Heaven on the left, Yubeng on the right

Zigong-Tianfu Airport 53
Tianfu-Diqing 561
Shangri-La-Lijiang 56
Lijiang-Kunming 130
Kunming-Kunming South 9
Kunming South-Zigong 430.5
Shangri-La-Nilong shared ride round trip 200
Nilong pickup truck 98
Total transportation: 1537.5

Accommodation:
Shangri-La 2 nights 170 + 298
Upper Yubeng 239
Lower Yubeng 240
Total accommodation: 947

Itinerary:
Day 1
Zigong-Tianfu-Shangri-La
(Landed around 10 PM, stayed in Shangri-La)

Day 2
Shangri-La-Nilong (shared ride 100/4.5 hours)
Nilong-Yubeng Village-Upper Yubeng (16 km/5.5 hours)
Accommodation: Shanyue/200, dinner: Butter tea
7:30-12:30 Dukezong 🚗 Nongnong Village
13:30-18:30 Nongnong Village 🚶 Upper Yubeng (16km)
Departed Dukezong for Nongnong Village. Due to rain, we skipped Feilai Temple to see the sunrise over Meili Snow Mountain.
Started the hike into Yubeng Village, about 16km total, taking around 5 hours (watch recorded). Skipped the pickup truck ride at the end. Nilong Gorge rivals Tiger Leaping Gorge in scenery—hiking while enjoying the views made it feel less tiring.

Day 3
Upper Yubeng-Ice Lake-Upper Yubeng-Lower Yubeng (14 km)
Accommodation: Muxue 2nd floor 240
8:30-12:30 Upper Yubeng 🚶 Ice Lake route (6.3km)
13:00-16:00 Ice Lake route 🚶 Upper Yubeng (6.3km)
16:30-17:30 Upper Yubeng 🚶 Lower Yubeng (1.2km)
Departed Upper Yubeng. The climb to Xiaonong Pass was steep due to rain, but the trail to Xiaonong Base Camp was easier. Be extra careful descending in the rain—anti-slip, anti-slip, anti-slip! Youth has no price tag—sliding from the top to the bottom (my buddy slid all the way down; I laughed all the way down).

Day 4
Lower Yubeng-Sacred Waterfall-Lower Yubeng-Nilong-Shangri-La (14 km-pickup truck 1 hour 98/person-2 hours Nilong/7 km-4.5 hours)
7:30-10:00 Lower Yubeng 🚶 Sacred Waterfall route (6.6km)
10:30-12:30 Sacred Waterfall route 🚶 Lower Yubeng (6.6km)
14:30-15:30 Lower Yubeng 🛻 Dajinnong
15:30-17:30 Dajinnong 🚶 Nongnong Village (7.6km)
17:30-22:00 Nongnong Village 🚗 Shangri-La Dukezong
The Sacred Waterfall route is Yubeng’s easiest hike, fully paved with great scenery. To return to Shangri-La that night, we opted for the pickup truck.

Day 5
Shangri-La (exploring the ancient town)-Kunming-Zigong
Accommodation: Bolang 298, Lakeside car rental 50, Food 100
Xinqiao (not as impressive as my first visit in 2018)
Ama’s Butter Tea (butter cheese)
Iron Plate BBQ (30/serving, recommended)
Crossing mountains to find joy~