Day 1- Lijiang. Arrival inward Lijiang past times limited double-decker from Dali. Upon arrival, check-in to International Youth Hostel Lijiang. In the afternoon, I went sightseeing inward Black Dragon Pool, in addition to spent the residue of my level at Lijiang Old Town. Overnight inward Lijiang
Day 2- Lijiang. Went on a hateful solar daytime trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, visiting the Spruce Meadow in addition to Blue Luna Valley. Overnight inward Lijiang
Day 3- Lijiang. Went on some other hateful solar daytime trip, this fourth dimension to Baisha Village in addition to Yuhu village. On the way back, the residue of my afternoon was spent inward Shuhe ancient town. Overnight inward Lijiang
Day 4- Lijiang to Qiaotou. Check-out from the hostel in addition to took a shuttle to Qiaotou
Itinerary Map (click to stance POIs in addition to routes)
12.00 pm - Arrive inward Lijiang (dropped off at Lijiang Express Bus Terminal). Not to go confused amongst Lijiang Bus Terminal inward the south, this 1 is located northward of Lijiang Old Town
Walked from Lijiang Express Bus Terminal to my accommodation inward Lijiang (under thirty minutes)
12.45 pm - Checked inward to International Youth Hostel Lijiang - 29 yuan per night. Stayed for 3 nights (total cost - 87 yuan). Great house to base of operations yourself inward Lijiang, but here's the best component - it's also component of YHA China, in addition to that agency it has link-ups amongst other hostels which makes travelling around Cathay all that much to a greater extent than convenient. For instance, if y'all were to mass a shuttle transfer to Qiaotou, they also offering the complimentary selection to accept your baggage in addition to store it at Tina's Guesthouse (another YHA Hostel inward Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge) spell y'all become on your hike! However, its place is sadly a chip far off from middle of Lijiang one-time town (roughly xv minutes walking distance each way, non expert if y'all intend to pass a lot of fourth dimension inward one-time town).
Arrival inward Lijiang. The double-decker dropped me off at the Lijiang Express Bus Station
Leisurely walk to my accommodation inward Lijiang
International Youth Hostel Lijiang, the house I volition go staying for the side past times side few days
The courtyard within the hostel
The dorm I got at the hostel
The reception expanse at the hostel. This is where I spent most of fourth dimension when I'm non out in addition to about
Black Dragon Pool
2.00 pm - Rode double-decker #3 from a double-decker halt nearby the hostel to Guchengkou (the double-decker halt closest to the Lijiang H2O wheel) - 1 yuan
Public carry inward Lijiang is convenient enough, at that spot are frequent buses in addition to they frequently acquire y'all where y'all demand to go. I never institute myself inward a province of affairs where I needed to accept a taxi, though maintain inward hear that the in conclusion double-decker anywhere is past times 9pm, then conception ahead! There are well cues if y'all demand to figure out where to hop off in addition to the fare is solely similar 1-2 yuan per ride, then cheap!
2.05 pm - Hopped off at Guchengkou double-decker stop
Walked from Guchengkou double-decker halt to the Lijiang Old Town H2O wheel (under v minutes)
2.15 pm -2.35 pm - Quick photograph halt at the Lijiang Old Town H2O wheel
2.40 pm - Walked from Lijiang H2O wheel to Black Dragon Pool (under 10 minutes)
3.00 pm - 5.00 pm - Sightseeing around Black Dragon Pool. Paid the Lijiang Old Town Protection Fee inward lodge to gain entry - 80 yuan
Additionally, the protection fee is also to gain entry into Lijiang Old Town. Do Federal Reserve annotation however, that y'all tin easily avoid paying this past times non entering Black Dragon Pool in addition to solely past times visiting the one-time town expanse later 8-9pm (ticket checks are less stringent during later hours)
As a handy note, effort to go hither earlier 5pm because later that, the commons volition unopen in addition to they volition non allow whatever to a greater extent than visitors inward later that
Taking double-decker #3 to Guchengkou
Lijiang Old Town Water Wheel, 1 of the one-time town's to a greater extent than prominent landmarks
Walked below this underpass to acquire to Black Dragon Pool
South entrance to Black Dragon Pool
Lijiang Old Town Protection Fee receipt. Don't lose it, choose it everywhere amongst you!
Quaint expanse within Black Dragon Pool
Naxi folk performing a traditional trip the calorie-free fantastic inward the park
The existent argue why people flock to Black Dragon Pool - this view!
Sightseeing Around Lijiang Old Town
5.10 pm - Walked from Black Dragon Pool dorsum to Lijiang Old Town (under 10 minutes)
5.30 pm - 10.30 pm - Sightseeing around Lijiang Old Town. Really loved walking around the house inward the evenings, there's simply then much to see, consume in addition to do. Food in addition to drinkable hither are genuinely pricey though, I paid xx freaking yuan for a small-scale plate of fried rice! Make certain you're keeping tabs on where you're going though, equally it's quite tardily to acquire lost hither due to its confusing layout
Dinner at a nutrient courtroom - Fried rice (20 yuan) & soft imbibe (7 yuan)
10.35 pm - Walked from Lijiang Old Town dorsum to the hostel (under xv minutes)
Back inward Guchengkou
Lijiang Old Town Water Wheel at night
Quaint shops along a network of ancient canals that run through the one-time town area
The nighttime scene isn't likewise shabby here, there's plenty to do
Baisui span inward the pump of Lijiang Old Town
Visitors releasing floating lanterns into the canals for expert luck in addition to prosperity
7.35 am - Rode double-decker #3 from a double-decker halt close the hostel to Hongtaiyang Square - 1 yuan. Alternatively, y'all tin also ride double-decker #4 or #8 to Hongtaiyang
7.45 am - Hopped off at Hongtaiyang Square (near the Mao Zedong statue)
Minivans heading to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (usually inward bluish color in addition to sometimes sport the "7" sign) are parked across the route from this statue. Keep inward hear that they solely acquire out when at that spot are plenty passengers. Waited around for a chip for to a greater extent than passengers to exhibit up
8.25 am - Rode minivan #7 to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain - 20 yuan
Along the way, the minivan dropped me off at some shops to purchase oxygen bottles in addition to thermal wear. My advice is don't purchase anything from these shops equally the prices are a total ripoff! Bring your ain thermal article of apparel in addition to y'all tin acquire oxygen bottles for a much, much cheaper toll from local pharmacies
The minivan makes a few to a greater extent than stops later that, it's all pretty confusing but the starting fourth dimension house they commonly halt at is the chief ticket purpose for Glacier Park ropeway. It seems that the ropeway is managed past times a dissimilar company, thus why the chief ticket purpose is hither rather than within of the park. Next is the commons entrance (where y'all pay the commons entrance fees), in addition to finally the ropeway terminus, which is where y'all should acquire off.
Hongtaiyang Square at daybreak
Here is where y'all tin acquire a ride to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
Not mine, this was some other passenger's who got conned into buying an overpriced oxygen bottle
Sightseeing around Jade Dragon Snow Mountain
9.20 am - Arrive at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. There's a commons entrance fee y'all demand to pay prior to entry - 130 yuan
9.30 am - Dropped off at the ropeway terminus, located at the human foot of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Due to heavy snowfall, the ropeway to Glacier Park & Yak Meadow were unfortunately closed that day, thus I opted for Spruce Meadow instead. H5N1 roundtrip ticket for the ropeway to Spruce Meadow costs 55 yuan. Just for reference purposes, the roundtrip ticket for the other ropeways are equally follows - sixty yuan for Yak Meadow in addition to 200 yuan for Glacier Park
To acquire to the ropeway stations from the terminus, y'all demand to accept a tourist bus, which costs an additional 20 yuan (round trip)
10.00 am - Boarded tourist double-decker heading to the Spruce Meadow ropeway station in addition to from there, rode a cable motorcar uphill to Spruce Meadow. All inward all, the entire journeying took me a niggling nether 2 hours, but it genuinely depends on how long the queue is. The queue I got at the ropeway station was excruciatingly long, in addition to thus took far longer than it should. What's to a greater extent than surprising was that this was during off-season!
11.45 pm - 1.45 pm - Sightseeing around Spruce Meadow. From the ropeway station at the top, y'all receive got the selection of riding a tourist motorcar to the meadow for xx yuan (round trip), but I opted to walk instead. It takes roughly 10 minutes to walk to the meadow in addition to is a scenic one, passing through a beautiful pino wood along the way. At the meadow expanse itself, there's a mesmerizing stance of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, provided there's clear conditions of course
Light luncheon at a nutrient stall inward Spruce Meadow - Yak meat on a stick (10 yuan)
Arrival at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain tourist centre / ropeway terminus
Just to illustrate how crowded the whole house tin be, in addition to this isn't fifty-fifty during peak season!
Taking a tourist double-decker to Spruce Meadow
Spruce Meadow ropeway station
Cable cars going upwardly in addition to downwardly Spruce Meadow
Cloudy views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from the top of Spruce Meadow
If you're likewise lazy to walk, y'all tin also pay for a tourist motorcar to acquire to the meadow
The argue why I didn't opt for the tourist car. Walking through this beautiful snowy wood on the way to the meadow is REASON enough
Food stalls at the meadow
Views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain from the Spruce Meadow, simply wished the conditions was a chip amend though
Sightseeing around Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (continued)
2.00 pm - Rode cable motorcar dorsum down
2.15 pm - 3.45 pm - Sightseeing around Blue Luna Valley nearby. You tin definitely walk it given plenty time. However due to fourth dimension constraints, I opted for the tourist motorcar to acquire around faster. This costs an additional 50 yuan per consummate trip. There are a 3 stations along the river y'all tin hop off at
4.00 pm - Rode tourist double-decker from the nearest double-decker halt dorsum to the ropeway terminus
After beingness dropped off at the ropeway terminus, it took me quite a spell to detect a minivan that volition accept me dorsum to Lijiang. Got lucky in addition to managed to detect a few at the parking lot inward forepart of the Impression Lijiang theater
The ticket amongst tear-outs I got for the tourist motorcar that volition acquire me around Blue Luna Valley
Hopping onboard the tourist motorcar to laid out my exploration of Blue Luna Valley
Peculiar looking white H2O terraces at the starting fourth dimension lake I came across
Continued walking downwardly to the 2d in addition to 3rd lakes using these purpose built walkways
The quaternary in addition to concluding lake
Back inward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain ropeway terminus later a long day
Back inward Lijiang
5.10 pm - Back inward Lijiang (dropped off at Hongtaiyang Square)
5.45 pm - Rode double-decker #8 from Hongtaiyang Square dorsum to the hostel - 1 yuan
5.55 pm - Hopped off at a double-decker halt nearby the hostel. Walked from the double-decker halt to the hostel (under v minutes)
7.00 pm - Dinner at Yunnan Crossing Bridge Noodles eating seat (a signature delicacy of Yunnan recommended past times the hostel staff, located solely v minutes walk away from where I stayed) - Crossing span noodles (28 yuan)
8.30 pm - Back to hostel
Crossing span noodles, a signature delicacy of Yunnan
8.00 am - Wake up. Breakfast at the hostel - Meat dumplings (6 yuan), youtiao (2 yuan) & yunnan java (18 yuan)
Initially, I planned to rent a wheel from the hostel for thirty yuan for the whole hateful solar daytime to bicycle to Baisha village, notwithstanding I learnt that y'all could also accept a local double-decker there
9.55 am - Rode double-decker #3 from a double-decker halt nearby the hostel to Guchengkou - 1 yuan
10.00 am - Hopped off at Guchengkou. From there, I rode double-decker #6 to Baisha hamlet - 1 yuan
10.30 am - Hopped off at Baisha village
10.35 am - 11.35 am - Did some sightseeing around Baisha village. It's a really picturesque hamlet amongst the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain hit inward the backdrop. Among the things y'all tin encounter hither are the Baisha murals, notwithstanding I didn't become inward equally at that spot was an entrance fee of thirty yuan plus proof or receipt of your Lijiang Old Town Protection Fee
Took double-decker #6 to Baisha village
One fine morn inward Baisha village
Entrance to the Baisha Murals gallery
Yuhu village
11.40 am - Rode double-decker #6 from Baisha in addition to continued on until Yuhu village, the in conclusion halt for this double-decker - 1 yuan
12.00 pm - Dropped off at Yuhu village. Right side past times side to the double-decker halt is Jade Water Village, which looked somewhat interesting, but I didn't come inward equally it costs 50 yuan to enter
12.05 pm - 2.05 pm - Sightseeing around Yuhu village. The scenery hither is breathtaking equally the hamlet is a lot closer to the mountains. There's also a pretty prissy viewpoint nearby where y'all tin encounter the whole valley, if y'all don't hear trespassing in addition to treading on someone's farmland
2.10 pm - Walked downhill to Ten Thousand Camelia (under 10 minutes) to practice some to a greater extent than sightseeing. There's a prissy niggling temple here, but I was to a greater extent than interested inward walking farther downhill to acquire some to a greater extent than views of the valley
3.00 pm - Rode double-decker #6 from Ten Thousand Camelia dorsum to Baisha hamlet - 1 yuan
3.10 pm - Hopped off simply 2 double-decker stops away from the Baisha hamlet double-decker halt to maintain exploring the surroundings
4.00 pm - Decided to telephone shout upwardly it a hateful solar daytime in addition to rode double-decker #6 dorsum to Lijiang - 1 yuan
The concluding halt of double-decker #6, Jade Water Village inward Yuhu village
A picturesque route flanked past times greenery close Yuhu village
If y'all don't hear trespassing into someone's farmland, y'all tin accomplish this viewpoint amongst amazing views of the surrounding valley
After seeing how steep the incline is going uphill, bravo guys! Bravo!
Walking downhill from Ten Thousand Camelia, in addition to the views - omg!
Hopped off 2 double-decker stops away from Baisha hamlet to acquire this view!
Beautiful symmetry
Decided to telephone shout upwardly it a hateful solar daytime in addition to took double-decker #6 dorsum to Lijiang
Shuhe Ancient Town
4.15 pm - Hopped off close Shuhe one-time town. Walked from the double-decker halt to Shuhe (under 10 minutes). There's supposed to go an entrance fee (around xl yuan on top of the Lijiang Old Town Protection Fee), but I wasn't asked for this
4.30 pm - 7.00 pm - Sightseeing around Shuhe ancient town. Unbeknownst to many, Lijiang genuinely has a twain of ancient towns, in addition to Shuhe is 1 of them. In the one-time days, it was an of import trading town along the Tea Horse Road, in addition to equally such, Equus caballus carts are a mutual sight along its streets. Similar to Lijiang Old Town, there's a collection of guesthouses, restaurants in addition to shops here. There's also a lovely niggling puddle here
Tea at DingDing & DangDang - Large yogurt (25 yuan) & java breadstuff (10 yuan)
Hopped off at the double-decker halt nearest to Shuhe
From the double-decker stop, it's some other brusk walk along this shaded route to Shuhe
As an of import town on the Tea Horse road, Equus caballus carts are soundless inward utilization to this hateful solar daytime in addition to is a major highlight of Shuhe
Waltzing around Shuhe cobbled streets, in addition to trying to detect hidden nooks in addition to crannies is a delight for the senses
Qinglong span inward Shuhe
Overlooking the river that flows through Shuhe from Qinglong bridge
A traditional Chinese marriage ceremony taking house inward Shuhe
Horses in addition to to a greater extent than horses
This beautiful puddle inward Shuhe was a definite highlight of my brusk see to Shuhe. I spent to a greater extent than fourth dimension hither than I should've
Back to Lijiang Old Town
7.05 pm - Walked dorsum to the double-decker halt nearby Shuhe (under 10 minutes)
7.50 pm - 9.50 pm - Spent the residue of my level simply walking around Lijiang Old Town earlier heading dorsum to the hostel
At the hostel, I booked my shuttle transfer to Qiaotou for my Tiger Leaping Gorge hike, departing at 7.40am the side past times side hateful solar daytime - 40 yuan
If you're non likewise into hiking but soundless desire to sense Tiger Leaping Gorge, y'all tin also mass shuttle transfers to become direct to Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge for 55 yuan
