Solo Trip to Lijiang by a Seasoned Lady: Loves the Sea and Grasslands Alike. Netizens: Did Liang Jingru Give Her the Courage?
You will always end up in those places: blue skies, white clouds, pristine lakes, and the whole world singing love songs to you.
Melt into the ethereal beauty of Shangri-La, enjoy lazy days in the Old Town of Lijiang, explore the mysterious 'Kingdom of Women' at Lugu Lake, and experience the inherent passion and exuberance of the ethnic minorities. Everything you imagine about the 'Colorful South of the Clouds' is right here.
【Itinerary】
DAY1: Xiamen – Chongqing – Lijiang
DAY2: Lijiang – Pudacuo National Park – Dukezong Ancient Town
DAY3: Songzanlin Monastery – Napa Sea (Yila Grassland) – Lijiang Old Town
DAY4: Lijiang – Lugu Lake – 360-degree minivan lake tour
DAY5: Lugu Lake sunrise – boating – lunch – Lijiang
DAY6: Lijiang – Kunming – Xiamen
This Lugu Lake and Shangri-La trip was a semi-independent tour recommended by a friend, with absolutely no shopping stops. When we arrived in Lijiang, Wenwen arranged a complimentary airport pickup—very thoughtful service. In October, they had a promotion and gave us a free night at the Lijiang Jingyi Shiguang Inn. For the Shangri-La and Lugu Lake parts, the driver also served as our guide. The itinerary was well-organized, never rushed, and very free and easy throughout, with no forced shopping whatsoever. Our accommodation at Lugu Lake was a lake-view room, which I absolutely loved. If you're planning to visit Lijiang, you can contact Wenwen to help plan your trip before you set off.
Since I had already been to Lijiang Old Town before, I opted for the 11 p.m. flight and arrived deep at night. A big thanks to the driver arranged by Wenwen—right after landing, they called us and took us to the inn in the old town. The next morning, the driver picked us up early to start our Shangri-La adventure.
【Accommodation】
Our first night in Lijiang was complimentary from Wenwen, and I extended my stay for the subsequent nights. In Shangri-La, we stayed in a Tibetan-style hotel with heating—very cozy. At Lugu Lake, we had a lake-view room, and you could see the lake as soon as you pulled back the curtains.
Below are some travel tips.
The room layout and decor exude an exotic charm—rustic yet elegant.
The owner's dog, named 'Huakai' (Blooming Flower), is a girl.
Shangri-La: The Last Paradise on Earth
The place where the sun first shines is Jiantang in the east; the most extraordinary place on earth is Shangri-La by the Naizi River. In Tibetan, 'Shangri-La' means 'the sun and moon in one's heart.' It is the capital of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, located in the northwest of Yunnan, deep in the Hengduan Mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It sits at the junction of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet, and is part of the Three Parallel Rivers UNESCO World Heritage site.
【Ganden Songzanlin Monastery】
Ganden Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan Province and one of the famous monasteries in the Kham region. It holds significant status throughout Tibetan areas and is known as the 'Little Potala Palace.' The entire complex was built in imitation of the Potala Palace in拉萨, nestled against the mountain.
I recommend joining a monastery guide, otherwise you'll only scratch the surface. My guide was a tall, handsome, dark-skinned Tibetan young man who patiently explained the history and culture, and shared teachings of Tibetan Buddhism. Faith has no hierarchy among sects; we must respect differences between cultures and ethnicities. Whether you believe in Buddhism or not, coming here with a devout and humble heart is a purifying experience for both body and soul.
The main hall is solemn yet opulent, with vibrant murals painted in exquisite detail, mainly depicting historical events and legends to promote Buddhist teachings.
The two main temples, Zhacang and Jikang, are built at the highest point, in the center of the monastery, and feature Han-style temple architecture.
【Lamuyangcuo Lake】
Lamuyangcuo Lake means 'Holy Mother Soul Lake' in Tibetan, and it's said to be the soul lake of the goddess Palden Lhamo. Walking along the lakeside boardwalk, the water is crystal clear like a mirror, reflecting the mountains. The observation platform at Lamuyangcuo Lake offers the best photo spot for Songzanlin Monastery. Water birds can be seen everywhere on the lake.
Napa Sea and Yila Grassland is the largest and most beautiful grassland in Shangri-La. In Tibetan, 'Yila' means 'Leopard Mountain,' named after a sacred mountain said to be a 'divine mountain' located to the north of the grassland's entrance. In fact, Napa Sea and Yila Grassland are the same place. During the rainy season, water is abundant and much of the grassland is submerged, turning into a sea, which locals call 'Haizi' (a lake). In the dry season, the water recedes, grass grows thick, and it becomes vast meadow.
Under an endless sky, across vast wilderness, the wind blows the grass low to reveal cattle and sheep.
I recommend exploring the grassland on horseback, as there are many muddy and low-lying areas, not to mention horse dung. Horse riding is an optional activity, with roughly four routes (A to D) costing between 100 and 280 yuan.
Two moo-moo cows that ignored people.
【Dukezong Ancient Town】
Dukezong Ancient Town was built according to the Shambhala ideal described in Buddhist scriptures, carrying the dual meaning of 'castle built on stone' and 'moonlight city.'
Hanging prayer flags is a form of prayer and ritual in Tibetan Buddhism and folk customs, originating from the ancient Bon religion's worship of heaven and earth deities. The flags are often printed with mantras, prayers, and images of tigers, lions, garudas, dragons, and Taras. Each flutter of a flag sends the prayers up to heaven. The five colors—blue, white, red, green, and yellow—symbolize the sky, clouds, fire, water, and earth.
The post office in the old town is filled with all kinds of beautiful postcards. Sending postcards has become a travel habit of mine.
Wandering through the old town, a dog at a café entrance poked its head out curiously.
【Tusi Manor Banquet】
The Tusi Banquet is a step above ordinary Tibetan home visits and is definitely worth joining. Traditional Tibetan houses are typically three-story buildings with rammed-earth walls on three sides and wooden room dividers. The ground floor is for livestock; the upper floors are living quarters, with the most luxurious room being the family shrine. The third floor is used for drying medicinal herbs like saffron and yak meat. Before taking your seat, you can explore the Tusi's Tibetan house on your own. We could eat as much as we wanted—all yak meat—and you could ask for more if you weren't full.
【Grand Buddhist Temple Prayer Wheel】
The prayer wheel at the Grand Buddhist Temple is made of pure copper gilded with gold. The upper part is embossed with the Four Great Bodhisattvas—Manjusri, Samantabhadra, Avalokitesvara, and Ksitigarbha—and the lower part with the Eight Buddhist Treasures. Inside, it holds 1.24 million mantras and unspoken truths, along with various Buddhist treasures weighing 16 tons.
Turning such a colossal prayer wheel requires the combined effort of several strong men. Each full clockwise revolution is equivalent to chanting 1.24 million Buddha names. Three full turns are said to ward off disaster, bring blessings, and grant good luck and happiness.
That day, I turned all the prayer wheels, not for salvation, nor for the afterlife, but for your warmth.
【Pudacuo National Park】
'Pudacuo' means 'a divine aid to cross the lake by boat' in Tibetan. It is China's first national park, 22 kilometers from downtown Shangri-La, with a total area of about 1,313 square kilometers. The park features diverse geological formations, lakes and wetlands, forests and meadows, river valleys, and rare flora and fauna, all preserved in pristine condition. Traveling by tour bus into the park, there are three main scenic spots: Shudu Lake, Grassland Viewing Platform, and Bita Lake. Each bus has a park guide who explains the sights and ecology along the way. The core areas are Bita Lake and Shudu Lake, at altitudes of 3,500 to 4,159 meters. These two beautiful freshwater lakes are known as pearls of the plateau, home to schizothorax and thick-lipped fish. Bita Lake is famous for its hillsides of rhododendron trees. Every May and June, when the rhododendrons bloom, petals fall into the lake, and fish that eat them become intoxicated and float to the surface—a phenomenon called 'rhododendron-drunk fish.'
Shudu Lake is the first stop, with three ways to enjoy it: by tour bus for a scenic drive; by walking along the lake on a bridge, which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes; or by taking a boat tour for 50 yuan per person.
It was overcast today, gray all morning, and the sky only began to clear when we reached the final stop, Bita Lake.
Pudacuo National Park is rich in wildlife.
Heading back to Lijiang from Shangri-La, then off to Lugu Lake. I love both the sea and the grasslands. I saw what I thought was the most beautiful grassland at Napa Sea in Shangri-La, and now I'm going to Lugu Lake to see the most beautiful 'sea.' I think Liang Jingru must have given me the courage!
1. For Shangri-La, it's best to find a local to help with booking, planning, and arranging a driver—it's both worry-free and cheap.
2. On cloudy days, it gets quite chilly inside Pudacuo National Park, so be sure to dress warmly. There are stalls at the park entrance renting down jackets. Wenwen provided our down jackets and oxygen. The driver also had raincoats in the car, very thoughtful.
