Summer Chapters: A Journey through Dali and Lijiang – A Baptism of Wind, a Pursuit of Dreams

Let me briefly mention the essentials:

1. Sunscreen!!! This is crucial. The sun in Yunnan can really burn your skin, so sunscreen must be SPF 50+.

2. Long-sleeved clothes and long pants. The temperature difference between morning and evening in Dali and Lijiang is huge, so it's best to bring extra warm clothing.

3. A parasol/umbrella. A sun umbrella is a must. The rain in Dali and Lijiang comes and goes quickly.

4. A straw hat – good for sun protection and photos. Don't think you can buy one there like I did. Honestly, I didn't see any nice straw hats for sale...

5. Sunglasses. Even though I didn't use them much, honestly they're a sun protection essential.

6. A face mask. When riding a little e-scooter in Dali, this thing was incredibly useful.

Chengdu – Kunming: Since it was a late-night flight, I could only enjoy the night view of Kunming on the way to the accommodation. I didn't take any photos, so here's a selfie haha (no image here!). Kunming – Dali: Not wanting to take a bus or train, I looked for a ride online. The trip from Kunming to Dali takes about five hours. If I had to choose again, I would fly directly from Chengdu to Dali, even though there are only two flights at around 6 a.m. Dali Ancient Town and Lijiang Ancient Town are quite different. Lijiang feels like a small village, while Dali is more like a walled city.

Set out for Erhai Lake. From the ancient town to Majiuyi Village is about ten kilometers. Erhai is truly beautiful, and I really felt the saying 'living in Dali.' This must be what Haizi meant by facing the 'sea,' with spring blossoms and warmth. Here, the water is calm, the sunshine warm, and the air sweet.

Riding a small e-scooter upward, every part of the journey was scenic.

Bought a fried potato along the way, surprisingly delicious.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain: Dali – Lijiang. Booked a car a day in advance; about two hours. Arrived in Lijiang at night, booked a one-day tour of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain for the next day, and slept peacefully. Early next morning, set off for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The driver picked us up on time and provided down jackets and oxygen. The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Grand Loop includes Dongba Valley, Yushui Village, Ganhaizi, Baishui River, Blue Moon Valley, etc. First stop: we went straight to the big cableway. About 5 km west from Ganhaizi Snow Mountain Village, you reach the lower station at the foot of the mountain, the starting point of the big cableway. Dense primeval forest surrounds it, with an elevation of 3,356 meters. The cableway runs upward from here to the upper station right below the main peak, Shanzidou, at 4,506 meters. The cableway is 2,914 meters long with a vertical drop of 1,150 meters, one of the highest tourist passenger cableways in China. Many tourists aim for the big cableway because it's the only one that reaches the summit of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, so tickets are hard to get during peak season.

Yunshanping (Spruce Meadow) and Maoniuping (Yak Meadow) are also cableway areas on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain has three cableways: the big cableway goes up to 4,680 meters, reaching the summit to see the millennium glacier. Maoniuping is the middle cableway, and Yunshanping is the small one, at the lowest altitude of 3,200 meters. Each offers a different angle on the mountain. Riding the big cableway gives a sense of conquest, a feeling of 'the higher, the colder.' But the altitude is very high, so be sure to bring oxygen bottles to prevent altitude sickness. The scenery at Maoniuping and Yunshanping is better for photography, with green woods and meadows on the mountainside as the foreground and the snow-capped mountain as the backdrop. Each has its charm. You don't need to ride all three; pick the big one and one of the other two.

Blue Moon Valley: On sunny days, the water is blue, and the valley is crescent-shaped, looking from afar like a blue moon set at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, hence the name. The river water in Blue Moon Valley is blocked by mountains as it flows, forming four large pools known as Jade Liquid Lake, Mirror Pool Lake, Blue Moon Lake, and Listening to the Waves Lake. The scenery here is gorgeous. It's recommended to get off at Baishuitai and walk to Blue Moon Valley; the two spots are close, and the photos are beautiful. So you can walk or take the scenic area shuttle bus to Blue Moon Valley.

After coming down from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with time to spare, I found a horse-riding club. The boss teaches you how to mount professionally and give commands to the horse (though I didn't really learn). If you're interested in horse riding, you can give it a try.

Came back and visited Shuhe. This is truly a nourishing place. I feel like I should pay to breathe the air here! Haha, it's so wonderful – blue sky, white clouds, birdsong, and fragrant flowers!

I stumbled upon a really good restaurant. The ambiance was superb, and I fell for it at first sight. I especially loved the fresh flowers at the entrance and the little stream with lots of moss but crystal-clear water. Inside, a singer was performing with a lovely, gentle voice. The food was delicious and affordable. Many celebrities have dined here; it's very popular and well-regarded!

Lugu Lake: At 8 a.m., the driver picked us up in Lijiang and we set off. By 2 p.m., we arrived at Lugu Lake. The scenery was stunning. Once there, the driver took us on a 360-degree lake tour.

During my days here, I kept feeling that Lugu Lake should never be a place you rush away from. It's the kind of place that makes you want to stay forever, and even after you leave, it lingers in your thoughts.

After the lake tour, we went on to a bonfire party. Day 7: Lugu Lake – Lijiang. In the morning, we watched the sunrise and went boating. I absolutely love this Lugu Lake.

Travelogue Directory 1. Pre-trip preparations 2. Dali 3. Erhai 4. Shuanglang 5. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 6. Shuhe Ancient Town 7. Lugu Lake 8. Ending trip, going home Travel Information Hotel Index Guide Index Flight Index Website Navigation Travel Index Cruise Index Corporate Travel Index Join Cooperation Distribution Alliance Friendly Links Corporate Gift Card Purchase Insurance Agent Agency Cooperation Hotel Joining Destination and Scenic Spot Cooperation More Join Cooperation About Ctrip Ctrip Highlights Contact Us Careers User Agreement Privacy Policy Business License Security Center Ctrip Content Center Intellectual Property Trip.com Group Algorithm Disclosure