Day 1 Various locations → → Lijiang ★ Gathering day
All day
Today is a full-day assembly day. Please proceed to the assembly hotel and check in by submitting your "China-TravelNote+Name" form. After arranging your accommodations, you'll be free to explore Lijiang Dayan Old Town and acclimate to the plateau climate. After dark, the vibrant life of the ancient town is also worth looking forward to.
Day 2 Lijiang → Qingxi Reservoir → Songzanlin Temple → Dukezong Ancient Town → Shangri-La
All day
Get up early in the morning and go to Qingxi Reservoir to wait and photograph the sunrise over Yulong Snow Mountain, recording the moment when the first ray of sunlight illuminates the peak of the snow-capped mountain.
Then we drove away and arrived in Shangri-La via Xiaozhongdian Ranch.
First, visit the Songzanlin Temple, circle around the Lhamoyangcuo Lake, and find a foreground camera position on the water surface to shoot the reflection of the Songzanlin Temple. Then enter the temple to appreciate the profound Tibetan Buddhist culture. Along the way, you can capture the culture of the Songzanlin Temple.
If you feel like visiting Dukezong Ancient Town, you can take some free time to create and shoot. We recommend visiting Guishan Park, located high above Dukezong, where you can find a tall, gilded, pure copper prayer wheel. It is 21 meters high and weighs 60 tons, and has been included in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Stay in Shangri-La County tonight.
Day 3 Shangri-La → Nixi Township → Moon Bay → Wunongding → Feilai Temple
All day
I got up early this morning to capture the sunrise at Songzanlin Temple. As the golden light of dawn bathed the temple, it was unreal. Mornings are often filled with mist, and from a distance, the temple nestled against the mountain appears and disappears through the mist, making for a truly stunning photo opportunity.
After leaving at the right time, we headed to Nixi Township to photograph the Tibetan people. The Tibetans are among the 55 ethnic minorities that have preserved their culture well, and Tibetan clothing is a prime example: majestic men's clothing, elegant women's clothing, and ornate accessories exude the ethnic spirit. We will visit traditional Tibetan homes to capture portraits and everyday life.
We continued our journey and stopped at Moon Bay to take some photos. This is the confluence of the Lancang River, Jinsha River and Nu River, and it is a world cultural heritage.
In the evening, we arrived at the Wunongding Observation Deck to capture a panoramic sunset view of the Meili Snow Mountain. Nestled against the Baima Snow Mountain, Wunongding offers the most expansive views in Deqin County. From here, you can take in the majestic rolling hills, Feilaisi Village at their foot, and the Lancang River Valley in the distance.
After the shooting, we went to the hotel to check in.
Day 4 Feilai Temple → Tongle Village → Tacheng Town
All day
Rise early and head to the observation deck to capture the mystical Meili Snow Mountain, bathed in the golden glow of the sun. The Kawagebo and Mentsemo peaks, shimmering in the golden light, are breathtakingly beautiful. Meili Snow Mountain is a renowned pilgrimage site in Tibet, nestled between the Nu and Lancang rivers in the Hengduan Mountains. Its main peak, Kawagebo, at 6,740 meters, is the highest peak in Yunnan. However, it remains unconquered, as climbing is prohibited for cultural reasons.
We'll depart at an opportune moment and head to Tongle Village, a pristine Lisu village. Almost no one here speaks Chinese, yet you'll experience the warmth, sincerity, and friendliness of the people. A panoramic view reveals rows of houses nestled against the mountainside, with smoke occasionally rising from the wooden structures. We've specially invited villagers, dressed in traditional Chinese attire, to perform the Achi Mu Gua dance. There are over ten different variations of the dance, and the movements and sounds clearly mimic those of goats and nomadic life. This dance possesses a profoundly primitive and natural quality, depicting the Lisu people's long history of development. We'll also be filming scenes of Lisu life.
Arrive at Tacheng Town in the evening and check in.
Day 5: Tiantacheng Town → Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park → Shigu Town → Lijiang
All day
After breakfast, we'll drive to the deep forests of Yunnan Golden Monkey National Park to visit the region's remarkable primates. Armed with telephoto lenses, we'll stroll through the lush, primeval forest, quietly entering the monkey's territory and awaiting their arrival. This national treasure, on par with the panda, boasts lustrous red lips and a human-like face, rosy white. Its black, white, and gray fur casts a halo of yellow in the sunlight.
After the photoshoot, we set off for Lijiang. Passing by Shigu Town, we briefly stopped to photograph the Jinsha River's Great Bend. Here, the Jinsha River makes a 180-degree bend, and the silt carried by rainfall forms sandbars that have been transformed into farmland, creating a harmonious contrast with the majestic mountains behind.
We will then arrive in Lijiang and check in. In the evening, we will have free time. We recommend visiting the bustling Lijiang Dayan Ancient Town.
Day 6 Lijiang → Zhumulang Village → Wuliangshan Cherry Blossom Valley
All day
After breakfast, we'll depart for Zhumulang Village in Weishan, Dali, to photograph the Yi people. This relatively secluded village, long inaccessible due to steep mountain roads, has only recently been gradually opened to the public. Legend has it that Zhumulang Village served as a refuge for the royal descendants of the Nanzhao Kingdom (a local government in Yunnan during the Tang Dynasty). A thousand years ago, during a war between Nanzhao and the Tang Dynasty, some members of the royal family fled to the mountains, where they thrived and continue to thrive to this day. The photography team has specially invited local villagers to participate in the filming of this Yi cultural heritage.
Afterward, we departed and drove to Wuliangshan Cherry Blossom Valley. As we entered the valley, we were captivated by the vibrant colors of cherry blossoms amidst the green fields. Entering the tea garden, the trees covered in cherry blossoms, their tender leaves barely visible, are a sight that always captivates photography enthusiasts. After checking in, we were free to take photos and explore the area.
We arrived at the viewing platform in the evening and watched the sunset over the Sakura Valley. After the photo shoot, we stayed at the unique inn in the Sakura Valley tonight.
Day 7 Wuliangshan Cherry Blossom Valley → Dali ★ Disbandment Day
All day
In the early morning, I photographed the sunrise, sea of clouds and morning mist of the winter cherry blossoms in Wuliang Mountain. The misty clouds and bright red winter cherry blossoms bloomed on the green tea mountains. This is early spring in Yunnan!
This morning we started our return journey to the romantic Dali. We were dropped off at Dali Railway Station and dismissed. We were reluctant to leave and kissed each other goodbye with tears in our eyes. Don't forget to hand in your homework when you get back!
