REISEPLAN CHINA 2018



PART II

LANDSCAPE

1. Shilin Stone Forest

2. Yuanyang Rice terraces

3. Yuanmou Earth Forest

4. Dali & Lijiang mountain scenery

5. Tiger Leaping Gorge & Baishuitai terraces

6. Shangri-La snow mountain & Tibetian monastery

REISEPLAN CHINA 2018

Tag 1 - MI, 11.04: Flug Wien - Peking

Tag 2 - DO, 12.04: Peking

Tag 3 - FR, 13.04: Peking / Chinesische Mauer

Tag 4 - SA, 14.04: Datong

Tag 5 - SO, 15.04: Mianshan und Pingyao Ancient Town

Tag 6 - MO, 16.04: Pingyao + Xi’an

Tag 7 - DI, 17.04: Xi’an / Kunming (Flug)

Tag 8 - MI, 18.04: Kunming / Shilin Stone Forest, Dongchuan

Tag 9 - DO, 19.04: Kunming / Dongchuan, Kunming Town

Tag 10 - FR, 20.04: Kunming / Yanmou Earth Forest, Dali

Tag 11 - SA, 21.04: Lijiang / Lijiang Ancient Town

Tag 12 - SO, 22.04: Lijiang / Shangria La (via Tiger Leaping Gorge)

Tag 13 - MO, 23.04: Shangria La

Tag 14 - DI, 24.04: Chengdu

Tag 15 - MI, 25.04: Chongqing / Wulong

Tag 16 - DO, 26.04: Fenghuang

Tag 17 - FR, 27.04: Furong Ancient Town

Tag 18 - SA, 28.04: Zhangijaije / Tianmen Mountain

Tag 19 - SO, 29.04: Zhangijaije / National Forest Park

Tag 20 - MO, 30.04: Guilin I (Private Tour)

Tag 21 - DI, 01.05: Guilin II (Private Tour)

Tag 22 - MI, 02.05: Guilin III (Private Tour)

Tag 23 - DO, 03.05: Guilin IV (Private Tour)

Tag 24 - FR, 04.05: Sanqingshan

Tag 25 - SA, 05.05: Hangzhou

Tag 26 - SO, 06.05: Shanghai

Tag 27 - MO, 07.05: Rückflug Shanghai – Wien

TAG 8-13, 17-23.04 (MITTWOCH-MONTAG):

Kunming – Shangri-La: 6 day private tour mit John Xie, CNY 7.200, Eintritte ca. 1305 p.p.

PRIVATE DRIVER / JOHN XIE: chinesischer Fahrer mit Übersetzung App / GPS am Handy:

KOSTEN CNY 7.200 – davon CNY 2.000 Anzahlung bereits geleistet (€ 300,-)

Grundsätzliches Programm:

04/17: Arrive at Kunming Airport at 19:50, transfer to hotel in Shilin County

04/18 Day 1: Shilin Stone Forest + drive to Yuanyang, sunset and staying overnight.

04/19 Day 2: Yuanyang Rice Terraces (til noon), back to Kunming, stay overnight in Kunming

04/20 Day 3: Yuanmou Soil/Earth Forest (Wumao & Langbapu sections), drive to Dali & stay overnight

04/21 Day 4: Dali Three Pagoda Park, drive to Lijiang (Impression Show, old town), stay overnight

04/22 Day 5: Shigu Old town, Yangtze river bend, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Baishuitai terraces, drive to Shangri La

04/23 Day 6: Shika Snow Mountain, Songzalin monestary, drop off at airport, flight to Chengdu departing 17:25.

Ankunft Flughafen Kunming: China Eastern MU5724, 19:50 Uhr, CHECK ABHOLPUNKT JOHN XIE

Fahrzeit Kunming 40-50 Minunten, Fahrzeit Stone Forst 1:30min

Übernachtung: Kunming Stone Forest Homestay, CNY 169, inkl. Frühstück, 5min zum Stone Forest

Kunming Stone Forest Homestay (昆明石林居家民宿客栈)

Kunming Stone Forest Homestay No.108 Yi Ethnicity first village, Stone Forest County, 652200 Kunming, China

TAG 1 (18.04.2018, Mittwoch):

Shilin Stone Forest + Yuanyang

1.SHILIN STONE FOREST: CNY 175, 7-18 Uhr (石林), spätestens um 8 Uhr dort sein

Fahrzeit ab Kunming ca. 90min, Fahrzeit ab Hotel Stone Forest ca. 15min

|Admission Fee |CNY175 for an adult; |

| |CNY130 for seniors from 60 to 70 years old; |

| |CNY87.5 children from 6 to 18 years old; |

| |Free for children under 6 years old or 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) and seniors over 70 years old. |

|Dance Show |Free; available during 14:00-14:30 and 15:00-15:30. |

|Battery Car |CNY25 |

|Karst Museum |CNY120 |

|Recommended |3 to 4 hours |

|Time for a Visit: | |

|Opening Hours: |07:00 to 18:00 |

Nearby Attractions:

|Naigu Stone Forest |CNY60; |

| |Beside the entrance of Stone Forest, there are regular buses to Naigu Stone Forest Scenic Area every 40 minutes. |

Transportation in the Park

Travelers will purchase the ticket at Visitor Center which is 2km from the entrance of the scenic area. Travelers can take cable car to from the Visitor Center to the entrance and the price is ¥25/person. The cable car will also drive in the scenic area (since the scenic area is quite large) and it will pass by all five attractions of Stone Forest Scenic Area, including Major Stone Forest, Minor Stone Forest, Bushao Hill, Lizi Yuanqing and Eternal Mushroom. Once purchase the cable car ticket, travelers can take any cable car in the scenic spot by showing the ticket in the same day.

Naigu Stone Forest is 8km from Stone Forest Scenic Area, and traveler can take the travel bus commuting between the two areas to there. The running time for the travel bus is 9:00 ~ 19:00 and it will departure every half hour. Please check with the working staff for the detailed position of the bus.

Main Attractions

Stone Forest can be divided into eight districts, and at present, open tour districts are Stone Forest Scenic Area, Naigu Stone Forest Scenic Area, Feilong Waterfall Forest Scenic Area and Chang Lake Forest Scenic Area. Among them, Stone Forest Scenic Area is core area of the whole scenic spot, and most famous attractions are located here, including Major Stone Forest, Minor Stone Forest, Bushao Hill, Lizi Yuanqing, and Eternal Mushroom.

Major Stone Forest

The highest rock pillar can reach over 40 meters. Walking among the stone forest, you will encounter rock peaks every few steps and turn to another direction – welcome to the new scenery. So if without tour guide, you must have a tour map when you visit Major Stone Forest to avoid missing in it.

Minor Stone Forest

Comparing with the dense Major Stone Forest, Minor Forest is sparser and more delicate. The most famous attraction here is Ashima Stone. According to the Legend of Ashima (an oral narrative long poem which tells the story of Ashima), Ashima is a beautiful and brave Yi girl who relentless fights against the power forces to pursue freedom and at last turns into a stone, and this stone is called the Ashima Stone.

Bushao Hill

Bushao Hill is located at the east of Major Stone Forest and the south of Minor Stone Forest, it’s the highest part of the whole scenic area, and the altitude of the hill top is 1796.7 meters. There are marine fossils among the attractions of Bushao Hill, like giant gastropods fossils and coral fossils, which records the prosperous sea world 270 million years ago.

Lizi Yuanqing

Lizi Yuanqing is located outside of the Ring Road (the road built for sightseeing cable car in the scenic area). Odd pillars and rocks cover this area, sparse or dense, they all reserve their natural appearances. About 300m southeast of Ring Road, there is an ancient rock painting on the stone wall, which draws the images of human, beasts, moon and stars. According to the archaeologist, the wall painting here is related to the primitive religion.

Eternal Mushroom

Eternal Mushroom scenic area is next to Lizi Yuanqing. On the top of the rock hill, there is a 15 meters high rock peak, which is large on the top and small on the foot, just like a giant mushroom, thus, the place is named as Eternal Mushroom.

Naigu Stone Forest

Naigu Stone Forest Scenic Area is located 8km north of Stone Forest Scenic Area (the above five attractions are all in the Stone Forest Scenic Area). Naigu in Yi language means ancient and black. The whole scenic area covers an area of 10 square kilometers, and is made of East District, West District, Baiyun Lake, Baiyun Cave, Ancient Battle Field, etc. Standing on the highest peak and you will see a black rock sea, very magnificent. Tourists can also wander among the stone forests to feel the wild world. Another highlight is the karst caves under the ground. At present, there are 9 karst caves ascertained in total. The ticket for Nagu Stone Forest is included in the ticket of the whole Stone Forest ticket.

REVIEWS:

At the spot ignore golf carts and info that it is more than 3 km to the entrance - it is way closer, takes around 15 min. on foot.

My recommendation would be to instead visit the very nearby (6km drive) Stone Forest park Naigu (we did both in one day), which was almost as beautiful but ultimately far more enjoyable as we saw 13 other tourists in the whole park, rather than the ~8000 we saw here. Naigu is also far cheaper to enter.

The natural formation of the stones is amazing. You need to walk 1 to 2 hours and should wear comfortable walking shoes as the ground is mainly natural stones. There are many many people and is always congested when trying to get up to the top, which is worth the while as the views are spectacular. Hire the minority ethnic group costume clothes for Y$10 only. You can take your own photos.

The Lesser Stone Forest adjoining the Great Stone Forest is more of a park like area with grass and flowers. Here there is a giant stone labeled Ashima. Ashima is the maiden waiting for her lover. Major Stone Forest: Here the karst rock formations are dense and beautiful. One can easily spend 2 to 3 hours wandering and enjoying the rock formations. This place is crowded with tour groups. Most popular (ie crowded) must see places are Stone Screen (石屏风) and Stone Forest Marvel (石林胜景). As expected, stalls renting traditional costumes and food stuff can be found here to cater to the bus loads of local tourists. Another popular site is the Peak View Pavilion (望峰亭), which provides a close and great view of the rock formations. Though the above 3 sites are crowded, if you wait long enough, the tourist groups will disappear in batches. I manage to take some good photos without any of them in the frame. Suggest you explore further and be rewarded with peace. Sites without tourist groups which are worth exploring are Lotus Flower Pond (莲花池), Sword Peak Pond (剑峰池). The best place to take a break is Lion Pavilion (狮子亭). I only met 3 westerners. Enjoy the breeze and tranquility, though view is not that great.

The park makes for a good three to five hours of leisurely hiking and photo-taking. If you're looking for good places to take photos, the Peak View Pavilion (望峰亭) and Sword Peak Pool (剑峰池) offer nice vistas and reflections, respectively. The best times to shoot are around sunrise and sunset, but you can still get good shots at midday. Aside from the popular spots in the park full of tourists and park employees dressed in colorful Yi outfits, there are countless lesser-taken paths that offer nice views and are easy to find - just try to walk away from the sound of tourists and uphill whenever possible.

Somewhat surprisingly, Stone Forest is open 24 hours. If you choose to go at night, you might want to wait for a full moon – park employees said there was minimal lighting of the Karst formations at night. After all that walking in the sun, we were hungry for a snack and a cold beer, which we found just outside of Stone Forest's main entrance at the Shihu Restaurant (石湖风味园), which has an English-language menu, loads of local specialties, a good selection of vegetarian options and delightfully cold beers. We ordered cold cucumber on a bed of mint with chili and vinegar and a plate of fried local goat cheese, aka rubing. The rubing was so good, we ordered another plate.

When it was time to get the bill, we received our last surprise of the trip - the rubing was a hefty 30 yuan/plate. In the end we decided it was expensive but worth it as it was better than any rubing we've had in Kunming.

Once you are through the entrance gate and have made it past the Stone Forest Lake, you will enter the Major Stone Forest. The first mile, depending on crowds, may still feel a bit like an amusement park with the press of humanity and the festival-like atmosphere of Yi people dressed in traditional garb and selling souvenirs, guide services, and opportunities to dress up and be photographed. Breathe, relax, and take it in as you move along. If you are lucky, as we were, you may get to enjoy a musical and dance performance by the native Yi people, one that is wonderful in its expression of joy – and an advantage of the busy performance area. Enjoy, and then follow the paths to move deeper into the formations to slowly find the serenity the rocks deserve. As you leave the more open areas, the passageways narrow and we suspect you will, as we did, become bewitched and bedazzled by the mystical, sometimes towering limestone formations in columns, spires, fins and cones. You often feel dwarfed by their enormity. Be sure to find your way to Sword Peak Pond that, legend has it, contains a stone sword broken off and standing with the hilt remaining visible. Once you depart Sword Peak Pond the crowds will thin even more. Your destination is to the south and heading toward the Liziyuanquing Scenic Area. The path will wind upward and soon you will crest at an overlook, allowing a wonderful view out over the Stone Forest.

We would absolutely recommend you find your way to the “Deep and Narrow Valley” – it’s a very special place, trust us, and only very few make it that far.

Would highly recommend that you buy the ticket to ride the electric car as the walk is a long 3km to the entrance and back. They do check and scan your electric car tickets both ways, so there’s is no free ride. The returning electric car stops at the bus area (1st stop) and car area (2nd stop). So you need to know where to stop if the car is waiting for you.

Go as early as possible to escape the crowd as well as the sun. Even in March, it is hot once the sun is out. Afternoon, will be super hot.

Three Tour Routes: siehe Karten, Dauer jeweils ca. 2-2,5 Stunden

Sightseeing route A:

Shilin Lake -- Entrance of Major Stone Forest – Lion pavilion – Stone screen – Zhu De’s inscription – Crocodile Stone – The highlight of Stone Forest – A Hundredweight hanging by a hair – Mountain of knife and ocean of fire – Better stay over for a while – Lotus Peak – Sword peak pond -- Cuffs and kicks – Narrowest pass – Looking-up and looking-down – Thousand-year ancient vine – Mother bird feeding her baby bird – Rhinoceros looking at the moon – Elephant standing on a platform – Thousand-year old turtle – Bell stone – Natural singing hall – Viewing pavilion – Heart stone – Cat after the mouse – Lawn to jump over the moon – Lotus lake – Monk Tangseng Rock – Ashima of Minor Stone Forest.

Sightseeing route B:

Shilin Lake -- Entrance of Major Stone Forest – Lion pavilion – Black oxen playing with water – The highlight of Stone Forest – A Hundredweight hanging by a hair –Viewing pavilion – Bear paw rock – Whip stone – South heavenly gate – Boa getting out of the hole – A gleam of sky – Orchid valley – Peacock stone –Meditating immortal – General’s boots – Su Wu grazing goats – Ancient wrestling field – Mother with her son – Camel riding on an elephant – Gorilla playing with dog – Meet with pleasure – Long corridor -- Minor Stone Forest

Sightseeing route C:

Shilin Lake – The highlight of Stone Forest – A Hundredweight hanging by a hair – Slope towards sky -- Spiral stairs – Scripture Hall – Winged steed – Mother looking for her daughter – Phoenix combing its feathers – Gunpowder pile – Small well – Lounge – Knife sharpening pond – Barracks of officer Zhao – Cross – Golden cock announcing the dawn – Discussion room -- Red-tasseled gate – A gleam of sky – Watching the sky in a well – Stone prison – Battle between mouse and snake – Qingyun Gorge – Stone peak cut out with a knife – Jade bird forwarding the message – Twirling ancient vines – Celestial musical sound in the cave – Rest peak for wild geese – Tiger roaring to the sky –Golden bamboo valley – Lotus pond – Bushao hill – Monk Tangseng Rock – Lawn to jump over the moon – You Pool – Lovers – Stone cluster supporting the sky – Jade bird pond – Ashima – Sacred horse – Plum stone – Minor Stone Forest

 

Sightseeing route for Head of a country

Entrance of Major Stone Forest – The highlight of Stone Forest – A Hundredweight hanging by a hair – Sword peak pond – Viewing pavilion – Heart stone – Cat after the mouse – Natural dancing hall – Golden bamboo valley – Lotus lake – Minor Stone Forest

Sightseeing route for Expert

Entrance of Major Stone Forest – The highlight of Stone Forest – A Hundredweight hanging by a hair – Sword peak pond – Cuffs and kicks – Sword peak pond to Huanlin Road (path around the forest) – Huanlin Road (path around the forest) – Stone lady waiting for her husband –Mother with her son – Long corridor – Minor Stone Forest

Naigu Stone Forest: (ca. 1,5 – 2 Stunden, 6km langer Pfad)Naigu Stone

乃古石林

It contains more natural beauty than the Yunnan Stone Forest, though I like both of them. The rock types are of wider variety and shapes. There are less tourists compared to the Yunnan Stone Forest. I like the rocks there, at least they are not crafted or damaged with words. There are purple flowers planted intentionally in some area, and a flower arch too. That part looks like a garden instead.

The Naigu Stone Forest is 13 kilometres to the north of Shilin, which is also called the Mozhai Stone Forest. 'Naigu' means black in Yi' s language, thus the 'Naigu Stone Forest' means a black stone forest. It covers an area of over 5,000 mu with a newly tapped 6-kilometre-long travel route. Compared with Shilin's stone forests, this place owns different features and styles.

If you want to get away from the tourist crowds, Naigu Stone Forest is a good option. It is 8 kilometers (5 miles) northeast of the Greater and Lesser Stone Forest, and is older and quieter than the Greater and Lesser Stone Forest. It has been declared a World Heritage site as part of the South China Karst. Naigu literally means 'ancient black' in the language of the Yi ethnic group. Naigu Stone Forest has a weathered black surface. Covering an area of 10 square kilometers (4 sq. mi.), Naigu Stone Forest consists of the Eastern Area, Western Area, Baiyun Lake, Baiyun Cave, and Old Battlefield. It features spiky stones, karst caves, a large waterfall, a vast grassland, and an impressive causeway of black volcanic blocks.

The Greater & Lesser Stone Forests Versus Naigu Stone Forest

| |Size |

|Recommended Time for a Visit: |Two hours |

|Opening Hours: |08:00 to 19:00 |

Eine wirklich schöne Anlage und für Fotofans willkommen, aber Vorsicht am Wochenende, dann wird die Anlage übervölkert und ihr habt nichts mehr zum Geniesen. Mit etwas Geduld konnte ich die herrliche Stimmung an einem frühen Morgen mit Sonne und leichtem Regen einfangen. Entschädigung für den hohen Eintrittspreis.

Weitere Empfehlung: Mit Elektrocart den Hügel rauf bis zum Ende und zu Fuß retour spazieren, Tempel kosten angeblich auch nochmals Eintritt (NICHT ZAHLEN!)

Fahrzeit Dali - Lijiang: 2h30min zur Unterkunft, 3h zur Impression Show

( Abfahrt Dali spätestens um 10 Uhr

2. Impressions Lijiang: CNY 280 + CNY 130 für Jade Dragon Snow mountain,

Aufführung um 9, 11 und 14 Uhr (unklar), Anfahrtszeit ab Lijiang Old Town ca 45. Minuten

Ticket booth Lijiang old town: Take a right turn at the water wheels and walk down the main street.

The Impression Lijiang Show is played at Blue Moon Valley Theater in Jade Dragon Snow Mountain area.

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (traditional Chinese: 玉龍雪山; pinyin: Yùlóng Xuěshān)

REVIEWS:

Eine tolle Show mit atemberaubender Naturkulisse. Wichtiger Tipp: Zum Foto machen einen Platz in der letzten Reihe waehlen. Nur hier darf man zum Fotografieren aufstehen und nur hier kann man die Naturkulisse am besten geniessen.

It was definitely a cool visual spectacle and mostly because of the scale and the backdrop, it was like nothing I'd ever seen before. The mountains in the background, especially on a partly cloudy day so it isn't TOO sunny— is just so cool.

The stage is an outdoor, so they give you raincoat when you enter in case it rains. They offer a free cap with their logo for the sun, but I personally prefer sunblock.

1. It is best to check the show times. According to English website show times: 9am, 11am, 2pm (peak season); 11am, 2pm (off season). This is incorrect for off peak season. I visited in end Sep, it is considered off peak and there was ONLY 1 show at 1:30pm. Hence best to check with hotel or travel agency.

2. Get the ticket early, especially during peak season.

3. If your travel is flexible, best to check the weather forecast and come on a clear day. You can then enjoy the show with the amazing backdrop of the mountain ranges.

4. The show ticketing office and entrance is just across the road to the main ticketing building to Glacier Peak. This is the place when you arrive at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

5. Get the normal seat which costs a hefty 280RMB. No need to pay for VIP seat (didn’t bother to ask).

6. Entrance will open 30 mins before show time. Suggest to be there early to queue and get better seats. Fyi, non peak season also attracts 500 visitors (my estimate) for the show.

7. Seat somewhere in the lower middle section, slightly to the right. Reason is there is only 1 large screen located on right side of amphitheatre. Also the right side has a lower stage section for performers, no such stage on the left side.

8. Look out for the smaller screen on the left side. Occasionally, it gives a short explanation of the performance in Chinese, with English translation.

9. As it is open spaced arena, it is subject to weather. Suggest to bring a sunhat or sunscreen for sunny weather. No umbrella allowed.

10. Bring a selfie stick to take better photos. As such, you can raise it to capture pictures only of the performers and not the audience’s heads.

11. Seat back and enjoy the visually impressive show, lasting 65 mins.

Impression Lijiang show ticket: CNY280/person (or CNY228 online booking) – GEHT NICHT!

Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Scenic Area: RMB 130/p

(Including Ganhaizi, Blue-Moon Valley; excluding tramway, Lijiang Ancient City Protection fee, and the fee of Impression Lijiang Show, etc.; valid for that one day) 

|Entrance Fee |CNY 130 for the entrance charge |

| |CNY 280 for the Impression Lijiang Show |

| |[pic] Note: |

| |1. Tourists with the entrance tickets to the snow mountain can visit Ganhaizi Grassland and Blue Moon Valley for free. |

| |2. Tourists are required to take the sight-seeing bus to reach the ropeway terminal. It costs CNY 20 per person. |

( Online-Buchung funktioniert nicht, Anfrage bei Hotel

( wenn keine Tickets auf gut Glück versuchen, die 14 Uhr Show zu besuchen (spätestens um 13:30 Uhr dort sein, wenn Zeit davor in die Altstadt zum oben genannten Ticketschalter, damit nicht umsonst zur Show)

( wenn keine Tickets oder keine Show: Shuhe Old Town (eventuell per Fahrrad)

( wenn ohnehin keine Lust, bei Regen oder zu später Abfahrt aus Dali: Shigu Old Town / First River Bend

3. Lijiang Ancient Town: CNY 80 p.p. – deckt auch Black Dragon Pool Park ab.

Sehenswürdigkeiten: Wenchang Palace (guter Ausblick auf Altstadt), Mufu Palace, Three Wells, Bar Street/Jiukajie, Dashiqiao Bridge, Square Market, Former Residence of Fang Guoyu

Dayan (Chinese: 大研), commonly called the Old Town of Lijiang (simplified Chinese: 丽江古城; traditional Chinese: 麗江古城; pinyin: Lìjiāng Gǔchéng) is the historical center of Lijiang City, in Yunnan, China. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Altitude: about 2400 meters

Location: Old Town of Lijiang is located on Yungui Plateau with Shuhe Ancient Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the north.

    

Main Attractions in Lijiang Old Town

▪ Mu’s Residence 

Ticket: 60 Yuan per person

Open Hours: 09:00~17:00

The best part of the display is he view of Snow Mountain from the top of the meeting hall, overlooking the town roofs.

▪ Wangu Tower 

Ticket: 50 Yuan per person

Open Hours: 07:00~20:00

Located on the top of Lion Hill, Wangu Tower is 32.8 meters in height with 123,000 dragon head of Naxi style on the top, which ranks the world's greatest. Standing on the top of the tower, you can hace panoramic view of the whole Lijiang Old Town and rivers to the east, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to the north and Naxi villages to the south, which is magnificent.

Fang Guoyu: schöner Tempel

Wengchang Palace - Chinese Name: 文昌宫

Location：north of Lion Mountain, Lijiang Old Town

About Wenchang Palace in Lijiang Old Town:

It is free to visit Wenchang Palace in Lijiang Old Town. Standing in the space area in front of Wenchang Palace, travelers can shoot the panorama of Lijiang Old Town.

( erster Stopp in Altstadt da Eintritt kostenlos und auch keine Info bezüglich Öffnungszeiten

Introduction of Square Market: As the center of Lijiang Old Town, it is said that the Square Market is built according to the shape of the seal of Mu Family. It has been the most important junction station in the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Since Ming and Qing Dynasty, merchants from each side came together in crowds and nationalities came and lived here so that it has been the economic and cultural center. Nowadays, the Square Market is still the most prosperous place in the Old Town, which specializes in bars, shopping and snacks.

[pic]    [pic] 

Square Market in Lijiang Old Town

Four main streets direct to the four different directions from Square Market and numerous lanes extend in all directions, forming a network that links every corner of the town. Streets are paved by the local bluestones which are neither muddy in the rainy season nor dusty in the dry season. Along the street, the residences are mainly tile-roofed houses with three squares, one screen wall, square courtyard and capacious corridor. The doors and windows are decorated with carved images of flowers and birds. Everyday morning, many Naxi old women dance traditional Naxi dance in the Square Market. If you are interested, you can join them to dance together.

Morning is the best time to shoot for photos before the tourists are noisily round. If you want to take a full shot of the Lijiang Old Town, Mu Family Mansion and Wenchang Palace are nice shooting spots.

4. Black Dragon Pool: grundsätzlich CNY 80 p.p., aber im Eintritt für Altstadt inkludiert, 7-21:30 Uhr

FOTOPOINT SIEHE BILD! Beste Zeit für Fotos später Nachmittag

|Entrance Fee |CNY 80 for visitors didn't pay for the Lijiang Protection Fee; |

| |Free for visitors with the receipts for the Lijiang Protection Fee. |

|Opening Hours |07:00-21:30 |

| |* The protection fee receipts are not checked after 19:00. |

Jade Spring Park (Black Dragon Pool Park)

Heading north along Square Street of Lijiang Old Town, you reach Heilongtan Pool (Black Dragon Pool) at the foot of the Elephant Hill. The pool is also called Jade Spring Park, reflecting its endless bubbling clear spring waters. The arrival at the park is along a colored cobbled lane to reach a white marble bridge over emerald water: the Suocui Bridge. To your north, weather permitting, you might see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with its white snow, the source of the Jade Spring and its famous white clouds. The Deyue Pavilion rests at the center of the lake, on the same axis as the Hanyue Stage. At the gate, there is a pair of couplets inscribed by the famous Chinese writer Guo Moruo.

The Longshen Temple is the impressive centre-piece of the park. It consists of a gate-house with two wings and a great hall. 'Longshen' means Dragon God in Chinese, the God of Rain in Chinese mythology. The temple was built during Emperor Qianlong's reign in 1737, and was conferred the 'Longshen' accolade by the Emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1911); this title reflected the high esteem of the Heilongtan Pool.

How to get to Jade Spring Park

1. Take bus 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 20, or 28 to Heilongtan (Jade Spring Park).

2. 15 minutes' walking from the Old Town of Lijiang or taking a taxi. Taxi fare is around CNY 10 - 15.

Chinese Name：黑龙潭公园（玉泉公园）

Location: on the foot of Elephant Mountain in the north of Lijiang Old Town.

Address: 1 Minzu Road, Gucheng, Lijiang, Yunnan, China

[pic]

In front of the Black Dragon Palace is the pool. Two pools in the front and back are interlinked, separated by a stone bridge in the middle. On the left is the muddy pool, it is the area of 2600 square meters, the depth of the water up to 50 centimeters. On the right is the clear pool, with 600 square meters, the average water depth is 7 meters and the deepest can up to 11 meters, storage capacity of 4400 cubic meters. It is Black Dragon Pool. Two pools connected to the water, and due to distinct color of water, it looks like a Taoist diagram of the universe. This is mainly because the clear pool is deep, springs come out by the pool bottom, so the water is clear; And muddy pool water is shallow and have mud into the pool after raining along the hillside, so the water is muddy. Standing on the bridge can find a rare sight: “there is no interaction of fishes between two pools, a bridge cut the water from two pools and the colors in two pools are different.” 

▪ Five Phoenix Tower

Five Phoneix Tower, the original temple was built in Zhishan Fuguo Temple, 1979 moved to Black Dragon Pool. The temple was built in the Ming dynasty, originally it is Family Mu’s villa and family temple. Tusi Mu had met famous traveler and geographer Xu Xiake in the Ming dynasty in the temple.

▪ Dragon Shrine

Dragon Shrine is the main building of Black Dragon Pool, including stage, Deyue Building (Getting Moon Building), distributed on the axis line. Dragon Shrine faces west, it is a type of building with quadrangle courtyard and two patios, and there is gate, two wing-rooms and hall. The hall is single eave hipped-gable roof, three rooms wide, in the front is platform, and verandas surrounded are connected.

Distances from Other Scenic Area in Lijiang:

• Lijiang Old Town: about 1.6 kilometers

• Shuhe Old Town:about 4.5 kilometers

Ticket for Black Dragon Pool: It is free to get into but travelers should show the receipt of Mantenance Fee for Lijiang Old Town. While it will open after 7:00 pm and close before 9:30.

Black Dragon Pool is one of Lijiang’s (and Yunnan’s) most dramatic sites but it does get very busy with other tourists. To avoid the crowds as much as possible, late afternoon is the best time to visit, plus you have the added bonus of having the sun behind you when you begin to click away!

▪ Dongba Culture Museum

Ticket: 30 Yuan per person

Open Hours: 08:00~18:00

Lijiang Dongba Culture Museum is located in the north of Black Dragon Pool Park, established in 1984. Built according to the traditional Naxi architectural style with four sets, the museum has more than 12,000 rare Dongba relics including unearthed cultural relics, paintings and calligraphy of all ages, Dongba scriptures and religious articles,etc.

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Other Ancient Town in Lijiang:

• Shuhe Ancient Town: CNY 50 p.p. Eintritt, am besten zur Tea time am Nachmittag, hat auch eine Food street

It is located in the northweat(4 kilometers) of Lijiang Old Town. Baisha Ancient Town is an important town in the Ancient Tea Horse Road and a living specimen of the transition between agriculture civilization and commercial civilization of Naxi ancestors.

• Baisha Ancient Town: 

It is located in the north(8 kilometers) of Lijiang Old Town.During Song and Yuang Dynasty, it was the political, economic and cultural center of Lijiang Area.

About Maintenance Fee:

Tourists are required to pay CNY 80 per person as the maintenance fee and received a receipt in validity of one week once they pay. When visiting some scenic spot in Lijiang, they should show the receipt of maintenance fee to staff, such as Mu's Residence, Black Dragon Pool and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Specialty in Lijiang Old Town:

In Lijiang Old Town, travelers can taste the local Naxi snacks, like Salad of Jidou Pea Jelly, Lijiang Baba, Mabu, Preserved Fruit, Buttered Tea, Er Kuai, December Ribs, Naxi Copper Pot, etc. And you can buy specialties in Square Market(Sifang Street) such as Dongba tapestry, Dongba tie-dye and Dongba woodcarving.

5. Bar Street @ night:

The Bar Street links to Square Market in one direction and leads to the Giant Water Wheels in another direction. At night, it becomes the most bustling place in the Old Town. A large number of bars decorated in different styles are famous highlight of Lijiang Old Town. In the daytime, the flowing water, shoal of fish, willow trees, ancient street and leisurely passerby form a tranquil and peaceful scene. When the evening closes in, many travelers from around the world get together here, communicating their romantic experience or just involving themselves in the fascinating night scenery. The blurred lights, red lantern, boiling music and crowded people may make your blood boil. Different from the reinforced buildings in the cities, most of the bars in Lijiang Old Town are two-storied wooden constructions, which add more charm.

The bars here are not only a place to drink but also a place to enjoy tea, coffee and delicacy. If you are circumspective, you may find that some details in the street are decorated with yellow corn, red pepper, worn-out bamboo hat and so on, which seem to be simple and unadorned. Drinking beers, you can revel, or enjoy the croon from wandering singers, or talk to others.

Location: the center of Lijiang Old Town, the intersection of Qiyi Street, Wuyi Street, Xinhua Street and Dongda Street.

Bars in Lijiang Old Town are a part of life. No matter what you like, there's a bar for everyone in Lijiang. Cocktails, brandy, whisky, vodka, rum; Lijiang bars probably have it! Sakura Bar, the biggest bar in Lijiang, is highly recommended. The DJ there is amazing. Other famous bars are ‘Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles' and 'A Meter Sunshine'. There are even Thai “ladyboy” shows and cultural performances by local minorities.

A large number of bars, which are decorated in different styles, are another highlight of Lijiang. Xinhua Street lying on the tranquilly flowing water in the Old Town is a street famous for its local bars. Every night, many travelers from around the world get together here, communicating their romantic experience with each other or just involving themselves in the fascinating night scenery. It is worth mentioning that some bars in Lijiang are owned or operated by westerners who have become deeply fond of this city. Additionally, escaping from the reinforced concrete buildings in the cities, most of the bars here are two-storied wooden constructions. In a word, the nightlife of Lijiang is as rich and varied as your expectation.

Le Petit Paris

It is one of the most popular bars for visitors. The romantic love story of its host from France and his Chinese wife has been going round for a long time. Another attraction here is the antiphonal singing by the local Naxi maidens at night. Of course, the audiences also can participate in the singing no matter where you are from.

Location: No.111, Cuiwen Duan, Xinhua Jie, the Old Town, Lijiang

Sakura

It was opened by a Chinese and his Korean wife in 1996. At present, not only a bar but also a western food restaurant has been built here.

Location: No.123, Cuiwen Duan Xinhua Jie the Old Town, Lijiang

Mosuo Bar

It is in the typical Mosuo style, serving some snacks of Mosuo Group.

Location: No.8, Cuiwen Duan, Xinhua Jie, the Old Town

Neighbour of the Sun

It is in Naxi-style and became so famous after a cognominal TV series made here. It is also related with a beautiful love story of Naxi people.

Location: No.6, Shuangshi Section, Xinhua Jie, the Old Town

Prague

It provides drinks, dinner and accommodations here and it is favored by lots of visitors.

Location: No.80, Mishi Xiang, Xinyi Jie, the Old Town

37°2

This three-storey bar is a good place to view the Jade Snow Mountain in a distance.

Location: nearby the Square Street

Where should I color my night life in Lijiang?

Xinhua Street on the right side of the stone bridge is Lijiang's famous Bar Street.

Famous foreign-run pubs or bars like:

• English-run Frosty Morning (雾都英式酒吧, Add: Yu He Corridor #C-13)

• Irish-Naxi Sexy Tractor (性感拖拉机, Add: Guangyi Jie)

• French-run Little Paris (小巴黎, Add: Xinhua Jie) are pretty popular among the night fun seeker.

Cuisine:

Lijiang are gathering the local minority dishes as well as the foods from the western and various Chinese regions.

Mama Fu's (妈妈付餐厅 Add: Xinyijie miyunxiang) has won its reputation with its superb Chinese dishes and western deserts. Add: Xinyijie.

Sakura café provides the Japanese dishes as well as the Korean food like must-taste Korean Bimbab. Add: Xinhua Jie.

Sifang Street in the Lijiang Old Town features stores of Yunnan snacks like the Yunnan Rice Noodles.

88 Snack: 88 Wu Yi Street, Lijiang, China – gut und günstig

N's Kitchen – bis 23 Uhr, €€ - €€€amerikanisch, Café, europäisch, 2F, 17 Jishan Alley, Xinyi Street | Xiaosifang Street, Lijiang, China

Frühstück:

BuLaGe Café (= Prague): ab 8 Uhr

$$ - $$$Cafe, European

80 Mishi Xiang, at Xinyi Jie | Lijiang Old Town, Lijiang, China

Great spot to stop when you need Western Breakfast or are looking for coffee. Staff is friendly and helpful, with good English speaking skills. Prices are much more reasonable than other local choices.

Note that the sign is actually in English and reads "Prague Cafe". Enjoy.

Essen grundsätzlich nur bis 21 Uhr

Alternative zur Bar Street: Naxi Ancient Music @ Dayan Ancient Music Association, CNY 120-160

Übernachtung: Lijiang Xianyun Xiaozhu Inn, CNY 65, kein Frühstück (丽江闲云小筑客栈)

No.49 Zhaoqing Village, Xingwen Lane, Qiyi Street, Gucheng District, 674100 Lijiang

Adresse chinesisch: 兴文巷昭庆村49号 古城区七一街

Tag 5 (22/04/18): Shigu old town, Yangtze river bend, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Baishuitai terraces, drive to Shangri-La town

1) First Bend of Yangtze River: Shigu Old town und Sangushui scenic spot: kein Eintritt

Shigu Ancient Town (Chinese Name: 石鼓古镇) is one of the famous ancient town at the river bank of the upper reaches of Yangtze River. As there is a drum-shaped stone tablet carved with white marble, hence the name of the town. The diameter of the stone tablet is 1.5 m and the thickness is 0.7 m. It is said that if the society is unrest, the drum will craze, but when the society is peaceful again, the drum will close up.

Shigu Town is 70 km away from Lijiang. Bordering Jiuhe Township, Longpan Village, Shitou Village,Liming Village, it is also a strategetic area of each dynasty.

There are two ways of traveling Shigu Ancient Town, the first is to charter a car to Shigu Town directly, and the second is going to Liming Laojun Mountain via Shigu Ancient Town. Departing from Lijiang Old Town and passing Lashi Lake, and then there are two roads can lead to Shigu town, one is bypassing north side of Tiejia Mountain to Xionggu village, and going northward to the riverside then going upstream westward to Shigu; another is throwing over Tiejia Mountain from Tai’an to Baihanchang, going westward to Shigu. Two roads are all around 65 km, the first road condition is quite good, but the second road can give people a surprise that when you go the path winds along mountain ridges and suddenly Yangtze River First Bend appears. Since Qing dynasty, Shigu Ancient Town has formed quite busy market.

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The Jinsha River does a U-turn at Shigu Town and flows northward, Then it changes the direction and goes to the northeast. The curveture of this turn almost reaches a 140° of angle. It is the First Bend of Yangtze Rier known throughout the world.

The First Bend of the Yangtze River is located on the north side of the highway leading from Dali to Lijiang, about 70 km. from lijiang Town. The upper reaches of the Yangtze River is named the Jinsha River, which originates from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Jinsha River flowed southward along the Hengduan Mountain ranges and was forced to the turn to north because of the Alpine movements which caused changes in the earth's physiognomy. 

 

On the hill as the river bends stands the small Shigu (stone drum) Township. It is so called because of the existence of a drum-like stone tablet. It is 1.5 m. in diametre, 70 mm. in thickness, being the memorial tablet marking the victory of territorial expansion of Lijiangs local ruler Baichuan, surnamed Mu, in the 27th to 40th year of the Jiaqing era of the Ming Dynasty (1548-1561). It is one of the earliest stone tablets hitherto found at Lijiang.

There is a famous iron chain bridge (SIEHE BILD) spanning across the Chongjiang River that flows along from the left side of Stone Drum Town (a pivotal place on the ancient route for transportation of commercial goods, particularly tea, by horses between inland provinces and Tibet in China). The bridge is also named Tiehong Bridge because it resembles the shape of a rainbow arching over the waves below. 

The Iron Chain Bridge in Shigu Town, Lijiang = Tiehong bridge, Chinese Name:石鼓铁索桥

Red Army Monument of Crossing the River

The Shigu Town is located on a slope of a mountain and facing the Yangtze River. The Red Army Monument of Crossing the River is in a park at the west of the town.

Sangushui Scenic Area, Lijiang: View point siehe Karte – keinen Eintritt zahlen!

Chinese Name:丽江三股水景区

Location: Hongwen Village, Longpan Township, Yulong County, Lijiang city, Yunnan Province

Admission Fee: 120 Yuan Opening Hours：07:00-17:00

The First Bend of Yangtze River, Lijiang, Chinese Name:丽江长江第一湾

The best place to see the attraction:

1. There are two places to see the First Bend of the Yangtze, one is in Shigu Village and another is on the way from Lijiang to Shigu Village (about 34 kilometers after leaving Lijiang for the village), the awesome landscapes can be seen along the No.308 provincial road, and a special viewing deck is built there and helps guest to enjoy the grand scene of the Yangtze River.

2. Usually the tour group will only see the First Bend in Shigu Village, it will be only a glance from far away and with poor direction. People need to climb the hill at the entrance of Shigu Village to see the panorama of the sight with the help of local people (maybe at an extra fee of RMB5 or 10 yuan to pass their home to the hill’s peak)

Erste Biegung von Yangtze ist wunderbar anzusehen - wir waren direkt am Unfer und wurden dann aber auch auf eine Anhöhe in dem Dorf hinaufgeführt - von dort war der Blick noch besser

2) Tiger Leaping Gorge: CNY 65, 8:30-18 Uhr

|Entrance Fee |CNY 65; |

|Opening Hours |9:00 - 16:30 |

|Recommended Time for a Visit |2 hours |

The gorge is divided into three segments called Upper Gorge, Middle Gorge and Lower Gorge. The whole valley is about 18 kilometers long. It goes from southwest to northeast. It lies between Hutiaoxia Zhen (Tiger Leaping Gorge Town) that is also called Qiaotou near the Upper Gorge and the town of Daju near the Lower Gorge. The canyon is near the beginning of the Yangtze River that is the world's third longest river, and it is the most important river in China. The famous scenic areas of the Upper Gorge are the mouth of the gorge and Tiger Leaping Boulder area. Mantianxing (Sky Full of Stars) Reefs Area and Yixiantian are famous spots in the Middle Gorge. There are rapids in the Middle Gorge. In the lower gorge, you can enjoy the scenery around Daju. To the west of the valley is 5,396 meter high Haba Snow Mountain and to the east is the 5,596 (18,355 feet) high peak called Shanzidou (扇子陡) of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. So the vertical distance down to the Yangtze River is 3,600 meters from the west and 3,800 meters from the east.

Two Trails Along the Gorge – für uns kommt aus Zeitgründen nur der Low Trail in Frage

The Low Trail: Tourists can tour the gorge area on tour buses along a road at the bottom of the canyon that follows the course of the river. This tour road is very popular with Chinese tourists.

Upper Gorge Viewing Platform: Descending to the Gorge was easy but not so easy when we have to climb back up of 300+ steps. The Gorge has majestic view with roaring water slapping against the rocks.

Middle Gorge Trail: And then walk for 1 hour down a side trail on the steep cliff to the bank of Jinsha River to see the Mantianxing Reefs. This is a another narrow part of the gorge.

Once at the stop you pay a small fee to the villagers because the trail to the water is private and maintained by them. Its a steep switchback dirt and rock trail to the bottom of the river at the bottom you can pay a fee to cross a bridge over the water. by the way plenty of vendors selling food along the way.

Absolutely amazing experience!!!! The main part is pretty touristic, but an absolute MUST to visit, while traveling in Yunnan.

If you want to experience a true wild Tiger Leaping Gorge and nature of Yunnan, proceed some 5 km further down the road to the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge (Zhong Hutiao Xia). Be aware that this part of the road is pretty curvy and has now and then some rocks fall! You will arrive to a small village, where farmers have prepared some basic path in the mountains down to the Gorge. You can choose between a view from a small balcony or go for a real adventure – quite challenging hiking path down to the bottom of the gorge. This pretty steep hiking path of about 40min would lead you to amazing scenery. Once arrived at the bottom of the gorge you would have several possibilities to get back – either you go back same way or you choose a wall ladder, which would probably save you some time, but it is nothing for those with fear of heights. Additional fee will have to be paid to access it. Be aware that there are TWO such ladders. The second one is right close to the lonely rock (access also upon additional fee). If you take it you will come out of the gorge in the next village, around 3 km further down the river from the point where you started your hike. Be aware it is also some hundred meters higher up the mountain from the starting point of your hike. That would mean more climbing. BUT as reward you get a breathtaking view on the gorge and friendly farmers in the small tents along the path, selling snacks and water. If you take this route it will take you around 3 hours time for a round trip.

Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge — Ray of Sunshine Path:

There is a network of trails going down to the river in the Middle Gorge called the Ray of Sunshine Path. If you only have time for one view of the river up close I would recommend doing it at the middle gorge after you finish your trek. This is also where the “Tiger Leaping Rock” is located, where legend has it when a hunter was pursuing a tiger, the tiger leapt from this rock (the narrowest part of the gorge) to the opposite side and to it’s safety. As you stand on the rock you might wonder if perhaps this legendary tiger was part mountain goat, as I did. Note that you will be charged 15 RMB for access to the trail (an additional 15 RMB if you exit a different route than the one you entered on) and 5 RMB if you want to use the bridge to walk out to THE rock.

There are a number ways to get down to the river in the Middle Gorge, 5 actually by my count. The first is from Tina’s, the second from Sandy’s Guesthouse and then three progressively further down the road. Sandy’s Guesthouse has access to what is known as the “Sky ladder”, a few connected ladders going straight up the side of the cliff with vertigo inducing views at the top looking down to the river far below. Going up the sky ladder on the hike out is the way to do it (there is a trail that goes around it if you want to avoid it or go down around it).

“Sky Ladder” From Sandy’s Guesthouse

If you just want to go down to the river and back up paying the least amount I think Sandy’s is the way to go. You will pass many stalls on the way down as well as a larger “shopping” area at the bottom. In high season these will probably be stocked with vendors (They were pretty much empty in mid July). They even have signs for cannabis, although I’d guess it isn’t any good. When you get to the “Sky Ladder” go around it using the path going down (you can climb up it on the hike out). Eventually you will arrive at a flat area near the bottom, follow a small trail to the river. If you go left there is a hanging wooden suspension bridge of terror leading out to a rock in the middle of the Jinsha River that would be fitting in any Indiana Jones movie. It cost 10 RMB to use this bridge as it was built and is maintained by locals. There is a locked gate preventing access to this bridge if no one is there to collect the fee. It was locked when I was there but just for a cool picture I’d pay the fee…. for a friend to cross.

Turning right (facing the river) from the trail you came down on, will bring you along a path crossing a few small bridges to the larger bridge going out to the Tiger Leaping Rock (5 RMB). I didn’t pay this fee as no one was there to collect. But if there was I would probably pay. These extra fees seem excessive after paying 65 RMB to get into the gorge. All of these trails and bridges here however are built and maintained by the locals (A couple of families it seems). I found myself feeling thankful that there were trails and bridges here at all and I think 20 RMB (Approx. $3) isn’t terrible, especially for the cool looking shot of someone coming up the “sky ladder”.

Indiana Jones Suspension Bridge of Terror

Other options for the Ray of Sunshine Path:

If you have more time and don’t mind paying an additional 15 RMB you can descend to the river via another trail and go back up to the road using the trail to Sandy’s Guesthouse. Either starting from Tina’s or going further down the road from past the bridge and past Sandy’s there are a few more options. About 10–15 minutes further down road you will see another sign for a trail leading down to the river on the right hand side of the road. In all likelihood there will also be someone standing there to collect the fee of 15 RMB. This trail has a kind of alcove cut into the cliff that looks kind of interesting. I was told by another hiker that was the only attractive feature on the trail and that the steeper trail from Sandy’s was better. But if you have time and want to see more of the gorge you can start from any of the other options down to the river.

Sandy = Tianti Inn

Tina = Zhongxia

Zhang (teacher) = Zhanglaoshi Inn

Looking up from Tiger Leaping Rock to Shen Chuan Bridge

Middle Tiger Leaping Stone: Worth a visit.

This sight is located more than 500 meters vertically down from Tina's Guesthouse. A round trip from Tina's Guesthouse takes 3 hours, not including the time you will spend at Sandy's House beside astonishing roaring rapids. There are two routes:

• Route 1: a sheer footpath descending directly in the Middle Gorge near Tina's Guesthouse to the river bank. I happened to meet several aggressive young men who had just come back from this footpath and said it was extremely slippery and steep. So I took the second route.

• Route 2: walk along the main road to Zhang's Guesthouse and take a narrow footpath descending to the gorge. Zhang recommends visitors to hire a guide for Y30.-. It is absolutely not necessary. Before reaching Sandy's house, you have to pass a wooden bridge over a roaring cascade, a breathtaking crossing. Sandy's house sales drinks at reasonable prices. Don't miss their toilet where you enjoy an amazing view over the roaring rapids.

Upper Tiger Leaping Stone: It is not worth a visit If you have already seen the Middle Tiger Leaping Stone.

This sight can be reached from both sides of the river.

( Sandy’s Guesthouse (Tianti Inn): trail down+ladder up (sollte in ca. 2 Stunden machbar sein), notfalls auch Upper Viewing Platform auslassen, von Zhang Teacher auch Weg weg (siehe Karte), Tina = Zhongxia lt. Karte

They recommended me to go down to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge via Tian Ti Guesthouse.  The views there were supposedly better.  Going down one route and coming up a different route would incur a double admission charge.To get to Tian Ti Guesthouse, just cross the bridge for a short 5 mins walk. But before that, I fueled up with a plate of egg fried rice and a bottle of vitamin drink. I paid 10 RMB for access down to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge.  I also booked a 4pm bus to Lijiang.  The driver will stop at Qiaotou to wait for those who need to retrieve their bags from Jane’s.

3) Mittagessen: am besten gleich bei Sandy (Viewing Platform!), Tina auch möglich

4) Baishuitai White Water Terraces: CNY 30, 7:30 – 17:00/19:30 Uhr, 2h16min (70km),

Ziel: um 16 Uhr dort sein, damit noch ca. 1 Stunde Zeit – ganz hinauf spazieren!

Baishuitai (白水台) is one of the largest sinter terraces in China. Baishuitai of Sanba Township is 101 kilometers in the southeast of the Shangri-la county.

Go all the way to the top to see the real terraces. It is only about another 8-10 minutes walk. The natural terraces are a sight to see.. amazingly gorgeous. Right now there are temporary stones across the terraces where you can walk on to get pretty close for photo taking. We spent about 1.5 hours just exploring the area and taking lots of scenic photos.

Seeing the pools requires climbing up a set of stairs and walking around on a boardwalk.

If viewed from afar, it looks as if a waterfall has been turned to a white stone as it flowed through the green woods. Viewed from below, it looks like a grand silvery white waterfall forming a milky way linking the earth to the sky. Towards the top and on the left of the sinter terrace stands a natural white crystallized stone statue. It is in the shape of a lady with child and it is regarded as the “goddess” of production. The White Water Terrace covers an area of approximately 3 square kilometers. It is an exceptional example of a sinter terrace, a fairly rare natural phenomenon, which is categorized as a surface karst area.

The terrace has been divided from the upper part to the lower into five zones on the basis of naturally occurring features. These have been named by the locals as “Dragon Swimming in the Silver Water”, “the Fairy Embodiment”, “God’s Farmland”, “Heaven in a Mirror” and “Spraying Pearls”, each having its own special characteristics. Viewed from a distance, the terrace looks like a silvery, shining pearl spreading over the land. Viewed nearby, this terrace seems to form a grand fairy pathway constructed of white marble. Looking up from below the terrace, one can see a path leading to the heaven with numerous steps. Stepping onto the terrace, visitors will find themselves in a fairyland of glittering and splendid surroundings, as if entering a dragon palace or a jade pavilion. The spring has been looked upon as a source of holy or sacred water by the Naxi people, to whom part of the white water terrace is known as “God’s Farmland”.

“dragon swimming in the silver water” 银水游龙, “the fairy’s embodiment” 神女显灵, “god’s farmland” 仙人遗田

“heaven in a mirror” 明镜映天, “spraying pearls” 银珠翻花

REVIEWS:

Es zahlt sich definitiv aus den Umweg zu den Bashui terraces von Shangri-la nach Linjang zu nehmen (es gibt ein Bus dorthin) - wunderbar liegen sie auf einer Anhöhe - der Blick ins Tal ist auch herrlich - man muss also rauf marschieren wird aber belohnt durch den Blick - der sich mit dem Sonnen/Wolkenspiel verändert. Es ist doch relativ großes Areal und man soll sich alle Stellen ansehen - nicht nur den vorderen Teil - die seitlichen Terrassen sind fast besser.

We took about an hour to walk around the terrace. They are in the middle of construction and it looks like they plan to expand it into a large tourist destination. Because of the construction we were actually able to get closer to the terraces than your normally allowed.

There's a lady who will uses your camera to take pictures of you and the terrace for 30 yuan. She's been there for a long time and know what angle to take the picture to make it look professional. We used her service because we saw pictures she took for another traveller that we met back at our lodging in Tiger Leaping Gorge. She also show us a natural spring where the locals believe is the origin of the water flowing over the terrace.

We stopped here on our way to shangrila (5 hour drive). The walk up to the terrace was short (15-20 minutes), but always up hill. At the entrance they offer horse rides which don´t take you all the way to the top. They leave you less then half way up. When you get to the terraces you have beautiful views of the valleys and houses surrounding the area. Not many tourists son you can sit down and enjoy the quietness of the place. The road has many, many curves so be prepared if you get carsick.

According to the information at the notice board at the beginning of the track, there were 8 scenic spots up the hill. I found about 5 of them but the most impressive ones were those white terraces that were unique feature at this place. The panoramic view from the terraces was also awesome. Both me and my wife were more interested in taking photographs with the terraces than exploring around. There were thin wire that barricaded around the terraces to prevent any intrusion but I saw some of the visitors just climbed over and walked near the terraces. In fact, there were officials around to ensure no one deliberately damage the delicate terraces.

Notquartier: Naxi Family Inn is 50m downhill along the alley that is directly opposite the bus stop and the entrance to the White Water Terraces. He Don Ce (your host) has been collecting guests from the bus top since 2011 her guestbook suggests, but until today there has been no English signage up on the street pointing the way. I spent the afternoon after climbing the stairs of Baishuitai helping her neighbours write and paint the huge magenta sign.

It is a must to continue walking down the alleyway past Naxi Family in so you can experience for yourself the difference and surprises of how they live and build. The smells and sounds will not not be what you expect! As for the white water terraces themselves, even of a rainy wet day the real stuff, beyond the man made Chinese terraces at the bottom are worth the climb up a billion stairs!! It is also uniquely a spiritual place a the the heart of the local community, and you'll see this best displayed at the top. I was really lucky to be up there by myself and take shelter and found the local hieroglyphics (Dogba) that is still practiced today. As well as witnessing a local washed and bless water bottle and a collection of leaves before leaving on a small alter.

Fahrzeit Baishuitai - Shangri-La: 3-4 Stunden

Übernachtung: Shangajoy Seasons Inn 香格里拉香悦四季客栈 , CNY 78, Check-In bis 23 Uhr, Frühstück CNY 10 p.p., Adresse: No. 27, Yi Ruo Mu Lane, Du Ke Zong Old City, 674499 Shangri-La

Adresse chinesisch:  独克宗古城依若木廊27号 , Shangri-La: 香格里拉

Tag 6 (23/04/18): SHANGRI-LA - Shika Snow Mountain oder Songzalin monestary, auf jeden Fall aber um Kloster und See herumspazieren, visiting a local Naxi family (if possible), drop us off at the airport for flight to Chengdu (departing at 16:15)

1) Bei Schönwetter: Shika Snow Mountain, CNY 270 inkl. Seilbahn (2x, je 20min. Fahrzeit)

|Opening Hours | 8:00 – 18:00 |

|Ticket Price |CNY 270 (including a round-trip cable ride) |

Shika Snow Mountain Scenic Area (石卡雪山景區) is also called Blue Moon Valley Scenic Area (藍月山谷景區). It is 7 km (4.35 mi) from city center and is the nearest scenic spot from Shangri-La County (香格里拉). The Shika Snow Mountain's altitude is 4,500 m (14,763 ft).

Blue Moon Valley (Shika Snow Mountain scenic area) is located 7 miles south west of Zhongdian ancient town (Shangri-la). The landscape in the valley is particularly beautiful in late spring, summer and early autumn. The skiing is very good in the winter. The cable car in the Blue Moon Valley is the longest cableway in Yunnan Province. The cable car gives a bird’s-eye view of both Yulong Snow Mountain and Meili Snow Mountain.

Two cable ways are available on the mountain. Ascending by cable car, you can enjoy the beautiful mountain from high above. After fifteen minutes or so, you will arrive at the charming Yala Green Wave Ranch halfway up the mountain. The expansive green ranch is embellished with wild flowers of various colors. Flocks of sheep and herds of cattle are grazing, with white clouds floating way above their heads. Everything is so harmonious. You will be deeply attracted by the scene. If taking a deep breath, you will become refreshed and excited. It is a wonderful experience! Then, go on to take the cableway and head for the mountain top. In about twenty minutes, you will ascend the peak. Standing on the sightseeing platform there, you can see the eight holy mountains nearby, including the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the Meili Snow Mountain and the Biluo Snow Mountain. Then, after walking for about twenty minutes, you will arrive at the Azalea Bush, where you can enjoy the beautiful azalea flowers. Afterwards, continue walking for about twenty-five minutes, and you can look at the Spiritual Rhino Lake in the distance. The mysterious and legendary Spiritual Rhino Lake is hidden in a virgin forest. Legend has it that a rhino emerges when the moon is full. The rhino is ridden by Shika Goddess, and blesses the cattle and sheep in Shangri-la so they may grow strong and healthy. To the west of the lake stands a hill. It resembles a seated Buddha and is thought by the locals to embody the Qiangba Buddha. The emerald lake is surrounded by exuberant trees and azalea flowers, and is very mysterious and peaceful.

Tips

[pic] It is cold on the mountain top, and the wind can be very strong. So you are advised to wear down jackets, long pants and warm shoes. You may rent a down jacket on the mountain for CNY 50. TEUER!

[pic] Avoid vigorous physical activities to prevent altitude sickness, such as running and jumping. In addition, you can buy an oxygen tank at the foot of the mountain for about CNY 50 or 60.

[pic] You are strong advised to hire a local guide if you hike on the mountain. Otherwise, you might get lost.

How to get there

We did not experience any altitude sickness so we did not buy the oxygen canisters that were sold at RMB68 per can on site. However it seems that you can purchase cheaper ones in town. We did rent the jackets at RMB45 per person which was rather necessary to shield the cold and wind at the top. Go prepared with winter clothing if you want to save this cost. Also a good idea to bring your own snacks and drinks.

We went to the site in the morning and arrived at the parking lots where we were surprised to see lots of pigs wandering around. The guide told us it was normal for locals to let their livestock go outside for food. First, we saw the traditional prayer wheels (轉經筒) on both sides of road, leading to a traditional Tibetan architecture with horizontal Tibetan prayer flags called Lung ta (經幡). There were few tourists around when we visited perhaps because it was not a peak tourism season. We took the cable car to the mid-station and changed to another cable car to the top of the Shika Snow Mountain. Once we were out of the station, we saw a wide open area with wooden walkways which led us to the top of the mountain. Because we visited here in the mid-October, there was no snow on the top, but it still was chilly. The top of the reachable mountain is at 4,500 m height. From here we saw the surrounding snowy mountains such as Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Meili Xue Shan (梅里雪山), Haba Snow Mountain (哈巴雪山) and other mountains as far as in Sichuan Province. There are two locations that are unique to take photos; the first one is the Tibetan prayers flags tunnel and the other one is a stone with a 4,500 m mark on it. The other attraction is the player platform for Tibetans, which it requires another walk on the wooden walkways. There was a remarkable scene when we looked down toward the city, which was covered by fog and surrounded by mountains. The view looked like a painting. On the way down we stopped at the mid station for less than 20 minutes. It was the Yala Green Wave Ranch (亞拉青波牧場) with some cows, but it looked like in the winter without any green on the ground.

The temperature was about zero when we reached the entrance to the Shika Mountain cable car at about 8.30 am. The toilets here at the entrance are considered "decent" enough for foreigners to use. We were adequately dressed with thermal meant for sub-zero, fleece as second layer and waterproof padded jacket with hood as third layer. This was complete with winter gloves, hat and woolen socks.

We took a break of 15 minutes before proceeding with the second stretch of cable car to the top of Shika Mountain. This probably took another 15 to 20 minutes and we were at the top. Out of 12 persons in my tour group, only 4 made it out there to walk one round and take pictures with the signage that says we are at 4500 meters. The rest chose to walk only two flights of stairs and waited at the waiting point to take the cable car. Some felt unwell and did not go out to the snow.

The mountain has cable care that bring you near to the top, and provide a easy ride.

Once reaches the top, we have to move slowly as it is 4500m above sea level. So be prepared before attempting to take this tour. Another to watch up is not to spend too much time above the mountain. We have spend around 45 mins walking along the path before moving down mountain so as not to have serious illness.

Go in the morning. Large groups of tourists come over from the national park and grasslands in the afternoon.

Great view from 4500 metres. Need to take 2 cable cars to get there from the bottom. Started off at an attitude of around 3000+ metres before boarding of 2 cable cars to get to the top of 4500 metres. It is a good place if not raining. Was there when it rained, so unfortunately no view. Walking is limited to wooden walkways. It is super cold and windy when it rains, 1 hour is more than enough to get to the top where there are prayer flags fluttering and a board to say that you are at the highest point. Reconsider whether to go up if it is raining, as there is nothing to see due to the rain. When it doesn't rain, view is impressive.

Once you reach the top, there is also another 100 meter of stairs you can climb up for a better view. Highly recommend going first thing in the morning when the weather is usually clear and the crowds are less

2) Songzanlin/Sumtsaling Kloster: Eintritt mit 2h Führung (ohne Fotos), CNY 115, Auf jeden Fall aber Fotos vom Kloster und Spaziergang um den Lake hinter dem Kloster.

【Chinese Name】: 松赞林寺

【Best Time to Visit Songzanlin Monastery】: March to May, September to November is the best time to visit Songzanlin Monastery, during time the scenery is the most beautiful. In spring and autumn, the scenery of Shangri-la is beautiful, June to September is the rainy season in Diqing plateau. In spring, there are many minority festivals, so you can enjoy the lively atmosphere in Songzanlin Monastery. The winter is cold, pay attention to altitude stress, Songzanlin Monastery covered by snow is more majestic.

Admission Fee:￥115

Opening Hours:8:00-18:00

Attraction Transportation:There are autobuses in Shangri-la County which can take you to this beautiful scenic spot directly, and the buses No.3 can also take you there without stop.

Attraction Travel Tips: The monastery is situated in the high altitude region over 3,300 meters (about 10,827 feet) high. It snows even in August, and has a rainy season that runs from June through September. Therefore, spring and summer are the best seasons for people to visit it.

The Ganden Sumtseling Monastery (噶丹松贊林, also called Sumtseling Monastery) is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located around 5 km (3.1 mi) from Shangri-La City at elevation 3,380 m (11,089 ft) in Yunnan province, China. The original monastery was built in 1679 but was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution by Mao's Red Guard. The one we see today was rebuilt in 1983. The monastery has been completely restored to the normal Buddha since 1985. The monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan and is referred to as the Little Potala Palace (小布達拉宮).

We visited in the late afternoon after 3 pm. We arrived by their shuttle bus from the parking lot. We saw the whole monastery on the hillside once we stepped off the bus. It is huge. Those golden roof tops really showed its glory. The main entrance looks like an ancient entrance of a bunker. Our guide was a young monk, and he was so proud of his knowledge of the Sumtseling Monastery. He asked us to listen to his briefing before taking photos. He also mentioned some unique guidelines when we visited the monastery. You are not allowed to wear hats / sunglasses and cannot take photo inside the halls. You should use clockwise route inside the halls, which is also applied to all the Tibet monasteries, otherwise a bad luck will come to you. A short walk from the entrance, there are 146 stone steps which led us to those halls on top of the hill. We only had time to visit 3 main halls – DratsangHall (扎倉大殿), Master Tsongkhapa Hall (宗喀巴大殿) and Shakyamuni Hall (釋迦摩尼大殿) from left to right. The middle one is the major and the largest one. Besides the buildings of the Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, there is a beautiful Lamuyangcuo Lake (拉姆央措湖). The 1.5 km lakeside footpath should be a good choice if you have additional time. The guide told us the best spot to take photo of the monastery is in the middle of the footpath.

*The ticket is for getting in the monastery, Its okay if you want only to take the picture outside then no need to buy the ticket but from the ticket counter maybe you have to walk...

REVIEWS:

We visited on a day when there were not many other tourists visiting so had a lot of room to wander around the vicinity. The monastery itself is spread over a large compound with a stack of different buildings and temples dedicated to different purposes which I would suggest needs a day at least to have a poke around. Possibly even a few days if you have the time. It's a phenomenally peaceful place where you can see firsthand the everyday activities of Tibetan buddhist monks. Very hard not to admire the dedication and discipline of the monks living there while also gaining an understanding of their philosophy.

The buildings and complex are very pretty with the interior of each temple extremely impressive. The sculptures and paintings of the four heavenly kings are sublime.

As many people have mentioned you need to pay ¥115 per person for entrance. After you buy the ticket you need to take a bus to the site which is around 1km away. This is included in the ticket price. The monasteries themselves were magnificent and there is a lot of amazing art work to see. Climb to the top of one of the monasteries and you will be treated to an amazing view. If you rent a bike in the old town for 50¥ you can ride at your own pleasure around the monastery area and stay for as long as you want in each part. You can also see the scenery whilst on the bike which is breathtaking! The scenery around the monastery is better than the actual monastery in my opinion, but the Tibetan Buddhist interior of the monastery makes it a definite must see of the mystical area.

We followed the lonely planet advice of turning left behind the ticket office, slightly back towards town on a track, then up over a hill towards the monastery lake to get in for free as we didn’t want to take the bus. Supposedly they check tickets at the door but no one was there when we visited. This approach also winds up with an amazing view as you come over the hill and see the monastery in the distance. This is the true Shangri-La rather than the town itself which is a bit sprawling.

We went at lunch time and were able to avoid all the Chinese tour groups. The monastery is covered with amazing murals. It was my first time in a Tibetan Buddhist temple and it was beautiful. You can climb to the top of the temple in the middle and have an amazing view over the city. I also spent a little bit of time walking around the little village. We spent around 2 1/2 hours there. Across from the entrance at ground level there is a walkway that takes you around part of the lake on a wooden boardwalk. After about 600 meters you get to a platform from which there is a great view looking back over the lake to the monastery.

There is a lake in front of the monastery and the walk takes around 40minutes. We spend here around 2-3 hours in total! Enjoy!

We went here in the late afternoon in mid-March. We were hoping to be able to walk nearby and get a glimpse from a distance, but to even see it you have to pay for a ticket and get on a tourist bus that takes you the 5 minute ride to the entrance. The ticket was expensive for what you get, which was annoying, but we were still glad we went. It was windy and cold, and there a lots of steps to climb to get up to it, but the building is impressive and interesting to see, even if it is not the original ancient building. The large lake in front offered great views of the monastery from different angles and my husband and I took a 40 min leisurely walk around it. There is also a good panaramic viewpoint high up behind the monastery on the right.

3) Napahai Natural Reserve: nur wenn nicht Shika Snow Mountain, sonst wohl keine Zeit

Chinese Name: 纳帕海自然保护区【Best Time to Travel Napahai】: The best time to visit Napahai should be June to November. During that time, the grass is lush and cattle and sheep everywhere. Winter and spring seasons, Napa Lake surface is shrinking, becomes large swamp meadow—Yila Prairie, and there are black-necked cranes which are national first-grade state protection animals flying here for winter.

As our last stop of the tour of Shangri-la we toured round the Napa Hai Nature wetland on 22 Apr 2017 led by Kelvin our tour guide from China Highlights. The wetland is surrounded by moutains and snow capped moutains in the distant background. It is fascinating to see horses, yarks, sheeps, pigs roaming around the grassland free and easy. The wetland is huge (45 km ring road) and is scenic. Certainly an eye openner. Kelvin told us the grassland will be under water in summer as the snow in the moutain melts.

4) Shangri-La Town + Local Naxi Familiy (wenn Guide)

【Chinese Name】: 独克宗古城

Dukezong is situated at an altitude of 3,200m above sea level, and is 700km from Kunming. The town has a history of 1,300 years, during which it has experienced both the flames of war and prosperity of frontier trade. Tibetans regard the shade of white as a sign of respect for their forefathers, the ancient Qiang people, who worshipped white stones. Shortly after the town was established, craftsmen found white clay in the region that could be ground down and used as paint. All dwellings were accordingly painted white. This is why Dukezong was named white stone city. On a clear night, the ancient town reflects a silver sheen. This has engendered to another epithet: moonlight city. Its counterpart is Niwangzong Town by the Naizi River, known as the sunshine city. The Sun and Moon cities gave rise to the song 'Sun and Moon in the Heart', which Tibetans have sung for more than 1,000 years.

Sehenswürdigkeiten:

Guishan Temple in Shangrila

[pic]

Guishan Park is probably not one of those famous parks where people absolutely have to visit. But I think it is a great way to see the locals. There will naturally be the smattering of foreigners here it is still quite pleasant. The temple up on the hill will give visitors something to look at. I head up the long flight of stairs to get a closer view of the temple. Actually it was like a smaller version of the Songzanlin Temple, maybe Tibetan temples are all designed this wayBuilt in the very center of the Old Town this monastery with the largest prayer wheel, over 80 feet high lights up the night sky like a dazzling jewel. It offers a wonderful vantage point for looking over the city. If you have about 10 friends with you, the prayer wheel which is like known you’ve ever seen can be spun but only in a clockwise direction as religious tradition dictates.

 

An eye-catching 24-meter (80-foot) tall golden prayer wheel sits on a hill. Though it was built recently for the sake of tourism, it has become an authentic item because local Buddhists now climb the hill to spin it to submit their prayers. You can twirl it, too, but do it only clockwise, as religious tradition dictates.

 

This park was actually a few minutes walk from our hotel in the middle of the old town. We had a great view of the prayer wheel from our hotel. It looks amazing when lit up at night. The temple it self is nothing special, but it was amazing to see the huge prayer wheel, which is apparently the biggest in the world. We managed to get it moving with just 4 people! The views of the ancient town from the top were amazing! I recommend getting there just before sunset. That way you can see the village and prayer wheel in day light and when it’s lit up at night.

Biggest of the 转经筒 worldwide, very good view, the stairs are also good exercise :))) approximately 150 stairs, so not too tiring. Take it slow and steady. We were recommended to take oxygen 20 minutes beforehand. You need 10 people to start turning the 转经筒 and 5 people to keep it moving. View is also good at night, there are pretty lights. Very good!

This is worth a visit, it is free despite what some people believe and it has one of the biggest prayer wheels that I have seen. The gardens are quite impressive and it is very picturesque at night with changing illuminations, nice. Also, locals dance in the square every evening which is worth seeing.

This is definitely is worth visiting in Shangrila as it can easily be visited within 30 mins. The walk to the top for us was easy about 5 mins, however some people did seem to struggle to breath. Once at the top the view was really spectacular of the old town even at night.

Weitere Möglichkeiten wenn noch Zeit: Wufeng Mountain, Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village

Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village in Shangri-la, Diqing

Chinese Name:香格里拉霞给民族文化村

English Name: Xiagei Tibetan Culture Village in Shangri-la, Diqing

Some 8 miles from the county seat of Shangri-la, it is located along the same road that takes you to Pudacuo National Park. If you take a tour of the park or hire a private car, Xiagei is the usual stop on the way back to Shangri-la. More than twenty families live in this Tibetan village cum shopping center in traditional style homes. The village is meant to exhibit the colorful Tibetan culture, costumes, foods, music and festivals. The Xiagei hot spring is an excellent place to relax after hiking the rigorous trails of Shangri-La. Complete with a large pool, several hot springs and optional accommodations, Xiagei offers travelers an enjoyable retreat away from the city and old town. In the village, artisans show people the history and process of making pottery, Tangka embroidery, wooden and yak bone carving and incense.

Dejilin Monastery 德吉林寺 is within Xiagei Village

Just a short distance from Potatso National Park, we visited a Tibetan cultural village, Xiagei Village. In this small village,  we got a short guided tour to visit the largest sutra printing house in Yunnan Province, Shangri-La Monastic Printing House and a Tibetan traditional house next to this temple

Ge Dan ‘de Jilin temple is the Diqing area only honors at the age of 12 Shakya Muni statue and Tibetan Buddhist sects of eight Ancestor Buddha temple.

WUFENG Mountain:

Located three kilometers (about 1.86 miles) southeast of Shangri-La, the Wufeng Mountain is revered as a sacred mountain by the local Tibetans. Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the grasslands at the foot of this mountain have been used for horse racing events.

5) Flug Shangri-La – Chengdu (DIG-CTU): China Eastern MU9745: 2018-04-23 17:25-18:45

FORTSETZUNG: TEIL III

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