Yunnan Shangrila Exploration

Day 1 Arrival  Lijiang

Transfer: by plane – own arrangement
Program: Be met at the airport and transfer to hotel check in.

Day 2 (B, L) Lijiang

Program: Morning take a walk in the Lijiang Old Town, climb up the Lion Hill to the Wangu Tower for a bird view of the town. Weather permit, you will have chance to join the local Naxi people at the Square to sing and dance. Later in the morning, go to Black Dragon Pool Park. It’s a good place to view Jade Dragon Snow Mt. The last stop today is the Dongba Museum, where you can learn more about Dongba cultures, including the special hieroglyphic writing. After lunch in local restaurant, you will be free at leisure to explore more of Naxi people’s lifestyle.

Lijiang Old Town – Originally called Dayan, Lijiang is a very well preserved old town built by Naxi people with unique cultural background. It was listed as the World Cultural Heritage Sites in 1997.
Wangu Tower – A perfect place to have a panoramic view of old Lijiang town.
Dongba Museum – In 1984 the Naxi Dongba Cultural Museum was first open at the Black Dragon Pool of Lijiang. The museum has more than 10000 Dongba cultural relics and various other historical relics and offers the “Dongba Culture Exhibition”.

Lijiang Old Town was listed as the World Cultural Heritage Sites in 1997.

Day 3 (B, L) Lijiang

Program: Today, we will visit two smaller but more original villages by bike. The single way takes about one hour and enjoy the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain afar and rice fields on both sides. Baisha village is one of the first settlement of Naxi ancestors and it is still well kept. You can find the earliest Naxi architectures of Lijiang, Dabaoji Palace and Glazed Hall. And Baisha Mural is another attraction. Afterwards, continue riding to Shuhe Village, it is not only an important town in the Tea-horse Road that leads to Tibet in the past, but also a famous cobbler town. Afternoon free at leisure.

Baisha Mural – It was painted in Baisha Town in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), an interesting co-existence of Buddhism, Taoism and Lamaism in the artworks.

Enjoy the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain afar

Day 4 (B, L) Lijiang – Shangrila

Transfer: by Private vehicle
Program: Today, you will head for Shangri-la via Tiger Leaping Gorge. Depart after breakfast, stop at Shigu Village and take a short walk in the village and view the First Bend of Yangtze River nearby. Arrive Tiger Leaping Gorge after about 2.5 hours and visit the Tiger Leaping Stone in the Jinsha River, which the legend says the tiger used to leap across the gorge. After lunch, you will continue your drive to Shangri-La, stop en route at lesser Shangri-la and other Tibetan villages for some pictures. Shangri-la is a Tibetan town at an average altitude of 3200 meters.

Shigu Village & the First Bend of Yangtze River – Shigu Village is 50 kilometers from Lijiang. It was named after a stone tablet in the shape of a drum. The Jinsha River does a U-turn at Shigu Town and flows northward, which is known as the First Bend of Yangtze River.

Tiger Leaping Gorge – Tiger Leaping Gorge is a canyon on the upper reach of the Yangtze River, legend says a tiger could jump across the river at the narrowest point (still 25 meters wide), hence the name. Tiger Leaping Gorge offers a pleasant walk through spectacular scenery.

Day 5 (B, L) Shangrila

Program: Today, you will go to visit Napa Lake. This is a seasonal wetland with grass in dry season (Nov-May) and lake in rain season (Jun-Oct). It’s an ideal place for bird viewing after September and Black-necked crane is one of the rare birds. In the afternoon, you will pay a visit to Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan, also known as “the little Potala Palace”. Take a walk in the Ancient Town, where you may see local people get together singing and dancing. You’re welcome to join them.

Day 6 (B, L) Shangrila – Deqin

Transfer: by Private vehicle
Program: Pick up from hotel after breakfast and drive 187km to Deqin. The drive is about 7 hours with stops at Nixi Pottery Village, Benzilan, the first bend of Yangtze River, Dongzhulin Monastery and Baima Snow Moutain.

Visit the sacred Dongzhulin Monastery

Day 7 (B, L) Deqin

Program: Drive about 10km to Feilai Monastery in the early morning to view sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain if weather permit. Afterwards you will drive another 1.5 hours to Mingyong village, where you will walk around 4km to the foot of Mingyong Glaciers. Walk another one hour to Tibetan Taizi Monastery and view the Mingyong Glaciers. Horse riding for this part is available, which is on your own expense. Transfer back to hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 8 (B, L) Deqin – Shangrila

Transfer: by Private vehicle
Program: Private transfer to Zhongdian. Take a good rest after the long driving.

Day 9 (B, L) Shangrila  Exit

Transfer: by plane – own arrangement
Program: Pick up at the hotel and transfer to airport for flight to next destination.

Trip ends.