While Dali is no longer the somewhat off-the-beaten-path place it once was and Lijiang is a popular domestic and international tourist favorite, Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hǔtiào Xiá, 虎跳峡) is still a place where travelers can escape the crowds and find a cheap bed to sleep in. A thin, winding trail hugs the side of the Haba Xue Shan (Hābāxuě Shān, 哈巴雪山) range as the white-capped waters of the Jinsha River (Jīnshā Jiāng, 金沙江; part of the Yangtze River) swirl far below and the steep mountain slope and craggy peaks of the Yulong Xue Shan range rise on the other side. The trek along the high trail (essentially the only trail since the lower trail was paved) starts near Qiaotou (Qiáotóu, 桥头) and goes up and down the side of the mountains until it descends again at the far side near Middle Tiger Leaping Stone (Zhōng Hǔtiào Shí, 中虎跳石). Hiking the ... more >>

Lijiang's Old Town, also called Dayan, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that survived a 1996 earthquake that leveled most of the modern buildings in town. In the wake of the disaster, Dayan gained fame as a quaint and authentic outpost of Yunnan culture and architecture and went from backpacker secret to tour package feature. Since then, it has struggled to retain its millennium-old identity in the face of mounting crowds, hype and development. Many local Naxi have left their distinctive homes as hotels, restaurants, night clubs and boutiques have moved in, changing the fundamental character of this lovely mountain town while maintaining much of its outward charm. Nonetheless, wandering through the narrow cobbled lanes and along quick-moving channels of alpine stream water rushing through town is exhilarating, and the upside of the tourist boom is that there are a range of option... more >>

Baishui means "white water" and the White Water River gets its name not from rapids, but from its clear and sometimes milky glacial water that comes filtered and pure from the mountains into the riverbed. The water is icy cold year round (in other times local women would test their beaus' love by seeing how long they could tolerate the biting cold water), and the surroundings are always impressive. The mountains form the backdrop and foliage lines the banks—lush and green in spring (early summer's rhododendrons are not to be missed) and vibrant and bronzed with fall's colors. You can hike along the river's edge or ride on a horse or yak. There are lovely views from the nearby foothills. Yunnan travel guide | Lijiang travel guide | Lijiang flights | Lijiang hotels Lijiang tours & activities | Lijiang on the China Travel Blog more >>

The collection of buildings known as the "Mansion of the Mu Clan" is like a miniature Forbidden City. Some of the architecture is very similar, but it is infused with local flair, distinguishing it from its larger imperial cousin. The mansion complex was the residence and power center for the Mu Clan, who ruled the area for hundreds of years. The clan was defeated during the Ming Dynasty and its palace was almost completely destroyed in the following years by war, plundering and the general decay of time. A large-scale renovation in recent years has resulted in a beautiful site with Han, Bai and Naxi style buildings. The botanical garden of endemic plants and flowers rivals the imperial gardens of the mansion's heyday. The complex is located in Lijiang's Old Town and can be fully explored in two or three hours. Yunnan travel guide | Lijiang travel guide | Lijiang fl... more >>

An impressive sight, especially with Black Dragon Pool in the foreground, Yulong Xue Shan is actually a 13-peak massif that forms one wall of Tiger Leaping Gorge and whose tallest peak, Shanzidou, rises 5,596 meters (18,359 feet) above sea level. The range is home to one of the Northern Hemisphere's southernmost glaciers as well as a wide range of flora and fauna, much of it unique to the region. All of this combines to make it an increasingly popular tourist destination, so that in recent years swank resorts and hotels have begun to encroach on what was, until quite recently, a relatively untrammeled part of the world. Hiking trails exist and are highly recommended, but the majority of visitors avail themselves of three chairlift lines that provide access to the retreating glacier (see it while it lasts, nature lover) and three designated scenic spots: Dry Sea Meadow (Ganhaizi)... more >>

Jade Spring Park (also known as Heilongtan Park) is one of Lijiang's loveliest in-town attractions. The park encloses a spring-fed pool, reflectively still and often the clarity and color of fine jade. Traditional architectural works—bridges, pagodas, and the like—dot the edge of the pond. There is a nice museum collection (some art, calligraphy and artifacts) housed in the tower and ancient and modern decorative graffiti can be found around Suocui Bridge. The park is an easy walk from the Old Town or a short cab ride. Yunnan travel guide | Lijiang travel guide | Lijiang flights | Lijiang hotels Lijiang tours & activities | Lijiang on the China Travel Blog more >>

Yunshanping is a large patch of grassland situated in the midst of virgin spruce forest on the eastern side of Yulong Xue Shan (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain). Among the local Naxi, the grasslands have a long-held reputation as a trysting spot for young lovers. With the decline of arranged marriages and development of the site into an officially designated tourist spot linked by chairlift to the outside world, it's lost a bit of its allure as a romantic getaway though it remains a sublimely beautiful spot. Nowadays, you'll find well-maintained paths leading to the mountain range's retreating glacier, stables offering horses and guides for rent, and some really thin air—the meadow sits at 4,506 meters above sea level (14,783 feet)—so be ready for the cold and for the altitude. Yunnan travel guide | Lijiang travel guide | Lijiang flights | Lijiang hotels Lijian... more >>

One hundred kilometers north of Lijiang, Baoshan Stone Village (Baoshan Shicheng) sits atop a massive rock in Jinsha River Valley. This fascinating and unusal village would make even Fred Flintstone envious, as it's constructed completely from stone: stone ovens, stone water vats, stone beds and stone chairs. Surrounded by cliffs, the only connection to the outside world is a narrow path. The Jinsha River runs next to the village providing a source of water to an otherwise completely isolated location.   Yunnan travel guide | Lijiang travel guide | Lijiang flights | Lijiang hotels Lijiang tours & activities | Lijiang on the China Travel Blog more >>

Situated at the foot of Yulong Xueshan (Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, also known as Mt. Satseto), the Tibetan Buddhist Yufeng Lamasery is farther north and more remote from Lijiang than its four fellow monasteries, Puji, Fuguo, Wenbi and Yufeng. Its relative remoteness makes it an attractive destination for those looking to get away from the more heavily toured sites closer to Lijiang.  In addition to a beautiful forested mountainside location overlooking a picturesque valley floor, the lamasery is home to a famous giant camellia tree—actually two that have grown together—known as the "ten-thousand-flower camellia." The 500-some-year-old tree, which blooms in late February and early March, has a few years on the Qing-era lamasery, which dates from 1722, the last year of the reign of the Emperor Kangxi.  Yunnan travel guide | Lijiang travel guid... more >>

At the First Bend in the Yangtze River (Cháng Jiāng Dìyī Wān, 长江第一湾), the south-running waters suddenly turn back north because of a massive V-shape in the nearby mountain range. The richness of the river gathered people and the village of Shigu (Shígǔ, 石鼓) came into being upon the fertile soil deposited by the river. This town has been important stop on the trade route between Yunnan and Tibet and for centuries has been a meeting point for local peoples. Tibetans bring their quality fell, hide and herbal medicine to market and take back necessities like salt, tea and cloth. Several times a month, the still active market makes little Shigu into a lively place as traders come into town. Yunnan travel guide | Lijiang travel guide | Lijiang flights | Lijiang hotels Lijiang tours & activities | Lijiang on the China Travel Blog more >>