Yunnan,What I truly remember is the coolness of the wind pouring into my sleeves while riding an electric bike by the Erhai Lake, the first breath of oxygen I took at the foot of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the creaking sound of my wooden hair as the Shangri La prayer wheel rotates.
This article does not include a 'must check list', only a route that you will not regret, and a few truths that can help you avoid pitfalls.
Why this line
Dali has an altitude of about 2000 meters, Lijiang has an altitude of about 2400 meters, and Shangri La has an altitude of about 3300 meters. From low to high, the body has a cushion, this is the order arranged by God, don't do it in reverse.
High speed rail is now very convenient: it takes about 1.5 to 2 hours from Dali to Lijiang, and the ticket price is around 80 yuan. You can take a bus or carpool from Lijiang to Shangri La, and walk along the Jinsha River. The scenery itself is worth the ticket price.
Yunnan tourism recommendationsDali enters, Shangri La exits, do not turn back. Seven days is just right, eight days is calm.
Dali: The correct way to open Erhai Lake is not by chartering a car
The first thing many people do when they arrive in Dali is to find a chartered driver. My suggestion is to rent an electric car first.
The Haixi Ecological Corridor only allows bicycles and scenic electric vehicles to enter, without any interference from motor vehicles. Watching the sunrise at Longkan Pier is a ceiling level experience. In the early morning, there is a thin mist on the water surface paired with water fir trees. It is free, just navigate to "Longkan Ecological Park". Panxi S Bay has many people who ride hundreds of meters to the north. The coastline is the same. No one has yet scrambled for a plane seat.
Xizhou Baba is made with savory scallions, while Sweet Cake is the tourist version. Locals don't eat like this.
To be honest, riding an electric donkey for 130 kilometers around the lake in a day will be useless. Sisters with ordinary physical strength can spend two days, or ride bikes in Haixi or charter bikes in Haidong. Don't try to be strong.
Lijiang: Cableway tickets are the lifeline of this trip
Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Cableway Ticket, available seven days in advance at 8 pm, can be purchased through the "Lijiang Tourism Group" mini program.
This is not an exaggeration. During peak season, there is no shortage of customers. Each account is limited to one purchase within 90 days, and refunds or non payments will be counted as one purchase. Don't be clumsy and messy.
If you are taking care of the elderly and children, or have no confidence in high altitude sickness, the combination of Yunshanping and Lanyuegu is completely sufficient. The water in Blue Moon Valley is Tiffany Blue. Walking for twenty minutes to explore the core area saves money on electric scooters. The scenery of the 4680 meter cableway is the most stunning, but it also has the highest risk of adverse reactions. We should act within our means.
I live in Shuhe, an ancient city. At night, I quietly listen to folk songs, and during the day, I take a taxi to visit Dayan. La Rib Hot Pot goes to a local restaurant in Xiangshan Market, with an average of 50-60 yuan per person.
Shangri La: Gao Rong is serious, don't be stubborn
The iron rule upon arrival on the first day: do not wash your hair or take a shower, do not jump, and slow down your movements.
In the morning, the best lighting is at Songzanlin Temple, with a golden roof and smooth light, and a red wall for filming. Admission fee of 90 includes sightseeing bus, slow walking on the stairs, and short skirts and sunglasses are prohibited inside the temple.
Napahai Navigation has a "Lake Ring Road", do not navigate to "Yila Grassland", you will be taken to a paid racecourse. The area around the lake is about 40 kilometers away, and we recommend the section in Hamugu Village. There is a free pastoral trail that allows you to enter the grassland and freely take pictures of herds of cattle and sheep.
Oxygen cylinders can be purchased at the ancient city pharmacy for around 20 yuan, doubling the price in the scenic area. The world's largest prayer wheel in Dukezong Guishan Park requires the joint efforts of about ten people to turn it clockwise, praying for the family.
A few things that nobody told you
Firstly, the most expensive thing in Yunnan is not the ticket, but the time wasted by taking the wrong path. Erhai Lake Ring is free, Shaxi Ancient Town is free, and Napahai Lake Ring is free. The core of charging is just a few, just pick two or three to go in.
Secondly, avoid restaurants located in the center of the ancient city. Take two steps into the alley, cut the price in half, and double the taste. Dali's roasted milk fan dipped in rose sauce, Lijiang's preserved pork ribs, and Shangri La's yak meat hotpot paired with crispy oil tea are all things that locals will eat.
Thirdly, don't expect to complete all the attractions in seven days. This line is ultimately not a punch list, it's a rhythm. Dali slow, Lijiang strolls, Shangri La reveres. Choosing two or three people you really want to go to, sitting down and daydreaming, is worth a hundred times more than rushing.
Finally
From Erhai Lake to Snow Mountain, this journey will pass through many moments.
It could be the layer of gold rising on the water surface at the sunrise of Longkan Wharf, the scorching sensation of the stones by the Blue Moon Valley, the breath you took on the steps of Songzanlin Temple, or the name you silently recited in your heart as the prayer wheel rotates.
Yunnan will not mistreat those who come seriously. It just needs you to slow down a bit, even slower.
