3-Day 2-Night Luxury Wild Escape in Lijiang: Camping Afternoon Tea at the Foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain & Exploring an Ancient Town

This was my first flight of 2022, destination: Lijiang. This time in Lijiang, I also saw the first snow of 2022. And at that moment, I was at the foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, inside a tent in the snow mountain camp, sipping my first cup of wild luxury coffee of 2022.

Day 1: Chongqing - Lijiang, check in at Lijiang Fuyou City Albion Resort Apartments, luxury afternoon tea at Albion Snow Mountain Camp, dinner: yak hot pot. Day 2: AHAVA SPA, Baisha Ancient Town, Western dinner at Albion Snow Mountain Lake Camp. Day 3: Shuhe Ancient Town, Lijiang - Chongqing.

This was also my first experience of the purity and joy brought by a luxury tent camp. Such close contact with nature, returning to the essence of the wild, yet still enjoying a delicious cup of coffee with afternoon tea, allowing the primitive to resonate with my soul.

I've lost count of how many times I've been to Lijiang, from youth hostels at the beginning to inns in old towns, to business trips in city hotels... This time, I didn't follow the busy mode of "checking in," "rushing to scenic spots," or "business receptions." Instead, I chose a quiet, enjoyable stay in one place, with a travel style that embraces nature without giving up luxury, experiencing the most comfortable lodging in the pristine wilderness — [Albion Lake Camp Resort Apartments].

Opened in January 2022, Lijiang Fuyou City Albion Resort Apartments are right at the base of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, adjacent to Baisha Ancient Town, backed by Yuhu Village, and only about 5 kilometers from Shuhe Ancient Town. Although it's called an apartment, the service and facilities are on par with five-star hotels. After landing, I took a taxi heading straight toward the snow mountain, feeling it getting closer and closer.

Staff dressed in ethnic costumes from Yunnan handed over hot towels and tea with warm smiles and handled check-in efficiently. The young man even carried our luggage all the way to the room door and gave a detailed introduction. The entire apartment complex features courtyard layouts, perfect for family stays. In the shared garden space, you can brew a pot of tea and chat joyfully with family.

The exterior combines natural wood with gray stone walls, preserving the simplicity and tradition of Lijiang, Yunnan. There are 107 mountainside rooms in total, including mountainside king rooms, mountainside twin rooms, mountainside deluxe king rooms, and mountainside two-bedroom suites. They are mainly in natural wood tones, each with an open balcony where you can "sit and watch clouds drift and gather, savor the sunset glow."

The rooms are based on off-white tones, feeling warm and cozy. Greenery embellishes everywhere, with materials like rattan and silk textures, complemented by pottery and wood carving artworks — the style is simple and understated.

Upon entering, I saw a welcome card, fruit, and a gift — two wind chimes with different beautiful meanings that are now part of my home in Chongqing. I'm very grateful.

My favorite corner in the room is this faux fireplace. Large floor-to-ceiling windows ensure ample sunlight. Here, watching the snow mountain and sea of clouds outside, sipping coffee, reading a book — it's cozy, warm, and peaceful.

The room is fully equipped with a complete AHAVA bath amenity set, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, Slumberland mattress with soft down duvet, an open kitchen with full cooking equipment like an induction stove, capsule coffee machine, minibar, tea bags, and soft drinks, plus a 55-inch HD LCD TV, Siemens washer-dryer... Beyond the comfort of a hotel, it adds a touch of home warmth and belonging.

Beyond the room, the surprising highlight is its private snow mountain camp! Nestled among lush green mountains and villages, it overlooks picturesque lake and mountain scenery. Here, you can stroll through mountain greenery, head to the luxury camp, and enjoy a new vacation life "from tranquility to vitality."

From the room, you can walk or take the resort's free shuttle to the private Albion Snow Mountain Camp. I reserved afternoon tea there, eager to experience Glamping — glamorous camping.

It was my first time enjoying such an exquisite camping afternoon tea, in such a stunning landscape of mountain, lake, and forest. In the distance, local villages with rising cooking smoke; beneath the swirling clouds of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the wind blowing across the lake, sunshine and dew, century-old trees, flowers and insects singing... The emerald lake nearby mirrors the clear distant sky, as if bringing the snow mountain right into the camp.

The outdoor tents at the camp come from Tentipi of Sweden. The camp also features five independent outdoor adventure Safir™ tents as an extended outdoor stay experience, plus two connected Stratus™72 tents with sides raised all around.

From sunshine to sunset, we experienced Glamping camping with a relaxed, carefree attitude. We chatted and laughed over afternoon tea, temporarily forgetting time, phones, worries, and the fast pace of city life...

Afternoon tea here requires advance reservation. Since I was staying at the apartment and had butler service, I booked directly, very convenient. Price: 90 yuan per person, including freshly ground hand-brewed coffee.

During this Lijiang vacation, I spent a lot of time at the camp, because I particularly loved the tranquility, openness, nature, and the wild-luxury feel the tents provided.

Besides afternoon tea, the snow mountain camp's scenery is breathtaking! Here, I encountered a 300-year-old sacred tree. The tree is named Wishing Tree — meeting it means your wishes come true.

I especially loved the "Sun and Moon Chairs" on Mirror Lake, their serene beauty shimmering in the ripples, the simple charm of "still shadows sitting still."

The Explosive Light: a withered willow springing back to life, another natural sculpture.

Walking through the archway, you see the snow mountain; when the wind blows, the bells on the arch tinkle into music.

This place preserves its original natural look, so it feels very pure. The camp has a few photo props that, without harming nature, help you find the best photo spots — like the photo frame at the campground entrance of the untraveled land.

Many small corners, thanks to their peace and nature, are endlessly beautiful. No matter how many photos you take, it's never enough.

Local residents nearby even come to the camp to graze their cattle and sheep.

The temperature difference between morning and evening at the camp is significant, so if you're out stargazing at night, remember to dress warmly. Here, I witnessed a gorgeous sunset. The three trees by the lake are also perfect for still-life landscape shots.

On the second day, I came to the camp for dinner and unexpectedly met the first snow of 2022 in Lijiang.

Right at this Albion Snow Mountain Camp within the resort, I tried two different styles of dinner.

[Lijiang·Fuyou City·Snow Mountain Lake Camp Wild Luxury Yak Hot Pot] The first dinner used a steaming yak hot pot to ward off the evening chill of the camp. Yak meat is rich in protein, amino acids, iron, carotene, calcium, phosphorus, and other trace elements. Slow-simmered over a fire, its nutrients are locked into the rich broth, creating a nutritious and flavorful base that's a masterful blend of wellness and taste.

I must praise the condiments at the camp — truly perfect. They elevated this yak hot pot to sublime heights.

At the Albion Snow Mountain Camp, whether dining by the bonfire, inside a tent, under a canopy, or by the lake, you feel a wild-luxurious seclusion hidden among the mountains and forests. At night, the crackling firewood echoes with the starry sky above, and you can enjoy the tranquility and leisure beneath the Milky Way.

On the second evening, we had a completely different Western-style dinner at the camp.

Yak hot pot: 268 yuan/person. Western dinner: 288 yuan/person. Both require advance booking!

After waking up on the second day, I experienced a quality SPA from the Dead Sea in Israel. Having been to Israel, I'm very familiar with the AHAVA brand. AHAVA means "love" in Hebrew. Originated in the Dead Sea region, it's a globally recognized Dead Sea mud skincare brand. With excellent formulas and exquisite craftsmanship, AHAVA maximizes Dead Sea resources and combines them with various natural plant extracts, making it a national treasure skincare brand in Israel. I bought quite a few products when I visited Israel back then.

As long as you're at any Albion apartment or hotel, you can experience AHAVA SPA. The treatment I had is called "Tranquility and Serenity," lasting 90 minutes at 880 yuan. All essential oils used are from AHAVA, and the hairdryer is also a Dyson. The experience was extremely comfortable, and afterwards, there were nutritious desserts to enjoy.

At noon, we went to nearby Baisha Ancient Town. It's less than 3 kilometers from Albion, very close. Baisha Ancient Town is truly the most original and least commercialized of the three ancient towns I've visited in Lijiang. On the south side of Sifang Street, there's a two-story archway with a plaque reading "World Cultural Heritage: Capital of the Ancient Naxi Kingdom — Baisha." Past the archway to the south are peaceful Naxi homes, where for over 1,000 years, Naxi people have plowed in spring, harvested in autumn, and stored in winter, living a life aloof from the world. Baisha Old Town is the most representative of Naxi heritage, the most pristine Naxi village. There are many local residents. Compared to Lijiang Old Town and Shuhe Old Town, where most shops have closed down due to the pandemic, Baisha remains vibrant because, besides tourists, the locals sustain themselves and keep the prosperity unchanged. I especially admired the window displays of each small shop, all harmoniously co-existing with nature, lush and full of life. I originally wanted to check out a "trendy" coffee shop, but it turned out to be closed on Sundays — they take their rest seriously! Staying at Lijiang Albion Resort Apartments also allows you to book a tie-dye experience in Baisha Ancient Town through the butler. Baisha's textile and hand embroidery were once very developed. Historically, Naxi embroidery mainly focused on daily items for local tribal chiefs and dignitaries, paintings, and Tibetan-style thangkas. Folk items were mostly "stars and moons" motifs, waistbands, baby carriers, shoes, and insoles. Before liberation, almost all Naxi and surrounding ethnic minority women around Baisha were skilled in embroidery. After liberation, due to mechanization and other reasons, there are very few good embroidery masters left. Currently, the Lijiang Jinxiu Vocational Training School under government support — Baisha Jinxiu Art Institute — is dedicated to excavating, organizing, inheriting, training, and promoting traditional hand embroidery.

Since we came to Baisha at noon, we started our delicious lunch with local specialties. The first must-try in the old town is chickpea jelly. In a flat pan, they fry potato and chickpea jelly together, made from a special, highly nutritious little bean. There are both fried and cold versions. Then, mixed pot dish: a pot of pork trotters and vegetables, eaten with dipping sauce, very appetizing. Water nymph: a plant named after its nature, drifting with the current — its flowers float cleanly on the water while the plant is underwater. It's a wild vegetable grown in Lijiang's lakes, with a smooth and mellow flavor, a must-try!

Of course, when in Baisha Ancient Town, how can you miss a cup of coffee? I found this coffee shop offering a perfect photo with Jade Dragon Snow Mountain — [7 Sea]. Its second-floor balcony frames the peak of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain perfectly. Address: No. 35, Group 1, Jiewei Village, Baisha Ancient Town, Lijiang. Hours: 9:00-21:00. Pros: 1. Great location, in the central area of Baisha Ancient Town near the old archway, easy to find. 2. Excellent views from the second-floor terrace — street scenes and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in full view. 3. The coffee is quite good! Pricing similar to Starbucks, but with such a setting, it's worth it. 4. Plenty of seating. Besides sofas and chairs on the first and second floors, there is a large balcony facing a courtyard on the other side of the cobblestone street.

Since my husband hadn't been to Shuhe Ancient Town, I took him for a stroll there before heading back to Chongqing. Shuhe Ancient Town, called "Shaowu" in Naxi, got its name from the treasure-like mountain behind it, shaped like a stacked peak, meaning "village below the peak." It's one of the earliest Naxi settlements on the Lijiang basin. Located at the core of all Lijiang scenic areas, Shuhe Ancient Town is a hub for visiting Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Lugu Lake, the First Bend of the Yangtze River, and the Three Parallel Rivers scenic area. Shuhe Old Town is a well-preserved important market town on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, a living specimen of Naxi ancestors' transition from agricultural to commercial civilization, and a model of market town construction from opening up and caravan activities. Compared to the liveliness of Baisha, Shuhe was too quiet and a bit desolate without out-of-town tourists. It became the perfect moment for locals to take wedding photos. When Xu Xiake visited Zhishan Jietuolin, he once walked this path and recorded: "cross a dried-up stone bridge over a gully, look west at Zhonghai, willows dark and ripples circling, a large settlement perches upon it, that is Shiheyuan." "Shihe" is the ancient name of today's Shuhe Ancient Town.

In Shuhe Ancient Town, I have a beloved little shop — [Cat Heaven City]. Last time, it was too crowded for photos; this time, I really got to take my fill. It's a mix of general goods, coffee, and books — a bookstore that warms a city. The first floor has tons of postcards, stationery, maps, and themed knickknacks. The second floor is a seating area for books, magazines, and coffee. Sitting on the balcony, you can see the cobblestone path of Shuhe Ancient Town — so relaxing. There's a MiaoKong guestbook on the table where you can jot down your thoughts, leaving your own mark in Lijiang Shuhe. The local specialty refrigerator magnets at MiaoKong feature Lijiang scenery, and they're only available at the Lijiang MiaoKong. After finishing my last cup of Lijiang coffee here, I headed back to Chongqing. Lijiang, see you next time.