Self-driving to explore Yunnan of China: Old Village, Ancient Town, UNESCO’s World Heritage, Snow Mountain, Deep Gorge and Culture Experience

About this road trip

• Date: August 15th., 2021
• Group Size: 3-16 cars/bikes
• Route: (Singapore/Malaysia/Thailand/Laos) – China – Yunnan

Highlights

• Nuodeng Village – The well preserved ancient village scenery and Ming and Qing style buildings which are over a hundred years old in Nuodeng village are fairly intact in their original look and status, which are rare in Yunnan province, even in the whole country.
• Old town of Dali and Lijiang – UNESCO World Heritage
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain – The most southerly snowcapped mountain in the Northern Hemisphere. It is famous for its variant and beautiful natural scenes, and is considered a sacred mountain among the local Naxi ethnic people.
• Tiger Leaping Gorge – One of the deepest gorges on the planet, and it has the best hiking trail in China.
• Shangri-La – As a gateway into Tibet and James Hilton’s fictional account of the legendary Tibetan paradise Shambala, Shangri-La is unique for its Tibetan culture and alpine landscapes including sacred snow-capped mountains and spectacular gorges.
• Ganden Sumtseling Monastery – The largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan province and is sometimes referred to as the Little Potala Palace.

Keywords about this road trip

Road trip to china, Self-driving, Photography, Ancient town, Snow mountain, Tibetan Buddhism…

Day 1: Mohan – Mengla – Jinghong (60km)

Leave Laos in the early morning, customs clearance in Laos may require queuing. Enter China from Mohan port, the tour guide is already waiting for you in the arrival hall.

Tour guide will help you to finish all the customs paper at border.

Heading to Mengla traffic police station after lunch (40mins driving), Your car or motorcycle will be tested here in Mengla traffic station.

After the test you will get your temporary driving licence and temporary number plate.

Keep driving from Mengla to Jinghong (160km), a city in and the seat of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and the historic capital of the former Tai kingdom of Sipsongpanna.

Visit opportunity: Jinghong Night-market.

Overnight in Jinghong.

Day 2: Jinghong – Yunxian, 500 km

Today we travel along the Lancang River, and the estimated driving time is 9 hours. The Lancang River is the name of the Mekong River in China.

Visit: Nuodeng old village

Nuodeng Village retains a large number of buildings from Ming and Qing dynasties. This village has a history of more than a thousand years, handmade salt and ham in this village are famous all over China.

Overnight in Yunxian county.

Day 3: Yunxian – Dali(altitude 2000m), 230km

After breakfast we departure for Dali, one of the most famous ancient towns in China. As a major stop on the Ancient Tea Horse Road, it is a town full of historic sites and traditional culture.

Our hotel is inside the ancient city of Dali, after check-in enjoy free time in Dali ancient town.

Visit opportunity: Three Pagodas in Chongshen Monastery

Day 4: Dali – Lijiang (190km, altitude: 2400m)

In the morning we will have a visit of local morning market in xizhou town, a great place to observe the typical Bai Minority folk culture and architecture.

then we walk into houses of Bai family to have a look at the ancient architecture of Bai Nationality.

After that we go to zhoucheng village, a village famous for the tie-dye skills of the Bai ethnic group, which date back to the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the early part of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

After lunch Departure to Lijiang, which will take us 2.5 hours.

Adapt to altitude of Lijiang 2400 m in the afternoon.

Day 5: Lijiang

Visit: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Blue moon valley, Black Dragon Pool
Show: Impression Lijiang

Jade Dragen Snow Mountain: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is the most southerly snowcapped mountain in the Northern Hemisphere. It is famous for its variant and beautiful natural scenes, and is considered a sacred mountain among the local Naxi ethnic people.

Blue moon valley: Blue Moon Valley lies at the foot of Yulong Snow Mountain near Lijiang. It was carved out by Baishui River, fed by meltwater from Yulong Snow Mountain. The water of the lake is so clear, you can see the lake bed and is a stunning shade of blue. On the floor of Blue Moon Valley lie four lakes, each with its own distinct color

Black Dragon Pool: It is a famous pond in the scenic Jade Spring Park (Yu Quan Gong Yuan) located at the foot of Elephant Hill, a short walk north of the Old Town of Lijiang in Yunnan province, China. It was built in 1737 during the Qing dynasty and offers views of the region’s tallest mountain, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, over its white marble bridge.

Impression Lijiang: It is a magnificent outdoor singing and dancing performance demonstrating the tradition and lifestyle of the local ethnic people. It is another creation of famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou.

The show is innovatively staged in the morning and afternoon, at 3,100 meters (10,100 feet) above sea level with Jade Snow Mountain as the breathtaking backdrop.

Day 6: Lijiang – Tiger Leaping Gorge (90km, altitude: 1800m)

Today we drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge, which is one of the deepest gorges on the planet, and it has the best hiking trail in whole china.

Visit: upper and middle Tiger Lepaing Gorge

Overnight in Tiger Lepaing Gorge.

Day 7: Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri-La (100km, altitude: 3500m)

In the morning we bid farewell to the beautiful canyon and heading for Shangri-La, formerly known as Zhongdian and sometimes ‘Gyalthang’ in Tibetan, is where you really start to breathe in the Tibetan world. It’s Home to one of Yunnan’s most important monasteries and surrounded by mountains, lakes and grassland

Visit: Songzanlin Lamasery, known as the Little Potala Palace, is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple complex in Yunnan Province. It houses many Buddhist statues and precious cultural treasures.

Overnight in ancient part of Shangri-La

Day 8: Shangrila – Chuxiong, 470km

Today we are returning and heading for Chuxiong.

We will stay in Yiren Ancient Town, a nice scenic spot in Chuxiong city where one can see the culture of Yi people. The town is designed chiefly for pedestrians, with various shops, restaurant and other buildings at the both sides. Here the customs of the nationality is well displayed. One can appreciate their foods, handicrafts, artifacts and clothes within this big town!

Day 9: Chuxiong – Pu’er, 530km

Today we keep driving back until we arrive Pu’er city, hometown of Puer Tea, which is one of the most sought-after teas in the world.

Visit opportunity: Tea Mountain in Pu’er.

Overnight in Pu’er.

Day 10: Pu’er – Mohan – Laos

Today is our last day in China, Departure to the china/laos border, your tour guide will help you to finish the vehicle and personnel procedures for border inspection. Farewell to China.