Live Your Best Lives
The beauty of the southern part of Yunnan is breathtaking. As someone who has been to Yunnan three times, spending a total of 24 days there, this article only records the scenery of the places I visited and provides you with a small guide for reference.
First, please turn up the volume and click on the video below to watch the "Yunnan Trip Time-Lapse Photography + Aerial Video Collection" in full screen mode.
Difficulty of reaching: ★
Scenery index: ★
Personally, I don't think Kunming city itself has any particularly great attractions; it's generally used as a transit point. If I had to choose, Stone Forest and Dianchi Lake would be two. I didn't go to Stone Forest, but I did go to Dianchi Lake, but because it was summer, I couldn't see any red-billed gulls. If you want to see them, the best time is between November and January. I didn't take any photos of either location, so I won't post them here.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★★
Dongchuan is actually a district of Kunming, but the Red Land Scenic Area is 170KM away from Kunming and takes 3-4 hours by car. Unlike traditional scenic spots, there is no entrance fee here because the distance between each point is too far. If you are not traveling with a group but traveling independently, you need to charter a car locally to better play and take pictures.
This land is considered to be the most majestic red land in the world except for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As the crops grow and change, the scenery changes with the seasons.
Strictly speaking, the Red Land Scenic Area isn't a true "scenic area." There's no gate, no tickets required, and the land is cultivated by local farmers themselves. Many of the "attractions" can be viewed simply by parking on the roadside or stepping into the fields. Be aware, however, that some farmers will charge a few yuan for "photography fees," claiming it's their land. Regarding temperature, although Red Land is only 250 kilometers from Kunming, the temperature difference between morning and evening is significant. In particular, when I visited Jinxiu Garden in the morning to photograph the sunrise, the strong winds made me question my life.
Besides charging you for photos of their land, some local farmers even offer to model for a living, often bringing their own pets. The following is a particularly famous example, whose ID photo has become a must-have for anyone visiting the Red Land region.
I personally can't comment on this phenomenon. On the one hand, I primarily photograph landscapes and don't agree with the deliberately staged nature of humanistic photography. On the other hand, this is a source of income for local farmers. I just hope this land can continue to maintain its pristine ecology and avoid the overdevelopment that has plagued some scenic spots in China.
The red soil is known as a palette overturned by God. Of course, only from a God's perspective can its colorful appearance be reflected.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★
Scenery index: ★★★★
Dali is accessible by plane, train, or car. First-time Yunnan travelers typically take the Kunming-Dali-Lijiang route. I recommend renting a bicycle in Dali Old Town and cycling around Erhai Lake, depending on your physical fitness. For those interested in art, stay at a lakeside inn in Shuanglang.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★
Scenery index: ★★★
Lijiang has two ancient towns: Dayan and Shuhe. I went to Dayan, the more developed and commercialized one. It's easy to get lost without a map. It's a great place to leisurely stroll and savor the slow pace of life in the ancient city.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★★★
A new road has been built from Lijiang to Lugu Lake, now only 3.5 hours (mostly winding mountain roads), compared to the 7-hour journey on the old route. The Lugu Lake Airport has also opened, significantly reducing access. The scenery of Lugu Lake is truly stunning, perfect for any season. I highly recommend renting an electric scooter to circle the lake, allowing for easy photo stops along the shore. At an altitude of 2,700 meters, altitude sickness is virtually non-existent, and light pollution is minimal, making it an excellent choice for capturing starry night skies. Highly recommended.
The Rig Viewing Platform overlooks the entire Rig Peninsula and the heart-shaped lake. It is a must-see classic camera position.
This was my first time photographing the Milky Way. The starry sky of Lugu Lake gave me a great surprise, and the shock was indescribable.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★
Scenery index: ★★★★
Kunming offers direct high-speed trains to Puzhehei. The scenic area features typical karst landscapes. Qinglong Mountain, where the sunrise is viewed, is a popular spot, as is Qingqiu, the filming location for the film "Eternal Love." Qinglong Mountain offers panoramic views of the Puzhehei sunrise. The climb takes half an hour, so it's recommended to arrive half an hour before sunrise (or at least an hour beforehand) to avoid full viewing. There's no dedicated sunrise viewing platform, so you have to stand on rocks, making it difficult to set up a tripod. If you're staying at an inn within the scenic area, the foot of Qinglong Mountain is a roughly ten-minute walk away.
Caihuaqing was the filming location for Qingqiu in the TV series "Eternal Love." No entrance fee is required. We recommend visiting Caihuaqing in the morning after watching the sunrise over Qinglong Mountain. The morning breeze is generally calm, and the lake is calm, with clear reflections.
This small island in the middle of the lake is really beautiful.
In addition, you can also take a hot air balloon to overlook Puzhehei from high altitude.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★
Shede Grassland is located outside the Puzhehei Scenic Area. If you're traveling independently, you'll need to charter a car to get there. It's also another filming location for the classic film "Eternal Love." There are large expanses of grass and rocks, with clusters of windmills dotting the grasslands.
There is a certain chance of encountering clouds and fog here, and the windmills appear and disappear in the clouds, like a fairyland.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★★
Scenery index: ★★★★
This is a hidden spot. On the way to Shede Grassland, a local driver brought us here. No other tourists had come here. It is surrounded by the towering Yangxiong Mountain and a small basin in the middle.
This is a cliff with a drop of several hundred meters. When I saw it for the first time, I was ecstatic. This cliff gave me the feeling of Yosemite in the United States.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★
This is a stop on the way from Lijiang to Shangri-La. It is a very small grassland with not much to see. Moreover, this is a no-fly zone for drones, so it is not highly recommended.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★
This is also a stop on the way from Lijiang to Shangri-La. Tiger Leaping Gorge is divided into upper, middle and lower sections. This is the upper Tiger Leaping Gorge, which takes about two hours to hike round trip. The upper Tiger Leaping Gorge is the narrowest section of the canyon. In the middle of the river, a huge rock stands majestically, lying across the middle of the river, dividing the rapids in two, creating a thunderous wave.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★★
This is also a point along the way where you can take photos from the viewing platform. The Jinsha River, flowing through mountains and valleys, makes a graceful U-shaped bend around the pyramid-like Rizui Peak, a wonder of nature.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★★★
Many people travel to Shangri-La just to see Meili Snow Mountain. The drive from Lijiang to Feilai Temple is only 400 kilometers, but it's mostly winding mountain roads. Adding the hour-plus at Tiger Leaping Gorge and lunch breaks, the total takes 10 hours. By the time we reached the Wunongding Observation Deck, the sun had already set. I couldn't wait to jump out of the car and rush to the observation deck to find a camera. Watching the sunset reflected from the backs of the Meili Prince Thirteen Peaks, I was so excited that I completely forgot about the altitude sickness from jogging. Only after I finished shooting did I feel a bit dizzy. Friends, please note: avoid strenuous exercise in the plateau, as it can easily lead to hypoxia and altitude sickness.
Compared with other famous snow-capped mountains, the difficulty of reaching here is relatively low, and you can see the Meili Snow Mountain outside from the window when staying in the inn, which is really good news for landscape photography enthusiasts.
You have to be lucky enough to see the golden mountain in the sunlight under the Meili Snow Mountain. The tour guide said that many people stayed there for several days but still couldn't see it.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★★
Mingyong Glacier (also known as Nainuogoru Glacier) is one of the long glaciers under Mount Kawagebo. In winter, its ice tongue can extend from an altitude of 5,500 meters to an altitude of 2,800 meters. When I went there, part of it had melted.
After arriving at the Mingyong Glacier Scenic Area, you need to take an electric car (80 yuan) to the hiking trail. Hiking at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, the round trip takes about 4 hours and requires a certain amount of physical strength.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★★
Pudacuo National Forest Park, located in Shangri-La, has an altitude of 3,500 to 4,159 meters, which can easily cause mild altitude sickness. The park boasts alpine lakes, pastures, wetlands, and primeval forests. Bitahai and Shudu Lake, known as the pearls of the plateau, are highly recommended. Take the scenic area's tourist bus to the Shudu Lake hiking trail, a distance of approximately 3 kilometers. After reaching the end point, take the scenic area bus back home.
The lake is surrounded by trees that block out the sun. The fir trees are lush and leafy, with tall trunks and vines entwined.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★
Scenery index: ★★
Three-quarters of Dukezong Ancient Town was burned in a fire a few years ago. Although part of it has been restored now, it is still much smaller than Dali and Lijiang Ancient Town. I personally don’t recommend it. The only highlight is the giant prayer wheel.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★★
Luoping is famous for its rapeseed fields. The best season is from February to April every year, when nearly one million mu of rapeseed fields will bloom among the karst mountains. It is very spectacular. It would be even better if there is a drone to take pictures here.
The sea of flowers on Jinji Peak at sunrise is as beautiful as an oil painting.
The Niujie Snail Fields, where the terraced fields are circular, resemble the spiral patterns on a screw from a distance. This is a masterpiece of nature and man-made creation, a perfect combination of terraced fields and rapeseed flowers.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★
Scenery index: ★★★
Jiulong Waterfall is another scenic spot in Luoping. It is basically a place you will visit after seeing the rape flowers.
Difficulty of reaching: ★★★★
Scenery index: ★★★★★
Yuanyang is a relatively difficult place to reach, requiring two or three transfers from Kunming. Chartering a car or joining a tour group is recommended, and you can also visit the area along the same route as Luoping. The terraced fields are flooded from November to March, making them at their peak season. The Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces, a landscape painting meticulously carved by the Hani people over 1,300 years, have earned the designation of China's 45th World Heritage Site. The Aichun Blue Rice Terraces, as their name suggests, reflect the blue sky on the surface of the water, hence the name.
When the Duoyishu Terraces meet the sea of clouds, you will instantly find yourself in a fairyland.
Where white clouds appear, there are people living. This is probably what a paradise on earth is like.
The sun shines through the clouds onto the terraces, and the colorful sunset is reflected on the water. The sunset at the Laohuzui Terraces is breathtakingly beautiful.
Terraced fields, sea of clouds, villages, starry sky—so many elements appear in one scene, a scene that should only exist in heaven. I can't help but say: If you want to see terraced fields, come to Yuanyang. If you want to walk among the clouds, come to Yuanyang. If you want to experience a fairyland, come to Yuanyang.
Although I've been to Yunnan three times, it's impossible to visit all of it. There are still some places I haven't visited. Yunnan is really a great place. I recommend you sign up for more in-depth tours with China-TravelNote. You will definitely not be disappointed.
