Day 1 Lijiang → Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge → Tea Horse Inn → Midway Inn → Dukezong Ancient Town (3500m above sea level)
·morning
Meeting time: staff will contact you one day before the trip, the reference departure time is 8:00-9:00;
Meeting place: Bailong Cultural Square
The world's wonder, Tiger Leaping Gorge, feels the heart-wrenching rush of the river at the bottom of the valley
Today we'll drive directly to Tiger Leaping Gorge. The Jinsha River, originating in the Tanggula Mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, travels thousands of miles to this point. Suddenly blocked by the Yulong and Haba Mountains, the once peaceful river suddenly becomes a raging rage. We'll visit the Upper Tiger Leaping Gorge observation deck and experience the Jinsha River's striking power up close. This narrow section of the gorge is marked by a massive rock rising majestically from the center, like a cascading waterfall, splitting the rapids in two and creating a deafening surge.
·afternoon
Walk on the epic hiking route and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Thirteen Peaks of Yulong
Over a decade ago, the Tiger Leaping Gorge High Route Hike was already as famous as other world-class routes like the Mont Blanc Hike and the EBC. We carefully selected a 5km section of the Tiger Leaping Gorge High Route Hike to explore a different side of the gorge from a lesser perspective. We drove to the Tea Horse Inn to begin our exciting hike, heading to the Halfway Inn. Amidst this dramatic drop, the turbulent river at the valley floor and the towering Yulong Thirteen Peaks to the right, a brisk walk, braving the gentle mountain breeze, might just be the poetic and distant place we all yearn for.
Sit on the HALFWAY balcony and enjoy afternoon tea with the mountains.
Arrive at the iconic Halfway Inn, a decades-old online-famous inn, and enjoy afternoon tea on the stunning balcony overlooking the Thirteen Yulong Peaks. We'll allow ample time for photos, to enjoy the magnificent views of the Thirteen Yulong Peaks, and to experience a different side of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
·night
Drive to the dreamlike Shambhala and wander freely in Dukezong Ancient Town
Afterwards, we'll have free time at Dukezong Ancient Town and dinner. Visitors are free to wander around Dukezong, an ancient town with over 1,300 years of history. At Guishan Park, perched high above Dukezong, you'll find a massive, gilded copper prayer wheel (21 meters tall, weighing 60 tons, and listed in the Guinness Book of World Records). Join us in spinning the wheel and chanting prayers. Everyone should rest well tonight to prepare for tomorrow's hiking trip.
Day 2: Dukuzong → Abujicuo (3790M-4180M above sea level) → Dukuzong
All day
Visit the mountains of Shangri-La and hike to the secret Abujicuo
There are still many secret places in Shangri-La waiting to be explored. Travel light and hike into the secret place [Abujicuo] to unlock the B-side of Shangri-La.
Abuji Cotso is a beautiful lake hidden deep in the heart of Shangri-La. In the sunshine, it looks like a piece of emerald green emerald, inlaid between the "lotus-shaped" Tianbao Snow Mountain, which is breathtaking.
During the flowering period from May to August, you will see wildflowers all over the mountains, dotted among the alpine meadows, as if you are in Howl's Moving Castle.
In the autumn from September to November, you will see colorful autumn colors. Being surrounded by such strong and impactful colors, it feels like you have come to God's private reserve.
【Record filing instructions】
Abuji Co is greatly affected by factors such as fire prevention, and may be temporarily inaccessible. If it is inaccessible, the same-day record will be activated: Shangri-La-Bottomless Lake hike-return to Shangri-La, and the round-trip driving time will increase by 1 hour (Shangri-La-Bottomless Lake one-way trip is about 2 hours), the scenery is slightly different, and the fee does not change.
If the registration is activated, the hiking route is from Bottomless Lake to Fairy Lake. The hiking section will be led by a local guide. The hiking distance is about 8KM, the altitude is 3790M-4180M, and the hiking time is about 6 hours. There will be no meal or supply points on the day, so you need to bring your own meals and drinking water.
【Tips of the day】
Hiking Information | The hike is approximately 5.5 km one way, with an altitude of 3,600-4,200 meters. Typical hiking time: Start at 10:00 AM, arrive at lunch at 12:00 PM, have a half-hour lunch, reach Abujicuo at 2:00 PM, descend the mountain at 2:30 PM, and arrive at the starting point around 4:00 PM. There are no meal or supply points on the day, so please bring your own food and drinking water.
What to Wear | Abujicuo is windy and cold, so it's recommended to bring a warm, windproof jacket.
Mobile phone information | No signal on the mountain.
Day 3 Dukezong → Songzanlin Temple → Napa Lake → Lijiang
·morning
Find inner love and peace in the ancient palace on the snowy plateau
After yesterday's wild Shangri-La hike, we took it easy all day today. We slept until we woke naturally, and after breakfast, we set off for Songzanlin Monastery. Built into the mountainside, Songzanlin Monastery resembles the Potala Palace. Its unique five-story carved Tibetan architecture embodies the essence of Tibetan plastic arts and is known as the "Tibetan Art Museum." Visitors can circle the lake around the Lhamoyangtso Temple in front of the temple, then enter the temple to experience the profound Tibetan Buddhist culture.
Special note: Songzanlin Temple will be under road construction from November 13, 2024 to December 2, 2024. Transportation to the scenic area will be suspended and visitors can only enter on foot. The one-way walking distance is about 1.8 km. The included scenic area transportation fee of 20 yuan per person will be refunded on site by the staff.
·afternoon
Farewell to the Snowy Buddhist Kingdom on the alpine meadows with beautiful lakes and mountains
After lunch, we will go to the Napa Lake Observation Deck to overlook the entire Napa Lake and Yila Grassland, and then take a car to experience a short section of the road around the lake (special note: during the rainy season in Shangri-La, some sections of the Napa Lake will be flooded, so we will choose a safe section of the road around the lake).
On this endless grassland, there are continuous mountains in the distance, above the mountains is the blue sky, and under the blue sky are scattered herds of livestock. This is the farewell gift from the snowy plateau of Shambhala to you. We look forward to seeing you next time.
We drove back to Lijiang in time to disband, reluctantly saying goodbye with tears. Whether you want to continue exploring Yunnan or need airport transfers, China-TravelNote is the right choice for you.
