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.

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.

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 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

Three Wells of Shuhe Ancient Town

The Shuhe Ancient Town in Lijiang is known as the “Pearl on the Ancient Tea Horse Road”. All the streams in the ancient town are from “Nine Ding Long Tan”. Not far from Dragon Pool, there is a “three-eye well”, which is the source of water for the residents of the town. The so-called “three-eye well”, that is, in the direction of the stream when the well is built, the well water is used as the upper, middle and lower parts for the purpose of drinking, washing and washing, respectively, from top to bottom. This not only ensures drinking, but also saves water.

Three-Eye Well

Shuhe Three-Eye Well, also known as Sandie Spring or Sandie Water, is a unique well in Lijiang. The three-eye well is actually a spring water outlet. It flows from high to low three-level terrain. It is built into three barriers with stone or brick. The well water is shallow and easy to see. The wellhead is large and is pond-like. The first three eyes are drinking water, the second eye is washing vegetables, and the third eye is washing.

A wooden sign next to the well is eye-catching. The above reads: “‘Water is good for everything but not for contention’. Water is the scarcest resource that is most vulnerable to pollution. In the nomadic era, the Naxi ancestors lived by the water, depending on the water and regarded it as the source of life. In the era of farming and settlement, they diverted water into the village, divided into three, enjoying the comfort and convenience of living in the water. To the urban age, people created the ‘three-eye well’ culture: the water of a spring is divided into three-eye well, the first eye for drinking water, the second eye for washing vegetables, the third eye for washing water. One water and three use, do not fight for it, reflecting the Naxi people’s fine tradition of cherishing nature and cherishing the environment.”

Historical and cultural development

This seems to be a brief history of the ethnic minorities, documenting the origins relation of the Naxi ancestors and water. The industrious and wise Naxi people, in their real life, use the “three-eye well” culture as the “township policy”, which reflects their awe of nature and the virtues of harmony between people. “Three-eye Well” proves the imprint of this nation from farming society to commercial civilization.

Three-eye Well Attraction Tour Raiders

First, enter the Shuhe three-eye well: The three-eye well is the embodiment of the ancient water-saving method in the Lijiang area. Using the flow of water, a total of three wells are made from top to bottom, and the water is from the top of the first pool, go straight down, flow to the third pool and then flow away. The three-eye well is a small pool, divided into three parts, the first one is used for drinking water, the second one is used for washing vegetables, and the third one is used for washing clothes.

Best Time to Visit

The peak period for visiting Shuhe Ancient Town is from May to October. Actually, Shuhe 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

Travel Tips

1. Pay attention to some local folk customs and respect the folk customs of local ethnic minorities so as not to cause unnecessary disputes.

2. Take some commonly used cold medicine, gastrointestinal drugs, anti-mosquito dew water, heatstroke drugs, seasick motion sickness drugs.

3. It is best to travel with partners, especially at night. It is best for single women or children to be prepared to keep the necessary defense tools all the time when they go out.

4. The camera is essential, you should also choose whether you need sunscreen and other supplies according to the specific conditions of the destination.

5. Lijiang is the high-profile southwest monsoon climate, and the temperature is low and the temperature difference between day and night is also very large. Before coming, it is best to check the Lijiang weather forecast.

6. The strong UV should be considered. If it is long periods of time outdoors, people need to wear a sun hat and apply anti-frost to protect your skin.

7. It is a stone road in Shuhe Ancient Town, it is recommended to wear cloth shoes or lightweight sports shoes.

8. Don’t throw rubbish there, don’t wash your hands in the first well.

Dongba Shiluo Temple

The Dongba Shiluo Temple is located in the Jade Water Village Scenic Area of ​​Lijiang. It is an important place for the Dongba Conference, the largest activity of the Naxi traditional Dongba ritual. During the period, the main offerings were grain, ghee, sesame oil, and livestock, but not for wild animals. In front of the Zhengge, it is an incense burner that burns incense.
Above the top of Dongba Shiluo Temple, is a personal guardian. There are two guards on both sides of the Dongba Shiluo, the left side is Dupang Xigen, and the right is Wuhan Bairu. On the north and south sides of the Dongba Shiluo, they are the five high-ranking apprentices of Dongba Shiluo.

Dongba Shiluo

The whole life of Dongba Shiluo is vicissitude. His father and mother were ordinary people, but Dongba Shiluo was extremely smart. Before he was born, he was talking to his mother in his mother’s stomach. The demon knew this and was shocked and wanted to kill Dongba Shiluo. Dongba Shiluo certainly knew the tricks of the demon. He was born from the left armpit of his mother. However, Dongba Shiluo was unable to escape and was killed by the demon. Later, the gods Shaoying Wude(少英五德) rescued the soul of Dongba Shiluo, and brought him to the Heaven Scripture Manager Pangdu Shaomei(上天经文总管旁都少美), studying the Book of Heaven. Dongba Shiluo made it. Then the beautiful book was given to the Dongba Shiluo by Pangdu Shaomei, who let him return to the world to serve the people. Since the return of the Book of Heaven by Dongba Shiluo, the Naxi Dongba culture, such as ethics, morality, folk customs, were based on the book. The Naxi people must follow the scriptures. Because Dongba Shiluo is the ancestor of the Naxi Dongba, people who are engaged in sacrificial activities and master the Naxi scriptures are disciples of Dongba Shiluo. Later generations called them Dongba.

The way to worship

The Naxi culture is also the Dongba culture. In the traditional Dongba rituals of the Naxi people, Dongba Conference will be the biggest activity. During the period, the main offerings were grain, ghee, sesame oil, and livestock, but not for wild animals. In front of the Dongba Shiluo Temple , it is an incense burner. Each person burns three pillars of incense, first people need to insert the incense stick into the incense burner, and then bow their heads to worship and make a offering. The goods and money provided can be measured according to the condition of their own financial resources without affecting their normal life. Because Dongba Shiluo is generous and kind, people with poor economic conditions only need to burn three pillars of incense and express sincerity. Under normal circumstances, large families should kill pigs and slaughter sheep, then offer the gold, silver and pearls. People who have no ability to work or the begger just burn three pillars of incense, and Dongba Shiluo will bless them and let them realize their wishes. If the foreigner worships Dongba Shiluo and comes to worship him, he can bring items on the Naxi land, such as earth, wood, gold and silver jewelry. He need to ask Dongba to open it and store it personally. Dongba will let him become his subject, let them be safe and happy in the world, prosper and develop, avoid disasters, and live long and healthy. Dongba Shiluo struggled with demons and ghosts in his life, fighting all the disasters of the human world, and seeking happiness for the people of the world.

Overview of Falcon Valley

Falcon Valley Scenic Area is adjacent to Lijiang Ancient Town, Shuhe Ancient Town, and Baisha Ancient Town, the birthplace of Dongba Culture.

The valley is fascinating and beautiful, and the stream is sloppy. The mouth of the valley corresponds to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain of the prominent civilization. It is natural and simple, with mountains and rivers, and beautiful scenery. It is a unique place of eagle hunting culture. The Falcon Valley has a vast expanse of green grass, alpine meadows and awe-inspiring earthquake rift in the Falcon Valley.

What to see in Falcon Valley

The Falcon Valley has fresh air, green trees, flowers and plants, squatting under the blue sky and white clouds, listening to the whistling of the original Falcon of Naxi and the mysterious hunting dance of the Naxi Dongba to sacrifice god. The soft and romantic synchronization, mysterious and passionate coexistence, here is the dreamy “Xiangbala” where everyone experiences the beauty of the landscape, the national customs and the Naxi falconry culture and historical heritage. At the same time, it integrates the natural landscape and the human landscape, and forms an eco-cultural tourism scenic spot where people and eagle, heaven and people are united. The Falcon Valley is also a place for artificial prey breeding, where you can experience the ancient civilization of falconry and experience the thrill and fighting of hunting.

In the scenic area, there are ” Hunting Performance”, “Hunting Sacrifice”, “Hunting Dance”, “Hunting House”, “Hunting Experience”, “Hunting Exhibition Hall”, “Pistol Shooting”, “Shotgun Flying Saucer”, “Dongba Prayer”, “Watching the Eagles”” Tusi Hunting Grounds, “Prey Picnics” and other projects. It is the best place for Naxi’s unique falconry, hunting culture experience. It is the best choice for sightseeing and leisure.

Falcon Valley historical and cultural development

Since the ancient Northern Eagles migrated southward, they passed the Yulong Snow Mountain and flew over Lijiang. The beasts gathered in the mountains around the Falcon Valley. More than 800 years ago, the sages of Naxi migrated to the beautiful land of Lijiang. The ancestral Kublai Khan passed here, “Crossing the Jinsha River With Leather Case” , and brought the nomadic culture and hunting customs of the prairie to this mysterious snow-capped mountain in northwest Yunnan between the meadows. Since then, hunting has become an indispensable element of survival here. Therefore, the Naxi people rely on the unique geographical conditions of the Falcon Valley, falcons, training falcons, relieving falcon, and long-term hunting activities here, thus creating a unique Naxi falconry culture and hunting culture.

The Falcon Valley is a place where the Naxi ancestors hunt, falconry, and catching the beasts. Today, the ancient wisdom civilization of hunting culture has gradually disappeared into the long river of history, and the hunting of this precious human sensational heritage, which is rare and even less known and loses its integrity. We cannot simply use hunting as a cultural symbol of original production, but as a kind of human civilization wisdom, which requires us to explore. Therefore, the Falcon Valley Ecological Scenic Area has carried out excavation, sorting, inheritance, protection, research and display of the falconry culture.

How to get to Falcon Valley

Get to Lijiang Old Town

From Kunming

By Bus:

By Train: Kunming Train Schedule
Take fast trains from Kunming Railway Station. It takes around 7 to 10 hours. Then change bus no. 16 to get off at Qixing Street Station, or bus no. 18 to White Dragon Square Station. It costs around CNY 40 by taxi.

By Air: Kunming Flight Schedule
Take plane from Changshui Airport. It takes around 40mins. Upon arrival, visitors can take airport shuttle bus to reach Lantian Hotel in the downtown area. Bus fare is around CNY 20. It takes around 30 minutes. Then they can walk around 1 kilometer (1,100 yards) to reach there. Or they can take bus no. 27 and get off at Zhongyi Guangchang. If taking a taxi from Lijiang Airport, taxi fare should be around CNY 80 to 100.

From Dali

By Bus:
Take bus from Tourist Bus Station near the South Gate of Dali Ancient Town, Dali North Bus Station or Dali Express Bus Station to Lijiang Bus Station in the Lijiang Old Town.

By Train:
Take fast trains from Dali Railway Station. Train ticket prices are CNY 34 for a hard seat, CNY 69.5 for a hard sleeper and CNY 104. 5 for a soft sleeper. It takes around 1.5 to 2.5 hours. After arriving, use local public bus to reach the old town.

Get to Falcon Valley

There is a special bus to take from the Lijiang Ancient Town.

Accommadation

People can choose different places to stay with your tour, for the valley is near many places. 

Recommended Accommodation

1.Inter Continental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort(丽江和府洲际度假酒店)

Located in the southern of Lijiang Old Town, the InterContinental Lijiang Ancient Town Resort is the international five-star conference and resort which combines modern luxury, traditional Naxi architectural, and the local representative landscape. Hotel has 274 spacious rooms and suites, 4 restaurants and bars, Spa and Fitness center. It is a 10-minute walk from Sifangjie (Market Square), a 30-minute drive from Lijiang Airport.

2.Hotel Indigo Lijiang Ancient Town(丽江古城英迪格酒店)

Hotel Indigo Lijiang Ancient Town is located in Lijiang Ancient Town. It features a wellness center, an indoor pool and a fitness center. The luxurious rooms offer free wired internet. At Hotel Indigo Lijiang Ancient Town you will find a la carte restaurant and buffet restaurant. Breakfast can be served in the comforts of guests’ rooms. 

3.Lijiang Wangfu Hotel(丽江王府饭店)

Lijiang Wangfu Hotel is located in the South Gate Square in Old Town. Featuring colorful traditional Chinese architecture and décor, it offers rooms with flat-screen TVs and free internet. Guest can enjoy Naxi bonfire party every Friday. The hotel provides car rental and concierge services. A tour desk can help with travel and sightseeing arrangements.

4.Manty House(漫庭美宿酒店)

Situated in Lijiang, this inn is within a 15-minute walk of Mu Family Mansion, Dayan and Wang Gu Lou. It features a restaurant, a bar/lounge and coffee/tea in a common area. WiFi in public areas is free. Other amenities include dry cleaning, a 24-hour front desk and tour/ticket assistance.

5.Lijiang International Hotel(丽江国际大酒店)

Lijiang International Hotel is located in Lijiang, 400 m from Wangu Pavilion and 600 m from Square Street Dayan Ancient Town. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and is fitted with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. You will find a coffee machine in the room. For your comfort, you will find bathrobes and slippers.

Travel Tips

1. Pay attention to some local folk customs and respect the folk customs of local ethnic minorities so as not to cause unnecessary disputes.

2, Mainly with some commonly used cold medicine, gastrointestinal drugs, anti-mosquito dew water, heatstroke drugs, seasick motion sickness drugs.

3, It is best to travel with you, especially at night. It is best for single women or children to be prepared to write the necessary defense tools.

4, The camera is essential, you should also choose whether you need sunscreen and other supplies according to the specific conditions of the destination.

5, Lijiang is a high-profile southwest monsoon climate, the temperature is low, the temperature difference between day and night is also very large. Before coming, it is best to check the Lijiang weather forecast.

6, Lijiang sunshine, strong UV. For long periods of time outdoors, wear a sun hat and apply anti-frost to protect your skin.

 Giant Camellia Tree in Yufeng Monastery, Lijiang

There are three courtyards in Yufeng Monastery, all decorated with ancient trees including ginkgo, magnolia and camellia. Wherein, the famous camellia tree “Ten Thousand Camellias” grows in the northern courtyard. According to the legend, the camellia tree was planted during the reign of Emperor Cheng Hua in Ming Dynasty (1465 – 1487), before the monastery was built. 500 years ago, two different breeds of camellia “Lion Head” and “Early Peach Blossom” were grafted into one and live as one ever since, thus creating the unparalleled camellia tree. Only 34 centimeters in diameter and 2 meters in height, the tree is surprisingly to have a crown area of 56 square meters, able to shade the whole courtyard in red when in full blossom. February to April is the blossom season of Lijiang, when the camellia tree blossoms merrily in a total of 20 batches, each batch with more than 1,000 flowers, reaching a number of 20,000 flowers at the end of the season, thus named the “Ten Thousand Camellias.”

How to Get There 

● Taking public bus No.7 can reach Yufeng Temple or take taxi from Ljiiang downtown.

● Take bus no. 6 from Qixing Street in the Lijiang Old Town, and get off at Yufengsi (Yufeng Temple) Station.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to experience the ravishing views of Yufeng Temple is in late spring and early summer, because the famous camellia tree is in full blossomy during the period. It is said that camellia tree was planted in Emperor Chenghua’s era of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and that is to say, the tree is older than Yufeng Temple. The flowers of the camellia tree could bloom for more than 100 days, and there are altogether twenty thousand flowers bloom in 20 batches. The camellia tree is three meters (ten feet) in height and 34 centimeters (one foot) in diameter and the Lamas in the temple pleach the blanches of the camellia tree subtly into a 56 square meters (67 yards) flowery canopy. When stepping close to the tree, you find yourself plunging into an ocean of redolent and beauteous flowers. Look at the flowers carefully and see if you can find out the uniqueness of this old camellia tree: the intoxicating flowers are of two different varieties. The bigger ones are pink and nine pistillate while the smaller ones are white and single pistillate; two trees, which originally grew side by side, have now, over the years, entwined. With the irradiation of the brilliant sunglow and the contrast of the green grassland, the flowering tree looks like burning flames from beyond. It is the real ‘King of the Camellia Trees’.

Others Scenic Area:

• Lijiang Old Town: 

Lijiang old Town is officially called “Dayan Town”, “Dayan” literally means a “great ink stab”, a graphic description of the town’s location on a piece of rich flatland fed by a river and surrounded by green mountains. It 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.

• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: 

Located in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is 15 kilometers north of the downtown, which has a highest altitude of 5596 meters and an area of 455 square kilometers. 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.

• Shuhe Old Town: 

Nestled at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, 6 km northwest of Lijiang old town, Shuhe Old Town was once a staging post at ancient Tea & Horse Road. With an altitude of 2440 meters above sea level, it is a tranquil town with a population of about 3000 people. Along with its sister town Lijiang, it 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.

• Baisha Ancient Town

Baisha Old Town is one of the oldest towns in Lijiang City. It got its name “Baisha” meaning “white sand” from the natural white sand in the area. It was the cradle-land of the Tusi Dynasty evolved from the Mu Clan. It was also the earliest settlement of the Naxi people. In ancient times, Baisha was a center of silk embroidery in southwest China and an important place on the Ancient Tea and Horse Road.

Where is Dajue Palace

Dajue Palace is located beside the ancient street of Shuhe Village, 7 kilometers northwest of Lijiang City. It is a courtyard and the main hall in the north. Although it is not tall, the building structure is well-balanced, the four-corner room is tall, the arch structure is curved, and the forehead beam is decorated with Various bird and animal reliefs. Dajue Palace is a private residence of a local Chieftain, and it was later transformed into a mural exhibition hall. In the entire small courtyard, the antique, traditional arched architectural style is no different from that of the Central Plains.

The Dajue Palace mural

The Dajue Palace mural is located in the main hall of the courtyard. The hall is dimly lit, but it is still possible to distinguish the murals on all sides. At present, there are only 6 faces in the Dajue Palace murals, a total of 21 square meters, which are the same as the murals of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. The picture is different from the Baisha Dabaoji Palace murals. It is a unique and it is another treasure of the Lijiang murals of the Ming Dynasty.

As an important part of Lijiang murals, the murals of Dajue Palace were formed during the Ming Dynasty. More than 400 years that the time did not smother these fine works of art, especially in Yunnan.

Going to see these murals, although it is not rich in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, its drawing is also very delicate and exquisite. It is said that the Dajue Palace murals are painted by the famous Jiangnan painter Ma Xiaoxian. A Jiangnan painter came to the border of the motherland, which shows the influence of the ancient Tea Horse Road and the strong commercial atmosphere in Lijiang.

The formation and preservation of the Dajue Palace murals has to mention the ancient tea-horse road. As another form of the Silk Road, and the ancient tea-horse road has strengthened the connection between Yunnan and Southeast Asia and West Asia, and also strengthened the exchange of Buddhist culture. Of course, Yunnan has promoted Buddhism since the Tang Dynasty. It is the best testimony that many emperors of the Dali Kingdom finally converted to Buddhism.

How to get to Shuhe Ancient Town from Lijiang

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 Shuhe Ancient Town is from May to October. Actually, Shuhe 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

Travel Tips

Altitude Sickness

The altitude is about 2,400 meters or about 7,800 feet. Some people may get some altitude sickness. So take it easy the first day or two.

What to Pack

Travel light when strolling in the old town. Bring a camera with you that you can take photos along the way. Sunlight is very strong in Lijiang, wear sun protection such as hats, sunglasses and use sun block, etc.

Entertainment

Do not miss the bars in Lijang. They are a part of life. The bars in Shuhe Old Town is more quieter than Lijiang old town. 

Dining

In Shuhe Old Town, some small restaurants are also surprising. The famous local dishes includes Chickpeas Bean Jelly, Lijiang Salted Pork Ribs, Naxi barbecue and other Lijiang delicacies.

Hotels

Just like Lijiang Old Town, Shuhe Old Town has many high-qualify hotels or hostels for you to choose from. The recommended hotels are Banyan Tree Lijiang, Lijiang Conifer Lishui Yangguang Hotel, etc.

Other Tips

1. If you plan to travel to Lijiang during the peak tourist season (Spring Festival, May Day, Summer holiday, and National Day holiday), be sure to reserve a room in advance.

2. There used to have carriages getting in and out of this town, so be careful.

3. It is best to wear cloth shoes or sneakers when walking in the old town, because they are all slabstone path, it is easy to twist your feet with high heels.

4.Take rain gear when you visit in the rainy season, and the slabstone path are slippery after the rain. Pay attention to that.

Guanyin(Goddess of Mercy) Waterfall of Tiger Leaping Gorge

The most wonderful waterfall and cliffs during the hiking tour of Tiger Leaping Gorge
Guanyin Waterfall is the largest waterfall during the hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge, it is located in the cliffs on the way of hiking from Halfway Guesthouse in Bendiwan Village to Tinas Hostel in the Middle Section of Tiger Leaping Gorge. The name of Guanyin Waterfall is from the name of the Guanyin Temple(观音庙) here. Guanyin or GuanYin is an East Asian bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by Mahayana Buddhists. She is commonly known as the “Goddess of Mercy” in English. Guanyin Temple here is only few meters from the waterfall hanging in the cliffs.

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