Trekking at Meili Xueshan in Northern Yunnan

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrive in Lijiang

Old town Lijiang - hometown of Naxi Minority, Hei Long Tan, Dongba Culture Museum

Lijiang is the hometown of Naxi Minority. It is famous for its old wooden houses and the layout of the town’s streets. It has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Hei Long Tan (Black Dragon Pool) is located in the northern of the Elephant Hill foot. The summits of Yulong Snow Mountain are clearly reflected in this pond. Afterwards visit Dongba Culture Museum. Stroll in the old town of Lijiang. The old town, with its narrow streets, canals, bridges and wooden houses, creates a cozy atmosphere. Then we drive to Baisha Village of Naxi people to admire these religiously-inspired murals that were painted in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Compared to other religious murals, the mural boasts an important feature that figures of Buddhism, Taoism, Lamaism, as well as the artistic styles of different nationalities, e.g. Naxi, Tibetans, Bai and Han Chinese can be found in a single image.

Overnight at 4*Wangfu Hotel

Breakfast

Old Town Lijiang

DAY
2

Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La

Walking in the Tiger Leaping Gorge, Sumzanlin Monastery, old town Dukezong

Today, you can enjoy the spectacular spectacle of nature in the legendary Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiaoxia) on Jinsha Jiang (Golden Sand River) - the upper reaches of the Yangtze River (the longest river of China, 6380 km). The Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hu Tiao Xia), one of the deepest and longest canyons in the world and about 15 km long, was formed by a cliff of about 4000 meters high and was named from a legend that a tiger can jump over a canyon of 30 meters wide with one jump. Continue the journey to Tiger-Leaping Gorge, short walking in the gorge and keep driving to Shangri-La (3280 m, former Zhongdian), the historic southern gateway to Kham and Tibet. The word "Shangri-La" means in Tibetan “the sun and moon in heart”. Located on the old trade route to Tibet and literally called "Tea Horse Trail", the region around Shangri-La is set in an enchanting landscape of snow-capped mountains, deep gorges, high mountain lakes, grassy steppes and primeval forests. Here, several nationalities, including Tibetans live in the northeast of Yunnan Province. Arrival in Shangri-La, visit the Sumzanlin Monastery that was created in 1679 by the Fifth Dalai lama. Characterized by its Han-Chinese and Tibetan construction style, the monastery is the most important monastery of Gelugpa-sect in Yunnan Province. Its appearance is strongly influenced by the Potala Palace in Lhasa, so it is also called "Little Potala". Today about 800 monks live here. If the time allows, discover the old town Dukezong.

201 km
3 hours 40 minutes
Overnight at 4*Old Town International Hotel

Breakfast

Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiaoxia)

DAY
3

Shangri-La – Benzilan - Dechen – Feilai Si

“The first bend of Jinsha Jiang”, Benzilan Village, Dong Trubling Monastery, the first bend of Jinsha Jiang

Drive through the Hengduan Range along the Jinsha Jiang (upper reaches of Yangtze) into Yunnan Province. Have a break in the beautiful small town Benzilan and enjoy the panoramic view of the “first bend of Jinsha Jiang (Golden Sand River)”. Before reaching Dechen visit the Dong Trubling Monastery.

272 km
7 hours 23 minutes
Overnight at Paradise View Hotel at Feilaisi (3400 m)

Breakfast

Jinsha River

DAY
4

Feilaisi – Xidang – Zongla Pass (3700 m) – Yubeng Upper Village (3100 m)

Sunrise of Melixueshan, trekking starts

If the weather is well, you can enjoy the beautiful scene of sunrise of Meli Xueshan. After that, drive to Xidang Village (2250 m) where you start your trekking tour. Cross Zongla Pass (3700 m) then arrive at Yubeng Upper Village (3100 m).

Trekking about 18 km, 7 hours
Overnight at a simple guesthouse (3100 m)

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain (Meili Xueshan)

DAY
5

Yubeng Village (3100 m) – Xiaonong Base Camp (3650 m) – Binghu (3900 m) – Yubeng Village

Xiaonong Base Camp, virgin forest and azalea jungle, Binghu

Today’s trekking is very hard because it will take you a lot of energy, but you will gain a lot by enjoying the beautiful landscapes along the route. After breakfast, you leave for the high-altitude virgin forest and azalea jungle. After about two hours’ trekking you will cross a Pass (3700 m) to a lake. Then through a virgin forest you will arrive at Xiaonong Base Camp (3650 m). Have a break and then leave for Binghu (Ice Lake) (3900 m). In the afternoon, start going back to Yubeng Village at about 2 pm. After four-hour- trekking, come back to your hotel.

Trekking about 18 km, 7 hours
Overnight at a simple guesthouse (3100 m)

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Ice Lake (Binghu) of Meili Snow Mountain

DAY
6

Yubeng Village (3100 m) – Yubeng Shenpu (3800 m) – Yubeng Village

Yubeng Shenpu Waterfall

Today’s trekking doesn’t cost you too much energy but it is still worthy to take. In the morning, leave for Yubeng Shenpu (Holy Waterfall, 3800 m), and the Tibetans consider bathed under the waterfall as a purification of their hearts. "Yubeng" means the scriptures, and its name is related to the "Shijietianshu" that is not far from the village. In the afternoon go back to Yubeng Village and enjoy your leisure time here.

Trekking about 14 km, 4-5 hours
Overnight at a simple guesthouse (3100 m)

Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Yubeng Shenpu Waterfall

DAY
7

Yubeng Village (3100 m) – Ninong Canyon – Ninong Village – Cizhong Village

Sunrise of Melixueshan, Ninong Canyon, Cizhong Catholic Church

Today you will get up early to enjoy the beautiful sunrise of Melixueshan if the weather is well. Then trek along the Yubeng River and through the Ninong Canyon to the parking lot of Ninong Village. After that, drive to Cizhong Catholic Church which was built by French missionary a hundred years ago. And it was rebuilt in 1900 after being ruined in 1892. “Ci” means village and “Zhong” means six in Tibetan.

Trekking about 20 km, 6-7 hours
Drive 54 km, 1 hour 40 minutes
Overnight at Cizhong Guesthouse

Breakfast Lunch

Sunrise of Meili Snow Mountain (Meili Xueshan)

DAY
8

Cizhong – Tongle – Tacheng

Beautiful village Tongle of Lisu minority, Kangpu Temple in Lancangjiang River Valley

Drive to Tacheng Village. On the way visit the beautiful Tongle village of Lisu Minority and the Kangpu Monastery in Lancangjiang (Mekong) River Valley.

184 km, 4 hours 11 minutes
Overnight at Cicheng Guesthouse

Breakfast

Snub-Nosed Monkeys

DAY
9

Tacheng – Shigu - Lijiang

Xianggujing Nature Reserve of Golden Monkey in Tacheng, the first bend of Yangzi River in Shigu village

In the morning visit the Xianggujing Nature Reserve of Golden Monkey in Tacheng. That is one of the three national forest parks in Diqing Prefecture and one of the famous scenic spots in Yunnan. The scenery in the park is pleasant, because all kinds of wild flowers, all kinds of wild fruits can be seen everywhere, and the harmony atmosphere of nature spreads everywhere. Then drive back to Lijiang. On the way visit the first bend of Yangzi River in Shigu Village. Transfer to airport or railway station, travel to next destination.

178 km
3 hours 45 minutes

Breakfast

Old Town of Lijiang

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