Dream Land Shangri-La, The Lost Horizon (香格里拉，云南 包车师傅）

I am so excited to write and share this dream land, Shangri-La (香格里拉), a place that very near to heaven. The blue sky, mountain, snow mountain, green grass, the animal, the Tibetan. the religion, and our local private trip driver (包车师傅), BianMaQiLin (边马七林), mobile: 13988730205. I fall in love with this land and the people. I felt heavy to leave this heaven. The only impress me not only the beautiful scenery, but is the people there. I can see from our private driver, a Tibetan who has religious, believe in Buddha, helpful, take care of us, good personality, no smoke and most important is his 'honesty' that normally I cannot see in China. 

We reached Shangri-la Airport from Kunming, Yunnan Province at 8.10am. We booked a kind driver together with his van for 3 days at Shangri-la. He brought us to find our hotel and breakfast before started our day.

Airline: Lucky Airline ( Kunming to Diqing, Shangri-La)

Shangri-La Day1

1. Shika Snow Mountain (石卡雪山)

Shika Snow Mountain was our first place to visit.  it's about 7km away from Shangril-La county with about 15 min driving. We took a cable car to the peak of Shika. This cable is the longest one in Yunnan Province with a 4,190-meter-long. We get to the peak (4,000 meters above the sea level) from the foot of the mountain (3,270 meters above the sea level). When standing on the peak, can have a view of Meili Snow Mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, as well as snow mountains in Daocheng, Sichuan. Unfortunately, we cannot have a clear view because it was snowing and windy once we got to the peak. We felt freezy cold and we returned. We missed out the good view and also Blue Moon Valley at Shika Snow mountain(蓝月山谷石卡雪山). :( :( :(

Entrance Fees with cable: 220RMB

Time Spend: 2-3 hours

2. Napa hai Lake (纳帕海)

We took 20 minutes to Napa hai Lake from Shika. We din't get off from the car as we all still feel very cold. We just took some photos from the car. Accordingly, during the rainy season, the lake expands and the water will rush through the nine holes and empty into the Jinsha River. During the dry season, the water recedes and grasslands appear. In autumn, the prairie changes into a golden color and flocks of yaks, horses, and sheep graze there. Rare birds such as the black necked crane, bar-headed goose, and mallard flock to the area for winter. However, at this session is still winter, so we didn't expect much to see.

Time Spend: 30 minutes

3. Song Zhan Lin Monestery (松赞林寺)

We took another 30 minutes to reach here from Napa Hai. This is the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan province. There is a tour guide to explain their religion.

Entrance Fees: 115RMB (including tour guide explanation)

Time Spend: 1.5 hours

4. GuiShan Park (龟山公园)

Here have the world's largest prayer wheel. This giant prayer wheel is lit up at night. The scripture chamber itself is pretty small and contains a large Buddha statue. A few people is usually required to move the enormous icon and move close wise only.

Entrance Fees: Free

Time Spend: 1 hours

5. Dukezong Old Town (独克宗古城)

It is the largest and best-preserved Tibetan city among China's Tibetan counties. It's so sad that this exotic ancient town got devoured by a huge fire on Jan, 2014. A number of cultural relics, precious Thang-gas and Buddhist artworks were burned in the fire, plus some Tibetan-style buildings and precious historical sites. What a Pity!

We have our dinner at Ne Oh Café at old town. This café serves international menu, the food and environment are very nice. It is just a 5 minutes walk from our Tibetan hotel, Shangri-La Jilaideng Gucheng Hotel. Hotel very cozy and it should rate as 5 star instead of 3. 

Ne Oh Café

Ji Lai Deng Gu Cheng Hotel （吉莱登酒店）

Accomodation: Ji Lai Deng Gu Cheng Hotel （吉莱登酒店）
http://www.agoda.com/shangri-la-jilaideng-gucheng-hotel/hotel/shangri-la-cn.html
Food: Ne Oh Café at Gucheng

Shangri-La Day 2

1. Pu Da Cuo National Park (普達措國家公園)

It is a 30 minutes drive from our hotel. There are two alpine lakes Shudu Lake (属都湖) and  Bita Hai Lake (碧塔海), with wooden walking platforms around part of each of them. This makes for pleasant, easy strolling with nice. But we found it was a bit disappointed because at this session, nothing much to see. I personally more prefer JiuZaiGou in Chengdu.

Entrance Fees: 289RMB

Mili Tang (弥里塘)

Bita Hai Lake (碧塔海)

Shudu Lake (属都湖) 

Bita Hai Lake (碧塔海)

Time Spend: 3-4 hours

2. White-Water Terraces or Bai Shui Tai (白水台)
We reached Bai Shui Tai after 2 hours drive from Pudacuo national park at 5pm. This is a small village occupied by NaXi people(纳西族）. We were so lucky to have met their festival in the next day, Lunar calendar 8th February. Naxi people will go to Bai Shui Tai to perform their prayer, cook  and dance in the mountain. Therefore, the guesthouse owner overcharge us triple than usual for the last 2 rooms he have, 160RMB per 2 single beds room. I noticed, this countryside wooden guesthouse has no one stay there for a long time already because the light has burnt and poor toilet hygiene. Nevertheless, we climbed up the mountain the next day morning, and surely there were lot of Naxi people on their way too. There is a gorgeous natural terrace with beautiful cliff side pools. But the steps in the park there are really horrible and not maintained well.

Entrance Fees: 40RMB
Accomodation: Village's wooden guesthouse, 160RMB per 2 single beds room (overcharge price)
Food: there is a local restaurant in front of the car park. 3 dishes and red rice for 5 people, 90RMB
Horse ride to top: 30RMB per way
Time spend: 2 hours

Shangri-La Day 3
1. Tiger Leoping Gorge or Hu Tiao Xia (虎跳峡)
After the Bai Shui Tai, there is another 2 hours drive to Hu Tiao Xia. Wow, the view at Hu Tiao Xia is amazing. Great mountains all around and terrific landscapes. We skip the hiking as we thought we are not fit enough and lack of time. So We only go to Shan Tiao Xia (上虎跳), the easiest trek way is by stair case at Shan Hu Tiao.

Entrance fees: 65 RMB
Hire a mule: 150RMB per way
Time Spend at Shan Hu Tiao: 2 hours

Xia Hu Tiao Xia (下虎跳)

 Zhong Hu Tiao Xia (中虎跳)

Shan Hu Tiao Xia (上虎跳)

2. First Turn of Chang Jiang at LiJian (金沙江月亮湾)
This Changjiang river starts from Tibet, flow south to Yunnan. It is then blocked by the mountains, makes a sudden 180° turn and starts to goes north. We past by and din't go to see the view because we don't expect much to see it.
Entrance Fees: Free

3. Li Jiang (丽江)
Our nice driver brought us to Lijiang, Shu Her Gucheng (束河古镇）. He is so nice to help us to find a hotel before he is leaving. Suddenly, feel so heavy to say good bye to him. He din't talk so much, but I can guarantee he has a good personality, a good man, and always take care of us. I strongly recommend to you all to hire him, BianMaQiLin (边马七林), mobile 13988730205.

Accomodation: Moon River Inn Lijiang
http://www.agoda.com/en-au/lijiang-moon-river-inn/hotel/lijiang-cn.html
(Best and comfortable bed and room, the owner is a husband and wife, Taiwanese + Chengdu. But don't ask the hotel to book a day trip, because he charge higher)


Our 3 Days Private Trip at Shangri-La:
Hire a 7 seats Atos Van cum driver ( Strongly recommend him to you, he is a good man, honest and reasonable price!!!) I wish all the best and good luck to this honest Tibetan man!

<包车师傅)> BianMaQiLin (边马七林), China mobile: 13988730205.

Call from Malaysia: 0086 13988730205