Rental Car Tour to Discover the Mythos of Shangri-La

Itinerary

Itinerary
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DAY
1

Arrive in Chengdu

Enjoy Chengdu leisurely daily life, Kuanzhai Xiangzi, drink tea in People’s Park

Arrive in Chengdu, capital of province Sichuan, the home town of Panda. Pick up and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon stroll in the beautiful old block of Chengdu - Wide Alley and Narrow Alley (Kuan Xiangzi and Zhai Xiangzi), they are the relics of the Manchurian garrison since 1718 and consist of 3 parallel lanes with the old classical houses, which are unique in southern China just like the northern Chinese architectural style presented by Hutong. After a careful renovation in June 2008, the pubs, teahouses, restaurants and guesthouses concentrate here, and in no time at all, it becomes the "lobby of leisure capital Chengdu". A walk here gives you a first impression of the "city of loafers". Then visit the People’s Park in the city center, have a seat in an old teahouse, enjoy your covered-bowl tea in a comfortable environment with bamboo chair and bamboo table, the tea culture of Chengdu is well known throughout China.

Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Renmin Park in Chengdu

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
2

Chengdu

Completion of the administrative formalities for self drive with rental car

In the morning transfer to the hospital for a short physical examination, and get your temporary Chinese driving license.

Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Breakfast

Jinli Old Street

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
3

Self drive Chengdu - Dujiangyan - Wolong - Siguniang Shan Town

Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Panda in Wolong, Sunset of Mt. Siguniangshan

In the morning pick up the car in the hotel and then drive to Dujiangyan to visit the Irrigation System, which was built around 250 BC by Li Bin, a governor of Shu Prefecture in Qin State. The great project still works well today after more than two thousand year’s function, which not only puts an end of the water disaster to the local people but also makes Chengdu Plain “the land of abundance”. While visiting the water conservation work, you may find that the methods of harnessing the river the ancient people used are so simple but useful. In 2000, Dujiangyan became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then drive to Wolong National Nature Reserve. 52 km long from east to west and 62 km wide from south to north, the whole area is 200,000 hm². It is one of the China earliest natural reverses, which is rated the preservation zones network of “mankind and living beings” by the Organization of Education, Science and Culture of United Nations (UNESCO). The virgin forest, second bush forest and bamboo groves are very green. There are over 4,000 kinds of high-level plants, 24 kinds of them are valuable plants, such as Gongtong (Chinese dove tree), red China fir, Lianxiang and so on. There are more than 450 kinds of vertebras, 45 kinds of them are rated national focal preserved animals, such as giant panda, golden monkeys, antelopes, white-mouth deer etc. The natural beautiful scene is quiet and secluded. Visit the Shenshuping Panda Base in Wolong, about 50 pandas live here, it is the largest breeding center for giant pandas, integrating scientific research, feeding, breeding, reproduction, wildness training, etc. Then drive through the Balang Shan tunnel. If the weather is good, we can enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang at Maobiliang at sunset.

200 km
4 hours
Overnight at Yunshang Hotel

Breakfast

Panda in Wolong

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
4

Self drive Siguniang Shan Town – Danba

Sunrise of Mt. Siguniang, Shuangqiao Valley, Wori Tusi Manor, Tibetan village Jiaju

If the weather is good, you’ll get early to enjoy the great panoramic view of Mt. Siguniang (Four Sisters Mountain) at Maobiliang at sunrise. The Siguniang Shan Mountain (also Four Sisters Mountain, Four Girls Mountain, Four Maidens Mountain) has four over 5000 m peaks, legend has it that each peak represents a girl of the 4 sisters. The highest peak, Yaomei Feng, the youngest girl and at 6250 m, is also known as the “queen of Sichuan's peaks”. Soft hiking in the Shuangqiao Valley (Double-bridge Valley) of the Siguniang Shan Mountain, the scenery is concentrated and charming. Afterwards drive to visit Wori Tusi Manor, the former official residence of the local Tusi, a kind of imperial kingship leader. After that drive to tvisit Tibetan village Jiaju, the most beautiful village in China. In Danba, the local people are called Jiarong (Gyarong) Tibetans. Walking and visit in the Jiaju village. There are more than one hundred buildings with the same architectural style, a complete and unique character of Jiarong Tibetan residences. Under the blue sky, the Tibetan residences decorated in red, white and black are strewed at random but also in school from the bottom to the middle slope of the valley.

110 km
2 hours 26 minutes
Overnight at Mantuoluo Hotel

Breakfast

Sunset of Siguniangshan Mountain

Photo by Min Zhao

DAY
5

Self drive Danba - Bamei - Tagong - Yajiang

Tagong Si, Gyergo Nunnery, Grand mani wall of Hepingfahui

In the morning drive to Yajiang via Bamei and Tagong, take the view of Huiyuan Monastery from the distance in Bamei, then go to visit Lhagang Monastery (Tagong Si) of Sayka Sect, which is surrounded by three hills symbolizing three Budhisattvas. It is said that the blessing of a reserved Jowo Shakyamuni image left by Wencheng Princess in this monastery to the pilgrims resembles the Lhasa Jowo Shakyamuni image in Lhasa. Then visit the impressive Gyergo Nunnery and the grand mani wall of Hepingfahui. From the hillside next to the Muya Golden Pagoda, you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Zhara Lhatse (5.820 m, also Jara or Yala), when the weather is good, the scenery at sunset is especially spectacular.

210 km
4 hours 36 minute
Overnight at Yidu Hotel

Breakfast

Gyergo Nunnery in Tagong

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
6

Self drive Yajiang - Litang - Daocheng – Shangri-La Town

Litang monastery

Today drive to Litang, visit Litang monastery lying in the western suburbs of the city. The monastery was originally under the control of the Bon religion but converted into a Gelug Sect monastery in 1580 in the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) by the third Dalai Lama. Keep drive over Mt. Haizi and pass by Daocheng to Shangri-La Town, where the highlight of this journey is - Yading nature reserve, home of three sacred Tibetan mountains - Chenresig (Xiannairi, Avalokitesvara, 6032m), Jambeyang (Yangmaiyong, Manjusri, 5958m), and Chanadorje (Xianuoduoji, Vajrapani, 5958m). The scenery here easily rivals that of national parks of the west such as Yellowstone and Yosemite in terms of spectacular, pristine mountain scenery.

355 km
6 hours 12 minutes
Overnight at Holiday Inn Express Daocheng Yading

Breakfast

Litang Monastery

Photo by Liu Bin

DAY
7

Shangri-La Town - Yading - Shangri-La Town

Walking to the three holy mountains in Yading Nature Reserve

Full day explore the natural beauty of Yading. Drive 30km to Longlongba – the entrance of Yading Nature Reserve. Start trekking tour to Chonggu Monastery and next proceed to Xiannairi Mountain with a mystery Dumu Lake at its mountain foot. Then trek to Luorong Cattle Farm, which is located among Yangmaiyong, Xianuoduoji and Xiannairi Mountains. Finally, back to Longlongba and drive back to hotel.

69 km
1 hour 45 minutes
Overnight at Holiday Inn Express Daocheng Yading

Breakfast

Xialuoduoji Mountain in Yading

Photo by Wang Lei

DAY
8

Self drive Shangri-La Town – Qingde - Xiangcheng - Derong

Traditional Tibetan white houses of Xiangcheng

Drive via Qingde Town and Xiangcheng to Derong, enjoy the beautiful landscapes on the route and take photos of the traditional Tibetan white houses nearby Xiangcheng.

273 km
5 hours 25 minutes
Overnight at Dawang Hotel

Breakfast

Beautiful Tibetan Village near Xiangcheng

DAY
9

Self drive Derong – Benzilan - Shangri-la

Welcome in Yunnan. The first bend of Jinsha River at Benzilan. Sumzanlin Monastery

Drive through the Hengduan Range along the Jinsha Jiang (upper reaches of Yangtze River) 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)”. Afterwards you head for Shangri-La (former Zhongdian, 3280 m), a Tibetan region in northwest Yunnan, the southern gateway to Kham and Tibet. On the way visit the first bend of Jinsha Jiang (Golden Sand River) at Benzilan. “Lost Horizon”, a novel wrote by British writer James Hilton and published in April 1933, describes a xanadu paradise in the southwest of China, a peaceful, quiet, eternal and mysterious living place for Tibetan, and there is a beautiful Lamasery, the center of “Shangri-La”. Lamasery leads the entire valley, forming a "Shangri-La" society. The author was inspired by the series of articles and photos published in “National Geographic Magazine” by Josef Rock during his expedition in northwestern Yunnan from 1924 to 1935. 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 Road", 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, discover 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.

142 km
3 hours 22 minutes
Overnight at 4*Shangri-La Old Town Hotel

Breakfast

Sumzanlin Monastery

Photo by Peng Jiansheng

DAY
10

Self drive Shangri-la – Baishuitai - Tiger Leaping Gorge - Lijiang

Visit White Water Terraces, Hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge

Drive to Baishuitai, visit the White Water Terraces at the foot of Haba Snow Mountain. Here is the birthplace of Dongba culture, you may encounter some activities of Dongba Religion and folk festivals of the Naxi people. Then drive to the Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hu Tiao Xia) on the 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. Sightseeing and soft hiking in the gorge. Keep drive to Lijiang (2416 m) at the foot of Jade Dragon Mountain (Yulong Xueshan, 5596 m), the hometown of Naxi Minority.

264 km
6 hours 16 minutes
Overnight at Wangfu Hotel

Breakfast

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Photo by Peng Jiansheng

DAY
11

Lijiang

Old town Lijiang, Black Dragon Pool, Dongba Culture Museum, Baisha Village and Yuhu Village

The Lijiang Old Town 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 in 1997. In the morning stroll in the old town of Lijiang. With its narrow streets, canals, bridges and wooden houses, the old town creates a cozy atmosphere. Climbing the Lion Hill, you have a wonderful panoramic view of the old town Lijiang from the Wangu Pavilion. Go to the beautiful park Hei Long Tan (Black Dragon Pond) at the foot of the Elephant Mountain (Xiang Shan), located north of the old town Lijiang. The peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yulong Xueshan, 5596 m) are clearly reflected in the water of the pond. Then visit the Dongba Culture Museum. The Dongba culture is considered as the basis of the Naxi people. “Dongba” means “wisdom” and is a polite salutation for their religious priesthood. The Dongbas are highly respected, as the culture carriers and culture disseminators in terms of pictograms, music, dance of the Naxi people. With 1000-year history, the Dongba culture originated at the latest in the Tang and Song dynasties. In the afternoon drive to Baisha Village 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. Continue to drive to Yuhu village to visit the small museum at the former residence of the famous Austrian-American explorer, geographer and botanist Josef Rock. Finally, drive back to Lijiang Ancient Town.

Overnight at Wangfu Hotel

Breakfast

Lijiang Old Town

DAY
12

Self drive Lijiang - Lugu Lake

Lugu Lake - hometown of Mosuo people, an “unusual matriarchal kingdom”

In the early morning drive to Lugu Lake. The place is home to an “unusual matriarchal kingdom”. The local Mosuo people have, through all the ages, managed to keep their matrilineal tradition persistent and intact. In the afternoon go sailing on the beautiful lake and visit the local people’s residence to experience the folkways.

180 km
3 hours 28 minutes
Overnight at Hotel

Breakfast

Lugu Lake

DAY
13

Self drive Lugu Lake - Xichang

Learn about culture and folkway of Yi Minority

Drive to Xichang, the capital of Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture of Yi Minority, a worldwide famous satellite launch base for the Chinese space program. And visit Slave Society Museum of Liangshan Yi Nationality, the only theme museum in China that makes the exhibition and study of slave society. Afterwards visit Datong Tower and the street of lacquerware of Yi people. The lacquerware of Yi people is national intangible cultural heritage. In Liangshan, lacquerware is used extensively. There are five kinds of important lacquerwares, such as tableware, drinking vessel, weapon, horse gear and religious utensil, especially the drinking vessel has been used to this day with its unique characteristics and durable characteristics. Drinking is a custom of the Yi people, so the production of drinking utensil is also quite elegant, and drinking vessel is the most exquisite article for Yi people. Finally, have a relaxing walk by Qionghai Lake that is the second largest freshwater lake in China.

271 km
6 hours 5 minutes
Overnight at 4*Minshan Hotel

Breakfast

Nice Time in Xichang

Photo by Li Chaojun

DAY
14

Self drive Xichang - Yingjing - Yaan - Chengdu

Black pottery, an intangible cultural heritage in Yingjing

Drive back to Chengdu, en route visit the pottery street in Gucheng Town, Yingjing County. Gucheng Town is known as "China's First Township of Pottery". Here you will get into manual workshops of black pottery, and observe how craftsmen and craftswomen make pottery, such as casserole, traditional Chinese medicine pot, tea set and so on. Besides, you have the opportunity to observe the process of firing black pottery. With over 2000 years’ firing history, Yingjing Pottery is equal to dark-red enameled pottery (teapot) in Yixing, Jinagsu. In 2008, the craft of Yingjing Black Pottery is included in the national intangible cultural heritage. Late in the afternoon arrive in Chengdu, return the car at the hotel.

450 km
6 hours 13 minutes
Overnight at 4*Xinliang Hotel

Breakfast

Manual Workshop of Black Pottery in Xichang

Photo by Min Zhao

DAY
15

Leave Chengdu

Travel to next destination

Today transfer to airport, leave Chengdu.

Breakfast

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