This isn't Xinjiang, it's Abu Jicuo

Here's an in-depth travel guide to Abu Jicuo in Shangri-La, Yunnan, combining high-altitude secrets, hiking challenges, and Tibetan culture to help you unlock a pure journey to "Shangri-La's Last Secret Realm"! 🏔️🌲

I. Introduction to Abu Jicuo

Abu Jicuo means "magical lake" in Tibetan. It is located in Xiaozhongdian Town, Shangri-La, at an altitude of 4,200m, and is a sacred lake in the hearts of Tibetans.

- 🌟Secret Realm Features: Deeply hidden in the hinterland of Tianbao Snow Mountain, the lake water changes with the light, showing blue-green luster, surrounded by meadows, streams, and primitive forests. The hiking route is primitive and wild.

- 🏔️Hiking Paradise: A beginner-level plateau hiking route (about 8 km one way), suitable for novice challenges, with a full view of snow-capped mountains and lakes, alpine pastures, prayer flag formations, and other landscapes.

II. Best Time to Travel

- 🌸Sea of Flowers Season: June-August (alpine meadow wildflowers are in full bloom, the weather is stable, but be aware of slippery conditions during the rainy season).

- 🍂Autumn Colors Season: September-October (colorful forests, blue lake water, high probability of sunny days).

- ❄️Snow Scenery Season: November-April (magnificent snow mountains, but the hiking difficulty is high, and professional equipment is required).

- ⚠️Avoid Pitfalls: The road is slippery during the rainy season in July-August, and the mountain may be closed in winter. Consult a local guide before traveling.

III. Transportation Guide

1️⃣ Arrival by Major Transportation

- ✈️Airplane: Direct flight to Shangri-La Diqing Airport → Chartered car to the starting point of the hike (1.5 hours).

- 🚗Self-driving: Shangri-La City → Navigate to "Abu Jicuo Hiking Starting Point" (about 40 km, gravel road requires an SUV).
2️⃣ Local Transportation

- 🚙Chartered/Shared Car: A round trip from Shangri-La city by chartered car is about CNY 300-400/car (can seat 4-6 people).

- 🚶♀️Hiking Starting Point: Usually starts from "Xilianpen Pass" or "Ajiagang" pasture, and requires a local guide (mandatory).

IV. Hiking Route and Core Experience

Classic One-Day Hiking Route

Mileage: About 12 km (round trip), altitude increase of 700m, takes 6-8 hours.
Section Highlights:
1️⃣ Starting Point - Pasture (2km):

- 🌿Cross the primitive forest, accompanied by streams, and encounter herds of yaks and Tibetan pigs.
2️⃣ Pasture - Despair Slope (1.5km):

- 📉60° steep slope challenge, adjust your breathing rhythm, and look back at the panoramic view of the pasture.
3️⃣ Despair Slope - Sacred Lake (1km):

- 🌊After crossing the pass, Abu Jicuo suddenly appears in front of you, with snow-capped mountains reflected in the lake. Hang prayer flags to pray for blessings.
4️⃣ Light Hike Around the Lake (Optional):

- 🏔️It takes about 1 hour to circle the lake, looking for the best photography spots (lakeside Mani piles, east side viewing platform).

Hidden Gameplay

- 🌌Stargazing Camping: Camping by the lake requires the permission of a guide. The Milky Way is reflected on the lake at night, which is extremely shocking (pay attention to keeping warm at high altitudes).

- 🧗♀️Tianbao Snow Mountain Linkage: Professional players can challenge the Tianbao Snow Mountain climb (requires professional guide + equipment).

V. Itinerary Suggestions

2 Days and 1 Night In-depth Tour

- Day1: Shangri-La → Abu Jicuo Hiking (stay in a lakeside tent/herdsman's cabin)

- Day2: Watch the sunrise over the lake → Return to Shangri-La → Songzanlin Monastery/Napa Sea

3 Days Secret Realm Tour

- Day1: Shangri-La → Wudi Lake Hiking → Stay at the Cheese Factory

- Day2: Wudi Lake → Abu Jicuo → Stay at Herdsman's Home

- Day3: Abu Jicuo → Pudacuo National Park → Return trip

VI. Accommodation and Dining

Accommodation Suggestions

- 🏕️Camping by the Lake:

- Equipment is provided by the guide (tent + sleeping bag about CNY 200/person), the night temperature is -5℃ to 5℃, prepare a down sleeping bag.

- 🏡Herdsman's Home:

- Kang bed in Tibetan homes near the starting point of the hike (CNY 50-100/person), experience butter tea + tsampa breakfast.

- 🏨Shangri-La City:

- High-end: Songtsam Linka Shangri-La (Tibetan luxury, 💰CNY 2,000+/night).

- Cost-effective: Bailan Hotel (oxygen supply room, 💰CNY 300/night).

Dining Tips

- 🥘Hiking Supplies: The guide provides simple meals (Tibetan noodles, highland barley cakes), bring your own chocolate, energy bars, and thermos cup.

- 🍲City Recommendations:

- Minzhu Lamu Tibetan Restaurant (yak hot pot, butter grilled mushrooms).

- Talo Tibetan Restaurant & Bar (milk dregs rolls, sweet tea).

VII. Equipment List

- 👟Hiking Essentials:

- Non-slip hiking shoes, windproof jacket and pants, hiking poles, knee pads, sun hat, gloves.

- 🎒Personal Items:

- Sunscreen (SPF50+), sunglasses, thermos cup, power bank, garbage bag.

- 🧥Warm Clothes:

- Fleece lining, thin down jacket (strong wind at the pass), quick-drying underwear.

VIII. Cost Reference

- 🎫Guide Fee: CNY 300-400/day (including pick-up and drop-off + simple meals + basic equipment), mandatory to hire.

- 🚗Chartered Car Fee: About CNY 300/car for a round trip from Shangri-La (CNY 50 per person for a shared car with 6 people).

- 🏕️Camping Fee: CNY 200-300/person (including tent + sleeping bag + dinner).

- 💰Average Total Budget: About CNY 600-800 for 2 days and 1 night, about CNY 1,000-1,500 for a 3-day tour.

IX. Precautions

1️⃣ Altitude Sickness Prevention:

- Arrive in Shangri-La 2 days in advance to adapt, prepare oxygen cylinders (CNY 20/can in Shangri-La), and glucose.
2️⃣ Environmental Protection Guidelines:

- Take away all garbage, do not touch Mani piles, and do not use drones (no-fly zone in some areas).
3️⃣ Safety Tips:

- Avoid periods of high incidence of mudslides during the rainy season (July-August), and ice claws + snow covers are required in winter.
4️⃣ Respect Beliefs:

- Walk clockwise around the lake, do not make loud noises, and do not step on prayer flags.

X. Practical Information
- Local Guide Recommendation: Abu Jicuo Ecological Hiking Team (reservations required 3 days in advance).

- 📜Mountain Entry Permit:

- The guide needs to handle it uniformly, and individuals are not allowed to enter without permission (nature reserve policy).

✨Ultimate Tips:

- There is no signal by the lake, inform your family of the itinerary in advance, and bring a satellite phone (optional).

- When shooting the sacred lake, try using a polarizing filter to eliminate water surface reflections and capture blue-green layers.

The beauty of Abu Jicuo lies in the uncarved wildness and the purity of Tibetan beliefs.
Bring a heart of awe and explore this "lost horizon"! 🚶♀️🗺️