Yuanyang is a county located in southern Yunnan, lying down on the southern back of Red River. The breathtaking terraces cascade down the slopes of the towering Ailao Mountains to the banks of the Hong River, where is settlement of Hani ethnic people. They are mainly good at agriculture, and the terraced fields are hewn from the rolling topography by the Hani throughout hard work.Yuanyang Rice terrace is in remote, which is hard to be disturbed by culture from outside and reserve pure ethnic culture. The breathtaking landscape is treasure who loves nature. The following is best places to visit in Honghe prefecture.
Ranking as one of the top terraced fields in the world, the Yuanyang Terraced Field is famous for the magnificent scenes and boundless area.Yuanyang Terraced Field is the cultural essence passed by generati ons. The large area of the field could not be built just in a night. Each part of this field is a page of the history book related to the Hani ethnic group.
Jianshui with a long history of more than 1200 years was called Lin’an in the ancient time,first built in Tang Dynasty. As one of the national famous historic and cultural towns of China, it has more than 50 ancient buildings in good keep, enjoying a great reputation as a ‘Museum of Ancient Buildings and Residential Houses’. Jianshui Old Town is not large, mainly including several streets center on Lin’an Road. Except for the famous Jianshui Confucius Temple and Zhu Family Garden, many other ancient building worth your visiting.
Grand Mosque of Shadian was originally built in the year of 1684. After several restorations and reconstructions, the new Grand Mosque of Shadian is built into a large-scaled mosque with a construction area of 18,000 square meters. It is able to hold a capacity of 10,000 people to do prayers at a time. Grand Mosque of Shadian is consisted by main buildings of prayer hall, vault and four minarets. This grand mosque has inherited the decoration style from Nabawi Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
The Yanzi Cave in Jianshui is called the “first karst cave in Asia” in China and abroad. Outside the cave are many peach trees. Flowers bloom in spring, the cave is clear and cool in summer, and warm air overflows in winter. Every year from May to July, millions of swifts will come here to nest. There will be a square at the Zhongdong Dock, and there will be free folk custom performance at regular intervals.
This enormous cave system may be explored on a 3,000m long tourist trail. The tour includes 18 chambers, a cave river and a resurgence, karst windows, and a wealth of speleothems. The tour shows three different passages of the cave which are called Luyuan Cave, Yuzhu Cave, and Biyu Cave, each with characteristic speleothems.
Located inJianshui Ancient Town, Jianshui Zhu Family Garden is a set of large-scale residential with the reputation as “Grand View Garden at Southwest Border of China”. The whole bui lding has steep ridge eaves, painted beams and intricate painted ceiling, exquisite and elegant. The layout of halls and courtyards is very reasonable with rich and countless changes which like a maze.
There are still many scenic spots waiting for you to explore and discover!
As one of the key tourism cities in China, Xishuangbanna is famous for its magnificent tropical rainforest scenery and traditional minority customs. Besides, its special geographical position – borders Laos and Burma, adjacent Thailand and Vietnam, made it the important access to Southeast and South Asia and the gateway of Yunnan Province opening to the outside world. the following is best places to Visit in XishuangBanna Prefecture.
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden was built in 1959, is the biggest and richest botanical garden in China nowadays. Since 1996, this garden combined with former Kunming Ecological Research Institute, formed an independent research institution attached to Chinese Academy of Science. With the time goes by, it becomes a comprehensive garden that combined research, preservation and education of tropical plants together.
Its name “Chunhuan” in Dai language means “Soul”. The whole park can be divided into 8 sightseeing areas, they are National Cultural Square, Liana Zone, Tropical Orchid Garden, Peacock Garden, Lake Area and Buddhism Cultural Zone, Tree Planting Zone and Tea Garden.
Convenient traffic, unique tropical scenery and wild elephant observing, which make this park one of the most popular sites in Xishuangbanna nowadays.
Xishuangbanna Tropical Flower Garden is located in the Institute of Tropical Crops Science of Yunnan Province. It holds nearly 1,000 varieties of various flowers and economic plants. When you stroll through the garden, you will see a world of exotic flowers and trees and colorful plants. It is an important tourist attraction in Xishuangbanna.
Jinuo Mountain Village is a place where Jino people live in compact communities. It is the only place in the country where Keno culture is most comprehensively and intensively displayed. You can enjoy the performance of famous ethnic customs and experience the strong Jinuo ethnic customs while eating the local barbecue.
Xishuangbanna Dai Garden consists of five well-preserved Dai natural villages. There is also Manchun Mangu Buddhist Temple in the garden. It is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Xishuangbanna and has a history of more than 1400 years. The temple can hear chanting every day. The most solemn festival for Dai people in Xishuangbanna is the Water Splashing Festival. The lively scenes of the Water Splashing Festival can be felt every day in the Water Splashing Square of the Dai Garden.
The Xishuangbanna General Buddhist Temple is the center of worship for Buddhists in Xishuangbanna. It is also the highest-ranking Buddhist temple in Xishuangbanna. The grand atmosphere of the main Buddhist temple building and the exquisitely carved beams and columns connect Xishuangbanna’s main Buddhist temple with Mang ‘an Park. Tourists usually enter the main Buddhist temple from Mang ‘an Park.
There are still many scenic spots waiting for you to explore and discover!
Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, which means “a place of good luck” in Tibetan, is the only Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. Its vast rivers, vast green mountains, glittering lakes, vast grasslands and deep mountains and gorges constitute Diqing’s unique natural landscape. The following is the best places to visit in Diqing Prefecture.
Tiger Leaping Gorge is spectacular and crown as the deepest gorge in the world. Foreign backpackers started hiking in the area in the 1980s and now Tig er Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour has been one of the most famous hiking tour all around the world.
The monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan province and one of the famous monasteries in the Kang region, which belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelukpa order of the Dalai Lama. It is reputed as the Little Potala Palace due to its complex of Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
Haba Snow Mountain is a mountain rising above the northwest side of Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan, China. The summit of the mountain is a popular destination for amateur mountaineers and its lowest slopes are crossed by the popular Tiger Leaping Gorge trail.
Meili Snow Mountain is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. Meili Snow Mountain boasts numerous snow-clad ridges and peaks, thirteen of which are more than 6,000 meters above the sea level. The highest peak Kawagebo, which rises to 6,740 metres, has never been summited.
Pudacuo National Park is the first national park in Chinese mainland which was announced on June 25, 2007. With its crystal-clear lakes, undulating mountains and gurgling streams, Pudacuo National Park is definitely a wonderful natural wonderland.
Baishuitai or Baishui Tableland is known as one of the most attractive destinations in mysterious Shangri-La. The main attraction in the area is a larg e, white mineral deposit in the form of terraced pools, formed by calcium-rich water emanating from springs at the top of the formation.
Three parallel rivers refer to Jinsha River, Lancang River and Nujiang River, which stretch 170 kilometers from north to south in Yunnan Province and are world natural heritage.
Dukezong is a Tibetan town in Shangri-la County, Deqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. As one of the largest and best-preserved Tibetan residence groups in China, it is over thirteen hundred years old, which plays an important role in the Old Tea-Horse Road
There are still many scenic spots waiting for you to explore and discover!
Best Places to Visit in Shangri-La will guide you the things to do in Shangri-La, where to visit in Shangri-La, the top attractions in Shangri-La, which is helpful for your Shangri-La Travel.
What are the top attractions to visit in Shangri-La? What are the best places to visit in Shangri-La? Shangri-La is the “Eden in dream”. Since it first appeared in British novelist James Hilton’s Lost Horizon in the 1939, it has been associated with the mystique of a place which could not possibly exist here on Earth. There are the lofty and continuous snowy mountains, endless grasslands, steep and grand gorges, azure lakes and the bucolic villages always leaving a deep impression on visitors.
As one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world, the scenery of Tiger Leaping Gorge is gorgeous. Foreign backpackers started hiking in the area in the 1980s and now Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking Tour has been one of the most famous hiking tour all around the world. Tiger Leaping Gorgeis a scenic canyon on the Jinsha River, a primary tributary of the upper Yangtze River. The inhabitants of the gorge are primarily the indigenous Naxi people and Tibetan people, who live in a handful of small hamlets. Naturally Tiger Leaping Gorge is divided into three sections: Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge and Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge.
The Haba Snow Mountain stands by the Jinsha River, 120 km southeast of Shangri-La City, with its main peak of 5,396 meters. The attraction of the Sanba Tourist Area is attributed to the towering peaks of the Haba Snow Mountain and its alpine moraine lake, endless tracks of azalea flowers and cluster of waterfalls cascading down snow-covered cliffs. The glacier on the Haba Snow Mountain is the southmost glacier in China. Haba Snow Mountain is the best mountain for climbing tours in Yunnan with an elevation of 5,396 meters in the summit. People can take a Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tours from Lijiang or with Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking. You can find more Haba Snow Mountain Climbing Tours here.
Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan province and one of the famous monasteries in the Kang region, which belongs to the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism of the Gelukpa order of the Dalai Lama. It is reputed as the Little Potala Palace due to its complex of Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
Meili Snow Mountain is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. In the 1930s, they were praised by American scholars as the most beautiful mountains in the world. Meili Snow Mountain boasts numerous snow-clad ridges and peaks, thirteen of which are more than 6,000 meters above the sea level. The highest peak Kawagebo, which rises to 6,740 meters, has never been on the summit.
Dukezong Ancient Town is a Tibetan town in Shangri-la County, Deqin Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. As one of the largest and best-preserved Tibetan residence groups in China, it is over thirteen hundred years old, which not only plays an important role in the Old Tea-Horse Road, but also serves as a corridor connecting Chinese and Tibetan language, people, religion and cultures.
Being one of the most bio-diverse regions in China’s Yunnan Province, Pudacuo National Park is the first national park in Chinese mainland which was announced on June 25, 2007. With its crystal-clear lakes, undulating mountains and gurgling streams, Pudacuo National Park is definitely a wonderful natural wonderland. Among China’s 2,500 nature reserves, Pudacuo is the only one meets the standards for national parks established by The World Conservation Union. In addition to its rare vegetation and mammal species, the stunning natural beauty of landscape is unmissable for visitors as well.
Baishuitai is located in Baidi Village, Sanba Township, southeast of Shangri-La City. It is 101 kilometers away from Shangri-La and 2,380 meters above sea level. It is the birthplace of the Dongba Religion of Naxi people. Looking in the distance, Baishuitai hidden in the green hills is really like terraced fields. Under the sunshine, it is like a frozen waterfall in a photograph. A foot on the white stone steps, there is a cool feeling that can not be spoken out.
With a total area of 31.25 square kilometers and an elevation of 3266 meters, the state-designated wetlands area Napahai Nature Reserve is located in Shangri-la city, Yunnan province. Established in 1984, it is a wetland ecosystemprotection zone to plateau seasonal lakes and marsh meadows. The natural reserve is flat, surrounded by mountains. When October steps in, flocks of black-necked cranes, bar-headed geese, white cranes, sheldrakes regularly come Napahai Lake looking for food and for fun.
Best Places to Visit in Dali
Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is known as ‘the Spring City ‘ for its pleasant climate and flowers that bloom all year around. Today it is the provincial political, economical and cultural center of Yunnan as well as the most popular tourist destination in southwest China. Next following the best places to Visit in Kunming.
Stone Forest is reputed as “the first wonder in the world”. it is located 88 kilometers southwest of Kunming. it is located in Shilin yi autonomous county of Yunnan province. it is a typical karst landform. from a distance, the branches, blocks and clumps of huge gray-black stone peaks stand high in the sky, pointing directly to the sky, just like a vast and grey hessian forest, hence the name “Stone Forest “.
Jiuxiang Scenic Area in Kunming, also called the Museum of Karst Caves, is a cluster of hundreds of karst caves, forming the largest such complex in China. It is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Stone Forest. Jiuxiang Scenic Area and Stone Forest are both karst landscapes. There is a saying that “in Kunming, people can appreciate the stone forest above the ground and karst caves underground”
Dongchuan Red Land, centered on Huashitou Village in Dongchuan District, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Kunming, has the most typical and special red soil on the Yunnan highlands. At an altitude of 1,800-2,000 meters (5,900-6,500 feet), the red soil is rich in iron and aluminum, giving it an amazing crimson color. The soils are interspersed with colored fields and crops, forming all kinds of patterns. Viewed from afar, the beautiful layered patterns, framed by blue sky and white clouds, look like a watercolor. Many photographers are strongly attracted by Dongchuan Red Land and come here to capture the beautiful scenery on film.
It should be hard to find a snow mountain in Kunming which is renowned as “Spring City”. But the miraculous Jiaozi Snow Mountain is an exception. The snow-capped mountain got its name because it looks like a sedan chair (Jiaozi). In winter and spring, the mountain is covered with pure white snow, with beautiful icefalls hanging from cliffs. In summer and autumn, the fragrant azalea flowers are in full blossom with bees humming and butterflies dancing around. In one word, scenery in the Jiaozi Snow Mountain is extraordinary. Enchanting lakes, magnificent waterfalls, attractive cloud sea, charming sunset, exuberant meadows, and beautiful azalea flowers will make you feel like you are stepping into a fairy tale world.
The Dianchi Lake Scenic Area is located in the southwest part of Kunming City. Dianchi Lake is, beyond question, the center of the resort. There are numerous attractions along the lake captivating tourists. Among these are the Yunnan Nationalities Village, Grand View Park (Daguan Park), White Fish Park (Baiyukou Park), Haigeng Bank, Kwan-yin Hill, Western Hills Forest Park, temples and pagodas. Towns, big or small near the lake provide visitors with an opportunity to experience customs of the local people.
Golden Temple, also known as Tongwa Temple, is the largest copper temple in China. As part of Taosit Taihe Palace (Hall of Supreme Harmony), it’s located on top of Mingfeng Hill (Singing Phoenix Hill).
Do you know why the Golden Hall is called “Golden Hall”? Because the hall is made of brass, The Hall shines brightly under the sun, hence the name.
Endowed with lofty hills, beautiful pools, exquisite traditional houses and rare plants, Yunnan Nationalities Village showcases the architectural styles, religious beliefs, and folk customs of 26 ethnic groups in exquisite detail. Backing on the Western Hill Forest Park and adjacent to Dianchi Lake, a pearl on Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the village is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) far from downtown Kunming. It covers an area of 84 hectares (208 acres), including 31 hectares (76 acres) of water area.
As a comprehensive museum, it has rich collections of more than 200,000 pieces. For tourists, the museum can help you to know Yunnan’s history and the rich ethnic culture better; for history lovers, its rich collections give you the opportunity to better understand Yunnan and the ancient Dian Kingdom’s (278 – 115BC) historical features as well as wonderful bronze culture.
Unlike all other Buddhist temples, which are built on an ascendant, you enter Yuantong Temple from above and descend along a gently sloping garden path. The view before you starting your peaceful walk beneath the gigantic cypress trees that line the garden path to the temple with its extensive array of flowers and foliage is deeply restful and impressive. A memorial archway with four Chinese characters -Yuantong Shengjing (Yuantong Wonderland)-is standing on the halfway; you can see the entire temple from here.
In the western suburbs of Kunming is Western Hills. They are also called ‘Sleeping Buddha Hills’. For looked at from a distance, they have the appearance of a giant sleeping Buddha. They have also been given another name – ‘Sleeping Beauty Hills’ for the hills when viewed together look like a beautiful young lady laying beside Dianchi Lake with her face upward and her hair trailling into water. You can see the outline of her face, chest, and legs clearly.
Green Lake Park, aka Cuihu Park, situated almost in the city center and facing Yunnan University, is one of the most beautiful parks in Kunming city. It is at the foot of Luofeng Mountain and on the west side of Wuhua Mountain. Green Lake itself occupies 15 hectares (37 acres) in the 21-hectare (52 acres) Green Lake Park and used to be a part of Dianchi Lake, but has become an independent lake now because of the water level decreasing of Dianchi. Now the park is for daily leisure and playing with seagulls in winter for locals and travelers in Kunming.
There are still many scenic spots waiting for you to explore and discover!
A guide of Best Places to Visit in Lijiang can help you plan your Lijiang travel better. As a popular tourist destination in Yunnan Province, Lijiang always surprises people by its profound culture and breathtaking scenery. See below a list of the top things to do in and around Lijiang.
Lijiang Ancient Town is a well-preserved Naxi ancient town, listed as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997. It is one of the four best-preserved ancient cities in China. The unique geographical location, historical background and multiracial inhabitants make it one of the most popular travel destination in China.
Lugu Lake, at the border between Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces and about 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Lijiang city, is an alpine lake renowned for its stunning scenery and unique Mosuo culture. Lugu is called the “mother lake” by the local Mosuo people, who comprise what is sometimes described as the last matriarchal society in the world.
With thirteen perennial snow peak, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain resembles a jade dragon lying in the clouds, hence the name. Featured by its magnificence, precipitousness, uniqueness and beauty, the scenery of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain changes in accordance with seasons and weathers.
The Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges with spectacular sceneries on the planet such as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the west and Haba Snow Mountain to the east. It is one of the finest hikes China has to offer. Besides, two strenuous treks blending Tiger Leaping Gorge and Haba Snow Mountain are also favored by hikers.
Along with its sister town Lijiang, Shuhe Ancient Town is also part of the UNESCO Heritage site. Shuhe is the earliest settlement of Naxi people in Lijiang when their ancestors first moved to this region.
Located 10km west of Lijiang city, it is the largest plateau lake in Lijiang and the first nature reserve named “wetland” in Yunnan province.Every year, tens of thousands of waterbirds come here to live through the winter. December to February of the following year is the best time for bird watching in Lashihai. Lake.
Black Dragon Pool is not only the water source of Lijiang’s ancient city, but also the place where Lijiang’s state-level protected cultural relics are most concentrated. Black Dragon Pool is the best place for shooting Yulong Snow Mountain.
Located at the southwest part of Lijiang, the Mu’s Residence was the mansion of the Mu family, the ruler of Naxi people that ruled Lijiang for about 470 years in ancient China, as well as the government office of Lijiang, which was built symmetrically according to imperial palace of Han minority ethnic group.
The Yangtze River Bend, as its name denotes, is the spot where the south running river suddenly turns northward due to changes in the shape of the nearby mountain ranges which form a mammoth V shape at this spot.
There, one of the most valuable treasures of Chinese painting – Baisha Murals is kept and displayed in the old but splendid temples. Featured with unique rel igious subjects and superb painting skills, these murals serve as one of the important forms of Lijiang Dongba culture.
Blue Moon Valley originated from melting snow and ice on snowy mountains, flowing down cliffs, and finally forming a crystal clear and extremely cool river in the deep valley on the upper reaches of Blue Moon Valley. Moreover, the valley is crescent-shaped. From a distance, it looks like a round of blue moon inlaid at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain, hence its name is Blue Moon Valley.
Ganhaizi Meadow is an open meadow and a natural pasture. The vast meadow is littered with low pine trees. Yaks pass by from time to time. It is a landscape of highland pastures. It is the closest and best place to look up the whole picture of Yulong Snow Mountain. There is the longest fairway in the world, the highest elevation in Asia and the only golf course at the foot of snow mountain.
The Three Parallel Rivers refer to the three rivers of the Jinsha River, the Lancang River and the Nujiang River, which originate from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and run more than 170 kilometers from north to south in Yunnan Province, cross the mountains between Dandang Lika Mountain, Gaoligong Mountain, Nu Mountain and other high mountains and lofty hills.
There are still many scenic spots waiting for you to explore and discover!
The snow mountain group closest to the equator, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is also the southernmost big snow mountain in the northern hemisphere. It is the sacred mountain in the Naxi people’s mind. Its main peak is 5596 meters above sea level. It is surrounded by clouds all the year round. It is an unconquered virgin peak. Snow mountain is rich in natural tourism resources, which can be divided into snow areas, glaciers, alpine meadows, primeval forest landscapes, etc. With the change of seasons, azaleas, which open successively at different heights, form the most beautiful scenery of the snow mountain. Since the poster is high and the air is thin, I will give you some travel tips for climbing Jade Dragon Snow Mountain next.
Autumn and winter are the best, from Nov to May in the next year
Reason: From January to May, when there is the most snow in Yulong Snow Mountain, it will definitely not disappoint you. The best snow viewing season is sunny and dry, and the snow on the snow-covered mountain is the most touching at this time, whether for sightseeing or photography.
There are three mountaineering cableways in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, namely, they can be called Large Cableway (Glacier cableway), Middle Cableway (Maoniuping cableway), and Small Cableway (Yunshanping cableway).Among them, Glacier cableway is the most worth experiencing. As the cableway with the highest altitude in the world, it can directly take tourists from the bottom station (3500 meters above sea level) to the top of the snow mountain with an altitude of 4605 meters.
Three Cableways in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
I hope the above tips can help your trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Everyone has an ancient city of Lijiang in their heart, where there are bridges, flowing water, willows floating in the air, flowers blooming, blue sky and white clouds, the ancient melodious wind chimes, and the sacred mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, which Naxi people regard as their heart. The main peak, 5596 meters above sea level, is an unconquered virgin peak surrounded by clouds all the year round. Snow mountain is rich in natural tourism resources, majestic, exquisite and beautiful. with the changes of seasons, azaleas, which open successively at different heights, form the most beautiful scenery of snow mountain. Next I will introduce you how to choose and take 3 cableways in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
For many mountain climbers, snowy mountains have always been a dream, but due to the special situation of high altitude, many people have retreated. However, this does not affect their pursuit of standing on the top of snow mountain experience. There are two snowy mountains worth seeing in Yunnan. One is Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and the other is Meili Snow Mountain. Due to the perfect supporting facilities, the standardized operation of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has become the best choice for many tourists to enter the snow mountain. There are three mountaineering cableways in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area, namely, they can be called Large Cableway (Glacier cableway), Middle Cableway (Maoniuping cableway), and Small Cableway (Yunshanping cableway).Among them, Glacier cableway is the most worth experiencing. As the cableway with the highest altitude in the world, it can directly take tourists from the bottom station (3500 meters above sea level) to the top of the snow mountain with an altitude of 4605 meters.
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Large Cableway officially resumed operation on December 1, 2010. The renovated Yulong Snow Mountain cableway is the most advanced cableway in the world, with its capacity increasing from 420 to 1200 people per hour. On the premise that the price remains unchanged, tourists can reach glacier park more safely, faster and more comfortably.
It takes more than 10 minutes to reach the top of the mountain from the cableway station. Due to the rapid elevation of the altitude, the oxygen on the top of the mountain is much thinner. People will also feel a little uncomfortable. On the platform at the top of the mountain stands a stele 4605m above sea level for tourists to take photos. However, there is also an artificial escalator not far from the platform, which can reach an altitude of 4,780 meters up to 150 meters. Of course, there is a price to pay for topping up.
The cableway is really scary, because it is set up on high mountains and the reference point is the mountainous peaks in the distance, so it looks extremely breathtaking, especially at the moment of being thrown out, it seems to fall into the abyss.
It is located at an altitude of about 3600 meters. A vast grassland for tourists to watch snow-capped mountains in the distance. Maoniuping area is located in the northern part of Yulong Snow Mountain Scenic Area. The highest elevation is 4000 meters. This is one of the most popular of the three ropeways in Yulong Snow Mountain.
The Maoniuping is a medium cableway that can directly reach the scenic spots. Maoniuping is called “Bannongguo” in Naxi language, which means “beautiful and mysterious paradise”. It is also really very beautiful. On the meadow, flowers were blooming in summer, yaks were grazing in droves, and in winter, the snow was very white. At an altitude of 3600 meters, the towering Yulong 13 Peak stands in front of us and can shoot large movies. In addition, ethnic costumes can be rented here, and yaks can be mounted to take photos with snowy mountains.
Most tourists will come to Blue Moon Valley by small cableway. Blue Moon Valley is one of the famous scenic spots on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. When it rains in the rainy season during the peak season, it will show a milky color, so whenever it comes, it will have different scenery and the same beauty. Blue Moon Valley is also known as “Little Jiuzhaigou”. The colors are also unpredictable. There are blue and green. It looks super beautiful.
Lijiang to Lugu Lake travel by bus is available for tourists. Lugu Lake lies about 200 km away from Lijiang City. Lijiang has a history of at least 800 years and may date as far back as the Song Dynasty. It is located in the northwestern portion of Yunnan and borders Sichuan. Lijiang is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Yunnan Travel. Lijiang is considered as a fairyland blessed with fresh air, clear streams, breathtaking Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and an undisturbed landscape inhabited by Naxi Ethnic Minority.
Lugu Lake(泸沽湖), the native place of “The Females’ Kingdom” composed of the Mosuo people(摩梭人), a branch of the Naxi ethnic minority(纳西族). It is an alpine lake renowned for its stunning scenery and unique Mosuo culture. The formation of the lake is thought to have occurred in a geological fault belonging to the geological age of the Late Cenozoic.
There are 3 long-distance buses available every day from Lijiang City(丽江市) to Lugu Lake(泸沽湖).
Tourists can take the long-distance bus from Lijiang Bus Station(客丽江运站) to Lugu Lake Bus Station(泸沽湖客运站), the journey will take about 4 hours.
Bus Timetable
Departs | Arrives | Duration | Price |
---|---|---|---|
09:00 | Lugu Lake Bus Station | 4h | 71 CNY |
10:00 | Lugu Lake Bus Station | 4h | 71 CNY |
15:00 | Lugu Lake Bus Station | 4h | 85 CNY |
There are 3 long-distance buses available every day from Lugu Lake(泸沽湖) to Lijiang City(丽江市).
Tourists can take the long-distance bus from Lugu Lake Bus Station(泸沽湖客运站) to Lijiang, the journey will take about 4 hours.
Bus Timetable
Departs | Arrives | Duration | Price |
---|---|---|---|
09:00 | Lijiang | 4h | 71 CNY |
10:00 | Lijiang | 4h | 71 CNY |
14:30 | Lijiang | 4h | 85 CNY |
Lijiang Bus Station
Address: No. 25 Kangzhong Road, Gucheng District, Lijiang City(丽江市古城区康仲路25号)
Public Bus: No. 16, 19, 22, 8
Bus connections to: Kunming City, Dali, Shangri-la, Huaping, Liuku and so on.
Tel: 0888-5121-106
Lugu Lake Bus Station(泸沽湖客运站)
Address: Daluoshui Village of Lugu Lake(泸沽湖大落水村)
Bus connections to: Lijiang, Caohai, Lige and so on.
Tel:152-0888-6793
Located in southwestern Sichuan where the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Hengduan Mountains joint together, Daocheng Yading is about 860 km away from Chengdu. It is reputed as the Soul of Shangri-la and the Last Shangri-la for its distinctive landform and primitive natural landscape. Many international friends came to this mysterious land for expedition and photograph. They found Daocheng Yading was really amazingly pastoral and referred Daocheng Yading as the Last Pure Land in Our Blue Planet. In 2003, it was listed in MAB Reserve by UNESCO.
Shangri-La to Daocheng
Due to there is only one bus from Shangri-La to Daocheng at 7:00a.m. Tourists need to stay overnight at Shangri-La and take a bus from Shangri-La to Daocheng the next morning. The whole distance is about 330 kilometers and the whole journey is 11 hours with a cost of CNY 109.
Daocheng to Yading
There are four buses from Daocheng to Yading every day (7:00 a.m. 10:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.).
After getting to Daocheng, tourists can choose to take the taxi to Yading. The Start price of taxi in Daocheng is CNY 5. Please be noted, tourist buses are the only buses which can enter the Aden scenic area. Outside vehicles are not allowed to enter.
Riding is a healthy and natural way of sports tourism. If you want to experience the riding trip, you can ride from Shangri-La to Daocheng Yading. The route is like this: Shangri-La-Geza-Xiaoxueshan Yakou-Wengshui Village-Daxueshan Yakou-Ranwuxiang-Xiangcheng County Town-Unknown Snow Mountain Yakou-Sangdui-Daocheng. The whole distance is about 336 km, and due to the road are bad, you might spend 3 days for jouenry.
Tourist can also contact us to rent a car from Shangri-La to Daocheng Yading.
The Yangtze River Bend, as its name denotes, is the spot where the south running river suddenly turns northward due to changes in the shape of the nearby mountain ranges which form a mammoth V shape at this spot.
With the gradual deposit of fertile soil at this spot, a village slowly came into being, now called Shigu Town, meaning “stone drum” in Chinese. Since ancient times, this town has been important, linking Tibet with the outside world. Here Tibetan people bring their quality fell, hide and herbal medicine and take home tea, salt, cloth and other necessities. When market day comes, the town is incredibly crowded and noisy. In Shigu Town, gold sands of the first gulf in Yangtze River which is located in the west Lijiang City turn the direction 180 degree here, hurtle to open the mountain layer after layer to obstruct, turn around to go up north again and then the east go to. This gorgeous scene had become famous as the First Bend of the Yangtze River.
The river is broadened at the bend and flows slowly. The famous historical event, such as “Zhuge Liang’s Crossing the Lushni River in the Fifth Month”, Kublai Khan’s “Crossing the River on Leather Rafts” all chose this place as a ferry. In May 1936, the Red Army to leaders He Long, Ren Bishi and Guan Xianying led the Second Route Red Army to march north, crossing the river also at this place. At present, a splendid memorial tablet marking the victorious crossing is erected here.
The First Bend of the Yangtze River is located on the north side of the highway leading from Dali to Lijiang, about 70 km. from lijiang Town. The upper reaches of the Yangtze River is named the Jinsha River, which originates from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Jinsha River flowed southward along the Hengduan Mountain ranges and was forced to the turn to north because of the Alpine movements which caused changes in the earth’s physiognomy.
On the hill as the river bends stands the small Shigu (stone drum) Township. It is so called because of the existence of a drum-like stone tablet. It is 1.5 m. in diametre, 70 mm. in thickness, being the memorial tablet marking the victory of territorial expansion of Lijiangs local ruler Baichuan, surnamed Mu, in the 27th to 40th year of the Jiaqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1548-1561). It is one of the earliest stone tablets hitherto found at Lijiang.
1. Interesting scenery and historic site.
2. Visit the Naxi town of Shiguzhen and shop.
3. Watch the local people shop, trade and work.
4. Hike around and go on the river in boats.
5. Visit the memorial and see the stone monument that is about 450 years old.
The surface of river of Shigu ferry crossing is broad, the river flows gently which is suitable for the ferry, has always been a place of great military importance. It is said that during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang pacified Nam Trung, “cross the Lushui in May” (Jinsha river called Lushui Water in ancient time); In A.D. 1253, Kublai Khan led his army to cross exposure and raft through the Jinsha River, unified Yunnan. The Second Army of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army led by He Long, Ren Bishi and Xiao Ke was crossing from here in April 1936 and proceeded northward to anti-Japanese. After the liberation, in the hillside behind the Shigu tablet, there built the 8.1 meters high monument “the red army long march ferry monument”, standing in the hillside, imposing and solemn. It is one of Yunnan province key cultural relics protection units. Pailou (decorated archway) in the front of monument is Memorial Room of the Red Army River Crossing, where display of the legacy during red army long march, will make you know more vividly about the great army more than half a century ago.
About the origin of estuary, there is folklore: went outing together, on the halfway they had dispute, eldest sister and elder sister, stubbornly headed south, Jinsha determined to go east where the sun rises to look for a light and love, when she got to Shigu, she said goodbye to the two sisters, resolutely turned eastward. The place where Jinsha turned back became the Yangtze River First Bend.
Another version is that: three sisters of Nujiang River, Lancang River and Jinsha River who don’t want to marry the person in the west so they held out on their parents, secretly run from home. Beautiful clever Jinsha invited two elder sisters to the east China sea. Parents learned after three girls run away, very angry, so they sent two brothers Yulong and Haba hold up on their way to the east China sea. Nujiang and Lancang saw two elder brothers blocked their way in Shasongbi village, they thought that their brothers were too strong for them so they dared not go forward, then change their mind that did not go to the east China sea. They chose the south road but could not persuade Jinsha, they had to rush angrily. Jinsha saw two sisters gone, but her determination to the east China sea still remained in the heart so that she resolutely turned straight at her brother’s way, eventually broke through the obstacles and went into the east China sea. Where she turned formed the famous “the Yangtze River First Bend” landscape.
First Bend of the Yangtze River
Along the Shigu there are not only gathering talents but also owns beautiful scenery and rich products, known as the plateau “small regions south of the Yangtze River“. Here river flows gently, river valley is open, and terraces are layer upon layer. In the spring, wheat fields turn green, rape flowers turn golden, in the autumn paddy has bumper harvest, melon and fruit is full of garden. Along the river osier is like belt, and every willow is tall and straight, the crown of willow is as thick as canopy, and the beach under the tree is particularly cool. It was that the red army camp, now become an ideal place for summer resort. And along the river of 3 kilometers is Shimen Pass (Stone Gate Pass) which is known for strategically located and difficult of access, it is said that during the Sui dynasty general Shi Wansui went on a expedition to Yunnan and opened the pass, Yuan, Ming and Qing three dynasties are garrisoned in this pass, which has been a place of great military importance.
Yangtze River First Bend is 50 kilometers away from Lijiang county town, is not only an important scenic spot of Lijiang, and links to scenic spots such as Tiger Leaping Gorge, Laojun Mountain, and Meili Snow Mountain. In addition, Shigu is rich in talc and granite, and it has got a lot of development then is exported to all over the place. Every three days in Shigu Town there is the street market, pedestrians are bustling, very lively.
‘Where to see the First Bend of the Yangtze River?’, Almost every tourist to Lijiang ask the same question. Be sure to keep in mind the follow travel tips and to understand your tour to see the First Bend before booking.
1. There are two places to see the First Bend of the Yangtze, one is in Shigu Village and another is on the way from Lijiang to Shigu Village (about 34 kilometers after leaving Lijiang for the village), the awesome landscapes can be seen along the No.308 provincial road, and a special viewing deck is built there and helps guest to enjoy the grand scene of the Yangtze River.
2. Usually the tour group will only see the First Bend in Shigu Village, it will be only a glance from far away and with poor direction. People need to climb the hill at the entrance of Shigu Village to see the panorama of the sight with the help of local people (maybe at an extra fee of RMB5 or 10 yuan to pass their home to the hill’s peak)
3. Don’t forget taking your wide-angle lens with you because the common cameras can not keep the whole scenery down.
From LiJiang Passenger Terminal tourists can take bus to Shigu Town, Lijiang is 45 km from Shigu Town, about 2 hours drive. Tourists can also charter car to there, and the prices should be negotiated. To visit the Yangtze River First Bend and Shigu Town, people can take tourism special line bus in all bus stations and the main hotels in Lijiang city. Or people can choose package of Tiger Leaping Gorge and Yangtze River First Bend.
The best travel season to Yangtze River First Bend: the first recommended visiting season is fall, followed by summer. Autumn has pleasant climate, which is suitable to visit. During hot summer to enjoy the tree shade is also very comfortable. Lijiang spring flowers are in full bloom, and the winter sunshine is sufficient, all season is a good choice to travel Yangtze River First Bend, warm in winter and cool in summer, the four seasons are all appropriate.
1、Travel Agencies in Lijiang City also offer the one-day travel including the First Bay of the Yangtze and Hutiao Gorge, which generally cost 150RMB per person, including the fare, admission fee and lunch charge.
2、Shigu Town just stands on the mountain besides the First Bay of the Yangtze. And the high mountain behind the town is the best place to view the latter.
3、Besides, as the traffic main artery of tourism in Lijang, Shigu Town leads to Liming, Liguang, Judian and Tacheng to the north, Laojun Mountain Scenic Spot to the west and Hutiao Gorge along Jinsha River.
Self-help tourists can only charter a car or take the long-distance bus in Lijiang Passenger Bus Station or county bus in the Long-Distance Bus Station in new street to Shigu Town.
Shigu Town is on the hill near the Yangtze River First Bend. The high mountain behind the Shigu Town is also the perfect place see “Yangtze River First Bend”. In addition, Shigu Town is one of the important traffic arteries in Lijiang tourism. Going to the north can reach Liming, Liguang, Judian, Tacheng; Going to the west can reach the Laojun Mountain scenic area, along the Jinsha River can reach the Tiger Leaping Gorge.
By shuttle bus: Take the shuttle bus at the center bus station of Lijiang to Shigu Village, it is about 2 hours. Guest can take the common tourism bus (RMB15 yuan) at Lijiang or rent a coach after bargaining with the drivers.
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