6 Days Tour to Lijiang- Lugu Lake- Dali

Upon arrival, the local guide will pick you up from the airport and chauffer you to the hotel in the city. You are free to explore the city later today to get your bearing.

ou’re recommended to visit Lijiang Ancient Town. This well-preserved UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site covers an immense area of 1255 square kilometers. Once the habitation of local Naxi people, the place is now crammed with a profusion of fancy restaurants and boutique hotels, yet its enduring allure never fails to fascinate visitors. You can have an exploration of what the stores have to offer at daytime and stroll through its meandering streets when the whole place is lit up by lanterns and neon at night. The city was found on the streets radiating out from the landmark Square Street, which can help you better navigate the maze-like place just in case you get lost in your ambling.

 Breakfast & lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, you’ll embark on a road trip for around 3.5 hours to head to the Lugu Lake scenic area. Upon arrival, you’ll take a boat cruise to explore its sensational beauty—its hypnotically blue water shimmering in the sunlight. The middle of the lake forms the border between the Ninglang County of Yunnan Province and the Yanyuan County of Sichuan Province. It is an alpine lake at an elevation of 2,685 meters and is the highest lake in Yunnan Province. The lake is shaped like a horseshoe and is adorned with a range of islands, peninsulas, bays and beaches.

One of its most gorgeous islands is Liwubi Island, which is in the middle of the lake and is only half-an-hour boat trip away from the lakeshore. The whole island is lavished adorned with blooming azaleas and sprawling cherry trees. Climbing uphill along the meandering trails to the summit of the island, you’ll see the splendid Liwubi Lamasery painted in white and decorated with overhanging eaves, it holds the remains of the late Mosuo Chieftain Ayunshan, whose excellent administrative and diplomatic capability had earned him admiration and high recognition among Mosuo people.

The lakeshores are inhabited by many minority ethnic groups, among which the Mosuo people (a sub clan of the Naxi people) makes up the largest proportion of population. They have an ancient family structure considered as a live fossil for researching the marital development of human beings. You’ll learn more about their life and unique culture by visiting the traditional dwelling of a Mosuo family, who’ll greet visitors with warm hospitality. You’ll also join the Musuo people at night to light up the campfire and dance around the roaring flames—a heritage that has been transformed from a traditional courtship ritual to a welcome ceremony to the visitors

 Breakfast & lunch

You’ll get up early to catch the magnificent sunrise from the horizon of the lakeshore. Afterwards, you’ll pay a visit to the north part of Lugu Lake to explore the charming Lige Peninsula. It’s a small patch of land being almost entirely embraced by water and is solely connected to the terra firma on its north edge. The best time to visit it is before the sun makes its full presence in the morning, the peninsula appears as an otherworldly fairyland when seen through the swirling mist.

Next up, you’ll be chauffeured to visit Zhamei Monastery, which is situated at the foot of Guer Mountain. As the largest Tibetan Buddhism temple in the habitation area of Musuo people, the whole scope of the complex covers an immense 24000 square kilometers. It originally was a Gelug Sect (white sect) temple, and was later transformed into a Gelug Sect (yellow sect) temple during the Qing Dynasty. Different from the lama temples reformed by the Mosuo ethnic group near the ancient city of Lijiang, this monastery is a traditional Tibetan Buddhism temple. However, it also enshrines and worships the Gemu goddess, which symbolizes features of the Mosuo.

Afterwards, you’ll be chauffeured back to Lijiang to spend the night.

 Breakfast & Lunch

After breakfast, we’ll depart from Lijiang and head north to visit the stunning view of the First Bend of the Yangtze River. It is named as such because a sudden V-shaped bend has been formed when the Yangtze River flowing by, which creates views of wonder. Get prepared to snap a photo of the meandering water embraced in lush valleys.

After breakfast, we’ll depart from Lijiang and head north to visit the gorgeous Stone Drum Town on the bank of Yangtze River. Stone Drum Town is 70 kilometers away from the city of Lijiang and is easily accessible from the highway. The old town is named after a drum-shaped marble plaque it hosts. Built during the Jiaqing era of the Ming Dynasty, the stone drum is a monument commemorating the victory of Lijiang’s Naxi ruler over an invading Tibetan army. Throughout time, Stone Drum Town was always a significant strategic military area where many famous historical events have been taken place. In April 1936, the Second Route of the Red Army crossed the river here and continued to march north. There are memorials here honoring the people whose histories are entwined with the Stone Drum Town. The area is now home to 8 ethnic populations and boasts a greet scenery of swirling rice terraces and trembling willows.

You’ll then head west to visit the Iron Chain Bridge, a bridge built in late Qing dynasty to help villagers cross the galloping Chongjiang River under the feet. Next up, you’ll climb uphill to ascend to a high spot where you can take in the panoramic view of the First Bend of Yangtze River. It is named as such because a sudden V-shaped bend has been formed when the Yangtze River flowing by, which creates views of wonder. Get prepared to snap a photo of the meandering water embraced in lush valleys.

As a primary tributary of the upper Yangtze River, the Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest river canyons in the world. The gorge has a series of rapids surging under its steep cliffs and a maximum depth of approximately 3,790 meters from the base to the mountain peak, and it holds a dramatic allure for adventures and trekkers all over the world. Despite its odd danger, it’s gorgeous almost every single step along the way.After that, you’ll be escorted back to Lijiang to overnight.

 Breakfast & lunch

We’ll head north for about 15 kilometers to visit the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. It features a variety of landscapes given its souring height and vast range.

You’ll board a passenger cable at the foot of the snow mountain to ascend to Yak Meadow. Situated at an elevation of 3600 meters, Yak Meadow is a perfect spot to gaze at the 13 magnificent peaks of the mountain. In summer, the meadow is carpeted with blooming flowers and lush grass dotted with grazing yaks. In winter, it is blanketed with snow with a tranquil allure. The ethereal and dewy quality of its frequent misty weather often adds the landscape with a mysterious and serene charm.

Afterwards, we’ll head to Dali. Upon arrival in Dali, you’ll pay a visit to the sparkling Erhai Lake (which is actually an alpine fault lake) on a boat trip and marvel at its gleaming aquamarine water.

Afterwards, you’ll spend the rest of the day exploring the Dali Ancient Town, which hosts a large collection of traditional Bai architectures. Once served as a vital gateway of cultural exchange and trade with southeastern Asian countries, the city retains its unique ancient charm despite of the constant stream of tourists it accommodates each year. You’ll visit the Tie-dying workshop there, which will sedate your curiosity with the cultural heritage and uncover the craftsmanship behind its sophisticated and time-consuming process. The Foreigner Street is lined with an abundance of bistros and trendy restaurants serving both modern dishes and regional delicacies. You can embark on a culinary tour and gorge on the local feasting when hunger strikes.

 Breakfast & Lunch

You’ll be escorted back to Lijiang from Dali and transferred to Lijiang’s airport to catch the departure flight.