Discover Lijiang, Discover the Most Beautiful Scenery

Day 1: Here I am!

At 4:00 p.m., I landed and the inn (with free airport pickup) brought me to Shuhe Ancient Town. I had the signature small pot rice, and it was delicious! Shuhe Ancient Town is quiet and comfortable, a different setting and a different mood.

In the heart of Shuhe Ancient Town, by a little bridge and flowing stream, the setting was truly lovely. There was live singing from the bar opposite; eating while listening to music was so relaxing.

Their signature dish, small pot rice, was meticulously prepared—generous toppings, fragrant, with just the right softness. Every bite was a delight, so aromatic that I couldn't stop eating.

Dongba roasted pork was fatty but not greasy, perfectly grilled. Paired with chili powder, it was simply perfect—amazing flavor, leaving me craving more.

For Naxi cured ribs, there are many ways to cook them—some boiled, some stir-fried. We'd tried the boiled version before, so this time we specifically ordered the stir-fried cured ribs. It had a distinct flavor; both methods have their merits, as long as you enjoy it!

Warm service, lovely ambiance—this is a restaurant I'd definitely revisit. Highly recommended!

Day 2: DIY Tour

In the morning, I took bus No. 11 (1 yuan) from the ancient town entrance to Lijiang Ancient Town. Entry was free, no ancient town maintenance fee required.

After lunch, I headed to Mu's Residence (ticket 43 yuan, booked online and collected on site), the filming location of 'Mu's Mansion'. From here, you can see a panoramic view of Dayan Ancient Town.

Day 3: Trekking

At 8:00 a.m., we boarded the vehicle at Dayan Ancient Town gate, starting a 4-day small-group pure-play tour. By 10:00, we arrived in Shangri-La and began a 3-hour hike. It was tough, and climbing an 80-degree ladder was a bit dangerous. I must praise the youngest member of the group—8-year-old Little Taozi, so brave! Personally, I thought it was a near-perfect experience.

After lunch, we went to Xiaozhongdian. From there, we entered the high-altitude area above 3,000 meters, saw snow, and the temperature dropped. In the afternoon, we arrived at Guishan Park in Dukezong Ancient Town. I turned the world's largest prayer wheel three times and overlooked the ancient city.

Day 4: Moon Bay & Baimang Snow Mountain

In the morning, we went to a Tibetan family's home for breakfast. The breakfast was varied, and the butter tea was delicious—so creamy and fragrant! Then we visited Songzanlin Monastery, which was just an average attraction.

After lunch in town, we arrived at Moon Bay half an hour later. The scenery was nice, but the wind was strong.

Crossing Baimang Snow Mountain: Baimang Snow Mountain is a cluster of snow-capped peaks. Our car wound along the snow-covered mountain roads, some sections icy and a bit treacherous. Driver Hao-jie was impressive, so steady—hats off! From the horizon, admiring the surrounding snowy peaks was breathtaking. The main peak, Zhalachuni, at 5,429 meters, is named for its resemblance to a horse's head.

After crossing the 4,292-meter Baima Snow Mountain Pass, we reached Nongwu Ding—the Thirteen Welcome Platforms. Then we continued to Feilai Temple, hoping to see the sunset glow over Meili. To our disappointment, thick clouds hid the entire Meili Snow Mountain. What a pity! We prayed for strong winds tonight to blow the clouds away.

Day 5: Moonlit & Sunlit Gold Mountains

Woke up at 7:30 a.m., drew the curtains—wow! What a stroke of luck! A full moon was illuminating the entire Meili Snow Mountain. A clear night sky, the round moon, and the majestic Meili—just stunningly beautiful!

Then we waited for the sunrise from the east. At 8:10, the sun began to light up Kawagebo, the main peak of Meili (the highest in Yunnan), at 6,740 meters. Golden sunlight spilled over the snowy peak—so amazing!

Day 6: Pudacuo National Park

At 8:00 a.m., we set off for Pudacuo. The weather was freezing! Soon after getting in the car, the windows iced up, and Driver Hao-jie had to duck down to see the road. The first section of Pudacuo Park featured a lake completely covered in white snow. The second section, Milittang Alpine Pasture, looked a bit bleak in winter.

After the visit, we returned to Lijiang.

After breakfast, we hired a taxi to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (round trip 200 yuan). The entry fee plus eco-bus was 125 yuan per person. Since we'd seen enough snow mountains in the previous days and Jade Dragon's snowline had receded—leaving barely any snow, just bare rock—we skipped the big cable car. Inside the scenic area, we took the eco-bus and hiked for four hours. The scenery was pretty good!

Day 8: Baisha Ancient Town

In the morning, I took bus No. 11 to Shuhe Road junction, then switched to bus No. 6 to Baisha Ancient Town. Lijiang's ancient towns are like three sisters: the bustling, commercialized eldest sister—Dayan Ancient Town; the quiet, clean, developing second sister—Shuhe Ancient Town; and the primitive, backward, and desolate younger sister—Baisha Ancient Town. I personally preferred Shuhe.

Back, I continued exploring Dayan Ancient Town and Sifang Street.

Journey home, a perfect ending, full of love and fond memories.