After visiting the Ten-thousand-flower Camellia in Yufeng Temple, you go all the way east and get to the road to the snow mountain, then drive along the road northward. The road is changing with the rising of altitude. Obviously you are climbing. After getting over a hill, you arrive at an open meadow. This is the  Dry Sea Meadow, 25 kilometers away from the city town of Lijiang. 

Introduction of Ganhaizi Meadow

The Dry Sea Meadow or Ganhaizi Meadow is the first meadow you visit. It is at an altitude of above 3,000 meters. The sceneries here are:

The Dry Sea Meadow is located at the east side of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It’s the closest and best place to get a full view of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at such a high altitude. The 13 peaks of the Snow Mountain line one after another from the north to the south, glittering under the sunshine. It is really lofty and magnificent. Shanzidou, the main peak, towers into the sky, just like a fan. It’s a majestic view. You can also watch the winding green glacier, situated above the snow line. You can clearly see and appreciate this “Green Miracle” of the modern glacier with telescopes.

The  Dry Sea Meadow is a natural pastureland. The land formation has not many risings and fallings. There are short pine trees here and there. Grasses and trees set off with each other. Occasionally herds of yaks are seen walking across the open meadow. It’s an authentic scenery of high mountain grazing-land. Setting off by the scene of the far away snow mountain, this is an ideal place for you to take pictures and view the beautiful sceneries.

Activities you can choose in Ganhaizi Meadow

There are many tour facilities, spreading all over the  Dry Sea Meadow like stars in the sky. It’s a great convenience for the tourists, who can do skiing, sliding on the sand or on the grass, gliding, car racing, horse racing, and towed gliding.

Why is Biluo Snow Mountain So Special?

Biluo Snow mountain is one of the major mountain ranges in Hengduan Mountain in Yunnan. There are 15 snow mountains, which stand 4000 meter above sea level. The Laowo Mountain is the most beautiful a highest mountain than the others, which is 4500 meters above sea level. It is 3200 meters higher compared with the Lantsang. The original ecosystem has been preserved. The climate changes unconventionally in the mountain. It is also called the “Mountain of thousands of Waterfalls and Lakes”, indicating the rich in the beautiful landscapes. 

Where is Biluo Snow Mountain – Location

Located in Lanping County and being one of the major mountain ranges in Hengduan Mountain in Yunnan, it faces Lan Cang River ­on the east, and stops at Nujiang River the west. Both sides of the Biluo Snow Mountain are vallies 3,000 meters above sea level. Originated from Tanggula Mountain in Tibet, the mountain strentches southward to Yunnan. It is the boundary mountain between Lanping county and Fugong county, Bijiang county and Lushui county.

Features

There are more than 30 pools of various size(called Longtan by locals) on the mountain. The largest one of these is Nianbuyiben Pool, which is more than 300 square meters. There are animals like tigers, leopards, bears, mountain donkeys, red deer, deer, monkey, wolf, also birds like snow pheasant, silver pheasant, parrots, as well as rare herbs such as snow lotus, snow angelica, dangshen, eucommia and so on. When the mountain is covered with snow in winter and spring, it is like a long silver dragon coiled on the plateau. It is in contrast with the mountains of Gaoligongshan, which is also covered with silver.

How to Get to Biluo Snow Mountain

One can take the shuttle bus from Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture to go to Lanping Bai & Pumi Autonomous County, then transfer a local mini-bus to go there. For tourists, renting a car to Biluo Snow Mountain is the best way.

Best Time to Visit

At the end of the spring and beginnings of summer, as the cloud and mist rise in the mountain, tourists can stand on the top of the mountain to see the sunrise and the sunset, which is very spectacular. The Yulong Snow Mountain, Haba Snow Mountain, Jinsichang Snow, Laojun Mountain, Xuebang Mountain in east. Steep and vertical, the accumulated snow remains unchanged at the top of the mountains all over the years even in the hottest summer. When winter comes, the silver-clad mountain is like a silver dragon intwine on the plateau, shining together with its neighbour Gaoli gongshan Mountain.

Main Attractions

Laowo Peak: All the best sights are in Laowo Mountain, which is the highest mountain in there. You cannot miss the experience when you are here. It has an elevation of 4,500 meters and a relative height difference of 3200 meters with the Lancang river.

Dimaluo Village: Dimaluo village is a natural village in Bangdang township of Gongshan county. It is located in the middle of Dimaluo valley. The village extends along the valley.

Baihanluo Village: There is a famous Catholic church in the village, which has a history of more than 100 years.”Baihanluo” wine and all kinds of “Baihanluo” wild fruit wine made by French winemaking technology are the best wines of Gongshan area.

Benggu Meadow: With an altitude of more than 3000m, tourists can see the Dimaluo gorge below and firs against the blue sky and white clouds. Climbing up in different directions, you can see different sceneries. 

Recommended Trekking Route

Day 1: Gongshan Mountain(Bingzhongluo) – Dimaluo Village(迪麻洛村)
Day 2: Dimaluo Village(迪麻洛村) – Baihanluo Village(白汉洛村) – Balagong Pass – Qinggong Summer Pasture
Day 3: Qinggong Summer Pasture – Shelalaka Pass(蛇拉腊卡垭口) – Diwazhaduo Pasture(迪瓦扎多牧场) – Gongduola Pass – Cizhong Village

Accommodate at Biluo Snow Mountain

Tourists who want to tour Biluo Snow Mountain can stay at Liuku or Fugong county for overnight. At Dimaluo village or Bingzhongluo, you can stay at the local farmer’s house. 

Attractions Nearby

Cizhong Church
Cizhong Catholic Church is a model which combines the architecture features of both western countries and China’s Tibet, Han and Bai ethnic groups. The church and its wing-room, gate, cellar and grape yard were well preserved by local government. It was listed as the key national cultural protection relics by the State Council in 2006. 

Meili Snow Mountain
It is one of the most sacred mountains of Tibetan Buddhism. It boasts numerous snow-clad ridges and peaks, thirteen of which are more than 6,000 meters above the sea level. Kawagebo Peak, the highest in Yunnan Province, has the most splendid view rising about 6,740 meters. 

Useful Travel Tips

► Rent a down jacket to keep warm for a wide temperature differential on the snow mountain area.
► Do not run on the mountain, prepare an oxygen cylinder just in case.
► If you feel sick, please take the cableway to go down mountain immediately.
►Don’t leave rubbish randomly.

Tours including Biluo Snow Mountain

5 Days Amazing Nujiang Valley and Biluo Moutain Trekking

10 Days Three Parallel Rivers Circle Tour with Nanjiluo and Biluo Snow Mountain Hiking

12 Days Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers Overland Tour with Biluo and Meili Snow Mountains

20 Days Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers Adventure Trekking Tour

Xishuangbanna Jinuo Mountain Village

These Jinuo people primarily live in Jinuo Mountain, Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, where the tropical mountainous area enjoys a warm climate and ample rainfall. They live in bamboo buildings hidden among green leaves. In their own language, Jinuo means “the ethnic group that respects the uncle”. The mountain villages are built on the top of the mountain or at half mountainside. Surrounded by the forest, it has unique tropical rainforest sights. Around is the national nature reserve, you can fall across various animals and hear the singing of birds when traveling in the mountain villages.

Why is Jinuo Mountain Village so special?

Jinuo Mountain Village is the traditional ethnic culture protection area of Xishuangbanna Prefecture. It is the essential window to learn more about Jinuo culture and also the only one place to show Jinuo culture through local performance. Jinuo Mountain is also the famous tea mountain.

Where is Jinuo Mountain Village?

Situated in Jinghong City popedom, Jinuo Mountain has a circumference of over 600 kilometers. As one of six mountain hills of Pu’er Tea, over 18,000 diligent and brave Jinuo people reside here.

23 km from Jinghong City
6 km from Mengyang
3 km from the government of Jinuo Township

How to Get to Jinuo Mountain Village?

There are buses to Jinuo Mountain Village in Banna Passenger Station in Jinghong City. Travelers can take this bus and get off in Jinuo Mountain Village scenic area. Ticket is 10 yuan.

Main Attractions

There are diverse fantastic performance and show of their local culture and traditional life style. Bapo Village is the heart of Jinuo Mountain Village. It is the integration of ethnic flavor, history and culture, costume and charming landscape. Travelers can view featured architecture, fantastic performance and traditional activities like the Drum Gate, Sacrifice Ceremony to Ancestors, Cloth-dyeing, Jinuo Culture Museum etc. Travelers can have a different feeling here.

Recommended Tours

4 Days Best XishuangBanna Tropical Forest and Ethnic Minorities Discovery

6 Days Puer and XishuangBanna Coffee, Tea and Minority Culture Tour

Nearby Attractions

Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park

Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park, also called Xishuangbanna Virgin Forest Park,  is 8 kilometers east of the Jinghong City and north of the Lancang River. Situated in a river valley of 720 to 1,355 meters above sea level, the forest park has an area of 1,700 hectares of which 98％ is covered by trees, and is thus the largest comprehensive ecological place of interest in the prefecture. The park gives prominence to the features of primeval forest, wild animals and ethnic culture and custom. It is highlighted by three major themes: primeval forest, wild animals and ethnic folklore. And you can also enjoy and play a part in the local ethnic activities such as the Dai Water Splashing Festival, Aini capture marriage custom and the grand ethnic performances.

Jinghong Wild Elephant Valley

Jinghong Wild Elephant Valley Forest Park (Chinese name: 野象谷公园) is a special theme park for Wild Asian Elephant sightseeing and observing and rainforest sightseeing. Wild Elephants Valley covers an area of 369 hectares by the Sancha River in Mengyang Town, and is situated 47 kilometers north of the city of Jinghong. With hills rolling gently at an altitude ranging between 747 and 1055 metres, the valley is covered by tropical rain forests, crisscrossed by rivers and streams, and teeming with such endangered species as Asian wild elephants, wild oxen, green peacocks and monkeys.

Ganlanba Dai Minority Park 

Ganlanba Dai Minority Park (Chinese name: 橄榄坝傣族园) is located in the southeast direction of Jinghong. It is a dwelling place for Dai minority people cause they have lived there generations to generations. Thus, the dense Dai minority culture can be found here. Ganlanba can be a representative to experience both the minority culture and the tropical atmosphere. Because Ganlanba with the lowest altitude which is about 530m in Yunnan, it is the hottest place. The hot climate makes Ganlanba as a rich fruits production area. Ganlanba in Xishuangbanna culture means “the imperial gardening village”. Inside it, there are two large villages called Man Chun Man (means flowers village) and Man Ting (means fruits village) separately. No matter which village you choose to visit, you can appreciate the typical Myanmar temple and Dai bamboo house.

Manting Park

Manting Park, also called Chunhuan Park,（Chinese name: 春欢公园 or 曼听公园） is the oldest garden in Xishuangbanna area, which covers an area of 23,540 square meters. It used to be the imperial garden in ancient times. 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. In the day time, people can appreciate the beauty of varied tropical plants and creatures, but at night, a different experience can let the tourists get a closer look of local customs and culture – Minority Dancing Show and Bonfire Party.

Best Time to Visit

Belonging to tropical rainforest climate, Xishuangbanna’s dry season is from November to April the next year and rainy season is from May to October. With annual average temperature of 21c, it has long summer and no winter. With cool and pleasant four seasons, the best time for traveling Xishuangbanna is from October to April the next year. 

Useful Travel Tips

●It is better to prepare some mosquito products and sun block in case of insects and sunlight.
●Respect the local customs of Dai and other minorities. 
●Do not touch the head of local monks.
●It is better to take T-shirt, short and slippers becauce it is too hot in Xishuangbanna.

A brief introduction of Dongba Culture Museum

Dongba Village is within the Yushui Village Scenic Area that is a Naxi theme park with a museum, gardens, ponds, and a stream. There are a few old Naxi teachers teaching about the ancient Naxi hieroglyphic writing system, the Naxi religious system called Dongba, and Naxi culture and history. The Naxi people in the region lived in a number of towns and participated in the regional and international trade of the Chama Road that is also called the Southern Silk Road. In exchange for tea (cha in Chinese pinyin), silk and other products from the Yunnan region and the rest of China, the Chinese imported horses (in Chinese) and other things from Tibet. So the trade route was called the Chama Road. In this area, the Naxi people who had their own distinct language developed a complex writing system of their own using hieroglyphics instead of Chinese characters. They used this writing system to transmit their religious beliefs, history, and legends. During this visit to this combination of school, museum and little theme park, visitors can gain an appreciation of this ancient culture that is almost extinct.

The Dongba Village site isn’t well known, but it might be one of the best places to go in the Lijiang area to learn about Naxi culture and writing. This is because there are old teachers there who teach the old language to a few students. There is also a museum. However, despite its name, it isn’t an old Naxi Village. It is a new theme park. People interested in learning about the Naxi culture may also want to visit Joseph Rock’s old residence in nearby Yuhu Village. Joseph Rock (1884 – 1962) was an Austrian-American botanist, linguist and explorer who lived in the area for a long time early in the last century and who put together a Dongba language dictionary.
Another good point of a trip to Dongba Village is the special Yushui Village Scenic Area that is rated 4A in China. The theme park area stretches about half a kilometer by 300 meters. There are gardens, some natural parkland, ponds, and a spring. The spring is reputed to have very pure water, and it is said that Joseph Rock liked to drink the water from the spring.

Naxi culture is special because the people are less modernized and the people developed a writing system, a music style, and a religion different than the majority of Chinese. The Naxi people created a unique and distinctive ethnic culture. Perhaps some of the distinctiveness arose from the wide-ranging contact that the Naxi had with other Asian cultures. The Naxi developed two writing systems. They had a phonetic system called Geba. They also developed a hieroglyphic (pictorial) writing system that is said to be the world’s sole surviving hieroglyphic writing system. Hieroglyphs were used in China and Egypt millennia ago. The ancient Maya had such as system, and more recently the people of Easter Island used such a system of writing. However, these other civilizations died out. The Naxi Dongba writing system almost died out too. After 1949, the Communist government attempted to eradicate both their religion and their writing systems. However, about 30 old Naxi still can read the remaining old manuscripts. There is now an attempt to preserve and teach the system of writing that is said to be beautiful and poetic, and younger people are learning the language at the Dongba Village site.

About the Dongba Culture and Naxi People

The Naxi People, or Naxi National Minority, is a minority with a long history and excellent culture. They mainly live in Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province. With a population of a little more than 3000,000, the Naxi group has been worldwide known for its own prominent and unique Dongba culture. That’s like a miracle that such a small ethnic minority created magnificent culture.

Dongba Culture

Dongba Culture actually is the culture of the Naxi People because Dongba Religion is the main religion believed by them. The culture is mainly about the language and sculpture, or architecture. There are over 1,400 picture-like characters and symbols in Dongba literature that are still used by nowadays, which makes great contributions to the culture study of mankind and the publicity of Lijiang City. On August 30, 2003, the Dongba classical literature was listed as a written world heritage by UNESCO.

The Dongbaism believers mainly worship the great nature and the ancestors of nation, and sometimes also worship the ghost and spirit. The priests of Dongba are the most important inheritors of Dongba culture. Every one of them was a wizard, doctor, painter, scholar, musician and craftsman simultaneously. The etiquettes and religious rites of the Naxi people are omnipresent and diversified as many as about 30 kinds of forms. In the historical changes, the thoughts and religious traditions of Dongba culture have already seeped to Naxi people’s daily life at each aspect, especially at the heaven worshipping ceremony, the traditional wedding and funeral.

The Dongba characters, also named Naxi pictographic characters, is one of the oldest hieroglyphics and the only hieroglyphic writing with complete system in the world. There are all together around 1500 commonly used graphics and text, which are beautiful in forms and structures. The more than 20,000 scriptures of Dongbaism are written in Dongba characters, with contents about philosophy, history, religion, medicine and art. Therefore, the scriptures are regarded as the encyclopaedia of Naxi. The translations of various languages are also kept in the museums and libraries of 17 countries and regions.

The current situation of Dongba culture makes people worried. Since ancient times, Lijiang has been the cradle of Naxi Dongba culture. Other Naxi areas include Northwest Yunnan, Southwest Sichuan and Southeast Tibet. Unfortunately, the Dongba traditions in Lijiang are impacted greatly by the modern development and are nearly instinct. Except a handful of experts and scholars, and a few Dongba elders, most people know very little about the Dongba culture. It only exists in the museum and library now.

History of Dongba Culture Museum

The Naxi people are a Tibetan-Burmese people. People say that perhaps the Naxi settlers around Lijiang were driven south to the area by the Mongol tribesmen who conquered China. The Mongols founded the Yuan Dynasty in the year 1271. The Naxi towns were astride the Chama trade route, so they had contact with people who passed through including the Tibetans, the Hans, and the Bais who lived in the Dali area. Baisha Town about 6 kilometers to the south of the theme park was one of the major old towns.
There are now about 200,000 Naxi people living in Lijiang County. They live in other places too. About 300,000 people still speak the Naxi language in China. In the 1960s and 1970s, the government tried to eradicate their religion, traditions and writing system. Thousands of documents were destroyed. By the late 1990s, only some old people could read and write their language.

In 1997, UNESCO put three districts in Lijiang on their World Heritage List. Baisha Town just to the south of the Dongba Village area is one of the special districts. UNESCO explained that the three ancient towns of the Naxi are important to preserve because they are in a dramatic landscape where the cultures of the different peoples blended to “produce an urban landscape of outstanding quality” over many centuries. The towns were a key commercial and strategic site.
After 1997, the city of Lijiang became a major tourist attraction in China drawing millions of visitors annually. People came to see the Naxi people and the old districts. For foreign tourists and foreigners living in China, the county of Lijiang became popular as a hiking area with spectacular natural scenery and accommodations available at a variety of hostels, hotels, and inns. Tiger Leaping Gorge became known as one of China’s best hiking places.
The J.W.V. company built the Yushui Village theme park in 2001. In 2006, it was designated as a State-4A scenic attraction. Now there are about 10 students learning the language, and musicians play Naxi music there.

What to see in the Dongba Culture Museum?

● Architecture

The museum was built mainly in accordance to the Naxi People’s house, which is in quadrangle courtyard style. The Naxi group made full use of the unique landform and environment, from north to south, created various residential houses in different time.

● Historic Relics

There are over 12,000 historic relics in the Dongba Culture Museum, including paintings, holy books, sacrifice tools and etc.
Naxi People’s life and customs: You can approach the local people and know their life, and all their traditional habits or festivals.

How to get to Dongba Culture Museum

First of all, you need to get to Lijiang, and then you can take bus there.

Get to Lijiang

By Air:

There are fights linking Lijiang and Kunming, and also direct flight from Shanghai to Lijiang. For a detailed schedule and fares of the flights, refer to the table at the bottom of the page. In peak season, there are be extra flights and schedules may alter accordingly.

Lijiang airport is a fair distance from the city center, about 28km east. There is a RMB20 road tax to the airport, and a taxi to the airport takes about 40 minutes and costs about RMB75-80.

There is no public bus to or from the airport. Upon arrival, there are a few transfer services to the city but the service is very unreliable. From the city, an infrequent airport shuttle bus leaves from the Guanfang Hotel. The best thing to do is to check with the hotel and the airport about up to date public transport information.

The Ticketing office is directly opposite the Senglong Hotel on Nanguojing Lu, beside a Branch of the Bank Of China. (Tel: 5128445). There is another branch on Fuhui lu at the intersection with Shangri-La Dadao. (Tel: 5180281), and another branch on the intersection of Xindajie and Jinxing Lu. (Tel: 5161291).

By Bus:

The biggest bus station is at the Intersection of Mains Lu and Changshui Lu. The main bus station has both Gaokuai (express) and normal buses.

Express buses runs to Kunming at 08:20,09:20,10:20 and 12:00. The fare is RMB151 and the trip takes 8 Hours. Buses to Xiaguan/Dali are scheduled for 14:30 18:30 11:30am. The trip costs RMB50.5 and takes 3 hours.

Normal buses to Kunming are usually night sleepers, there are several of these and the trip costs RMB115 and takes 10 Hours.

Mini buses to Zhongdian are available. There is one bus an hour between 7am and 3PM.

There are smaller bus stations in the town: among these, the biggest is at the old Guluwan Hotel on the northern end of Xindajie, opposite Mao’s square. From here buses run to Zhongdian, Qiaotou and Shigu. Buses to Dali and Kunming can also be found here.

The other sub-stations are at the Yuquan Hotel (Jade Spring) and The Lijiang Hotel.

There is an express bus station (for fast buses only) on Shangri-la Dadao opposite the Guanguang Hotel (Tel: 5183758).

Lijiang—Dongba Culture Museum

Buses: 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and get off at Black Dragon Pool (Heilong Tan), Walk ahead from the gate of Black Dragon Pool for about 300meters, you will arrive at Dongba Culture Museum.

Travel Tips

1. If interested, you can taste Naxi food in the restaurant of Dongba Museum.

2. The Black Dragon Pool nearby is an extreamly beautiful scenic spot that you should not miss.

Why Is the The First Bend of Yangtze River So Special?

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.

Where Is The First Bend of Yangtze River?

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.

What Features Are in The First Bend of Yangtze River?

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.

History of The First Bend of Yangtze River

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.

Legend of The First Bend of Yangtze River

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

What to See in The First Bend of 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.

The best place to see the attraction

‘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.

Travel Tips of First Bends of Yangtze River

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.

How to Get to First Bends of Yangtze 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.

Why is Giant Prayer Wheel in Shangrila So Special?

The giant prayer wheel in Shangrila is reputed as the largest one in the world for its 21 meters in height and 60 tonnes in weight. Like many prayer wheels, it contains the traditional six-syllable Om Mani Padme Hum mantra in the inside. Because of its size and weight, the prayer wheel is to be spun by multiple people. It’s a must-see attraction of Shangrila tour. 

Where is Giant Prayer Wheel – Location

This giant gilt-bronze prayer wheel is located in Shangri-la County of Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. At the Guishan Park of Dukezong Ancient Town, tourists have to climb up the small mountain and then can see the biggest prayer wheel in the world.

History and Culture

In 2002, this Giant Prayer Wheel was built in order to commemorate Zhongdian County renamed as Shangri-la County. According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition based on the lineage texts regarding prayer wheels, spinning such a wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers. One circle of every turn is equivalent of 1.24 million Amitabha chanting.

On the surface of the wheel shows the high relief Manjusri, Samantabhadra, Avalokitesvara and Ksitigarbha. Eight treasures of Buddhism showing on the bottom of it are Parasol, Golden Fish, Treasure Vase, Lotus, Conch, Endless knot, Victory Banner and Wheel. Inside the canister are Sutras and mantras, 1.24 million pieces of wordless mantra and all kinds of Buddhist treasures. 

How to Get There

As the Giant Prayer Wheel located at the Guishan Park of Dukezhong Ancient Town, it’s easy to find it. You can take the flight, long-distance bus to Shangrila and then transfer to Dekezhong Ancient Town.

Recommended Visiting Route

The visit of Giant Prayer Wheel can be finished within half an hour. As one part of Dukezhong Ancient Town, the Giant Prayer Wheel is a must-see attraction of Shangrila tour. Usually it’s combined with Dukezhong Ancient Town tour and Shangri City Tour.

Nearby Attractions

Dukezhong Ancient Town

Just like the meaning of its name in Tibetan, the “Castle built on Stone”, Dukezong Ancient Town is built on the mountain foot. As one of the largest and best-preserved Tibetan residence groups in China, the 1300-year-old Dukezong Ancient Town, 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.

Songzanlin Monastery

Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan Province. It is called the Little Potala Palace. In 1993, it was listed as a Key Provincial Protection Unit of Cultural Relics by the government of Yunnan Province. It is said that the Fifth Dalai Lama decided the location though divination and gave the name—Gedansongzanlin. At its height, the monastery housed 2,000 monks. Now about 700 monks live there or around the region.

Useful Travel Tips

► Respect the local custom of Tibetan. 

Tours including Giant Prayer Wheel in Shangrila

4 Days Shangri-la City Tour

5 Days Lijiang-Shangrila Tour

7 Days Shangrila Meili Snow Mountain and Yubeng Village Trekking Tour

8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by Flight

Brief Introduction

The end of Dukezong Ancient Town is Moon Square and the hill to the east of the square is the famous Guishan Park in Shangri-la. At the entrance to the park is a large and clear pool, with spring from ancient well, which many citizens use as their living water in the past. Standing on the Guishan park, you can look up to see the majestic and continuous snow mountain, and down to have a panoramic view of Shangri-la city. 

History and Culture

Built in the reign of emperor Kangxi, Guishan park is built against the mountain, which is the commanding height of the ancient city. The park consists of the Giant Prayer Wheel, Dafo Temple(Chaoyanglou), Red Army Long March Museum, Diqing History Museum, etc.

Main Attractions

Giant Prayer Wheel: The giant prayer wheel in Shangrila is reputed as the largest one in the world for its 21 meters in height and 60 tonnes in weight. Because of its size and weight, the prayer wheel is to be spun by multiple people. It’s a must-see attraction of Shangrila tour. 

Guishan Temple:
Built in the very center of the Old Town, Guishan Temple with the largest prayer wheel, over 80 feet high lights up the night sky like a dazzling jewel. It offers a wonderful vantage point for looking over the Shangrila city.

How to Get to Guishan Hill Park?

People in Dukezong Ancient Town can walk to Guishan Hill Park directly.

Best Time to Go

It is suitable to visit Dukezong Ancient Town all year round but summer is the best time. Take enough clothes to keep warm due to the great time differences between day and night. 

Tours including Guishan Hill Park

4 Days Shangri-la City Tour
5 Days Lijiang-Shangrila Tour
7 Days Shangrila Meili Snow Mountain and Yubeng Village Trekking Tour
8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by Flight
8 Days Yunnan Classic Tour by High Speed Bullet Train

Overview of Shuhe Old Town

Shuhe is in the former commercial district known for its leather and fur artisans. Known locally as Longquan village, Shuhe is thought to be the birthplace of the eminent Mu family of the Naxi minority ethnic group. A walk along it narrows streets and alleyways affords a glimpse into a previous era.

Where Is Shuhe Old Town?

About five kilometers north from Lijiang Ancient Town, Shuhe Old Town, the geographical center of scenic spots of Lijiang, is one of the oldest habitats of Lijiang and well-preserved town on the Ancient Tea Route.

History of Shuhe Old Town

Shuhe was built along the mountainside and faces the river. There are two rivers on each side of it that go through the whole, village. Channels were dug so that the water would pass by each house. Rivers, channels and roads make a dense web and link the town in a tight structure just like a honeycomb. People use stones in the nearby mountains to make the walls of their houses. Compared to those in the ancient old town, the houses here are even more natural. Right in the middle of Shuhe, there is a square market, which is called Shuhe Square Market. Observing closely, you will find that the one in the old town was built totally according to this one. Walking in Shuhe, you will have the feeling that this ancient town of Shuhe is the model of the Old Town while the Old Town is tension and development of Shuhe.

Shuhe is also called Town of Springs. About one hundred meters north of the Shuhe Square Market, there is the waterhead of the streams here. It is “Jiuding Dragon Pool”. The water is clean and transparent; the fountains spurt out day and night. The Naxi hold the spring as holy. Beside it, people built a Longquan Temple (Dragon Spring Temple) to enshrine and worship the founder of cobbler handicraft.

What to see in Shuhe Old Town

Sifang Street

Ambling along Sifang Street, you will feel time slowly flowing backwards. Though it is only 30 meters long (32 yards), the smooth flagstone remind you of their flourishing past. Listen carefully, you can even hear the light ringing sound of busy horses’ hooves from far away places.

Qinglong Bridge

Qinglong Bridge, built of stone pieces, measuring about 25 meters long (27 yards), 4.5 meters wide (4.9 yards) and 4 meters high (13 feet), was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Among the countless old stone bridges in Lijiang, it is regarded as ‘the First’. The deck has been pock-marked over hundreds of years, revealing the solemn passing of history.

Long Pool (Dragon Pool)

There is a deep pool at the end of the street, called Long Pool (Dragon Pool), from which the overflowing water winds through the village, and the bubbling sound can be heard miles away. Fishes in the pool are appreciated by every tourist, because they are close to people. When you throw food to them, they will fight each other for it. Beside the pool lies a broken stele. When knocked by a stone, it sends out a sharp and light ringing sound, which is very pleasant. Above Long Pool is a temple called ‘Sansheng Palace’. Standing against the wooden railings, you can have a bird’s eye view of the village presenting a poetic rural idyll.

In addition, the Old Town of Shuhe was once famous for its developed leatherworking and education.

The town is alive with the strong culture of primitive simplicity. If you are tired by the hustle and bustle of city life, come here, the tranquility of country life will certainly relax and revive you.

What are the features of Shuhe Ancient Town?

● Shuhe Ancient Town is an important constituent part of Lijiang Ancient City, a world cultural heritage site in China.
● The town shows multiple cultural landscapes, including unique folk customs, historical relics and beautiful natural scenery.
● Visitors can experience the simple and unsophisticated Naxi customs in the town.

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

Why is Nayun Ancient Town so special?

The Nayun Ancient Town of Menglian Dai, Lahu and Wa Nationality Autonomous County, Pu’er City, retains the traditional layout, and preserves a relatively intact architecture of the local official and religious buildings, which stands as an excellent representative of Nayun’s Dai architecture as the cultural characteristics of the Dai nationality and Han nationality are combined in harmony.

What are features of Nayun Ancient Town

The Dai folk houses of Nayun have also kept the local religious and ethnical characters. Each scenic element in the ancient town embodies a spiritual expression of the Dai people living in a certain area, displaying the unique appeal of Nayun, and conveying the historical, aesthetical, economic and cultural values of the ancient town.

Nayun is a mysterious town in the south of Yunnan. One of the palaces with the highest hierarchy for Dai ethnic group in both China and Southeast Asia used to be situated here.

There is a saying “the north of Yunnan is famous for the Dayan Ancient Town in Lijiang and the south of Yunnan is well-known for Nayun Town in Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va Autonomous County.” However, owing to the inconvenient transportation, Nayun didn’t get the focus of public at an early time, leading to the well-preserved festival featured with Dai style.

Shenyu Festival: the only carnival on the water in the world

Shenyu means sacred fish literally. The carnival on the water is held every April and May beside Nanlei River which runs through the town. “Shenyu Festival” is the second most hilarious festival for Dai people except for the Water-Sprinkling Festival. There is a saying about the festival. Long time ago, Dai people lived a hard life. The Buddha dispatched the fiddlehead and fish to the place where Dai people live. The fish propagated in the river where the fiddlehead overgrew, which had improved people’s life. In order to memorize the approach of the happiness, Shenyu Festival has been inherited since then.

Where is Nayun Ancient Town?

Nayun Town is the downtown area of Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va Autonomous County, Simao City, Yunnan province. “Nayun” is homophonic of Dai language, meaning inner city. The central area of the town is about sixty km from the border between China and Myanmar. The altitude ranges from 950 meters to 2,239 meters here. With the average temperature of 19.6℃, it is the last remaining ancient city of Dai ethnic group in China.

History of Nayun Ancient Town

Built in 1289, the city is the best-preserved ritual architecture group of Dai in the system of appointing national minority hereditary headmen. A government office in feudal headman system of Dai used to be one of the palaces of Dai with the highest hierarchy in both China and Southeast Asia. Due to the relationship by affinity with the neighboring headmen, the headmen here were believed to have genetic relationship with the public in Southeast Asia, which had won the town eminent status and high reputation. “Dai people living in Myanmar and other countries in Southeast Asia pay religious homage to the town annually. Some women take off their shoes when they arrive at the door of the palace. With naked feet and bowed head, they pay respects to the supreme god in their heart. Nayuan Ancient Town has a kind of sense of identity and belonging for them.”

What to see?

Travel in Nayun Town, you must see the top attractions here including Menglian Xuanfuci Department Chieftain Government Office, Golden Pagoda of Menglian, Fahan Mountain, Mengwai Nayun Chieftain Summer Resort, Mengma Hot Spring, etc.

Menglian Xuanfuci Department Chieftain Government Office

Menglian Xuanfuci Department Chieftain Government Office, located in the highest place in the uptown, is called “Hehan” in Dai language, meaning the golden palace. Chieftain is called “Zhao Hehan”, meaning the King in the golden palace, who enjoys the high status in the ancient society of feudal laird system of Dai Nationality. People often call the great palace as the Chieftain Residence. Among 18 largest Chieftain Residences in Yunnan Province, Menglian Xuanfuci Department Chieftain Government Office is the best-preserved one, also being regarded as the government office of Dao Family, the local chieftain of Dai people. Menglian Xuanfuci Department Chieftain Government Office, with high historical and art value, is also a well-preserved residence among the 18 government offices in the ethnic minority areas near Yunnan border.

In addition, the scenic area, boasting other scenic spots including Golden Pagoda of Menglian and Mengwai Nayun Chieftain Summer Resort, serves as a scenic area for tourism integrating the landscape scenery, religious culture and folk customs.

Menglian Golden Pagoda

Completed in April 1997, Golden Pagoda of Menglian is a splendid and glittering pagoda of Hinayana Buddhist subject to the influence of the typical culture of South Asia. The scenic spot is comprised of a 31.6m-high main tower and 24 attached towers surrounding the main one. Each tower is decorated with wind-bells tinkling crisp and jingling chimes along with the wind. Dai people believe that the jingling sound is unique to Brahma from heaven, providing people with an exotic connotation of Buddhism.
Golden Pagoda of Menglian, opposite to Menglian Xuanfuci Department Chieftain Government Office, is a symbol of the unity and progress among all ethnic groups inhabited in Menglian County. Menglian Xuanfuci Department Chieftain Government Office, called “Hehan” in Dai language, which means “the golden palace”, is perfectly matched with Golden Pagoda of Menglian, thus adding more splendors to each other. Golden Pagoda of Menglian is the largest gold-decorated stupa in Yunnan Province as well as a wonderful attraction of Menglian County.

Recommended Route

Two Day Tour in Nayun Town:

D1: Nayun Town – Shangcheng Buddha Temple

Shuttle from Simao Bus Terminal to Menglian County. You can have lunch after arriving at Menglian County, then take an electromobile (2 Yuan/person) to Nayun Town. Walk in Nayun Town to experience the local Dai dwellings and traits. Then go for Shangcheng Buddha Temple on the Jinshan Mountain, which is a dedicated Buddha temple for chieftain family in the chieftain period (free admission). You can also appreciate sunset at the temple in the late afternoon. Then return to the town for dinner, and live in the Zhenshan Hotel or local residence for one night.

D2: Menglian Xuanfu Department (Chieftain) – Zhongcheng Buddha Temple – Menglian Pagoda

Get up early and go to the famous Menglian Xuanfu Department. Ticket is 10 Yuan per person. In addition to the ancient architectural complex and historical perspective combined Han and Dai ethnic group, it is also worth seeing the Menglian County Museum of National History in the complex. Nearby the Menglian Xuanfu Department, there is a Zhongcheng Buddha Temple, where you can see the Buddha temple construction of national style and understand the Buddhism faith of Dai ethnic group. Ticket is 2 Yuan per person. After lunch in the town, you can visit the Menglian Pagoda, facing the Mengliang Xuanfu Department across a great distance. It consists of a main tower encircled by 8 smaller ones, glittering in golden color, which is very beautiful. Then you can take a shuttle back to Simao, or to live several more days in Nayun Town to experience the Dai culture.

How to Get to Menglian County

By Air

1. Lancang Jingmai Airport

Lancang Jingmai Airport is located in Donghui Town, Lancang County, Pu’er and is 30 kilometers away from the seat of Menglian County, which is the closest airport away from Menglian County.

2. Pu’er Simao Airport

Pu’er Simao Airport is 220 kilometers away from the seat of Menglian County.

3. Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport

Xishuangbanna Gasa International Airport is 128 kilometers away from the seat of Menglian County.

By Train

Pu’er Railway Station is the middle station of the Yumo Railway under construction and an important station for the Laos section of the Trans-Asian Railway. It is expected to be put into use by 2020.

By Long-distance Bus

There is the Passenger Station in Menglian Dai, Lahu and Wa Autonomous County for people to get in.

4.Menglian Dai, Lahu and Wa Autonomous County–Nayun Ancient Town

Take the taxi or rent a car to go to the Nayun Ancient Town.

Where to Stay in Mojiang County

Mojiang County is a county under the jurisdiction of Pu’er City, Yunnan Province, China. There are many hotels around Mojiang County. Yunnan Exploration will provide the best hotels for you. The recommended hotels are as follows:

1. Chengwaicheng Inn(城外诚客栈)

Add:  Shuangbao Avenue, Mojiang Hani Autonomous County(墨江哈尼族自治县双胞大道)
Tel: 0879-4234228

2. Huigui Grand Hotel(回归大酒店)

Add: No.69 Xinjian Road, Mojiang Hani Autonomous County(墨江哈尼族自治县新建路69号)
Tel: 0879-4238988

3. Mojiang Suixi Ethnic Inn(墨江随喜民族客栈)

Add: Taiyangcheng, Mojiang Hani Autonomous County(墨江哈尼族自治县太阳城)
Tel: 0879-4337177

4. Beihuiguixian Hotel(北回归线酒店)

Add: North Side of Moon Square, Shuangbao Avenu

5. Shuangbao Hotel(双胞大酒店)

Add: Opposite of Passenger Station, No. 5 Huigui Avenue(回归大道5号客运站对面)
Tel: 0879-4333888

6. Puer Mijing Qiyuan Ethnic Theme Hotel(普洱秘境奇缘民族主题酒店)

Add: Next to Yinghuagu, Shuangbao Xiaozhen, Lianzhu Town, Mojiang County, Puer (普洱墨江联珠镇双胞小镇樱花谷旁)

7. Shuangzixing Hotel (双子星大酒店)

Add: Building 8, No. 1, Phase II, Fenghuang Xincheng, Nanpian District, Mojiang(墨江南片区凤凰新城二期1号8栋)

Best Time to Visit 

It is suitable to visit Menglian all year round. Like many other cities in Yunnan, Menglian is a place where the seasons are like spring. There is no cold, no heat, warm and humid, especially suitable for human habitation, so you can go to Menglian at any time.

Recommended Tour

When you traveling Pu’er, Mojiang County is a good place to be put on your list. It can be joined in whatever your Pu’er tour or Yunnan Tour.

11 Days Yunnan Ancient Tea-Horse Road Tour with Puer and XishuangBanna Tea Culture Exploration

14 Days Southwest Yunnan Tea Culture Tour from Xishuangbanna to Puer and Lincang

Travel Tips 

1.There are many ethnic minorities living here, such as Lahu, Hani, Wa and Yi. Varied customs make it a colorful city. Eating habits, ceremonies, costumes and folk legends can all be a strong attraction for people who are visiting. In addition, the city is the hometown of the well known Puer Tea, and the local people have diversified ways of handling tea, such as bamboo tube tea, cold tea dish, earth-pot tea and baked tea; all of which you should try.

2.Enjoying a plateau monsoon climate at low latitude, the region is affected by the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. Therefore, the main features of its weather are mildness and humidity without strong winds.

3.Special Local Products: Puer Tea, bamboo shoot, edible fungi, purple rice, mango.

4.Sino-Burma Street, just opposite the Minzu Square, is a place of exotic atmosphere, where you can find plenty of treasures, cosmetics at a duty-free price, along with imported goods and food from Thailand. It is a dazzling place.

 

http://www.puer.travel/content.aspx?id=141231837431

About National Wetland Park of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces

China’s State Forestry Administration officially awarded a title of National Wetland Park to Honghe Hani Terrace together with other 31 wetland parks in China, according to a conference that was held in Shandong province. Honghe Hani Terrace, covering an area of 13,011.57 hectares, spans 4 counties in Honghe prefecture. The 4 counties contain Yuanyang(元阳), Honghe(红河), Lvchun(绿春), and Jinping(金平). 

The Hani terrace, which has been ploughed for over 1,300 years, is a large granary continuously providing rice and aquatic products for local people. The terrace exerted important wetland functions in the locality. It helps to adjust climates, conserve water and land, prevent landslide, and maintain diversities of animals and plants.

The terrace, having created agricultural ecological wonders for thousand years, will be elaborately managed in a level of National Wetland Park.

Human Landscape

Hani, Yi, Miao, Yao, Dai, Lahu, Buyi and Han ethnic groups live in the Hani terrace reserve. The Hani population accounts for more than half of the total population. The territory of the harmony of all nationalities live together. The Hani terrace is vast and magnificent, with spring ploughing and autumn harvest.The cultural anthropologist praised the combination of national culture and natural ecology as the model of ingenious combination of national culture and natural ecology.

How to Get there? 

National Wetland Park of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces is located in the south bank of Honghe River. Tourists should go Yuanyang County first. There are three main modes of transportation to Yuanyang County from Kunming: long-distance bus, train and self-driving. When you arrive at Yuanyang County, you can take bus No.85, 124, 12, 84, 117, 95 or self-driving to National Wetland Park.

Travel Tips

1. Telephone number of National Wetland Park scenic spot is 0873-5620163.

2. Best time to visit: January-February. Winter is the most beautiful. Winter is the small peak season to visit terraces in Yuanyang, but even in winter, the average temperature can reach 12 degrees. In winter, the sunrise and sunset of the terrace in Yuanyang are beautiful, and the fairyland created by the sea of clouds is even more compelling.

Beihai Wetland Reserve

The wetland is surrounded by mountains, located in a special geographical position, and is a typical subtropical volcanic lava barrier lake marsh wetland. The reserve features a “floating blanket style” marsh, complex biodiversity and high productivity. The reserve is not only a garden of national protected plants like Brasenia schreberi and wildwater chestnuts, but it is also a paradise for water birds.

Where is Beihai Wetland Reserve?

Tengchong Beihai Wetland Reserve is located in the north-west part of Tengchong County, at a distance of 12.5 kilometers from the county. It is the only National Wetland Reserve in Yunnan Province, covering an area of 16.29 square kilometers.

How to get to Beihai Wetland Reserve?

Take a minibus at Tengchong Ximen Bus Station; the trip costs 5 yuan and takes 20 minutes. It is a good choice for you to cycle to Beihai Wetland Reserve and enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way.

What to See

Water Grassland
Tengchong Wetland is very special. Numerous lush water plants are interwoven and are continuously thriving. Day after day, year after year, old plants decompose and new plants sprout, finally contributing to many one-meter thick meadows, like small grass islands floating above the water. Walking barefoot on a grass island is like walking on a sponge.

Local people often cut apart a grass meadow and use it as a raft so that they can catch fishes and shrimps on it; some people even dig a small hole in a meadow and put a fishing rod through the hole to go fishing which is very interesting.

Every mid-to-late April is the most beautiful season in the reserve; you will love the sea of blooming Beihai orchids there. The meadows turn yellow in autumn but are still amazing to see. The aroma of grass is floating in the air, wild ducks are quacking from amongst the reeds, and tourists are enjoying taking soft steps on the meadows. Boating on the lake, surrounded by the beautiful landscape, you will feel like you are in a prairie, a prairie floating on the water.

Main Attractions

Graveyard of the National Heroes

The Graveyard of the National Heroes (国殇墓园) constructed to honour the martyrs at the battle of recovering Tengchong lies in the west of the county seat at about 1 kilometre’s distance. The construction was started in 1944 and completed on the 7th of July, 1945. It was Li Genyuan who called for the construction of the memorial graveyard. Covering over 10,000 square meters, the main structures are the memorial tower, the martyrs’ tombs, the memorial hall and the gate.

Rehai Hot Spring 

Tengchong Rehai Hot Spring Scenic Area, commonly known as Rehai, is located in Qingshui Township, southwest of Tengchong County, about 10 kilometers from Tengchong County. There are more than 80 hot springs in the this area, offering the water over 90 °C. You can see the hot springs screaming everywhere, making the scenic area foggy. Rehai Hot Spring provides soft water in high temperature and high salinity, which are beneficial to the health. It is the best place for geothermal therapy in China.

Best Time to Visit

The most beautiful season in Beihai Wetland is from April to May, with a land full of purple orchids.

Useful Travel Tips

Hotels in Tengchong County are based in the Gongting Alley area; travel advisers of Yunnan Exploration will arrange the best accommodation for you.

Why is Dulong River Valley So Special?

Dulong River Canyon is a mysterious and remote canyon with an altitude from 1000 to 4936 meters. The canyon preserves intact sustainable landscape and contains rich natural resources. However, due to the snowy and frozen climate, Dulong River Canyon is isolated from the world. Dulong River is considered as ‘the Natural Museum of Wild Plants’ and is the part of the most intact sustainable landscape. An ancient ethnic group, Dulong nationality, live here. Because of the unique geographic position of Dulong River, few travelers come while the beautiful scenery and special humanistic culture bring much charm.

Where is Dulong River Valley – Location

Dulongjiang river valley, located in the northwest of Yunnan province, Gongshan Dulong Nu Autonomous County of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture. It originated from the southeast of Tibet, meanders from north to south for 150 kilometers in Yunnan and then runs into Myanmar in Gongshan County. It is the first order affluent of Irrawaddy River, stretch across China and Myanmar. The average width of the river is about 40 meters. The local Dulong villagers on both sides can hear each other when talking while they need to walk about three days to meet each other.

Features

Due to the remote location of the Dulong river valley and the fact that almost no one goes into it for tourism, the ecological environment here is preserved completely. It is almost an isolated place, where people are few and puer. Just because sparsely populated, the scenery there is unique in the world. Every October to May, the snow blocks the road, making it in a state of isolation. As one of the core areas of the “three parallel rivers”, the Dulong river is the westernmost one, which also makes it known as the “fourth river”.

Facial Tattoo Women of Dulong People

Dulong nationality is an ancient ethnic minority that live in Dulong River Canyon. Facial tattoo of women is a special costom of Dulong people. As for the reason, there are different versions. Some said that it is the coming-of-age ceremony of Dulong girls in 12 or 13 ages or it shows the totemism of Dulong people. Some said that it is a unique method to prevent from the robbery of Tibetan Tusi. Whatever the ture reason is, the traditon of facial tattoo women is dying out gradually.

Dulong nationality is one of the minority ethnic groups in China which has preserved the characteristics of the patriarchal clan commune in the late primitive society. They believe in primitive religion and believe that all things have spirits. They regard all natural disasters, human disasters, diseases as the action of a god. Therefore, mountains, rivers, trees, boulders have become objects of worship. Some of the Dulong people believe in Christianity.

How to Get there

There is no direct long-distance bus to Gongshan from Kunming and Dali. Tourists can only transfer to at Liuku. There is direct night bus from Kunming to Fugong. Almost all the tourists will rent a car to due to the inconvenience of transportation. Yunnan Exploration Travel can provide the car-rental service with good vehicle and skilled driver.

Main Attractions in Dulong River Valley

▪Maku Zhanggu Nature Barrier
Dulong River becomes roaring and gusting in Maku Village. Along the river are cliffs, great mountains and thick forests with abundant rare animals and plants. Crystal clear streams and waterfalls dot the region. 

▪Moon Waterfall
It also called Hapang Waterfall, which means the shiny water from the heaven in Dulong language. The waterfall got its name of moon because water shines brightly in the moonlight whenever it is the 15th of the month of the lunar calendar when the moon is round. And it is quite enjoyable to watch the waterfall in the moonlight then. 

▪The Rattan Strips Bridges on Dulong River
The 150 branches of Dulong River flow in Gaoligong Mountain and Dandanglika Mountain and form numerous deep gullies. To cross the gullies, Dulong people have built many bridges from rattan strips. The rattan bridges look very simple. People fasten the two ends of two parallel thick rattan strips at the river banks, weave a net of thin rattan strips between the two thicker ones, then put some long wood boards or wide bamboo strips on the net. A V-shape bridge is made then.

▪Dulong River Post Road
Dulong River Post Road is the only post road leading to Dulong River Canyon. Along the road are numerous waterfalls and other beautiful sceneries. There also live many rare animals and plants along the road. It takes about three days to reach the Dulong River by the post road on foot. Dulong nationality entered socialist society directly from primitive society in the 1950s. The folk customs, as well as the pure natural sceneries, make the place a perfect attraction for tourists.

Recommended Trekking Routes in Dulong River Valley

Route A:Kongdang‣Xiangjiudang‣Kongdang
This is the easiest north route, a round walk takes about 3 days. Xianjiudang is where leeches attack trekkers. Leg wrapping and salt should be brought to keep leeches away.
Route B:Kongdang‣Xiangjiudang‣Longyuan‣Dizhengdang‣Xiongdang
Route C:Gongshan‣Qiqi‣Dongshaofang‣Bapo‣Kongdang‣Gongshan
Route D:Gongshan‣Qiqi‣Dongshaofang‣Bapo‣Houmu‣Xianjiudang‣Longyuan‣Dizhengdang‣Nandai‣Kongdang‣Gongshan

Best Time to Go

September is the best time to tour Dulongjiang Valley when the rainy season just ends, but with less water, lush plant, clear water and no snow.  At this time a variety of venomous snakes, leeches, venomous worms will not be many, beneficial to the hiking people. Every November, the Dulong valley loses almost all contact with the outside world. The snow covers ten meters thick, keeping all the houses away from the snow mountain. Only to the next August when the snow and ice melted the valley area returns its vitality. 

Accommodate at Dulong River Valley

Most of the hotels in Dulongjiang are concentrated in the township government seat of Kongdang. Besides, there are inns in Bapo, Xiongdang, Qinlandang and Dizheng, which can meet the needs of some tourists. It is better to stay in these places to have a deep experience of the folk customs and culture of the Dulong people.

Attractions Nearby

Nujiang Grand Canyon
Nujiang Grand Canyon is the longest and most mysterious, precipitous and unsophisticated canyon in the world, which goes southeast from Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in south-north trend. The spectacular Nujiang Grand Canyon and the roaring Nujiang River thrill and shock the travelers. 

Bingzhongluo Scenic Area
Bingzhongluo, which is called ‘A Heaven of Peace and Happiness’, is the most beautiful place in Nujiang Grand Canyon. When you walk on the Tea Horse Road of millennium, see the roaring Nujiang River running among the steep cliff and deep valley, splendid church and temple, tranquil villages, thick forest and towering snow mountain, you may lose yourself in the wonderful landscape.

Useful Travel Tips

▪ Take relevant documents with you for inspection due to Nujiang Prefecture located in the border area.

▪ Respect the customs of ethnic minorities and avoid disturbing the lives of local people. 

▪ Prepare anti-high drugs and sunscreen. 

▪ From May to August is the rainy season and the road conditions are some dangerous.

▪ The weather is changeable in the mountains. Bring warm clothes.

Tours including Dulong River Valley

9 Days Nujiang Grand Canyon Tour with Dulongjiang River Valley Hiking Adventure

15 Days Three Parallel Rivers Overland Adventure with Dulongjiang River Valley and Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking