Stepping into Lijiang, to the Poetic Faraway Land of My Dreams

There are things that if you don’t do them now, you might never do them later; there are places that if you don’t go to now, you might never go to later.

This is something I've always found to be very true. Unfortunately, even though I agree, I haven't traveled to many places... I admit I'm someone who lacks initiative... Time has quietly slipped away amidst constant daydreaming...

I'm a person who loves mountains and waters, so Yunnan is a place I've been dying to visit. And the most alluring to me is you, Lugu Lake. When I was little, I loved reading travel books; for a time, I had to flip through a few pages every night before bed. The beauty of Lugu Lake was etched into my mind back then. This time, I must fulfill that childhood dream.

Day 1: Shenzhen - Kunming

Actually, our stay in Kunming was very short; we had to head to Lijiang the next day. The reason we came here first was that a college roommate of mine works here. After graduation, we all went our separate ways and rarely had a chance to meet up, so this time I definitely couldn't pass up the opportunity.

We took an afternoon flight, and by the time we arrived in Kunming, it was completely dark. Stepping out of the plane, I could clearly feel the thin air—it takes a longer breath to feel satisfied. But I've heard that the fitter you are, the more apparent the sensation. Is that really true? Experts, please enlighten me.

After exiting the terminal, we walked about 200 meters to the right and found a bus (basically the same as an airport shuttle). It cost 13 yuan per person to get near our hotel, but the wait was quite long, nearly half an hour. Xiao Hei said she was thirsty, so I walked back to the terminal area to look for a convenience store, but had no luck. I found a stall selling fresh-squeezed juice. I went up to check the menu, and the cheapest glass was over 50 yuan. I decisively turned around and walked away. Xiao Hei, you'll just have to bear it.

The bus ride from the airport to the intersection near our hotel took about 45 minutes, not too far. After getting off, we quickly found our hotel. Since we had to leave Kunming for Lijiang early the next morning, we didn't care much about the hotel this night, just something affordable. After checking in and dropping off our luggage, we hurried to my college buddy's place. It had been years since we saw each other, and it was truly wonderful. Memories from our college days flooded back. Haha~

Every time I fly, I always take the window seat, for no other reason than to enjoy the feeling of being above the clouds. No matter how many times, I never get tired of it.

This photo: we were on an afternoon flight and happened to catch the sunset—how could we miss it? Xiao Hei said I was nuts, taking so many photos on a plane. I said, if I don't take lots of shots, how can I justify my 64GB memory card... What to say...?

Today's main itinerary was Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It's about an hour from Dayan Ancient Town to the mountain, and we had to set off at 7:20, so we got up just after six.

Today was a memorable day for Xiao Hei because it was her first time seeing snow. She was super excited from early morning. But... a tragedy was about to happen... more on that later.

We lined up and got on the cable car with four other companions and quickly hit it off. I find people traveling are generally more open and easy to get along with—haha~

As the altitude gradually rose, the vegetation slowly changed. I have to pay tribute to the workers who built this cableway—thank you for your hard work~

The weather could not have been better~

After getting off the cable car, it was time to rely on our own two legs. Standing on the observation deck, the view was absolutely stunning, giving a feeling of having the world beneath your feet.

The temperature on the mountain was very low and the wind was fierce; without a down jacket, you simply couldn't bear it. I usually pride myself on not being afraid of the cold, but I was shivering... Yet, facing such beauty, the cold didn't matter. Let's start shooting~~~ What to say about this photo...?

Not long after this photo, Xiao Hei couldn't stand the cold anymore; she couldn't stay outside, let alone climb higher. She said she'd go inside and wait for me. Alright then, I continued climbing with a sister from our group. She was from an ethnic minority from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and had excellent stamina. She guided me and encouraged me to keep going. Thank you, Sis Xiaoman~ Any thoughts on this photo...?

What can I say about this photo...? Under Sis Xiaoman's guidance, with tremendous effort, we reached an altitude of 4680 meters. The highest peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain exceeds 5000 meters, but tourists can only go up to 4680. Any higher, and I probably wouldn't have made it... But still, reaching the highest accessible point was a memorable achievement.

This photo: about a 20-minute drive took us to Blue Moon Valley. The guide explained that we could either take an electric cart or walk to tour the valley, and he would wait for us at the end. Without a doubt, we chose to walk; besides, the electric carts cost money.

After arriving at Blue Moon Valley, Xiao Hei was clearly much better; her face wasn't so pale anymore. She officially declared herself fully revived. A little peek of my face~ Haha~ Any thoughts...?

This photo: it was around 1 PM, the sun was almost directly overhead, the light was too harsh... and you could feel the UV rays were extremely strong. Xiao Hei cried out that I couldn't call her 'Big Black' when we got home... Alright... What to say...?

This photo: What would it feel like to live here? I'll leave that space for you to slowly imagine.

Around 3 PM, we began heading back to town. The guide said he could drop us off at nearby Shuhe Ancient Town, but we'd have to take a bus back to our inn on our own. I had heard that Shuhe was a great little town, full of laid-back living, so we decided to check it out! It indeed had a slow-paced, cozy vibe, perfect for spacing out!

The one proper meal we had in Shuhe Ancient Town was quite good value and tasted great. The young waiters were warm and attentive, and this restaurant seemed relatively busy.

We ordered a set meal for two. The Dongba grilled fish suited our taste perfectly—spicy and flavorful.

The sizzling plate of crispy tofu wasn't as heavily seasoned as the street snacks, but it was delicious. It was piping hot when served.

It was my first time eating 'water nymph' (a kind of aquatic vegetable), simply stir-fried and quite light. Not bad.

The special clay pot rice had lots of potato chunks, crispy outside and soft inside, along with green peas, diced cured sausage, and minced carrot. It was a signature must-order and tasted incredible.

Took a photo from the inn's balcony—the weather was fantastic~

This photo: as I slowly walked to the foot of Lion Hill, I met this elderly lady. I don't know if she was buying something or waiting for her family to come home; she just stood at the door, gazing into the distance. And what I did was pick up my camera, press the shutter, and capture this moment. What...?

The reason I went to Lion Hill was that I had previously read travel guides saying you could see a panoramic view of Dayan Ancient Town from there. I didn't have enough time to explore the whole old town, so being able to take a panoramic shot was satisfying enough.

Personally, I prefer the ancient town during the day. At night, it doesn't become quieter; instead, it's burdened with things that don't belong to it. The neon lights and raucous atmosphere might be heaven for those seeking romantic encounters. But for me, quietly watching the sun slowly set in the distance here is the greatest satisfaction.

The car was a nine-seat business van that picked us up right at the inn door. As we dragged our suitcases downstairs, the inn clerk also woke up. After helping us check out, the car arrived.

The car soon entered the mountainous area, winding endlessly through pitch-black hills—up one slope, then another, followed by a series of hairpin turns downhill. This repeated for almost eight hours...

After about an hour and a half of driving, I was already losing all sense of direction. I checked the time: 8 a.m., and still no sun... How high up are we...?

Soon we arrived at the first rest stop. On this road, you simply can't afford to skip any rest stop. First, because your back and butt ache from sitting so long, and you must get out and stretch. Second, because you don't know how far the next rest stop is, so you need to get rid of excess water and waste, you know. Third, because the scenery at these rest stops is so damn beautiful—you can't miss them.

So, the moment I stepped out, I was stunned by the scene before me...

Can I call this 'Sunlight on Jade Dragon'? Haha~

Before coming, someone told me that Meili Snow Mountain is the real snow mountain. I was tempted, but Meili was just too far away... regretfully I had to give up. However, after arriving in Lijiang, I heard that Meili is currently inaccessible because the mountain is closed. So, let's save Meili for next time. Ha~

For the route to Lugu Lake, the first four hours basically circled around Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It was then I realized just how truly, truly... enormous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is. I'm at a loss for words to describe it. Many tourists might only see a small part of it; venture a bit farther, and you'll discover many different facets.

This photo: after getting back in the car and continuing the journey, I was already numb from sitting. Not just my head, but my butt too... Lugu Lake was still who knows how far ahead. At this point, I truly admired the road builders—you guys are incredible... My mind numb, I lost track of time, until the driver stopped at a spot and turned to tell us, 'Looking down from here is the Jinsha River, and there's the Eighteen Bends mountain road or however many bends (my head was dizzy, couldn't remember). You can get out and take some photos.' I hadn't expected to pass by the Jinsha River, and I was suddenly thrilled. When I got out and looked, I was entranced... I feel I didn't capture the color of the Jinsha River; it was like a winding jade ribbon inlaid into this three-dimensional land. It was so tranquil that from a distance you could hardly tell if it was flowing. The driver said we would follow this twisting mountain road to the mountain opposite the Jinsha River... and ahead there were countless more mountains to cross. What to say...?

Next to this spot in the photo, there was actually a lot of litter. While humans adapt nature to suit themselves, they also destroy it. I sincerely hope such beautiful scenery isn't ruined by these unnecessary things.

After a nap, I felt a bit better, but still a little dizzy and weak. However, I couldn't let time go to waste, so I decided to go out for a walk. By then the sun had set and the temperature had dropped significantly, so I put on my down jacket and set off. The inn was right by the lake; through the back door you could walk right up to the water's edge. This was my first intimate encounter with her. Haha~ Behind the inn there was a small flower garden with my favorite Galsang flowers. Absolutely love them~ Any thoughts...?

Due to yesterday's exhaustion and discomfort, today we unhesitatingly chose to sleep in and wake up naturally. When I opened my eyes in the morning, I saw the fantastic weather outside. A beautiful day began~ I stepped onto the balcony to share the scenic view with you all. I really can't find any reason not to stay in Daluoshui; what do you think?

In the following part, Xiao Hei will appear a lot. She's my personal model, and since she's not professional, her poses and expressions can sometimes be a bit stiff. But under my constant guidance, she's improved a lot—actually, we're improving each other. Haha~ I wonder if there are any friends here who have seen my photos on other platforms? Haha~ Feel free to share your tips. One more thing: this is truly a photographer's paradise. Alright, let's show the photos~ What to say about this photo...?

This photo: I really envy the people who live here. Perhaps they aren't wealthy, perhaps their lives lack certain material things from the outside world, but living here, what else do you really need? Being self-sufficient and detached from worldly strife—isn't that the most natural way of life?

This photo: This is probably the busiest spot around Lugu Lake, but if I had to choose again, I'd still stay in Daluoshui. I'm a guy who loves peace and quiet~ Any thoughts...?

Today we're heading to Shuanglang in Dali, a place I've been longing for. The journey from Lijiang to Shuanglang takes about two and a half hours, all on the highway. After the heartbreaking mountain roads to Lugu Lake, we could only be grateful for these highways~ During a rest stop, the car pulled up at a place called Jian Lake. Standing on the high observation deck, we had an unobstructed view of Jian Lake's scenery. If we had enough time, Jian Lake is definitely a place worth lingering.

This photo: Uh... because neither Xiao Hei nor I can ride an electric scooter, and we were afraid of accidents or hitting someone, we both chose bicycles... As it turned out, if you can't handle an electric scooter, don't force it—we witnessed an accident along the way. Safety first when traveling. Before coming, I read in travel guides that the road from Shuanglang to Wase is the most beautiful cycling route in China. Whether it's the absolute most beautiful is subjective, but in my experience, I've never seen anything more beautiful. Erhai Lake is incredibly vast, so huge you can't see the end of it. Cangshan Mountain stretches endlessly, like a guardian that has silently watched over Erhai for thousands of years. What to say...?

This photo: Erhai Lake before sunset was so tranquil it made you forget the passage of time. The gentle lake breeze stirred not only our clothes but also our souls. Living in the city, we are troubled by too much noise and burdened by too much stress. At this moment, it felt like a rebirth, as if all the dust from the bustling city was completely washed away. Let's savor the calm here a little longer, just like this, quietly, quietly, gently... What to say...?

This isn't a technical guide; you won't find so-called travel tips here, just our memories. I hope everyone can keep joyfully walking on the road and discover the beauty of the world~