Xuehua Village(about 30km and 1 hour 45 minutes driving). Today, you will visit this local Yi Minority Village. These two days, you will look for firewood , dig Chinese herbal medicine in the mountain, and dig ditches and renovate house .  

Day 3:Lijiang

Today, you will look for firewood , dig Chinese herbal medicine in the mountain, and dig ditches and renovate house .

Day 4: Lijiang Cycling

This morning, pick you up at this village then drive to Lashihai. Then start your cyclling from Lashihai Lake. Lashihai Lake, a nature reserve rich in biodiversity. Then surround the Lashihai Lake for further cycling. The endangered black necked crane can be seen here. The Naxi and Yi minorities live in this area. You will loop around the lake beginning on paved road which leads us through Naxi villages.

After lunch in Lashihai , go on your cycling tour to Baisha Old Town through Shuhe Old Town.

Total cyclling distance: about 40-45km, about 4-5 hours.

Day 5: Tiger Leaping Gorge Trekking

Get up in the early morning, drive to visit and trek around upper Tiger Leaping Gorge( Altitude: about 1,900 m), the deepest gorge in the world. With 34 rapids of the Yangtze River, it is called the Jinsha in this area because you can find gold in the river.

Then drive to the foot of Bendiwan. You will trek from Bendiwan to Half-way Guesthouse( Altitude: about 2,400 m),. Then trelk to Tina’s Guesthouse( Altitude: about 2,080 m) passing a small but high waterfall on the way. The trekking is about 2-3 hours.

In the late afternoon, transfer back to Lijiang.

Day 6:Lijiang-Jianchuan-Lijiang

Get up in the early morning, drive to Shaxi(2 hours’ driving). Visit the Shibaoshan Mountain(about 3 hours sightseeing). The most prominent sight at ShibaoShan is the Stone Bell Temple with its 139, well preserved stone carvings. These magnificent stone carvings date as far back as 1300 years to the once powerful Nanzhao Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).Explore the ancient temple complex including Baoxiang Temple, Haiyun Temple, Shizhong Temple and the Ancient Grottoes. If you are lucky enough, you also can see a lot of wild monkey group around Baoxiang Temple.

After lunch, drive back to Lijiang(you will arrive in Lijiang at about 4:00 pm). Learn to make embroidery( 1 hour) from local master in Baisha Old Town. Tonight, you will experience a Bonfire Party with Naxi Minority People. You can join their dancing group and enjoy an unforgetable night.

Day 7: Departure from Lijiang

Departure from Lijiang, Service ends.

Recommended Hotels

Destination	5 Star	4 Star	3 Star	Hostels
Lijiang	/	/	Baisha Holiday Resort	/

Service Included:

• Admission fees for all of the sightseeing spots listed in the itinerary;
• Meals as listed in the itinerary;
• Hotels as listed in the itinerary;
• Private English-speaking tour guide;
• Private vehicle for transfers & sightseeing with skilled driver;
• Service charge & government taxes;
• Luggage transfers between airports and hotels;
• Bikes and helmets for cycling;
• Overnight train tickets from Kunming to Lijiang (soft-sleeper).

Service Excluded:

• Any arrival and departure international airfares or train tickets;
• Chinese visa fees;
• Excess baggage charged by Airlines;
• Single room supplement;
• Tips to guides and drivers;
• Personal expenses and gratuities to service staff;
• Personal travel accident insurance;
• All optional programs.

Inquiry

About Funing County and Longmai Village

Funing County富宁县 is under the administration of Wenshan Prefecture. It is located in the southeast of Yunnan, bordering Ha Giang of Vietnam越南河江省 in the south, Guangxi Province in the east and north, Guangnan County & Malipo County of Wenshan in the west. Funing County is the important gateway from Yunnan Province to Guangxi, Guangdong and other coastal areas. Funing is a multi-ethnic habitation. There are six ethnic groups in this region, Zhuang, Han, Miao, Yao, Yi and Gelao仡佬族.

Longmai Village龙迈村, in Banlun Township of Funing County, belongs to mountain area. Located in the southeast of Banlun Township, Longmai Village is 14 kilometers from Banlun Township, and is the seat of Longmai Village Committee. Longmai Village has an area of 27.28 square kilometers, an elevation of 1250 meters, an annual average temperature of 18 ℃ and an annual precipitation of 1300 mm. It is suitable to grow corn, rice, star anise and other crops. The main ethnic minority group is Yi minority.

Tiaogong Festival of Yi Minority 

Tiaogong festival跳宫节 is an important festival for the Yi people living in Longmai Village of Banlun Township. Every year, on the 8th day and the 9th day of the 4th lunar month, Yi people from Longmai village get together in their festival costumes to welcome Tiaogong festival. Thousands of Yi people and guests participate in the activity, lively and hilarious. Led by the Lusheng and the “bow head弓首”, the Yi people slowly come to the east of the village, light the torch and pray for the seed. In addition, they hold a variety of ethnic folk customs activities. The Yi people’s bronze-drum dance, Lusheng dance, fan dance and other original ecological items provide the surrounding people and guests with the original ethnic culture feast.

The Origin of Tiaogong Festival

It is said that ancient Yi people were driven and slaughtered by the government, so they had to flee from Qinghai to Sichuan and Yunnan, then scattered throughout south Yunnan. Under the leadership of the tribal leaders, they fought with officers and soldiers for many years, and then they fought in a forest of gold bamboo and defeated officers and men with arrows made of golden bamboo. They returned in triumph in the first, the second, the fourth and the sixth lunar month successively. In order to thank the golden bamboo and celebrate the victory, the tribes took the victory time as the memorial day. Every year, on the 8th day, 9th day and 10th day of the 4th lunar month, people dress in ethnic costumes to dance at the edge of the bamboo forest, to worship bamboo god and ancestors, as well as pray for peace. Yi people called it “Zuomo做磨”, and descendants called it “Tiaogong跳宫”.

Best Time to Visit

The Best Time to Visit Longmai Village is in the fourth lunar month, probably in May of solar calendar. Every year, on the 8th day, 9th day and 10th day of the 4th lunar month, Yi people in Longmai Village celebrate Tiaogong Festival, hilarious and bustling.

How to Get There

The route is Kunming-Funing County-Banlun-Longmai Village. You will drive more than 5 hours from Kunming to Funing County. You can also take long-distance bus or train. It is 14 kilometers from Banlun Township to Longmai Village. There are chartered buses you can take to get to Longmai village龙迈村.

1. By Long-distance Bus

Kunming East Bus Station-Funing Bus Terminal

Departure Time: 10:00-20:00

Price: 185 CNY

Distance: 542 kilometers

Consume Time: 5.5 hours

2. By Railway

Kunming Railway Station-Funing Railway Station

Departure Time: 10:36, 12;00, 14:05, 17:12

Price: 146 CNY

Distance:461 kilometers

Consume Time: About 3 hours

Kunming South Railway Station-Funning Railway Station

Departure Time: 7:30-17:40

Price: 135.5 CNY

Distance: 455 kilometers

Consume Time: About 2.5 hours

Tip: The price and departure time are just for reference, specific situation is subject to bus terminal.

Accommodation Around Longmai Village

Banlun Township is not fay away from Funing County. You can return to Funing County for overnight.

1. Benwei Hotel富宁本位酒店

Address: The Crossroad of Fuzhou Road and Huancheng South Road, Funing County, Wenshan文山州富宁县富州路与环城南路交叉口

Tel: 0876-6361888

Starting Price: 136 CNY

2. Poya Hotel富宁坡芽大酒店

Address: No.28, Yingbin Road, Funing County, Wenshan文山州富宁县迎宾路28号

Tel: 0876-6939999

Starting Price: 211 CNY

3. Bishui Lantian Hotel富宁碧水蓝天大酒店

Address: Close to Baiyue Park, Dongfeng Road, Funing County, Wenshan文山州富宁县东风路百越公园旁

Tel: 0876-6129999

Starting Price: 147 CNY

Useful Travel Tips

1. Learn something about Yi culture and Tiaogong Festival跳宫节 in advance.

2. There are 5 main ethnic minorities in Funing County, including Zhuang, Yi, Miao, Yao and Gelao仡佬族.

3. In May, the climate in Funing County is warm.

General Information

The total investment of the project (China (Gantang) No.1 Lisu Ethnic Village)is 1.437 billion yuan, and the total land usescale is 11,260 mu. A total of 1,658 households with 6,473 people in 37 natural villages have been relocated, and the Lisu population accounts for more than 95% of the total population. The project is centered on “targeted poverty reduction + characteristic industries + characteristic towns”. It fully launches the brand of the first village of China’s Lisu people and the demonstration park of ecological agriculture by means of relocation of ex-situ poverty reduction, modern agriculture with plateau characteristics, beautiful and livable village construction, rural tourism, ecological civilization construction, etc. eight demonstration zones. The project can broaden the channels for the relocated people to increase income.

Where is China (Gantang) No.1 Lisu Ethnic Village

It is located in Gantang, south of Yuanmou County, 5 kilometers away from the county seat, with a total area of 15,000 mu.

How to Get There

After arriving in Yuanmou County, it is inconvenient to get to China (Gantang) No.1 Lisu Ethnic Village. Car rental or taxi is the best way to get there, which takes about half an hour.

Introduction

China (Gantang) No.1 Lisu Ethnic Village is located in Gantang, south of Yuanmou County, 5 kilometers away from the county seat, with a total area of 15,000 mu. It is a tourism village characterized by ethnic customs, which focuses on ethnic culture, village farm experience filled with ethnic characteristics, special festival carnival, pastoral scenery tour, ecological leisure tour, specialty catering, Lisu training institute, Lisu culture display center, green fruit and vegetable planting and picking garden, green ecological stocking area, leisure area integrating water and the sky, featured folk houses, etc. It also combines the colorful ethnic culture with local customs of the local people. It is a good place to taste the special food and experience the daily life of Lisu people.

Best Time to Go

It is suitable to visit China (Gantang) No.1 Lisu Ethnic Village at any time. Visitors can experience the ethnic customs of Lisu people at any time.

Nearby Attractions

Yuanmou Man Museum
Yuanmou Man Museum is located in Yuanmou County. It has a preface hall and five exhibition halls, which show the human origins, ancient human and paleontological fossils, scene simulations, etc. Since the opening of the museum, it has attracted a large number of foreign tourists to visit.

About Lijiang Ancient Tea Horse Road Museum

Lijiang Tea Horse Road Museum, also known as Dajue Palace (大觉宫), is a precious ancient building and a component of the “Shuhe Academy” complex, built by the Mu clan(木氏土司) during the Ming Dynasty. The museum within this structure is dedicated to the culture of the Tea Horse Road, local customs of Shuhe, and Pu’er tea culture. It is the first museum in China specifically focused on researching and showcasing the history and culture of the Tea Horse Road. Additionally, it is the first institution in Lijiang City devoted to the research, promotion, and dissemination of Pu’er tea culture.

What to see in Lijiang Ancient Tea Horse Road Museum

Architectural Composition

Like the Baisha murals, the six fresco paintings in the museum are the only examples of the Ming dynasty mural paintings in Yunnan Province. These paintings are listed as provincial cultural relics. The now overall protected surrounding buildings are the teaching buildings of Shuhe Primary School during the period of Republic of China. Here, tourists can have a deeper understanding of the history and culture of the tea and horse road.
The museum is divided into five exhibition areas, including the Preamble Hall, the Murals Exhibition Hall, and History Hall one, History Hall Two, Shuhe Living Hall, and Shuhe Cobbler men Hall. They all demonstrate the long history and profound culture of this area to the tourists.

About the Preamble Hall 

The Tea Horse Road Museum is part of the “Shuhe Academy” complex established by the Mu clan during the Ming Dynasty. It contains six murals, similar to the Baisha murals, which are considered exemplary Ming Dynasty murals in Yunnan and are listed as provincial-level cultural relics. Surrounding buildings were once the teaching buildings of Shuhe Primary School during the Republic of China era and are now fully preserved, making the museum a key location for visitors to learn about the history and culture of the Tea Horse Road.

The museum is divided into five exhibition areas: the Prologue Hall, the Mural Exhibition Hall, Historical Hall 1, Historical Hall 2, Shuhe Living Hall, and Shuhe Leatherworker Hall. These sections provide visitors with a comprehensive display of the region’s long history and culture:

• Prologue Hall:
  • In 641 AD, the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo successfully married a Tang dynasty princess, Princess Wencheng, who brought advanced production methods and tea-drinking customs to Tibet.
  • During the Tianbao period of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, tensions arose between the Tang dynasty and Tibet, leading to a ban on tea entering Tibet. In response, the Tibetan Empire used the Yunnan-Tibet route established in earlier years to resolve the tea crisis. This marked the entry of Yunnan tea into Tibet, eventually spreading to India, West Asia, and Europe.
  • From the Song and Yuan dynasties to the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Tea Horse trade expanded due to political, military, and economic factors, making the Tea Horse Road a crucial link between the various ethnic groups in southwestern China and the central imperial government. During the Anti-Japanese War, the ancient Tea Horse Road became the only international trade route, with large amounts of strategic materials passing through it to support the war effort and promote the development of towns along the route.
  • Lijiang, located at a strategic point on the Yunnan-Tibet route, became an essential gateway on the Tea Horse Road. The cultural and religious ties between the Naxi and Tibetan people made the Naxi an important participant in the Tea Horse trade. This route also attracted explorers to Lijiang and the Three Parallel Rivers region, introducing the area’s biodiversity and cultural diversity to the world. Lijiang Old Town (including the Shuhe residential complex) was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in December 1997. The Three Parallel Rivers region was declared a World Natural Heritage site in July 2003, and the Naxi Dongba ancient manuscripts were included in the Memory of the World Register in August 2003.
  • The Tea Horse Road, one of the oldest trade routes in mainland China, is comparable to the Northern and Southern Silk Roads. Its significant impact and influence require further study and understanding.
• Mural Exhibition Hall:
  • The Dajue Palace murals are an integral part of the Lijiang mural collection. These murals, created over more than 300 years from the 18th year of the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1385 AD) to the eighth year of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty (1743 AD), are spread across various locations in and around Lijiang Old Town, including Juexian Temple, Hufa Hall, Wande Palace, Shanbi Yard, Guiyi Hall, Guangbi Building, Hantan Temple, Dajue Palace, Dabaoji Palace, Liuli Hall, Dading Pavilion, Fuguo Temple, and Xuesong Temple, totaling over 200 panels. Today, only 50 panels remain, covering a total area of 154.57 square meters. The Dajue Palace in Shuhe Village, located 4 kilometers northwest of Lijiang Old Town, has six murals dating back to the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty during the reign of Mu Zeng. The style of these murals is similar to those in Dabaoji Palace and is considered slightly later works.
• Historical Halls:
  • Significant historical events that occurred along the thousand-year-old Tea Horse Road are highlighted in the museum, showcasing their profound influence on later history. The museum covers events such as the Tibetan southward expansion, the Tianbao War, Yunnan tea entering Tibet, the Tea Horse market, and the Yuan dynasty’s strategic use of leather sacks.

Additional exhibition areas, such as Historical Hall 2, Shuhe Living Hall, and Shuhe Leatherworker Hall, are still under construction.

History of Development

The establishment of the “Shenchuan Dudu Fu” in Lijiang during the Tibetan southward expansion marked the beginning of the Tea Horse Road. Emperor Xuanzong’s ban on tea entering Tibet facilitated the trade of Yunnan tea into Tibet. The military needs of the Song dynasty stimulated the prosperity of the Tea Horse market. From the Yuan and Ming dynasties to the modern era, the Tea Horse Road became a vital link for economic and cultural exchange between Yunnan, Tibet, and Sichuan.

The Tea Horse Road, originating in southern Yunnan and passing through Dali, Lijiang, Diqing, and Lhasa before reaching India, traverses regions rich in cultural diversity, such as the Three Parallel Rivers and Shangri-La. It is a significant trade route connecting China with South Asia.

The Lijiang Tea Horse Road Museum consists of eight sections: the Prologue Hall, Historical Hall 1, Historical Hall 2, Shuhe Hall, Leatherworker Hall, Tea Horse Customs Hall, Tea Art Hall, and Information Resource Center. The museum systematically introduces the origins, routes, and major historical events of the Tea Horse Road, serving as an important window for understanding the history and culture of this ancient trade route.

How to get to  Lijiang Ancient Tea Horse Road Museum from Lijiang

First of all, People need to go to Shuhe Ancient Town, for  Lijiang Ancient Tea Horse Road Museum is there.

1. Daily shuttle buses depart from Lijiang Ancient City to Shuhe Ancient Town, a great convenience for travelers.
2. Visitor also can take a taxi there, which takes about 20 minutes, or they can bike, which takes about 1.5 hours.

● Take bus no. 11, and get off at Shuhe Crossing. Then turn left and walk around 10 minutes.
● Take bus no. 6, and get off at Shuhe Shangcun Station.
●Take a taxi. The fare is around CNY 20.
● Ride a bicycle to reach there. It takes around 40 minutes from Lijiang Old Town.

‣ Best Time to Visit

● The peak period for visiting Lijiang Ancient Tea Horse Road Museum is from May to October. Actually, It is worth visiting during any season, so if you do not want to experience a crowded scene, avoiding that period might be a good option.

Recommended Tour with

1 Day Lijiang Cycling Tour from Lijiang Old Town to Shuhe, Baisha and Yuhu Village

Shuhe Ancient Town Accommodation

Shuhe Ancient Town is an important constituent part of Lijiang Ancient City, a world cultural heritage site in China. There are many high-quality hotels in the old town although the quantity is not as good as that of Lijiang Old Town. Shuhe old town is much more tranquil than Lijiang Old Town, less crowded and less noisy, and the air is very good at the foot of the mountain. Follow Yunnan Exploration to discover the best hotels in Shuhe Old Town such as Banyan Tree Lijiang.

1.Lijiang Conifer Lishui Yangguang Hotel(康年丽水阳光酒店)

At Lijiang Conifer Lishui Yangguang Hotel, the excellent service and superior facilities make for an unforgettable stay. The hotel offers access to a vast array of services, including 24-hour room service, casino, facilities for disabled guests, Wi-Fi in public areas, car park.

Add: Entrance of Shu He Ancient Town, Suburbs, Lijiang, China

2. Lijiang E-Outfitting Boutique Hotel(丽江首译精品客栈)

Lijiang E-Outfitting Boutique Hotel also offers many facilities to enrich your stay in Lijiang. While lodging at this wonderful property, guests can enjoy 24-hour room service, free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour front desk, express check-in/check-out, luggage storage.

Add: No.35 Qingyun Village, Shuhe Old Town, Lijiang, China

3.Banyan Tree Lijiang(丽江悦榕庄)

Located in Shuhe Old Town, Lijiang, Banyan Tree offers a relaxing retreat away from the city. Surrounded by fresh mountain air and green landscapes, the property features luxurious accommodations with traditional Naxi-style décor and free Wi-Fi in all areas.

Add: No.1, Yuerong Road, Shuhe Old Town, Lijiang, China

4.The Bivou Lijiang(佖屋酒店)

Only a short 1-minute stroll from Shuhe Ancient Town, The Bivou features accommodations in local and modern styles combined together. Blending in by making use of the barbecue facilities, lazing in soothing massage, going horse riding or enjoying a fun time with your children at kids’ club seems like a nice getaway. Free Wi-Fi is available in all areas.

Add: 16 Zhonghe Cun, Shuhe Old Town, Lijiang, China

5.K2 International Youth Hostel(束河K2国际青年旅舍)

K2 International Youth Hostel Lijiang offers a comfortable setting while in Lijiang. It also provides luggage storage, a 24-hour reception and wireless internet. Lijiang Sanyi Airport is a 55-minute drive from K2 International Youth Hostel Lijiang. Black Dragon Pool and the Dongba Culture Museum are just a short drive from the hostel.

Add: No. 1 Guailiu Lane Kangpu Road, Shuhe Old Town, Lijiang, China

Attraction Travel Tips:
Traveling Hours: 0.5-1 hour
Traveling Seasons: all seasons
Opening Hours: 9:00-18:00